Charismatic engines - your nominations please

[epicfail]

I won't argue with that. Amazing to think is was thought of in the mid 60's cobbled from 1 and 1/2 Triumph twin engines; they didn't actually make it till too late to compete with the Honda 4. I believe that due to the vertical split crankcase and the two camshaft OHV layout it's got some ludicrous number of individual components.

[tuscan_raider]

Mouse Rat said:

TVR Speed6

This

And the GT1 I had before it in my 996 Turbo

[epicfail]

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can explain why the Triumph v8 makes "that" noise and the Rover V8 never does. It's interesting that in standard 1970's tune the Triumph produced more power than the Rover.

[finlo]

epicfail said:

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can explain why the Triumph v8 makes "that" noise and the Rover V8 never does. It's interesting that in standard 1970's tune the Triumph produced more power than the Rover.

The Rover v8 was "old hat" by 1970.

[RicksAlfas]

Mr Tidy said:

Well at least it looks like this thread may be heading back to "reasonably attainable" territory.

It needs renaming "what's the biggest and most expensive engine you can think of".

[healeyneil]

Does it have to be original equipment ?

[ettore]

healeyneil said:

Does it have to be original equipment ?

Ha, is that in St Helena? If so, I’ve seen that run in an earlier iteration. Suffers at the front end apparently!

[lukeharding]

Jaguar V12 should definitely be on the list. Once you let them breathe a little they sound incredible, plus all that torque!

[lowdrag]

Anyone mentioned the Napier Railton? 12 cylinders in three banks of four. Babs? I'll concur with the BRM V16 - I was interviewing someone in the Goodwood pits when they started it up about one yard from me. I suppose one of the best though was being at Mulsanne in 1991 and hearing the Mazda approaching from afar, the sound rising and falling as it came down the 2.5 mile straight to Mulsanne bend. The sound, as it went down the gears and then accelerated away, was deafening but unforgettable at the same time.

[healeyneil]

"Ha! is that in St Helena? If so, I’ve seen that run in an earlier iteration. Suffers at the front end apparently!"
No - Wine country, California

[loquacious]

Honda CB-X 1050 cc 6 cylinder, sound lovely on standard pipes but utterly epic on a 6-1!

No idea why but the V6 in my SLK sounds fantastic and has a glorious power delivery with steps and all sorts. Probably something wrong with it but it sounds great and is fun to drive so I'm leaving well alone!

[lowdrag]

On bike engines, how about this reproduction made here in France?





The 300cc six cylinder. They started it up inside, and the scream was something else.

[psi310398]

healeyneil said:

Does it have to be original equipment ?

I recall as a child seeing the late, great Joginder Singh of East African Safari Rally fame whizzing round Nairobi in the Seventies in a Fiat 500 with some unfeasibly large motor attached to it - can't tell you what it was, though.

[ettore]

healeyneil said:

"Ha! is that in St Helena? If so, I’ve seen that run in an earlier iteration. Suffers at the front end apparently!"
No - Wine country, California

That’s the one - St Helena in Napa

[healeyneil]

I forgot the village name !

[Castrol for a knave]

AC 2 litre Light 6. Way ahead of it's time when designed around WW1.

I am biased, but the 5 litre Porsche V8. Be nice to the flex plate and they are bulletproof.



.

[irocfan]

epicfail said:

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can explain why the Triumph v8 makes "that" noise and the Rover V8 never does. It's interesting that in standard 1970's tune the Triumph produced more power than the Rover.

produced more power but lunched itself more regularly too....

[anonymous-user]

epicfail said:

I won't argue with that. Amazing to think is was thought of in the mid 60's cobbled from 1 and 1/2 Triumph twin engines; they didn't actually make it till too late to compete with the Honda 4. I believe that due to the vertical split crankcase and the two camshaft OHV layout it's got some ludicrous number of individual components.

I've had a couple of T160's which might of put up a better fight against the CB750, traditional Triumph looks with disc brakes front and back but they came 6 years too late.
If you ever get the chance get a copy of Triumph Motorcycles In America by Lindsay Brooke, it must of been first published in the early 90s, anyway there's a bit in there where he tells of T160's arriving at the dealers in America with cigarette dog ends planted in the oil lines so there would be no oil pressure when they started them up, it was the workers way of getting back at the NVT management, unbelievable.

[Yertis]

irocfan said:

epicfail said:

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can explain why the Triumph v8 makes "that" noise and the Rover V8 never does. It's interesting that in standard 1970's tune the Triumph produced more power than the Rover.

produced more power but lunched itself more regularly too....

Just imagine if they’d got to grips with the potential, ironed out the faults and put Sprint-type 16v heads on it.

[LOTUS110]

For me it would be.

Porsche air cooled flat 6

Audi 5 cylinder turbo

Not a car engine, but Rolls Royce Merlin / Griffin from a Spifire.