What was the first production car that used an onboard computer to monitor the car’s performance?
It would have most likely been a high end luxury vehicle built in the late 1970s/early 80s.
I’ll go with Bosch D Jetronic. First used on 1968 Type 3 VWs here in the US.
The system sensed manifold pressure, and engine temp. Used trigger points in the distributor to turn on the injectors, and the computer determined when to shut them off.
At the time, we thought this technology was indistinguishable from magic. Now we look back at it and wonder how it worked at all it was so primitive.
Any idea what the uber rare 57 fuel injected Chevy Bel Aire used? I think that it was all mechanical with no feedback loop type system. Wonder if the set up would be sophisticated enough to count as a mechanical computer?
Watch talk of mechanical computers, because then the ignition system of distributors and points could be considered mechanical computers. Injection was just injection. Rather than having all the fuel sucked in, some was delivered, but it was not done electronically, and ‘mechanical computer’ is not in the spirit of the OP, or so I would guess.
Notwithstanding Rick’s post about the V-Dub, I’ll just contribute my own vague memory. I worked for Ford '79-83 and had a buddy in another department who did programming for onboard computers around 1980. I don’t remember the details of what it did but I think it was related to fuel and ignition timing. I don’t remember exactly which models, but it might have been the Mustang/Capri line as well as others. Definitely not reserved for only high-end luxury vehicles.
Just mentioning it because the 70s/80s time sounds about right.
Ford (and the other big three car makers) would have had feedback carburetors during this time frame.
Looking here Ford EEC (Electronic Engine Control pronounced EEEK!) came out in 1978 and only covered spark and EGR.
EEC-II came out in 1979 and covered spark, EGR, and a feedback carb.
EEC=III came out in 1980 and had fuel injection to go with the spark and EGR.
So for Ford the answer is 1980, Twelve years after VW.
If you want to go with a modern feedback system that includes oxygen sensors, the very first car sold with an oxygen sensor feedback system was the mid 1977 Production, California spec Volvo 240.
The 50s Chevy system was straight mechanical system, as was the Bosch fuel injection systems used in Early 911s and Alfas.
Mechanical, yes. Same as the Corvette system, which didn’t work all that well at firstl and went through three major design variations before finally getting fairly good.
Chrysler’s (horrible) “Lean-burn” system started in 1976:
The question could use some clarification. What’s the definition of “computer,” and what’s the definition of “monitor the car’s performance?”
What we commonly call computers are actually microprocessors. As Rick mentioned, we saw Bosch microprocessor-controlled fuel injection in the 60’s, but it was based on a Bendix system used on some Cadillacs in the 50’s. And as has been mentioned, feedback systems, which can be said to monitor (at least one aspect of) performance, came along in the 70’s. The first common use of the term “computer” that I recall was for 1980 models, specifically GM’s CCC (Computer Command Control) system. This had various sensors whose inputs were monitored by the computer to affect more than one aspect (i.e., not just fuel mixture). Note that not just one car, nor just one make, stands out as “first.”
So the case can be made that onboard vehicle “computers” as typically understand nowadays were introduced in the 1980 model year, but depending on how one defines the terms, a number of earlier models could qualify.
Right, Gary T. There was some Italian car made in the early 1970s, IIRC, that had some kind of fancy electronic dash that’s apparently a nightmare in terms of functionality and repair. I didn’t mention it, since I didn’t know if that would fit the definition of “computer.”