Road & Track's advanced fifth wheel revolutionized automotive performance testing

Road & Track's early electronic auto performance testing tool, a heavy fifth wheel, revolutionized vehicle evaluation. This device, weighing 80-90 pounds and requiring significant mounting time, used a calibrated speedometer and stopwatches for speed measurements and braking distance. The original fifth wheel, costing $1652 in 1969, was later replaced by a more portable electronic system developed with Paul Lamar, paving the way for modern testing.