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Major Softie wrote: Still, I don't think anyone use the term "Airhead" for BMW's until the Oilhead came out in the 90's.

But it didn't take long for "flying brick" to become commonplace.

Major Softie wrote:P.S. I just looked up the knucklehead engine on Wikipedia (to see what year it came out) and learned that they didn't start using those terms until the 60's. Apparently the chopper culture started using the terms to distinguish between the different engines that supplanted the flathead. Still, I don't think anyone use the term "Airhead" for BMW's until the Oilhead came out in the 90's.

Indeed. You probably already know that the "Knucklehead" was simply referred to as the OHV. Harley was especially fond of the OHV designation, especially since their prime competitor, Indian, only offered "obsolescent" flathead engines. OHV was a really big deal, not in just motorcycles but autos. I think Ford only offered their flat head 6's and 8's until the 1954 model year. Chevy didn't offer an OHV V-8 until 1955 as I recall.

(It's times like this that being old comes in real handy!)

Addendum: Back in the day, out of high school, I was riding Brit Bikes. One friend had a '52 Harley FLH (Panhead). Another friend had traded a horse for an Indian flathead 74. Naturally (?) there had to be a "roll on" side by side race. Of course the OHV Harley was bound to win--but it didn't. The Indian beat the Harley handily.

Of course I was smug that with my Brit Bike I could (surely) beat them both!

Ken

FWIW, i know "Airheads" was also used to describe the VW air cooled engines. Maybe that is part of the origin as well?

Ken in Oklahoma wrote:Chevy didn't offer an OHV V-8 until 1955 as I recall.

Ken

1917

"Airhead" That describes most of the girls I dated in high school.

High school "oilheads" didn't get many dates . . .

khittner1 wrote:High school "oilheads" didn't get many dates . . .

It was big in the 50's...

Major Softie wrote:1917

Omigod, I've been fact checked! I never thought it would happen to me.

Here's hoping that all the other stuff I never thought would happen to me--doesn't happen to me.

Ken

Ken in Oklahoma wrote: Omigod, I've been fact checked! I never thought it would happen to me.

You have been read, you have been fact checked, and you have been found wanting.

Major Softie wrote:

Ken in Oklahoma wrote: Omigod, I've been fact checked! I never thought it would happen to me.

You have been read, you have been fact checked, and you have been found wanting.

That's better than found wanking.