Discussion on Wards100 Century's Most Influential Engines in WardsAuto Podcast
Wards Celebrates 100 Years with a List of Influential Engines
To mark its centenary, Wards, a renowned publication in the automotive industry, has compiled a list of the most influential engines of the past 100 years. This list, a commemorative piece, showcases the collective expertise of a panel of experts, including Senior Editor David Kiley, Former Editor-in-Chief and Contributor Drew Winter, Autoline Publisher and Wards Contributor John McElroy, Headlight News Editor and Publisher and Wards Contributor Paul Eisenstein, and Matt DeLorenzo, former editor of Road & Track and Autoweek, and current Editor-in-Chief of TightwadGarage.com.
The list is a combination of the jury's personal opinions and their collective knowledge of the automotive industry. It features a winner and runner-up engine for each decade Wards has been publishing. However, it is important to note that the list is not exhaustive and may not include every influential engine produced during the specified decades.
One of the standout engines on Wards' historic best engines list is the Cadillac L-Head V8 engine, introduced in 1914. This engine was recognised as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines of the 20th century, thanks to its advanced design at the time—including smooth performance and the first use of a thermostatically controlled cooling system that was later widely adopted by other manufacturers.
While the Rolls-Royce Phantom models, known for their luxury engineering and powerful V12 engines, have been celebrated over 100 years, they are more noted for luxury and refinement rather than a list of ground-breaking engine innovations by Ward's.
For those seeking a comprehensive list of engines recognised by Ward's for their impact across different eras, further detailed sources or Ward's own anniversary publication would provide the full panel selections. The Cadillac L-Head V8 is a key example cited and illustrates the type of influential engine Wards' panel singles out.
The list is available online and is intended to provide readers with an overview of significant engines throughout Wards' history. Unfortunately, the list does not include engines from the current decade (2020s) as Wards has only been publishing for 100 years.
Each member of the jury rated engines from their respective decades, and the list features engines from the decades Wards has been in publication, starting from the 1920s. The list is a testament to Wards' long-standing commitment to the automotive industry and its continuous efforts to recognise and celebrate engineering excellence.
- The automotive industry's expertise, as represented by members like David Kiley and Paul Eisenstein, collated finance and technology insights while compiling the list of influential engines for the centenary of Wards publication.
- Additionally, the list demonstrates the significance of transportation advancements beyond just the automotive sector, as it incorporates groundbreaking engine innovations from various decades, such as the Cadillac L-Head V8 engine introduced in 1914.
