Twin engine cars

[red750]

You might be surprised at how many cars have been designed with twin engines, disregarding EV/ICE hybrids.

 

Here is one of those slideshow type reports listing a number of such examples, many as conversions of popular showroom cars.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/the-crazy-world-of-the-twin-engined-car/ss-AA16PLEN?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=e400cb5253eb4c53dd3dfc3f3a6a3902#image=1

 

[old man emu]

More power. More weight. More failure.

 

If you go through the slide show you will come across a car that entered the Pikes Peak event,  but failed due to a broken zerk fitting. What's a "zerk fitting"?

 

The patent for the Zerk fitting was granted to Oscar U. Zerk in January 1929. Before Zerk fittings existed, bearings were lubricated in various other ways that tended to be more maintenance-intensive and often provided less effective lubrication.  Often lubricant was delivered under no more pressure than gravity, as with this oiler.

Ball check valves to accept grease supplied under pressure from a grease gun, such as for car and truck chassis lubrication points had been marketed since 1919, both for OEM installations, and for aftermarket upgrade kits which would screw in as replacements for stock grease cups, but Zerk's fitting was an improved style, less vulnerable to dirt and more forgiving of angled approach. Today, many companies make these grease fittings, and the original name is known to very few. Most will simply call it a grease nipple.

[facthunter]

A drip feed is fine if it enters at the right place. Grease is only a soap (stearate) with added oil. No good with high revving ballraces.  Nev

[onetrack]

How could a broken grease nipple stop you from winning a race? I could understand if was Newcastle Norms FJ Holden, with the chrome plated grease nipples, and double reverse overhead twin cam door handles.

A chrome plated grease nipple going missing would totally wreck your chances of winning a Newcastle drag.

[old man emu]

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

How could a broken grease nipple stop you from winning a race?

Ask Alan Moffett. He had a toolbox full of mechanical failure excuses. And Brock failed to finish Bathurst one year due to the failure of a 20 cent part.

[red750]

Here's one that's a bit different. It was called Michelin PLR and used the legendary Citroen DS as its base.

 

      

[onetrack]

Hold the casting for Mad Max Fury Road sequel!! I've found my car, for my part in the film!! Just need to add the armaments!!

[facthunter]

Moffat ,like Jack Brabham, was easy on cars. Stirling Moss wasn't.   Nev

[facthunter]

Anyhow two engined Cars are silly unless one is electric, or uses some other way of storing energy.  Nev

[onetrack]

I always remember the story of Stirling Moss on his first visit to NZ, being amazed at the great roads in NZ. Real drivers roads - so he took full advantage of the long straights, and beautiful windy sections with heaps of curves, where he could practice his high speed driving skills, and cornering skills.

Of course, he pretty much ignored the open road speed limits in his pursuit of his driving pleasure (I can't recall what he was driving, but it was a powerful car with excellent handling).

 

After a couple of hours of thrashing his set of wheels through the glorious countryside and great roads, he became aware of set of flashing blue lights way behind him, trying to catch up with him. He thought he'd better slow down.

So he slowed down, and a NZ copper in a nearly-expiring MkII Ford Zephyr, reeking of major heat buildup, pulled up alongside him, and motioned him to pull over.

 

The copper who got out was apoplectic, red-faced and fuming. He berated Moss for his reckless and illegal driving, and complete disobeyance of speed limits.

Then the copper said, "Who do you think you are, anyway?? Stirling Moss??"  

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by onetrack

[facthunter]

He had some colossal prang at some stage and didn't engage so much later when I met him. I was pitting for another entrant at Warwick Farm. Most of the others were pretty nice ordinary Guys.    Nev

[Old Koreelah]

5 hours ago, facthunter said:

Moffat ,like Jack Brabham, was easy on cars. Stirling Moss wasn't.   Nev

I’ve seen that.

Mate and I were testing his racebike at Oran Park, sharing track time in 30 minute sessions with cars.

As we stood watching a Torana being thrown around the track, know-all mate was very critical of the lines taken through corners and the rough gear changes.
The car came in to pit and out stepped Stirling Moss, who was preparing to run that XU-1 at Bathurst with Our Jack.

[spacesailor]

I saw a two engined 'road scraper '  travels with one motor then scrapes with the big donk . In the UK so must have been from the American Amy. they put '' ring roads '' around a lot of towns .

spacesailor

[facthunter]

Cement Mixers used to have a separate engine for the mixer but they wore out quickly. (Red Holden six).. Nev

[spenaroo]

going back to the twin engine in pikes peak,
there has been a few successful cars with "Monster" Tajima

 

[Old Koreelah]

This one was described as being the most reliable car:

https://www.motorious.com/articles/highlights/this-citroen-2cv-that-challenged-land-rover/
 

[spenaroo]

and in the Lemons racing in the USA,

(best race series)

some guys have taken a MR2 and put a corolla engine in the front.

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a18739327/lemons-goodbad-idea-of-the-week-twin-engined-toyota-mr2corolla/