Heavyweight Champions

The heaviest and costliest car, driven by the youngest driver, scored an upset victory in the 1956 Mobilgas Economy Run last week. At the end of the four-day, 1,468-mile course from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs, the trophy for the best gas mileage, won by lightweight Studebakers the last two years, went to a 4,580-lb., Chrysler Imperial Southampton (list: $5,618), piloted by 26-year-old Mel Alsbury Jr., of Hollywood.

Pound for pound, the Imperial used less gas than any of the other 20 cars, averaging 61.37 ton miles per gallon (computed by multiplying the car's weight by mileage, dividing by gas consumed), 10 miles more than the runner-up, a Pontiac Chieftain Catalina (51.72 ton miles per gallon), and 13 miles more than the average 48.65 t.m.p.g. It was also well ahead of the others in the High Price Class--the Packard 400, which did 50.32 t.m.p.g., and the Buick Roadmaster Riviera, which averaged 48.25 t.m.p.g. But in straight mileage, regardless of weight, a Nash Rambler did best of all, running 24.35 miles per gallon, v. 21.04 for the Imperial.

Actually, few ordinary drivers can hope to equal the Mobilgas marks. Not only are the cars tuned for a peak performance, but the drivers make test runs of the course, checking and timing for red lights, bad grades, etc. Young Alsbury did his preliminary homework so well that in the whole race, studded with 53 traffic lights, he hit not a single one that was red.

Other results:

Low PRICE CLASS. Ford Customline Victoria 8, 20.52 miles per gallon, 47.76 ton miles per gallon; Plymouth Belvedere 8, 20.67 m-P-g-> 47-73 t.m.p.g.; Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan 6, 21.17 ni.p.g., 47.21 t.m.p.g.; Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan 8, 20.70 m.p.g., 46.37 t.m.p.g.; Ford Fairlane Victoria 8, 18.74 ni.p.g., 44.24 t.m.p.g.

Low MEDIUM PRICE. Pontiac Chief tain Catalina, 21.10 m.p.g., 51.72 t.m.p.g.; Dodge Coronet 500 V8, 20.90 m.p.g., 50.14 t.m.p.g.; Mercury Montclair Phaeton, 19.15 m.p.g., 47.69 t.m.p.g.

MEDIUM PRICE CLASS. Oldsmobile 88 Holiday De Luxe, 19.70 m.p.g., 50.80 t.m.p.g.; Nash Ambassador Special V8 Super, 20.71 m.p.g., 47.99 t.m.p.g.; Hudson Hornet Special V8 Super,20.48 m.p.g., 47.49 t.m.p.g.

UPPER MEDIUM PRICE CLASS. Oldsmo bile 98 Holiday De Luxe, 18.66 m.p.g., 50.94 t.m.p.g.; Buick Super Riviera, 17.77 m.p.g., 48.95 t.m.p.g.; De Soto Fireflite Sportsman, 17.83 m.p.g., 47.34 t.m.p.g.

SPECIAL LIMITED CLASS. Rambler 6, 24.35 rn.p.g., 48.22 t.m.p.g.; Studebaker Champion 6. 20.05 m.p.g., 39.74 t.m.p.g.

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