Charismatic engines - your nominations please

Charismatic engines - your nominations please

Author
Discussion

Duke Caboom

Original Poster:

2,010 posts

198 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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At some point diesel and petrol engines will be a thing of the past, driven only by oddballs and enthusiasts. When this occurs, which engines will we be looking back on fondly?

I'm particularity interested in engines fitted to reasonably attainable cars. All Ferrari V12s are pretty charismatic, but not what I'm after.

Also it is the engine, not the whole car. So an A series engine is not particularly charismatic*, even though a Cooper S with a 1275 is a very charismatic package, likewise the Pinto in a mk1 RS2000.

  • I'd say - you are welcome to disagree.
Alfa V6?
Honda Type R engines?
Anything wankel?



Halmyre

11,147 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Jaguar XK
Jaguar V12
Lotus Twin Cam
Rover V8

Dave_newcastle

192 posts

217 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Lotus twin-cam (original 1558cc)
Honda F20C
Jaguar XK
Mazda rotary

hiccy18

2,624 posts

66 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Opel CIH

Mogsmex

446 posts

234 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Ford Puma - 1.7 VCT

fantastic package of engine and Chassis smile

Riley Blue

20,907 posts

225 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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I'm not sure what yo mean by 'charismatic' in relation to an engine, perhaps 'iconic' would be better. Either way, I reckon the Series A should be on the list together with the Ford Side Valve, Riley Nine, VW air cooled and the wankel.

Norfolk B-roads

2,981 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Subaru EJ20/EJ25

Norfolk B-roads

2,981 posts

138 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
I'm not sure what yo mean by 'charismatic' in relation to an engine, perhaps 'iconic' would be better. Either way, I reckon the Series A should be on the list together with the Ford Side Valve, Riley Nine, VW air cooled and the wankel.
No, charismatic isn't iconic. Ford's 1.0 Ecoboost is iconic, but won't be on this list.

HealeyV8

419 posts

77 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Daimler V8 2.5 or 4.5.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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audi v10 and i5

psi310398

9,036 posts

202 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Duke Caboom said:
At some point diesel and petrol engines will be a thing of the past, driven only by oddballs and enthusiasts. When this occurs, which engines will we be looking back on fondly?

I'm particularity interested in engines fitted to reasonably attainable cars. All Ferrari V12s are pretty charismatic, but not what I'm after.

Also it is the engine, not the whole car. So an A series engine is not particularly charismatic*, even though a Cooper S with a 1275 is a very charismatic package, likewise the Pinto in a mk1 RS2000.

  • I'd say - you are welcome to disagree.
Alfa V6?
Honda Type R engines?
Anything wankel?
By Alfa V6 I assume you specifically mean the Busso? If so, I'd agree.

I'd then add the Alfa Nord to the list.

Duke Caboom

Original Poster:

2,010 posts

198 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
I'm not sure what yo mean by 'charismatic' in relation to an engine, perhaps 'iconic' would be better. Either way, I reckon the Series A should be on the list together with the Ford Side Valve, Riley Nine, VW air cooled and the wankel.
I nearly tried to define "charismatic" but then decided not to. But, one of our cars is a Honda Type R. It makes 100bhp/litre at 8000rpm and has a pronounced step, with associated change in engine note and performance, as it switches cam. So this morning, as I left a 30mph zone I changed down to second and accelerated through the gears simply because it was enjoyable. I would say that this ability to be enjoyable gives it character. The rest of the car is no better or worse than other hot hatches, worse than a Clio, but the package is great because of the charismatic engine (and gearbox!).

One of our other cars has a petrol turbo. It also produces 100bhp per litre. It is efficient, smooth, comfortable, fastish. But I won't remember the engine in the future. It isn't charismatic.

I have owned several A series-powered cars. The engine did a job, and just as well as other engines of the time, but didn't, for me, particularly stand out. Even though it was fitted to some charismatic cars. Read a test of Mini Cooper and it is the handling that is eulogised about, not the engine.

RicksAlfas

13,354 posts

243 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Alfa Twin Cam (Nord).
Alfa V6 (Busso).
Rover V8.
Ford Crossflow.
A-Series.
Honda VTEC.
Rolls/Bentley 6.75.
Some great big American V8 lump.
Lottery win - Lamborghini V12. (Anyone been watching Harry's Garage and Ian Tyrrell talking about Harry's Espada engine rebuild? Brilliant viewing).

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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427 as fitted to various Yank muscle
455SD Pontiac TransAm
426 Hemi as fitted to various Mopar

More attainable...

small-blocks from Chevy and Ford as fitted to Mustang, Camaro, TransAm, various pick-up trucks (and a host of mundane stuff too)

viggyp

1,917 posts

134 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Alfa Nord
Fiat/Lancia Lampredi Twin Cam
Honda NSX VTEC
E30 M3
Alfa Busso V6

These are just some which come to mind.

NGRhodes

1,291 posts

71 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Audi 2.2 5cyl turbo

Riley Blue

20,907 posts

225 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Duke Caboom said:
Riley Blue said:
I'm not sure what yo mean by 'charismatic' in relation to an engine, perhaps 'iconic' would be better. Either way, I reckon the Series A should be on the list together with the Ford Side Valve, Riley Nine, VW air cooled and the wankel.
I nearly tried to define "charismatic" but then decided not to. But, one of our cars is a Honda Type R. It makes 100bhp/litre at 8000rpm and has a pronounced step, with associated change in engine note and performance, as it switches cam. So this morning, as I left a 30mph zone I changed down to second and accelerated through the gears simply because it was enjoyable. I would say that this ability to be enjoyable gives it character. The rest of the car is no better or worse than other hot hatches, worse than a Clio, but the package is great because of the charismatic engine (and gearbox!).

One of our other cars has a petrol turbo. It also produces 100bhp per litre. It is efficient, smooth, comfortable, fastish. But I won't remember the engine in the future. It isn't charismatic.

I have owned several A series-powered cars. The engine did a job, and just as well as other engines of the time, but didn't, for me, particularly stand out. Even though it was fitted to some charismatic cars. Read a test of Mini Cooper and it is the handling that is eulogised about, not the engine.
I see what you're getting at, delete the A Series (at least in standard form) from the list. I think that engines can be charismatic for all the wrong reasons though I doubt they'll be listed here smile

Philip-b4n61

21 posts

86 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Ford 289 HI-PO
Daimler 2.5

9xxNick

927 posts

213 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Porsche's air-cooled flat six
Lancia V4

Lotobear

6,230 posts

127 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Another for the Lotus Twincam.

To think that the humble Cortina block with the brilliant Harry Mundy designed head can be directly linked firstly to the BDA then the DFV engine is amazing.

Such a charismatic little lump and a joy to hear coming on cam