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Last Straight Eight
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:51 am    Post subject: Last Straight Eight Reply with quote
I've been asked a question that I cant answer for certain.

What were the last production (or otherwise) vehicles to be fitted with a straight eight engine?

Divided up into petrol, diesel, British, American, and Eurpoean? ie, I'm looking for a total of 6 answers!

UJ
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kaybee
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi U/J, might be Packard, I think about '53/'54 was the last of their straight 8, so it's Petrol, American. Chrysler went V8 in '51, Buick was about '53, not sure when Hudson discontinued their S8, Olds went V8 in '49 or '50.Pontiac ran 8's into the 50's too, but we didn't see too many of them here , most of them ran sidevalve sixes. Can't think who else ran S8's, be interesting to see what others come up with, cheers, Col.
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kaybee
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hiya, thought I better do it properly and look it up, both Packard and Pontiac used the straight 8 in '54, they were the last to use them, Buick finished in '53 and Hudson in '52 .
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Brian M
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
First guess -

UK - Petrol - 1953 Daimler Straight eight??

http://www.daimler.co.uk/daimlermodels/html/straighteight.htm

Didn't Alfa Romeo revive their bi-motore idea in recent years? (two straight fours joined together) Or was it this replica I am thinking of?

http://www.spydercars.co.uk/pg2_special_projects.htm

Happy to be proved wrong.
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I suppose that it may by a good idea to add other countries as well.

I wonder if there have ever been straight eights in Japan, Australia, and so on?

Brian, when you are in Holland, look for a 'leaning' caravan!

UJ
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Brian M
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
More interesting configurations here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Piston_engine_configurations

UJ - Will the leaning caravan have an S on the rear?
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Uncle Joe
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Brian, yes it will! I'll check with my friend that he is taking it when I see him this weekend, and let you know. Well worth a photo!

I'll check your link now. Very Happy

UJ
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alfanut
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, if we are talking about all vehicles then the Rolls Royce B80 engine must be in with a chance for the British Petrol section. It was mainly used in military vehicles such as the Alvis Stalwart which was still being made in the 1960s, and it was also used in some Dennis fire engines, which I gather made quite an intersting drive Smile
Wasn't the six-cylinder version, the B60, used in the Vanden Plas Princess R, one of those cars which seems to have vanished without trace?

Geoff
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, the Rolls Royce 4 litre 6cylinder was used in the Vanden Plas. A lovely car, but could it drink petrol.....Things like Westminsters were bad enough, but the Vanden.... Yee Gods!

UJ
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Scotty
Guest
PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
alfanut wrote:
it was also used in some Dennis fire engines, which I gather made quite an intersting drive Smile

Geoff


When I started in the fire brigade in 1972 my station had a Dennis F12 Pump Escape that had this engine.



It was fitted with dual-ignition and on a long run the fumes getting into the cab blinded us all - including the driver! It had a glorious sound when being driven a full-belt to a fire and when we returned to the station it would sit there in the appliance room "pinging" as it cooled down.

Brakes on these things were an absolute nightmare, and it actually took the driver to get the thing to slow down to get off his seat and physically stand on the brake pedal whilst pulling the steering wheel up towards him. Shocked

Happy daze! Very Happy
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

Nice picture too!

Cheers

Dave
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