The Greateast Mass Production Engines Ever Made?

[RBH58]

Okay....we've had a thread of the engines used across the most marques, but which mass produced engines (and by that I mean produced in thousands at least) were actually any good?

[RBH58]

Well....I don't think that there are that many truly great ones. There have been lots of ubiquitous engines BL's A-Series, but was it a great and memorable engine? Not in my opinion. A venerable workhorse for sure. But a great engine?

Now Porsche Flat-6? Sure.
Alfa Romeo Busso V6? Absolutely. A truly great engine. My pick as greatest ever.

[RBH58]

lee_erm said:

It boggles my mind that people are genuinely suggesting the VAG 1.9 TDI.

Boggles my mind too! I can't think of a "great" Diesel engine....and that wasn't a challenge to anyone! The only one I can think of that was remotely interesting was VAG's V10.

I think people are listing a lot of "good" but not "great" engines generally.

[RBH58]

As I said, lots of "good", not so many "great"

For an engine to be "great", I think it has to have had a reasonable model run. It has to be a charismatic engine with great drive ability. It has to have a reputation for being robust and reliable. It probably has to be an engine that's gained a reputation with tuners. Engines introduced last year probably haven't had a chance to become "great" yet.

[RBH58]

gazza285 said:

And spawned some of the greatest motorsport engines ever, from the Lotus Twincam, through the Cosworth FVA and BD series, the direct predecessors of the Cosworth DFV, which was the engine to have if you wanted to win a GP through most of the Seventies, alongside the Zakspeed Capri, the RS1800 and the RS200...

Agree. You are "getting it"

[RBH58]

Willy Nilly said:

Off the top of my head:

B, C and N series Cummins
Fords Powerstar
60 Series Detroit
3406 Cat
4.9, 6.6, 7.4 and 8.4 litre Sisu, not sure if the 16.8 V12 has earned its stripes yet
Those FL air cooled Deutz engines
That will do for a start.

I meant in a car context

[RBH58]

Great engines guys. Not decent ones or "not bad for a diesel"

[RBH58]

Welshbeef said:

Shouldn't we have nominations and winners for each engine configuration then an overall PH winner?

Possibly

Best <4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 >12 cyls?

6 cyl is easy for me. BMW N/A M-Power, Alfa Romeo Busso V6, Jaguar XK6
8 cyl. Chev Small Block. Rover V8.

The rest. Mmmmm....