"472CID" (472CID)
06/03/2015 at 15:41 • Filed to: USELESSLISTS
31
100|
"472CID" (472CID)
06/03/2015 at 15:41 • Filed to: USELESSLISTS | 31
| 100 |
A sexy European body with a big brutish American V8 go together like automotive peanut butter and jelly. The formula has been going strong for over 60 years. Here’s a list of most of them from earliest to newest.
Allard - An English sports car maker who specialized in using American V8s including Ford Flatheads, Cadillac OHV, and Chrysler Hemis. These cars are the grandfathers of Shelby Cobras and influenced the Corvette.
Sunbeam Tiger - The Cobra wasn’t the only British roadster using Ford’s small blocks
Shelby/AC Cobra/Roadster - Perhaps the best known example of a European body and an American V8
Bristol 407 - An often forgotten British car maker who used Chrysler engines.
Facel Vega - In a sea of English/American cars we have this beautiful French/American car.
Jensen Interceptor/FF - A one of a kind shape, four wheel drive, and a big block Chrylser the Jensen FF is one of the most interesting cars in the wooorld.
Bizzarini GT 5300 - Bizzarini and Iso are Chevy powered Ferrari cast offs.
Iso Rivolta Grifo
Monteverdi - Switerland is probably the last place you would expect to find a Chrysler 440, but here it is, in a sexy Swiss sports car.
TVR - TVRs started using Ford V8s in the late 60s.
De Tomaso Mangusta/Pantera/Longchamp - De Tomaso started life using English Ford four cylinders and later switched to American made small blocks
Qvale Mangusta - The Qvale and SV were a bizarre Italian/English/American clusterfuck. Born out of the remnants of De Tomaso, an ailing MG, and a Ford modular 4.6.
MG SV
Koenigsegg CCR - Although highly modified, Koenigsegg engines started out life as Ford V8s.
Marcos - Over the years Marcos used both Ford modulars and Chevys LS engines.
Some cool Euro/American race cars include Chevy or Ford powered Listers, Lolas, McLarens, and Ford GTs :)
There’s also a long list of one off, or extremely limited, cars from Pinifarina, and Bertone
What car aren’t here that should be?
RallyWrench
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:45 |
|
Technically we could call the Rover V8 an American engine since they bought it from Buick, and that would open up all kinds of cars to inclusion here.
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:46 |
|
i did not know that, i always assumed they were inhouse built V8s. Thats pretty cool
Cherry_man1
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:49 |
|
I was wondering because looking at this
I thought it looked too much like this to not be related
Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:52 |
|
Well.. Rover SD1..
Rover P5B..
MGB GT V8..
A few Land Rovers.. a Triumph.. a this and that and some more..
The 215 V8 was really just a Buick V8.
Kanaric
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:52 |
|
Doesn’t just have to be a V8. The Euro Escort from the 70s was powered by the pinto engine. That pinto engine has good motorsport pedegree surprisingly.
|
472CID
> RallyWrench
06/03/2015 at 15:52 |
|
Thought about it, but there would be too many cars to add.
|
472CID
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
06/03/2015 at 15:53 |
|
They are now, but they started with Ford.
My citroen won't start
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:57 |
|
You need to add some Monteverdis to the list.
375 HP Chrysler V8, built in my fatherland.
Pdb
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:58 |
|
“often forgotten”? - when cross-posted on jalopnik thems fighting words
|
Pdb
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 15:59 |
|
only 320 FFs were made...
Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> RallyWrench
06/03/2015 at 16:00 |
|
That could have been THE Bowtie engine instead of the 350.
A short stroke all aluminum V8, back in the early 60’s...where that engine would be now with 50 years of Chevy development makes me all weak when I think about it.
TheHondaBro
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:02 |
|
Technically the CC8S had a Ford engine, but the CCX engine was so heavily modified, it was practically a Koenigsegg engine.
|
Pdb
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:03 |
|
...and stopped using them soon after. But yes, Ford V8s were in Griffiths from 65-69.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:04 |
|
Doesn’t Caterham use Ford 4-cyls in the 7?
|
472CID
> My citroen won't start
06/03/2015 at 16:07 |
|
D’oh! Which is extra stupid because they’re part of reason I made the list.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:13 |
|
Came for that sweet DeTomaso Ford V8
StingrayJake
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:16 |
|
Corvette Scaglietti — A pre-Cobra Shelby creation that got scuttled by the GM bosses
|
472CID
> StingrayJake
06/03/2015 at 16:23 |
|
That’s kind of along the lines a Pininfarina Corvette or Chrysler. Though I think that Scaglietti looks better than you’re average Ferrari 250/275/330
Nobi
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:31 |
|
http://zippy.gfycat.com/CreepyThriftyG…
That lead to the best Clarkson/Hammond studio exchange ever.
