What was the last car sold in the US with a carburetor?
Notes:
1) Car, not truck.
2) Mass-produced, commonly available at a dealership. Not a custom job.
We think we've narrowed it down to a brand or two and an era, but we can't quite come up with a model.
Did you ask Siri?
Some Hondas continued to have a carbureted engine option for an absurdly long time, so I'm going to bet on that or some dinosaur that one of the big 3 produced unchanged for way too long.
Ford Festiva, 1989.
That's what I heard from a couple of car guys on the radio (maybe in the Boston area)...
I'd vote for the 1988/89 Dodge Omni, the 1990 came with TBI. I feel like there was an oddball, rebranded import sold by one of the big three that came with a carb well into the 90's.
1990 Justy.
Do cop cars count?
If not I'm going to guess Subaru justy
The '90 Subaru Justy immediately popped to mind because I remember such useless trivia, but it turns out this may not be correct:
https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/what-was-the-last-car-in-america-sold-with-a-carburetor-260855
Looks like the honor should be split between the '91 Crown Vic P72 and the '91 Prelude. The Grand Wagoneer was also sold in '91 with a carb but that's an SUV.
RevRico wrote: Do cop cars count? If not I'm going to guess Subaru justy
+1 for the question.
I know the last 5.0l crown Vic cop cars were carb'ed even when the street cars had efi.
Another question- computer control on the carb or not?
Side pondering: Assuming we're asking this question 25-30 years after the date in question, at what point in the future will we ask "What was the last car sold in the US with a strictly internal-combustion engine?"
alfadriver wrote:RevRico wrote: Do cop cars count? If not I'm going to guess Subaru justy+1 for the question. I know the last 5.0l crown Vic cop cars were carb'ed even when the street cars had efi. Another question- computer control on the carb or not?
In my mind, and computer-controlled carb is still a carb. So long as the fuel is atomized via venturi alone, I don't care what other electronics are attached.
JG Pasterjak wrote: Side pondering: Assuming we're asking this question 25-30 years after the date in question, at what point in the future will we ask "What was the last car sold in the US with a strictly internal-combustion engine?"
I'd guess 2060s.
Edit: Maybe I should make that 2050s, since pickups don't count. I think work trucks and semis will be made in ICE-only variants to the very end.
I remember it being a Subaru.
GameboyRMH wrote:JG Pasterjak wrote: Side pondering: Assuming we're asking this question 25-30 years after the date in question, at what point in the future will we ask "What was the last car sold in the US with a strictly internal-combustion engine?"I'd guess 2060s.
Probably right in that area and produced by Ford.
JG Pasterjak wrote: Side pondering: Assuming we're asking this question 25-30 years after the date in question, at what point in the future will we ask "What was the last car sold in the US with a strictly internal-combustion engine?"
JG Pasterjak wrote: Side pondering: Assuming we're asking this question 25-30 years after the date in question, at what point in the future will we ask "What was the last car sold in the US with a strictly internal-combustion engine?"
I know for sure it won't be a Volvo or anything French.
I'm going to guess some sort of micro car.
Here's why: I suspect big rigs are going to be one of the first things that go full electric replacement, and that replacing entire model lines and vehicle classing will go biggest to smallest based on how technology evolves. Sure we've got one offs and special versions now, but no automaker has replaced ALL their sedans or ALL their coupes yet.
The micro cars will still be within emissions standards until ICE as a whole are completely gone just because of their size and efficiency and growing popularity. This exact same argument can be used for why they'd be the first to go, I understand.
Just my far fetched theory, as far as mass production readily available vehicles go.
Grand Wagoneers continued to use the AMC 360 with a carburetor until 1991 (Interesting in that, by the point, AMC had been in the grave for 4 years, and rather than install their own V8s, Chrysler continued to manufacture new AMC V8s exclusively for the Grand Wagoneer). The Olds 307 was also in production until 1990 with 4-barrel carburetor in the Caprice, Custom Cruiser and Caddy Brougham.
Stefan wrote: I'd vote for the 1988/89 Dodge Omni, the 1990 came with TBI. I feel like there was an oddball, rebranded import sold by one of the big three that came with a carb well into the 90's.
I had an '89. It had TBI. According to Allpar, the last Omni/Horizon with a carburetor was the '87.
I thought it was Yugo...
RevRico wrote: Here's why: I suspect big rigs are going to be one of the first things that go full electric replacement, and that replacing entire model lines and vehicle classing will go biggest to smallest based on how technology evolves. Sure we've got one offs and special versions now, but no automaker has replaced ALL their sedans or ALL their coupes yet.
Why big rigs first? They need the most range and do the least city driving. I expect it'll be more of a small-to-big transition, since smaller cars are inherently more efficient and tend to have lower range requirements.
I think big rigs will be the last to go full EV simply due to the range requirements. I think they'll be mostly series hybrids (often turbine-powered) with some ICE models knocking around until ICEs become completely impractical.
I think the GM B-Body wagons had a carburetor on the 307 until 1990 as well.
Wasn't the crxhf available with some obnoxious carb motor into the 90s?
I too thought it was the Subaru Justy
mndsm wrote: Wasn't the crxhf available with some obnoxious carb motor into the 90s?
I doubt it, my 88 HF had pfi.
Erich wrote: I think the GM B-Body wagons had a carburetor on the 307 until 1990 as well.
The Olds 307 (weirdo Crown Vic cop cars excepted) was the last passenger car engine available in the US with a 4-barrel carburetor
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