Community Question: Coolest air cleaner design?

[Sajeev]

MecumWhat is the coolest way to top an engine? The slickest way to clean the air going inside it? 

That's what today's Community Question is asking YOU, dear user of the Hagerty Community.  Is it something from the era of oil bath air cleaners, muscle cars, or fuel injected performance? 

Everyone has a favorite (mine is below) so let's hear yours! 

Mecum

[DC]

‘63 Z-11

[DC]

 ‘63 Z-11, no show, all GO

[Alikat51]

'63 409 Impala 2 4bbl. Big chrome and in your face!

[cortina_gt]

Buick "Star Wars" 

[cortina_gt]

Being a Ford guy, can't forget the simplicity of the 289 hipo and the cool Boss 302 and Torino Shakers.

[raduoos]

My 63 Corvair with twin carburetors.

[BIGHOCK]

Very COOL intake system ....

[61Rampy]

I liked the 65-9 140 hp Corvair aircleaners, too.

[Nvylaw]

 

 1962 Olds 215. Mates with intake manifold to cover entire carb. 

[bblhed]

Hands down the coolest air cleaner is anything that is easy to change without disconnecting a dozen vacuum lines and needing a tool of any kind.

Why do I need a ratchet to remove two bolts, plus have to remove three vacuum lines to change the air filter on my 2007 Sienna? Also why is it so hard to realign the lid? This job should be way easier, I'm talking to you Toyota!

[1959oldcad]

The 1959-1960 Cadillac Tri-Power Air Cleaner has two snorkels and a low design for a snug   fit.     Its all business.-!!!!!!! 

[DC]

 Sometimes it isn’t the air cleaner, it’s what it is

connected to.

[BIGHOCK]

THERE IS ONLY ONE ..... SHAKER

[BIGHOCK]

RUNNER UP FOR 2nd PLACE ..... Cowl Induction 1970 Chevelle (454)

[DC]

Actually, cowl induction really worked, drawing cool air from high pressure area at base of windshield, a NASCAR trick.  Air at middle of hood is dead air.

[1959Imperial]

I love the '66 Oldsmobile Toronado air cleaner....

[Spookysgarage]

Well, for my being a FOMOCO MoFo, I have several I really think dominate this topic, but the 1957 Mercury Monterey with the Super Marauder engine is killer!! 

[BIGHOCK]

[3Deuces]

Of course, we can't forget what topped certain mid-60s Poncho engines!

[67Firebird]

Wah-Wah, wa wa wa wa wa wa ( Little GTO )

[espo70]

Ahhh Sajeev, a man after my own car-loving heart. Your favorite is mine as well. Nothing like a shiny, 5.0 Liter 4V HO emblazoned, fed my 2 black snorkels, 84-85 Mustang GT air cleaner.  This, from the same era is a close second in my book. The 83-85 L69 Z28/IROC (and 85 TA) HO air cleaner. Not as bold, but sinister in black with cool striping. 

[Sajeev]

Oh yes! The dual snorkel F-bodies are just as cool, thanks for sharing. 

[buellerdan]

Corvette L-88 with the air filter element in the hood.  Unique if not beautiful.

[DC]

 

Da “Grumps Hump”

[PurelyPMD]

69 Trans Am - air filter is in the hood, screen over the carb.

[BIGHOCK]

OK .... and lets not forget MOPAR 440 SIX PACK

[BIGHOCK]

OLDS / CADILLAC 1951-1956

[35-709]

This is not a "Batwing" air cleaner.  It is just an air cleaner.  Used on Packards, Olds, Cadillacs and who knows what else.  How the air cleaner on the Olds engine above got to be called a "batwing" is beyond me but the misnomer has been floating around for some time now --- but call it what you want.

Pictured is a correct Batwing air cleaner seen on multi-carb Cadillac Eldorados in the late '50s and 1960.   Batwing Air Cleaner

[scout_man]

Excellent, you named it correctly, add Packard to the list, all AC built.

Oil bath, dual inlet,  AC, hot rod, 50s Olds, Caddy, Darth Vader, yes

Bat Wing   .. NO  

Doesn't even resemble 

For the record, let's add an actual Bat's Wing

[RichardC]

1956 ? Corvette with 2-4Bbls.   (2) individual louvered aluminum air cleaners.

[DC]

L 79,

Giant Killer

[BIGHOCK]

VOLKSWAGON BEETLE

[DC]

 

 W-30.....Rocket

[LittleCarBigSky]

1972 Ford 351 Cleveland, only because was the first maintenance my dad taught me to do on a car.

[hyperv6]

The intake Pontiac used on their prototype cars and Indy Pace Car.

I am shocked no one posted the Trans Am Shaker scoop Air Cleaner.

[scout_man]

An exceptional picture of probably the rarest air intake on this thread, actually on any thread ... 

Although it wasn't plumbed at all to the 2.5L Iron Duke induction,

It did perhaps bring some ambient air to the rear engine compartment.

[Geok86]

 Firehawk Ram Air open element filter housing that seals to the dual inlet hood.

[964c4]

Porsche 911 rain hats.

[MR]

How about the Chysler Crossflow 413 C.I.

[60Sonoramic]

Actually, that carb setup is called ram induction (sometimes cross-ram) but the official name for those engines in Plymouths was "SonoRamic Commando" and in Darts and Dodges they were called D-500.

[Hagerty Fan]

 

 

 

[StanF512]

Pontiac Trans Am Shaker Hood, but the 1970-71 versions with the solenoid-controlled flapper door that opened up automatically on WOT!   

You showed a picture of a later Trans Am with poor power and a non-functional scoop!   

This is what you should have shown: 

[PurelyPMD]

A blue 70 would have been better...

[BATESCAFE]

  

 LOVE THIS LOOK

[scout_man]

Beauty in simplicity and shear numbers

On the other  hand

thanks Chrysler

[Maicosandspider]

 

[Foam]

 

[Hurst_Olds_79]

69 Hurst/Olds “mailbox” scoops. All business and fully functional 

 

[DC]

“69 Hurst/Olds “mailbox” scoops. All business and fully functional“

Leading edge of hood and lower edge edge of front bumper are high pressure areas, very effective...of course a “Rocket Man” already knows this. 😁