ElectraGran 100 mpg carb

Dragsinger · 04-02-2020, 10:33 PM

This is the famous ElectraGran 100 mpg carburetor developed by my Grandmother, Zonie Chandler. [Electra for electric and Gran for Granny] She developed this design after WWII because fuel was still rationed. Her original idea came when she worked at an electric motor shop during the war. She continually improved those motors and they ran cooler, smoother, made more power on less electricity with each improvement.

The test car was her 51 Plymouth. After some experimenting, it consistently achieved 100 + mpg, uphill with a headwind and low tire pressure. Her cousin, Smokey Chandler, utilized the design at the 52 Dayton 500. His 52 Hudson Hornet, equipped with two ElectraGran carbs, ran the complete 500-mile race without a fuel stop.

I recall us seated at the table having a radio dinner [before the days of TV] and listening to testimony after testimony about the milage folks we getting. One guy said he was making money from the gas he was having to drain out and resale.

Shortly after, President Truman called Granny and asked her to meet with him in Washington. At the meeting, he explained that her 100 mpg carb would ruin the oil industry. He asked her to remove it from the market and convinced the oil companies to reward Granny for doing so.

Granny came home with a suitcase full of thousand dollar bills.

I still have all original drawings and spec sheets and from time to time will build an ElectraGran just to keep in practice. Here is an example I am working up for a neighbor kids wagon.

Larry Woodfin

Tom Broome · 04-03-2020, 08:10 AM

Does it require the battery in the wagon to make it function properly? If so, does the wagon have to be a "Red Flyer", or will other wagons suffice? If one carburetor is good for 100mpg, will two carbs get 200mpg?

Dragsinger · 04-03-2020, 08:59 AM

Tom, you are on track [so to speak] about the magic of the ElectraGran design. That battery is a 6 volt and you can see the ElectraGran has already doubled the voltage.

Just consider what happens at speed, the faster you drive, the better the mileage. And yes, at the 1952 Daytona 500, Smokey Chandler said, "if the race had been much longer we would have to come in to drain fuel."

I received a PM from a racer who has a 1965 Pontiac Firebird, he asks if the ElectraGran would work on that model. And yes it would be he wants to remain anonymous.

GTX JOHN · 04-03-2020, 09:34 PM

Please ship me three of them!

04-02-2020, 10:33 PM	#1
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,759 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	ElectraGran 100 mpg carb This is the famous ElectraGran 100 mpg carburetor developed by my Grandmother, Zonie Chandler. [Electra for electric and Gran for Granny] She developed this design after WWII because fuel was still rationed. Her original idea came when she worked at an electric motor shop during the war. She continually improved those motors and they ran cooler, smoother, made more power on less electricity with each improvement. The test car was her 51 Plymouth. After some experimenting, it consistently achieved 100 + mpg, uphill with a headwind and low tire pressure. Her cousin, Smokey Chandler, utilized the design at the 52 Dayton 500. His 52 Hudson Hornet, equipped with two ElectraGran carbs, ran the complete 500-mile race without a fuel stop. I recall us seated at the table having a radio dinner [before the days of TV] and listening to testimony after testimony about the milage folks we getting. One guy said he was making money from the gas he was having to drain out and resale. Shortly after, President Truman called Granny and asked her to meet with him in Washington. At the meeting, he explained that her 100 mpg carb would ruin the oil industry. He asked her to remove it from the market and convinced the oil companies to reward Granny for doing so. Granny came home with a suitcase full of thousand dollar bills. I still have all original drawings and spec sheets and from time to time will build an ElectraGran just to keep in practice. Here is an example I am working up for a neighbor kids wagon. Larry Woodfin Attached Thumbnails __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

04-03-2020, 08:10 AM	#2
Tom Broome Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 136 Likes: 78 Liked 70 Times in 39 Posts	Re: ElectraGran 100 mpg carb Does it require the battery in the wagon to make it function properly? If so, does the wagon have to be a "Red Flyer", or will other wagons suffice? If one carburetor is good for 100mpg, will two carbs get 200mpg?

04-03-2020, 08:59 AM	#3
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,759 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: ElectraGran 100 mpg carb Tom, you are on track [so to speak] about the magic of the ElectraGran design. That battery is a 6 volt and you can see the ElectraGran has already doubled the voltage. Just consider what happens at speed, the faster you drive, the better the mileage. And yes, at the 1952 Daytona 500, Smokey Chandler said, "if the race had been much longer we would have to come in to drain fuel." I received a PM from a racer who has a 1965 Pontiac Firebird, he asks if the ElectraGran would work on that model. And yes it would be he wants to remain anonymous. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

04-03-2020, 09:34 PM	#4
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,528 Likes: 2,220 Liked 1,792 Times in 571 Posts	Re: ElectraGran 100 mpg carb Please ship me three of them! __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock