Engines - the legendary one of each type?

[ChemicalChaos]

from a discussion I had earlier, I pose this question. What do we think the most legendary, revered, sought after, famed or otherwise well-known engine of each configuration is? Car, motorbike or any other usage, road or race.

My person opinions:
Single - erm?
Twin - Ducati Testastretta Desmo V-Twin
Triple - Ford Ecoboost
I4 - Honda F20C
Flat 4 - Subaru EJ
5 cylinder - Audi WR/MB/RR
I6 - Nissan RB26
V6 - Alfa Romeo "Busso" V6
Flat 6 - Porsche (various types)
I8 - Bugatti DOHC Grand Prix engine
V8 - Chevy Smallblock
V10 - Dodge "Viper" V10
V12 - Rolls Royce Merlin
Flat 12 - Ferrari "Colombo" 12-cylinder
W12 - Volkswagen W12
V16 - BRM V16 (also the best sounding engine. Ever. No arguments please)
W16 - Volkswagen W16

[ChemicalChaos]

trickywoo said:

Why no V4?

Good point. In which case I nominate the Honda VFR range

Zerotonine said:

Coventry Climax deserves a mention here...

So does the Cosworth DFV, but the Chevy is even more well known and widely used than both of them

[ChemicalChaos]

Vaud said:

ChemicalChaos said:

V10 - Dodge "Viper" V10

No, sorry. From a road car, the Lexus LFA. The Dodge sounds like a tractor in comparison.

I dont know what sort of tractors you have round where you live....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCdykWtbMjw&fe...

[ChemicalChaos]

Hol said:

Hasbeen said:

You have forgotten, or are too young to remember, the most versatile engine of them all, the Buick/Rover V8.

It's powered luxury saloons, bush bashing 4 wheel drives, a host of sports cars which give it some claim, but it also won 2 F1 world championships in it's Brabham Repco form. What engine can claim so much.

This is a definite. Even period touring cars used it.

I certainly didn't forget it - in fact I was going to put it. However, whilst the RV8 is revered over here, in the rest of the world it is the Chevy that is the go-to engine whenever someone thinks of a V8

[ChemicalChaos]

JimbobVFR said:

I Agree, although not surprising based on my username. I do think its more specific though, I'd say the proper gear driven can versions would qualify but the later camchain VTEC versions don't. I'd even go as far to narrow it down to the various RC and NC versions, the VFR400 NC30/RVF400 NC35 engines are engineering masterpieces in miniature, the bigger 750 motors are also pretty special IMO

Dad used to own a VF400F. Whilst it wasnt exactly a roadburner, and it weighed a ton, it was a very very smooth, quiet and impressively engineered lump

[ChemicalChaos]

tom_loughlin said:

Gary C said:

Think I would vote RR griffon for V12

I'm with you Gary on the Griffon.

I'd disagree - the Griffon was too big, too heavy and sounded rough as hell compared to the smooth noise of a Merlin

[ChemicalChaos]

Vaud said:

Quite.

The 2013 SRT Viper - 640 hp (480 kW) and 600 lb·ft at 4900 rpm / 8.4 L (514 cu in)

The LF-A - 4.8 (293 cu in) - 552hp (412 kW) at 8,700 rpm (9,500 max). Maximum torque is 480 N·m (354 ft·lb) at 6,800 rpm.

So 552hp from a NA 4.8 V10, vs 640 from an 8.4L NA v10. One sings, one grunts. I know which is legendary and which is the lazy blob.

And here is my standard response to such arguments - which one is fussy and highly strung and requires extensive servicing at short intervals due to such high stresses, and which one is a true GT engine that can do mega mileages reliably for years and years without wearing out or going bang or needing an expensive rebuild??
Not to mention, which one can very reliably be taken to 1000bhp+ with some simple tuning?