DrScientist
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:33 |
|
i dont think you’ve put together a list of sexier looking cars. my goodness, they’re all breathtaking... well maybe except that qvale.
MultiplaOrgasms
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:42 |
|
And don’t forget Opel
Note that while the two vehicles at the top don’t use american engines as such, the Inline six used in them was very similar to the Chevrolet I6, to the point that abandoned Blitz trucks could be maintained by the allied forces using Chevrolet/GMC and Beford parts. The first version of the Blitz did use the engine from the 1930 Marquette though.
|
Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 16:58 |
|
Devin Special. Triple carb American V8.
Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 17:04 |
|
This post excites me to an abnormal degree. I need to urinate.
Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/03/2015 at 17:04 |
|
This list looks to be V8’s only. Otherwise there should be a a couple Nobles on the list.
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 17:06 |
|
Bristol 410, as seen in the
Inspector Linley Series
. And not a very pretty car, says I. Linley’s was a ‘69, whilst the green car shown below is a ‘68.
|
Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 17:06 |
|
What about the Noble M400, M12 and M15? All three were powered by Ford Duratec V6’s.
EL_ULY
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 17:30 |
|
trololo
Italian brand, German chassis, American engine (most Because 300)
Cé hé sin
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/03/2015 at 18:08 |
|
They do. American ones, not so much.
|
Cé hé sin
> EL_ULY
06/03/2015 at 18:11 |
|
Only kind of true though because they’re nearly all (it may in fact be all) Merc diesels.
not for canada - australian in disguise
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:23 |
|
Overfinch Range Rover, powered by a SBC.
swaptastic
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:28 |
|
Great post. Would you have an interest in writing up a similar article for me? I would pay you for your effort.
Maxxuman
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:37 |
|
And now for the list of American cars with European engines:
.
.
.
Anybody?
Tballz
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:37 |
|
Gordon Keeble GK1. Used a 327 corvette engine.
nmalinoski
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:38 |
|
...What, no explanation of the SV? All the other entries got explanations.
Serious Gord
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:39 |
|
That's a beauty though it looks to have too short a wheelbase.
|
Kevin Rhodes
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
06/03/2015 at 18:40 |
|
I dunno, I have almost the ultimate development of it in my ‘01 Range Rover and it is kind of a turd. And this is the RELIABLE version, the mega-power Rover V8s that went into TVRs were pretty much hand grenades with the pin halfway out. The theory of an all-aluminum V8 engine is nice, but the reality is that it is only a little lighter than a good cast iron block, and in wet-liner form a whole lot more prone to issues.
|
Serious Gord
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:43 |
|
And yet despite the many different cars on the list, relatively speaking we are talking about very few cars - 25,000 tops perhaps.
An interesting idea that had very limited success.
Eezep
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:45 |
|
Vauxhall VXR8 uses Chevy LS engines.
McPherson
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:47 |
|
Holy crapola, never knew there was a four-door version.
|
Ingo-Castilho
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
06/03/2015 at 18:48 |
|
Its very very hard to build and engine entirely from scratch. Most take an engine that has proved itself and modify it.
bwwooster
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:48 |
|
Aren’t you forgetting the Dual Ghia?
JayHova
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:49 |
|
The MG ZT V8....that’s a Rover 75 with a Ford Modular V8 - driving the rear wheels.
ThatbastardKurtis
> RallyWrench
06/03/2015 at 18:51 |
|
And wouldn’t their current V8 (as well as Jaguar’s) be somewhat Ford derived?
phillipm
> Kevin Rhodes
06/03/2015 at 18:51 |
|
What you need is a nice Evoque with an aluminium LS7 at it’s heart. Same great noise, twice the power and doesn’t break down as much as the rangie...you can get a road legal one too...
Renault R8 Gordini from 1966
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:51 |
|
Sorry, but i couldn’t help it. I don’t what car aren’t there.
