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| Title: | Cars in the UK |
| Notice: | Please read new conference charter 1.70 |
| Moderator: | COMICS::SHELLEY ELD |
|
| Created: | Sun Mar 06 1994 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2584 |
| Total number of notes: | 63384 |
670.0. "*weird* machines - nominations?" by DOOZER::PENNEY () Wed Jul 05 1989 21:39
Anyone got any particular favourite weird vehicles, engines etc?
-----
Suggest that to qualify for inclusion thay should be weird intrinsically, not
just cosmetically. 1957 Edsel doesn't qualify therefore. Not so sure about
AMC Pacer.
I think also that, to qualify, a machine must have sold in at least reasonable
numbers, or maybe achieved something in competition (even if only establishing
the strength of convictions of the designer). So Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang
replicas are definitely OUT, be-winged Chaparrals, Howmetts and the Lotus 81
are definitely IN.
Not sure where to draw the line at specials. Reckon we have to include the RR
Merlin engined one that the chap-whose-name-I-forget built about 15(?) years
ago, and which the Daily Express reported as having done 200+ mph down the M1
(a magazine test later gave a max. of 127 I seem to remember..)
Here are a few other personal nominations:
- Messerschmidt KR200 and (especially) KR500 [have I got the spelling and
model designations right?] I mean the 192cc 3 wheeler and the 500cc 4 wheeled
version which I remember some bloke did really well with in driving tests in
the 60s - forget his name. I'd love one of these (anyone know of a cheap
example, however rough?)
- Burney Streamline
- A Rootes engine that was fitted to some Commer lorries in the 50s/60s.
Its spec. included:
Three cylinders...
...no cylinder heads...
...two Crankshafts..
...six pistons...
...turbocharged..
...two-stroke...
...diesel!!!
..and made a l-o-v-e-l-y noise! Remember?
- Send you an exploded diag. if you're interested.
Also tempted to nominate...
- No, it's your turn
Richard
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 670.55 | Beautifull noises too. 8-) | SUBURB::POWELLM | Nostalgia isn't what it used to be! | Tue Feb 02 1993 13:16 | 24 |
| <<< Note 670.12 by CHEFS::CLEMENTSD "steam nut by choice" >>>
-< nothing sounds as good as aMerlin in a Spitfire..... >-
Or a Lancaster/Lincoln with 4 of them!
When I were a lad - a very young lad I hasten to add, lad - Just
after the war ('39 - '45) I remember that someone fitted a Merlin
engine into a Trolley Bus chassis! Can't remember anything else about
it except that there was a photograph of it in the paper at the time.
It was literally just a rolling chassis with this massive great engine,
a seat, and controls.
Weird engines: Anyone remember the Field Marshal/Road Marshal farm
tractor/road roller? I did some ploughing with a Field Marshal tractor
back in the early '50s (School holiday job). Wonderfull noise! They
had a 4 litre single cylinder two stroke diesel engine with the
cylinder horizontal fore and aft and a massive flywheel come belt
drive power take off. They only did about 800 RPM maximum! The
originals had the cylinder vertical, but they had to change that
because they couldn't keep the vehicle on the ground well enough for
traction!!!!!!! They had a very weird shaped exhaust system too. Saw
one a Steam rally a year or two ago.
Malcolm.
|
| 670.56 | | SUBURB::FRENCHS | Semper in excernere | Wed Feb 03 1993 08:45 | 9 |
| re
� They had a 4 litre single cylinder
There was a tractor that had a 7 litre single cylinder engine. To start
it you had to unscrew a 'plug'. insert a taper or bit of paper. Light
the paper and replace the plug. Then hand crank the engine until it
fired. Initially it did about 50 RPM, but soon built up speed.
Simon
|
| 670.57 | | MENOW::PACEN | Here comes the twist | Wed Feb 03 1993 11:13 | 8 |
| re -.1 Single Cylinder Tractor.
That's the "Field Marshall". You could crank them if you were really
brave, or I believe later models had hole where you inserted a shotgun
cartridge (with the lead removed!), that could be fired to kick the
beast into life.
~sam
|
| 670.58 | | PEKING::SMITHRW | Err..... | Wed Feb 03 1993 12:16 | 5 |
| I think that's called a Coffman (sp?) starter. Used to be used on some
aeroplane engines as well.
Richard
|