Hooniverse Asks: What weird engine type do you wish wound up in a production car?

Jeff Glucker
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I’m fascinated by radial engines. They dance in a way that’s familiar but the moves are just a little different. Radial engines put their hips into it. And they’ve never found favor in the automotive space, outside of one-off race cars or insane project builds. Some have tried shoving them into motorcycles, but the main application of a radial engine is in the nose of an airplane. Occasionally, they’d be used to power a tank as well.

I’d love to see more examples of a radial engine in a car. Conversely, is there a production vehicle that could’ve used one?

What other unique or strange engine configurations are out there? And which would you like to have seen go into a production vehicle? Maybe someone was working on an offset V3? Did we have early options for compressed air besides boiling water into steam?

Sound off below and let us all learn about some great oddball engines.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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51 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What weird engine type do you wish wound up in a production car?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Ford toyed with the idea of a traverse mounted Straight 8 in the 1980s. That would have been interesting. https://jalopnik.com/how-about-a-straight-eight-powered-ford-tempo-t-drive-5444277

    A modern steam powered car using the steam to spin a turbine to produce electricity to power a EV drivetrain.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      That’s a lot of energy transitions (fuel -> heat -> mechanical -> electrical -> mechanical), which means a lot of loss in between. Interesting, but not efficient.

      I remember my dad ranting about the conspiracy that ended some guy’s brilliant engineering of a steam-powered Corvette. He swore it had huge potential, but that “Big Oil” bought him out and buried the idea. I have no clue whether there was any truth to it.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Yeah, but you could rate it on miles per cord of wood. Because I want a wood fired boiler for the ultimate off the grid post apocalypse car.

        Reply
        1. Lokki Avatar
          Lokki

          So would your wood-powered corvette be smokin’ fast in a cord-er mile race?

          Reply
      2. Gregg Collins Avatar
        Gregg Collins

        Anytime someone starts talking about “Big Oil”, just smile, nod and slowly back away. That person is not mentally balanced.

        Reply
        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          Oh yeah. That’d be my dad.

          Reply
    2. discontinuuity Avatar
      discontinuuity

      I’ve heard that steam piston engines are more efficient than turbines unless they’re over 500 hp. Steam piston engines are a bit like electric motors in that they produce massive torque at zero rpm, so you don’t need a transmission or clutch.

      There was a prototype steam turbine powered bus:
      https://www.sfmta.com/blog/munis-steam-powered-bus

      Reply
    3. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      What about a V16 made of two Ferrari 308/ Lamborghini Jalpa V8s joined together at the middle instead of a straight eight made of two four cylinder engines joined at the middle?
      http://gtspeed.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cizeta_v16-640×359.jpg
      http://gtspeed.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/188nxh7wxdsj4jpg.jpg
      http://gtspeed.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/198vn1nzzyy22jpg.jpg

      The Cizeta V16T. T for transverse.

      Reply
      1. Monkey10is Avatar
        Monkey10is

        “My name is Gianni Giorgio… but everybody calls me Giorgio”

        Reply
  2. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    The Adams-Farwell was in serial production from 1905 to 1912 with a radial engine, made even more interesting by having a fixed crankshaft about which the rest of the engine rotated:

    http://www.american-automobiles.com/images/Adams-Farwell-2.gif

    Reply
    1. Toaster Avatar
      Toaster

      The original rotary engine.

      These things were common Aero engines in WWI

      Also used in motorcycles:

      Reply
      1. dr zero Avatar
        dr zero

        As most famously used in the Sopwith Camel. There is nothing like an engine that throws the aircraft into a spin as a design feature.

        Reply
        1. Monkey10is Avatar
          Monkey10is

          Hey! All of these fly-by-wire fighter jets are designed to be unstable.

          It was just ahead of its time.

          Reply
          1. Toaster Avatar
            Toaster

            Unstable, not quite.

            Gyroscopic precession of the rather heavy engine (heavy, compared the wooden scaffolding that passed for a plane those days) meant that the planes were actually quite reluctant to turn in certain directions.Its the same effect that stops a bike from falling to the side as long as its wheels are turning.

            They loved going in other directions though.
            Good pilots could use that to their advantage, bad ones wouldn’t live to tell the tale.

          2. Toaster Avatar
            Toaster

            Unstable, not quite.

            Gyroscopic precession of the rather heavy engine (heavy, compared the wooden scaffolding that passed for a plane those days) meant that the planes were actually quite reluctant to turn in certain directions.Its the same effect that stops a bike from falling to the side as long as its wheels are turning.