The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
> Maxxuman
06/03/2015 at 18:51 |
|
With some of the Big-3 engines, it’s hard to know where the American ends and the European begins. For example, the GM Ecotec engines, from Wikipedia:
Development began in 1994, by an international team of engineers and technicians from Opel ’s International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim , Germany , GM Powertrain in Pontiac, Michigan , and Saab in Södertälje , Sweden . [7] Much of the development work on this project was carried out by Lotus Engineering , Hethel, United Kingdom .
Similarly, many of the Ford engines were developed jointly between their US and European branches. The Cologne V6 in particular was developed in, well, Cologne Germany but was later transplanted back to the US for use in a wide variety of Ford vehicles after modifications for the US market. I can’t find any verification on it, but superficially the Pinto engine looks an awful lot like an advancement on the Ford Kent Crossflow.
|
Eezep
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:52 |
|
Not a car, but the Laforza is another one.
|
JayHova
> Kanaric
06/03/2015 at 18:52 |
|
This...plenty of 70s...80s and even some early 90s Fords were Pinto-powered.
|
ThatbastardKurtis
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:52 |
|
That is sexy...
|
Maxxuman
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:54 |
|
Of course you can never get them all. There were too many one offs like the 1954 Kieft DeSoto
I actually got a ride in this replica of it before it made its way to Goodwood - pretty cool beast.
|
Mike Reynolds
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 18:58 |
|
There's one that starts life as British/British, but after 50 to 75K miles, It's converted to British/American, It's called a Jagrolet.
tylinol
> Maxxuman
06/03/2015 at 19:05 |
|
Nash Metropolitan with a BMC B Series
T5Killer
> JayHova
06/03/2015 at 19:06 |
|
I want one so bad. Swap that Modular for a Coyote and it would be the best sleeper ever
|
tylinol
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:08 |
|
Just in case it wasn’t mentioned:
LaForza, an Italian luxury SUV with a Ford 5.0
|
RallyWrench
> ThatbastardKurtis
06/03/2015 at 19:11 |
|
Yep, the AJV8 and even Aston Martin’s V12 were a development of the Duratec V6, as I understand.
PabloPistoffo
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:12 |
|
What about the Gordon-Keeble, the British car made at an airfield with Chevy V-8s?
What about un-greying me?
La Mia Ferrari
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:13 |
|
No Vauxhalls with LS motors?
HammerheadFistpunch
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:13 |
|
yup. Built in Italy with The Tigershark engine. Although if we are really being accurate its a European car with a Korean engine.
sgoldste02
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:14 |
|
That white TVR is totally bad-ass.
SteveMarsh
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:14 |
|
Made famous to Americans by starring as Maxwell Smart’s car of KONTROL. A not so subtle nod to Bond’s DB5
DMCVegas
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:14 |
|
From World Wars to fast food to engines and everything in between, you’re welcome, Europe.
Sincerely,
‘Murica
BullittFan_Fords4Life
> Maxxuman
06/03/2015 at 19:16 |
|
US Market Ford cars that were equipped with the 2.5L or 3.0L DOHC Duratec V6 were really using an engine designed and developed by Porsche (in partnership with Ford of Europe). Does that count?
|
Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> Kevin Rhodes
06/03/2015 at 19:19 |
|
You are proving my point, IMHO. Think of all the development that has gone into Chevy’s V8 compared to the Rover/Buick V8. The Buick V8 was actually 100+ pounds lighter than cast iron FOUR cylinder engines available when it came out. The engine was under 320 lbs dry. For perspective even the smallest chevy V8 is over 500. And the engine was never made with wet piston liners like Alfa and Triumph 4 cylinders. You know this engine is the only American stock block to win an F1 title, right? 1966 with Brabham. If Chevy had been making the engine at the time you would probably hear about it every year. Chevy might even be an F1 engine manufacturer today. They tried to buy the tooling and rights back for a reason.
http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engi…
FIlandro
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:21 |
|
Ginetta... using Ford power... including I4’s and V6’s. http://www.ginetta.com/g60
|
DeutscheAuto
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:24 |
|
AC Brooklands Ace used a Ford 5.0l V8 and a few were made with a supercharged version:
|
wlb50
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:25 |
|
You have every one I could think of and a few I didn’t think of....IIRC there is a “Cobra Connection” with the Tiger as I believe Shelby was asked to help with the engineering.
|
Maxxuman
> The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
06/03/2015 at 19:26 |
|
All good points but I was looking more for something in the spirit of the cars in 472CID’s list, viz, relatively low volume cars that sought to take the power and simplicity of US V8’s and put them into a performance car which would appeal to enthusiasts. So I was wondering if any low volume constructor in America had ever tried to make a smallish, lightweight, good handling car (at least for its day) and used a relatively small European power plant.
