The Turbocharger was invented by a Swiss engineer, Alfred Büchi, who patented the turbo design in 1905. Turbos have been used in all types of engines from Aviation to Locomotives. While a turbocharger increases the HP of the engine it can also provide other advantages, generally increasing the efficiency of the engine and better performance at higher altitudes.

One of the first turbochargers (turbo) applied to a non-diesel engine was implemented on a V12 Liberty aircraft engine by engineer, Sanford Moss during WWI. Doing so Sanford was able to show that while the turbo increased the HP of the engine it also allowed the engine to run at higher altitudes producing the same HP, because as you get higher less and less air is present in a given area. The Turbo was then used in the production of aircraft engines in the 1930's before WWII. The primary purpose behind the implication of turbos at this time was to increase the proficiency of the aircraft engine at higher altitudes allowing aircraft like the Boeing, B-17 Flying Fortress, to fly at higher altitudes.

The first turbo-diesel truck was produced by a company by the name of "Schweizer Maschinenfabrik Saurer", or "Swiss Machine Works Saurer", in 1938 and the first production turbo-diesel automobiles were introduced in 1978 by Mercedes-Benz with the 300SD turbo-diesel. Today nearly all automotive diesels are turbocharged. The first production turbocharged automobile engines were implemented by General Motors in 1962 and the A-Body Oldsmobile Cutlass Jetfire and Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder were fitted with turbochargers.

Turbochargers first appeared in the automobile racing world in 1952 when Fred Agabashian qualified for pole position at the Indianapolis 500 while leading for 100 miles (160 km) before tire shards disabled his compressor. Later Offenhauser turbocharged engines returned to Indianapolis in 1966 and peaked over 1,000 hp in 1973, while Porsche topped with a 1,100 hp turbo and dominated the Can-Am series. In Formula One from 1977 to 1989 engines with a capacity of 1500 cc would achieve anywhere from 1,000 hp to 1,500 hp and dominated the sport.  However the FIA decided that the turbos made the sport too dangerous/expensive and in 1987 the maximum boost pressure was reduced up until 1989 when it was banned completely.

A Brief History of the Turbo:

• Turbo invented by a swiss engineer, Alfred Büchi, in 1905.
• Sanford Moss applied the turbo to a non-diesel engine on a V12 Liberty aircraft engine during World War I.
• The Turbo was used in the production of aircraft engines in the 1930's before WWII
• During WW II the implication of the turbo was to increase the proficiency of the aircraft engine at higher altitudes.
• The first turbo-diesel truck was produced by "Swiss Machine Works Saurer", in 1938
• The first production turbocharged automobile engines were implemented by General Motors in 1962
• The Turbo first appeared in automobile racing in 1952 when Fred Agabashian qualified for pole position at the Indianapolis
• The first production turbo-diesel automobiles, introduced in 1978 by Mercedes-Benz with the 300SD turbo-diesel
• FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) decided that the turbo made Formula One too dangerous/expensive

   and in 1987 limited boost pressure until 1989 when it was banned completely.