Harry Miller created the first really streamlined closed car in the United States, and one of the first in the world. That was in 1917, and he was already telling journalists about using airfoil selections for improving the traction of super-light cars. He created un-supercharged engines of fantastic efficiency. Then he became the master of supercharging, achieving even more amazing results and making the world's passenger car technology look archaic.
He gave the world front-wheel-drive as a practical reality and he created very tractable and practical four-wheel driving racing cars in the early Thirties, decades before most people could appreciate the value of the principle.
The creations of Miller, as well as Goossen and Offenhauser, were designed for the American oval track. The cars were raced on board tracks, brick tracks (Indy), dirt tracks, and were utterly dominant. Marine version of the racing engines were also built and raced in Gold Cup and Harmsworth events and in world speed record attempts. Famous boat racing names like Gar Wood, Hacker, Crouch, Ditchburn, Chris-Craft, and Dodge all used Miller engines.
The Miller and Offenhauser engines of I-4, I-8, V-16, and W-24 design produced staggering power outputs: Up to 3 horsepower per cubic-inch (193 hp/liter). They ranged in size from 91 to 3300 cubic-inches (1.5 to 200 liters).