            They loved going in other directions though.
            Good pilots could use that to their advantage, bad ones wouldn’t live to tell the tale.

        2. Toaster Avatar
          Toaster

          Not just the Camel, the Oberursel Rotaries that powered a lot of the early WWI planes (mostly Fokkers) were either licensed or based on the same Clerget/Gnome/Rhones that were used in Camels and Nieuports.

          Rotarys are incredibly elegant and horribly clunky machines at the same time.

          Reply
  3. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    A balloon.

    When your balloon is exhausted, simply liberate some tied to antennae of inventory at the buy here, pay here lots.

    https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QhAAAOSw4V9a49-h/s-l640.jpg

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      That is actually a thing now – compressed air ‘powered’ vehicles.

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) were actually doing serious research into compressed air hybrids but stopped as it was uneconomic. The EU would only grant subsidies on electric hybrids so those cars would be at an automatic disadvantage in the showroom, which is one of many reasons subsidies on EVs annoy me. It can hinder the development of alternative branches of technology. Emerging ICE tech has arguably advanced more in the last 10 years than battery tech (HCCI, Freevalve and ironically, electrification of many of its mechanical components), but the people who write “technology” blogs and relate to EVs because they’re like their iPhones and don’t seem to have nasty oily bits outweigh any sensible discussion of mechanical engineering.

        Reply
  4. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    “The Napier Deltic engine is a British opposed-piston valveless, supercharged uniflow scavenged, two-stroke Diesel engine….Unusually, the cylinders were disposed in a three bank triangle, with a crankshaft at each corner of the triangle.”

    https://media3.giphy.com/media/X04oV0aIiVrGg/giphy.gif

    Reply
    1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      The Commer TS3 opposed piston diesel is sort of like one bank of a Deltic, but with rocker arms operating a single crank

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sdmZRtUBXA/T5Qx0K2hjFI/AAAAAAAALo8/GNlvAT77VbY/s1600/Commer+TS.gif

      Reply
    2. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      The Commer TS3 opposed piston diesel is sort of like one bank of a Deltic, but with rocker arms operating a single crank

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sdmZRtUBXA/T5Qx0K2hjFI/AAAAAAAALo8/GNlvAT77VbY/s1600/Commer+TS.gif

      Reply
    3. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      The Commer TS3 used a layout simmlar to one bank of Deltic and was used for about 10 years in medium trucks and buses.

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/65f73bdc05b7c60a373f09ee244214af1cea7942f91ef97d01b22d2400cbaba9.gif

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        Interesting designs, but more suited to big trucks and military vehicles than cars. I can’t imagine getting one of those to rev!

        Reply
      2. Rover 1 Avatar
        Rover 1

        The Neander twin conrod geared twin crank engine found on their motorcycles as a diesel might be good in a car.

        Reply
  5. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    The BRM H16 Formula 1 engine of 1966 and ’67 was a heavy, unreliable and really-not-all-that-powerful mess, but that doesn’t make the underlying concept (two complete boxer engines stacked one atop another and tied together via chain or gear drive) any less cool.

    https://www.renaissance-models.com/images/details/BRM/Donington_25-08-2010_DSC_1756.jpg

    Imagine a modern, SVX-ish Subaru flagship with an H8 or H12 under the hood…

    Reply
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      And then there ‘s the sound of it.

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      I would contend that the H16 made decent power, just not enough to offset the extra weight. And that’s before you get into the atrocious reliability!

      80-100 hp more than the championship winning Brabham Repco V8, even 10% or so more than the Ferrari V12.

      Reply
    3. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      Impressive.

      I will confess to having a hard time imagining such a thing, that is a Flagship Subaru.

      Reply
  6. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    The Commer TS3 “Knocker” supercharged 2-stroke diesel was used in Bedford trucks and buses, but never cars. It was designed to be low profile / COG. Opposed pistons driving outboard rockers driving underslung crank. It would have made a great off-road vehicle engine.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ec0ac6388b099c919cc3e1a1193f88b0e7511540de3affe5353b3f8be723f0b7.png

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      A guy in the UK put one in a vintage-styled car on a Leyland chassis. Can’t find an image now, but it looked the part.

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      They were even reliable.. well by the standards of 1950s British vehicles at least.

      Reply
  7. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    “…more examples of a radial engine in a car… early options for compressed air…?”

