TURBOCHARGERS, SPOOLY BOIS, PUFFERS, BOOST MAKERS. HERE’S SOME HISTORY AND HOW THEY WORK.
There’s a certain magic in the way a turbocharger works. It takes wasted energy from exhaust gases, spins a turbine at insane speeds, and forces more air into an engine than it could naturally inhale. The result? More power, more efficiency, and in many cases, a very distinctive whoosh followed by the occasional flutter when the throttle closes. But the story of the turbocharger isn’t just about car enthusiasts chasing boost. Its roots stretch back well over a century and span aviation, shipping, motorsport, and eventually the mainstream cars we see today. The basic concept of a turbocharger was first sketched out in the late 19th century. Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi is credited with inventing the turbocharger in 1905, filing a patent for a system that used exhaust-driven turbines to force air into an engine. The idea was simple, but the technology of the time wasn’t yet advanced enough to produce reliable, high-speed turbines. Early metallurgy, bearings, and sealing systems just couldn’t keep up with the extreme heat and rotational speeds. Despite these limitations, Büchi’s vision laid the foundation for what would become one of the most important advancements in engine technology. His concept was aimed at large diesel engines, where efficiency gains could be substantial.
The first real-world success of turbocharging came not on the road, but in the sky. During World War I, aeroplanes faced a problem: thin air at high altitude robbed engines of power. Engineers realised that by compressing the intake air, they could restore lost performance. By 1918, General Electric engineer Sanford Moss was experimenting with turbochargers on aircraft engines in the United States. His work proved that turbochargers could allow planes to fly higher and faster, a crucial advantage in military aviation. Through the interwar years and into World War II, turbocharged aircraft engines became increasingly common, with notable examples including Boeing’s B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress. These developments also pushed turbo technology forward in terms of metallurgy, lubrication, and design. Without aviation’s demand for reliable, high-power engines, turbocharging may never have matured as quickly as it did.
At the same time, turbochargers were finding their way into large marine and industrial diesel engines. Cargo ships, trains, and power generators benefited hugely from improved fuel efficiency and increased output. For these applications, reliability was key, and the slower, bigger turbochargers used in diesel engines proved far easier to manage than the screaming-high-RPM units later seen in motorsport. While industrial and aviation engines were enjoying the benefits of turbocharging, cars lagged. The first production car to feature a turbocharger was the Chevrolet Corvair Monza in 1962, followed closely by the Oldsmobile Jetfire. Both used small, relatively crude turbo systems, and both highlighted the difficulties of adapting boost to everyday motoring. Lag was enormous, reliability was questionable, and drivers often didn’t understand how to treat these new engines. The Oldsmobile even came with a water-methanol injection system called “Turbo-Rocket Fluid” to prevent detonation - a detail that proved far too complex for the average owner. Despite those setbacks, the automotive world didn’t give up. In 1973, BMW produced the iconic 2002 Turbo, one of the first performance-oriented turbo cars in Europe. By the late 1970s, turbocharging became a calling card for speed, with cars like the Porsche 911 Turbo (930) redefining what forced induction could do on the road. Motorsport soon followed, with Formula 1’s infamous turbo era in the 1980s producing engines that exceeded 1,000 hp in qualifying trim from just 1.5 litres of displacement.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, turbocharging gained traction in production cars, particularly in Japan. Models like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution carried turbos into the hearts of enthusiasts everywhere. These cars cemented the turbocharger’s reputation as the go-to solution for power and tunability. But it wasn’t just about speed. Rising emissions standards and fuel economy concerns in the 2000s saw turbos return to the spotlight for efficiency rather than just performance. Smaller engines paired with turbochargers could produce the power of larger units while consuming less fuel and emitting fewer pollutants. This trend gave rise to the now-common “downsizing” movement, where 1.4- or 1.6-litre turbo engines could replace naturally aspirated 2.0- or even 2.5-litre engines. Today’s turbochargers are a far cry from the crude systems of the 1960s. Variable-geometry turbos (VGT) can change the shape of their turbine housing to reduce lag and optimise boost delivery. Twin-scroll designs separate exhaust pulses for quicker spool-up. Some manufacturers use twin- or even triple-turbo setups for seamless power delivery across the rev range.
What began as an experimental idea in the early 1900s is now so commonplace that many drivers use turbocharged engines daily without even realising it. From tiny city cars to supercars, trucks to aircraft, the turbocharger has proven its versatility and staying power. It’s been a journey of over 100 years: from Alfred Büchi’s first patent, to the screaming turbos of F1, to the whisper-quiet, efficient units tucked under the bonnet of family hatchbacks. Few pieces of automotive engineering have had such a profound and lasting impact. The result is a worldwide addiction to boost. It’s one thing you can never get enough of…
Take a look at the YouTube video from one of the world's biggest turbocharger manufacturers, Garrett, as they explain how a turbo system works and where the power comes from - boost!: Turbo Technology Expertise | How a Turbo System Works | Garrett - Advancing Motion | Garrett - Advancing Motion
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