http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://eands.caltech.edu/photos/LXVII3/skylark-orig.jpg&imgrefurl=http://eands.caltech.edu/articles/LXVII3/wouk.html&h=274&w=504&sz=15&hl=en&start=117&tbnid=PDkBbY5iRQj3PM:&tbnh=71&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbuick%2Bskylark%2Bstation%2Bwagon%2B1970%26start%3D100%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
Well, this 1972 Skylark was built as a Hybrid using a Wankel rotary in late 1972 to 1973 and subsequently tested. This is the earliest use of the "Hybrid" I have ever seen and its plastered right on the side of the '72 Skylark. Don't know if it was the first, but the engineer behind the program is called the "grandfather" of the Hybrid. Interesting. I wonder if the car is still around? A Wankel-powered '72 Lark gas/electric Hybrid ... go figure. I think the reference in the article about GM's investment in a license for a rotary engine design from Mazda in the early 70's plays into the AMC Pacer design. I recall reading somewhere before that GM, during the energy crisis in the early '70's and with increasing fuel efficiency requirements of vehicles from the EPA, entered into a contract to provide a rotary engine (from its earlier license from Mazda) to AMC for its new Pacer with the ultra low hood. When GM backed out of the deal because of developmental problems with the rotary engine, AMC was left in a terrible position scrambling to find a replacement engine to fit in the low hood profile of the Pacer. I think there were also problems back then with a catalytic converter on the Wankel engine due to the combustion process and fuel supply or something like that. I think one of the early '70's Corvette concept cars was supposed to get a hot version of this Wankel rotary engine. I think I also recall something about GM trying to buy back the rights to the small Buick V8 aluminum engine about the same time from British Leyland Group that was sold to the Brits in the mid '60's ... the same engine that forms the basis of the current V8's in the Range Rovers.
Very cool article, thanks for posting it. With the ever increasing gas prices, I sometimes wonder if someday in the future if I will have to have my Buick converted to using an electric engine.
David: What a coincidence, I did not even think to check if there was any other prior post here. I just thought the 1972 Skylark Hybrid was just too amazing not to share it. Incidentally and unrelated, I found a picture from Australia of a 1973 Regal 455 2DR converted to a convertible AND right-hand drive. I did not know exactly where to post it, so I just posted it in the convertible category.
that's kind of cool...but a hybrid roatory and not a hybrid sbb? the rotaries get worse gas milage then the v8s LOL
