[h=2]Carburetors[/h] Peaking out in gold underneath the air cleaner of this 1955 265 cubic inch Chevrolet V-8, carburetors disappeared in the 1990s. | Chevrolet


From the 1880s to the 1980s, the carburetor was the respiratory system of the car. Oxygen would move through the carburetor into the engine, where it would mix with fuel in the combustion chamber. But no matter how advanced they got, carburetors were temperamental and needed to be tuned to compensate for climate, elevation, and performance.
NASCAR still uses them, and some older gearheads swear by them. But simply put, electronic fuel injection is just more effective and reliable. The last American carbureted cars — the Ford Crown Victoria P71 (a precursor to the Police Interceptor) and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer — disappeared after the 1991 model year.