    If I’m selectively reading the question correctly, the answer is this:

    http://www.airsupplies.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Custer-air-car.jpg

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      What’s old is new again. https://www.drivespark.com/four-wheelers/2017/tata-motors-air-powered-car-airpod-launch-2020/articlecontent-pf61533-020628.html

      Reply
      1. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        Reply
    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      So on above car can yo just rig a device to knock the valve assembly off one of those tank for a super turbo boost? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZCLFY0wb7k

      Reply
  8. Troggy Avatar
    Troggy

    I din’t know if this rates as a ‘wierd’ engine, but one that has rarely been seen in cars. As a VFR800 rider, there is not much that can match the sound and power delivery of a flat-crank 90deg V4 engine.

    We need a hot hatch with a 90deg V4.

    Reply
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      Would this be close enough?
      Alright it’s a 60deg V4, not 90deg, and it’s not a hatch, and your definition of ‘hot’ might vary but…. anyway

      https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/79saab96.jpg

      Reply
      1. Toaster Avatar
        Toaster

        That is very very much my definition of hot, I mean, look at those wheels.

        I’ll be in my bunk. *gnnnhhfff*

        Reply
      2. Troggy Avatar
        Troggy

        A Saab 96! I’d have it.
        I’m also thinking of the Lancia Fulvia – even though it’s a narrow angle (pic is mine)
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24d8e1d7bd544ff53e744e7eb4e4449f7fa234bde6fb195719f9f5ee138e0f5e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24d8e1d7bd544ff53e744e7eb4e4449f7fa234bde6fb195719f9f5ee138e0f5e.jpg

        Reply
      3. Troggy Avatar
        Troggy

        A Saab 96! I’d have it.
        I’m also thinking of the Lancia Fulvia – even though it’s a narrow angle (pic is mine)
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24d8e1d7bd544ff53e744e7eb4e4449f7fa234bde6fb195719f9f5ee138e0f5e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/24d8e1d7bd544ff53e744e7eb4e4449f7fa234bde6fb195719f9f5ee138e0f5e.jpg

        Reply
        1. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          I’ve driven one of those, they are very light on their feet. I have a Gamma Coupe which drives in a very similar, size shrinking, manner.

          Reply
          1. Troggy Avatar
            Troggy

            I think a small Italian coupe like this would be my ideal weekend car.

      4. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
        SlowJoeCrow

        The Ford Capri almost qualified, unfortunately the V4 engines were only used in the MK I and the hatchback showed up in the MK II.

        Reply
    2. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      How ’bout a 50 degree twin-crankshaft 2-stroke V4?

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/abedb9f4ab46fc251d305420e906933304ed92969de9a0eec26867fb269d6d6c.jpg

      Reply
      1. Rover 1 Avatar
        Rover 1

        The RD/RZ 500 remains the most turbine like vehicle I’ve ever ridden, more so than a Suzuki RE5 rotary.

        https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Yamaha%20RD500%20%205.jpg

        Reply
    3. Toaster Avatar
      Toaster

      If you can live with a *slightly* narrower v-angle,
      Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato would qualify.

      Reply
      1. Troggy Avatar
        Troggy

        Absolutely!

        Reply
  9. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    how about a Square Four, Ariel 4 stroke https://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/images/57Ariel-SquareFour-engineR.jpg

    Suzuki 2 stroke https://www.bikesrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Suzuki-Square-Four-Courtesy-of-mcnewscom.au_-696×639.jpg

    Reply
  10. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Admittedly, not that weird, and more of an overall package than just the engine (then again, a cool engine is pointless in the wrong car, there’s no point putting some crazy diesel in featherlight sports car, or a zingy but torque lite screamer in a truck), but I really wish Suzuki had followed through on it’s Cappuccino replacement concept, the C2. While breaking out of kei rules, it would have made up for that by still being compact, but with a 1600cc V8. Seriously, that’s my dream car right there, forget your supercars, I can’t think of anything more brilliant than a tiny light car, that’s still got decent weather protection, can be driven every day, powered by something that reminds me of a Moto Guzzi V8 but with Japanese reliability. It’s not clear if a real engine was made for the concept, but I have no doubt Suzuki could have made it if they wanted.

    https://www.supercars.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1998_Suzuki_C21.jpg

    Ah well, I’ll console myself with 3 pot turbo warble in the meantime (as soon as I fix this damn steeering column..)

    Reply
  11. Eric Rucker Avatar
    Eric Rucker

    GM had a prototype 2.5 liter V5 diesel (with the injection pump mounted where the missing cylinder of a V6 was), IIRC intended for smaller platforms like the X-bodies and the compact pickups.

    Reply
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