Weird automotive engineering solutions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leonidae
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Yeap thats why Honda only produce 300 street versions of the NR750 and they where sold for 50.000$.


That Maserati engine is fantastic a 2.0L V6 36v with 261 bhp . . . that cool for 1985!

I imagine the sound of that V6 with 36v . . . :drool:

Any reason why they never put this engine in a car?

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it would had been cheaper than Ferrari 308 with equal performance. That would be my guess.
 
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They still do. Well, Buell do:

146_0711_16_z+buell_1125r+ztl_brake.jpg


Meant to give more stopping power. Most journos report no difference. Looks cool though.
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I believe the wheel and brake combo becomes a lighter package than normal, because they actually use the brake disc as a structural element, meaning they can make the wheel itself that much lighter.
 
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@ The Helica: Seen it before, but still an awesome vehicle. 60MPH top speed in 1922 is damn impressive, and propeller powered! Someone should make a modern version.
 
I dont think that one counts as much. But also i have seen it in the news before and apparently he has wiped out hardcore before too.
 
The problem with Oval pistons is the expense of building an oval piston engine. Round piston engines are easier to manufacture, easier to machine and easier to maintain. There are extra stresses in piston alignment with an oval piston that have to be addressed with tighter assembly and design... and the shape of the quench area becomes problematic at the extreme ends of performance.

Inside-out disc brakes... love those. Probably never catch on because of the difficulty of maintenance.

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Ah... prop-driven land vehicles... always been interested in those... anyone know the Land Speed Record for prop-driven vehicles?

That would be an interesting project to build... Use an old Merlin engine, strap it to a streamliner body with a pusher prop, and let'er rip. Could probably get up to 300-400 mph... maybe hit the magic 500 with some fettling...
 
Not sure. The Museum of Retrotech has a whole SECTION on monowheels, including that one, which has a Buick V8.

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl.htm

Really, that site is a wonderful resource for all kinds of zany stuff. Check out their Locomotives page some time.

INteresting to note the effects of "Gerbling" when it comes to monowheels. Basically, you stop, wheel keeps rolling.
 
Looking around the Early A Body forums I came across this:

6055.jpg


I don't know if they actually produced that but they did make an ute version of my car in Australia called the AP6.
 
They actually had a factory option on the Holden Torana (LX?) which was a little tent thingy, called the 'Hatch Hutch'.

MuscleCarDay2003_01.jpg


Pretty rare and quite valuable now.
 
Figured I would bring back this thread, since I found another automotive oddity.

The car: '66-70 Oldsmobile Toronado (no it's not the FWD :p)

Check out the speedometer "which consisted of a stationary indicator "needle" and a vertically rotating drum on which the numerals were printed."
100_0532.jpg
 
The new 9-5 has something a lot like that. Except that one is done up more like the attitude indicator on an airplane.
 
Not as interesting Engineering wise as say the RS200 bits from early in the thread, but still a bit different (I dont think I saw it mentioned)

Back in the 60s & 70s there was a trend towards forward opening bonnets which seems to have completely died now (I guess that its not exactly the safest arrangement crumple zone wise.)

The best bit about it is for example on the Spitfire (and I think the Jag E type was the same) you open up the whole of the front end forwards. Not only does this give fantastic access to the engine (when it inevitably breaks down), but also the front wheels give a rather good seat while your prodding carburettors and random electrical bits to try and find out whats wrong...


Have attached a photo of my spitfire below (sadly about 2 miles after this breakdown the engine blew up...)
n223602946_1687060_5258.jpg
 
I believe the Corvette is the only one left in the US...well besides Tractor-Trailers of course.
 
My 89Buick has a forward opening hood AND 2 information centers!
 

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