Chevrolet’s 1950 short film, “E for Efficiency,” produced by Jam Handy, touts the efficiency of Chevrolet’s valve-in-head engine. This type of engine (02:12) is only found in Chevrolets when it comes to sedans, such as the 1949 or 1950 Chevrolet Styleline (00:51). The film begins with an animation to briefly explain the general idea of efficiency. Continuing with animation, the film looks at a simplified model of the valve-in-head engine and how it maximizes power and fuel economy, piston strokes, and heat loss. It compares the efficiency of the valve-in-head model to the L-head type. Part of the success of Chevrolet’s engine is making the pistons and cylinder block from the same cast alloy (06:18). The film shows how Chevrolet’s valve-in-head engine has perfected engine lubrication (06:58) by lubricating cylinder walls and bearings. Chevrolet isn’t the only company to utilize the valve-in-head type: some of the fastest race cars (08:02) in the world use it, as well as airliners, like Eastern Air Lines and what appears to be its Douglas DC-4 jet (08:09). The film concludes by showing several Chevrolet models with the valve-in-head engines, including what appears to be a 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe (08:34) and a 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible (08:40).

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