Engines - Straight Eight

[LukeR94]

Is there any mass produced car that has had a straight eight (Inline 8) engine?

If not, Why?

Why did the V8 take off but not the I8?

[aleksboch]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight-eight_engine

[zed4]

Because it would be too long for modern cars!

[themanwithnoname]

I was going to offer up simply 'packaging'

[Crafty_]

Buick and Packard both made one from the mid 30s into the early 50s. Problem is as above, they're just so big. Even in a 50s yank they are a bit of a squeeze. The v8 was more compact - small block chevy is about 2 feet long for example. They also had more performance potential imho.

[motco]

I seem to remember something about very long crankshafts and torsional rigidity being lower.

[0llie]

The only one I can think of for the road is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR & Uhlenhaut Coupé. Hardly a mass produced car however

[zeppelin101]

Bad enough trying to package and crash a straight-6 with crash regs as they are, nevermind one which is two cylinders longer. Before you start worrying about the stress in the block/crank/head.

[anonymous-user]

Daimler produced one in the Thirties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimler_Straight-Eigh...

[Engineer1]

Aren't V8's inherently more balanced, IIRC V8s and I6's are more balanced

[robinessex]

It's basicaly a torsional vibrational issue. The crankshafts are quite long, and prone to be 'whippy'. Even straight sixes suffer a bit, hence the torsional vibration damper stuffed on the end of the crank.

[anonymous-user]

You never watched "Rain Man"?

[TA14]

As above packaging and length of crankshaft.

As a footnote Alvis won their class at Le Mans with a 1.5 litre supercharged FWD straight eight.

[HustleRussell]

motco said:

I seem to remember something about very long crankshafts and torsional rigidity being lower.

Camshafts too.

[aeropilot]

My best mate owns a 1951 Pontiac with a flathead, 'Silver Streak' straight 8 engine.

[toppstuff]

Alfa 8C.

[AnotherClarkey]

toppstuff said:

Alfa 8C.

Nope.

ETA - you are correct, the original was a straight 8. Cringe.

[toppstuff]

AnotherClarkey said:

toppstuff said:

Alfa 8C.

Nope.

Sure?

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20931/lot/235/

[MJK 24]

AnotherClarkey said:

toppstuff said:

Alfa 8C.

Nope.

Perhaps you need to decide which 8C he's referring to? Current model is a V8. Previous was a straight eight.

[toppstuff]

AnotherClarkey said:

toppstuff said:

Alfa 8C.

Nope.

ETA - you are correct, the original was a straight 8. Cringe.