Instantly recognisable engine sounds

[Triumph Man]

You know the sort of thing - you can hear an engine a few hundred yards, maybe even further away and know instantly what manufacturer it is or maybe even what vehicle it’s in.

As examples, the Land Rover 200/300tdi and the td5. Even when tuned you can tell what the engine/car is.

[BlindedByTheLights]

Subaru engines, distinctive warble

[David-H]

Audi's 5 cylinder engine has got to be on this list.

[finlo]

Morris minor
MGB
Triumph stag
VW Beetle

[itcaptainslow]

Honda K20

For me, the Rover K-Series, purely as I've spent so much time around/fixing them

The PSA DV6 was quite a distinctive diesel for me, again probably due to over-exposure to it.

[Tango13]

Triumph triples

[FilH]

The ticking OHV Valencia engines in old fiestas

[xtruss]

A pinto with its knocking cam and triumph triple

[finlo]

FilH said:

The ticking OHV Valencia engines in old fiestas

Or those rattley old Peugeots, Talbot's and Simca's.

[MikeM6]

BMW straight six and a 1.9TDI

[dbdb]

Citroen 2cv is very distinctive as is the Jaguar XJ6.

[thebraketester]

Volvo 5 pot that was in the 850

1.9pd tdi vag engines

Straight 6 bmw m3 engine

[RGG]

Trabant Anyone?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cy2ldeYEWa0

[DIW35]

Laverda Jota with the 180 crank

[OldPal]

2jz
Rb26

[Onegoodleg]

A series with accompanying gearbox whine

[mac96]

Saab 96. Both the V4 and the earlier 2 stroke.

[Super Sonic]

Napier Deltic

[Quhet]

Onegoodleg said:

A series with accompanying gearbox whine

I can still hear my Nan's metro

[P2KKA]

VQ35/350z