engine air filter design evolution

[Moderator]

I'm just curious...

What make/model/year of passenger car was first to use a panel type air filter?

How about the first use of a panel filter on a V8 (or V6) engine?

I doubt we'll find a definitive answer via Google... but it might be interesting to see how far back we remember seeing them.

[MGB-FV8]

Excellent trivia question; I remember replacing panel filters at my work with the introduction of the muti-port fuel injection that had an upper and lower intakes.  I know that prior to that, we had throttle body fuel injection and it used the standard round air filter installed just like the carburated engines did.

[Moderator]

It's a topic I was pondering while writing up an article about a Triumph Stag.

Stags were equipped with panel filters from day one, sometime in June of 1970.


(<a href="http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/GlennMerrell-2.htm">Glenn's Stag</a>)

Can anyone think of an earlier panel air filter application?

[DiDueColpi]

Yep,
1968 volvo 144 and mid 68 jag xj6

[BMC]

1975 MG Midget 1500.

That would be a neat addition to any MGB conversion engine bay- well if there was one that actually didn't look out of place.

-BMC.