| 1923 Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
| Also called | Copper-Cooled |
| Model years | 1923 |
| Assembly | |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | Two-door coupe |
| Related | Chevrolet Superior |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4-cylinder 2.2 L (135 cu in) |
| Transmission | three-speed manual |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Chevrolet Series D (market position)[1] |
The 1923 Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled was an automobile made to be completely air-cooled by Chevrolet in 1923. It was designed by Charles F. Kettering, head engineer of Delco, the General Motors research division wing in Dayton, Ohio.[2] The automobile used a body style from its predecessor, but incorporated an air-cooled engine. Air cooling, as opposed to water-based cooling, was much more practical in a sense because it did not require a radiator, nor the piping that came with it. Although air cooling was not new to the time period, it was new to engines of that scale.[3] The Copper-Cooled Chevrolet was in fact a feasible project; however, the final product did not live up to the standards that Kettering had imagined. The car dangerously overheated in hot weather, and posed a safety hazard to the drivers. Only a few made it to the sales floor, only to be recalled and destroyed by Chevrolet. The 1923 Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled consumed extensive amounts of resources to develop and was a failure in the end.[2][1] The engine was manufactured as an alternative to the Franklin which also used an in-line air-cooled engine.
- ^ a b Kimes, Beverly R. (1996). Clark, Henry A. (ed.). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945. Kraus Publications. pp. 283–302. ISBN 0873414780.
- ^ a b "1923 Chevrolet Series M Copper-Cooled". Consumer Guide. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ^ Davis, Rad (1998). "The Other Air-Cooled Chevy". Rad Davis 1998. Retrieved April 3, 2013.