In the 75 years since Machine Design began publication, here are some of the people who have changed the way we live.
Henry Ford
Introduced the first mass-produced V8
1863-1947
But, in 1932 at age 69, he introduced his last engineering triumph: the V8. This was the first low-cost, mass-produced V8, leaving the competition, which was producing six-cylinder engines, in the dust.
Ford was the first company to successfully cast a V8 block in one piece, which was produced at the company's Rouge plant. Detachable "flathead" cylinder heads gave the engine its name. Notable features include a dual-plane crank, 90* V design, and a downdraft carburetor. The flathead V8 produced 65 hp at 3,400 rpm, and went from 0 to 60 mph in 14 sec. The first "Model 18" equipped vehicle rolled off production lines on March 9, 1932. By June, production of the flathead V8s hit the 1 million mark.