Axel-Ripper
> ThatbastardKurtis
06/03/2015 at 19:27 |
|
If you go for that you end up in a huge pickle with things like the Ford-Aston V12s...
|
JayHova
> T5Killer
06/03/2015 at 19:28 |
|
It already is pretty sleeper from the factory...in addition I don’t think an engine swap would be that necessary as there’s a pretty big aftermarket for getting a few more ponies out of the modular V8.
Fun facts:
-the factory RWD conversion was engineered by Prodrive.
-a modified MG ZT wagon (765hp) set the world speed record for wagons at the speed week in Bonneville in 2003 - 225mph.
John_Harbinson
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:28 |
|
YASSS JENSEN INTERCEPTOR I HAS 1.5 OF THEM
|
Ad_absurdum_per_aspera
> McPherson
06/03/2015 at 19:29 |
|
I think the “Excellence,” more a different model than a version, was their first and only four-door. I love the looks of these — like Chrysler Imperials from a (more compact, except for the engine) parallel universe.
|
John_Harbinson
> EL_ULY
06/03/2015 at 19:29 |
|
Shameless rebadging, shame on you FCA
33WGideon
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:30 |
|
No Sevens???
|
Maxxuman
> tylinol
06/03/2015 at 19:30 |
|
That’s the kind of thing I was going for - a relatively low volume US manufacturer sourcing an engine from Europe or the UK for a smaller, lighter than average car.
Rollo75
> MultiplaOrgasms
06/03/2015 at 19:31 |
|
And the coupe!
Actually I’m wondering at this point if we should also include the Vauxhall Monaro which was an American V8 wrapped in a Holden Commodore coupe, which was reengineered from an Opel Omega B.
HEADLAU5
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:32 |
|
I have had a crisis... In my pants.
|
wlb50
> Maxxuman
06/03/2015 at 19:32 |
|
Does Ford of Germany count? Pinto with either a UK 1600cc Kent engine or 2000cc German Ford engine
Didn’t Lincoln have a BMW diesel at one time?
Apparently only available 1984-1985
|
wlb50
> The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
06/03/2015 at 19:33 |
|
Pinto had as standard the 1600cc OHV Kent engine (UK) and optional, 2000cc OHC Ford/Germany engine
DerW220
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:35 |
|
The Bristol Fighter also used a Chrysler-sourced Viper V10.
|
T5Killer
> JayHova
06/03/2015 at 19:35 |
|
True there are plenty of parts for 2v Modulars but I really like the idea of a swapping a near stock coyote and having 400+ HP with no worries.
Intense
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:37 |
|
Ford Cortina? Or any of the English Fords?
I know you have the tvr listed but within that, the Griffith 200 & 400 had Shelby’s small block 289’s
RichyJ123
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:41 |
|
Gt40 Mk1, English design, Mustang engine
|
EliteGibson
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:42 |
|
Morgan 3 Wheeler uses a US made V-Twin made by S&S Cycle.
|
BicycleBob30
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:42 |
|
Don’t forget this beauty - the Gordon Keeble GK1. Italian design, British engineering and a Corvette Stingray engine. They built about 100 of these between 1965 and 1968, and almost all of them are still going. Contemporary reviews got them up to 150 mph, but reported that top speed was limited by the (Lucas) fuel pump’s capacity.
|
RichyJ123
> RichyJ123
06/03/2015 at 19:45 |
|
As i can’t edit my post, road going version:
AndrewDET
> EL_ULY
06/03/2015 at 19:48 |
|
I kind of wish the badge engineered Lancias were a mix of giant American V8s and small Italian cars.
lucky's pepper
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:53 |
|
Love the American/European hybrids. Great list but two small things:
Iso also used Ford engines.
Not every Monteverdi was powered by a 440. Behold the one short wheel base Hai and all it’s mid engined, Hemi powered awesomeness.
brendanmcaleer
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:55 |
|
“Bizzarini GT 5300 - Bizzarini and Iso are Chevy powered Ferrari cast offs.”
Chevy-powered yes, Ferrari cast-offs not so much. Unless you mean Giotto Bizzarini was fired from Ferrari?
Since we’re speaking of him, might as well through the AMX/3 in there. Bodied in Turin, 390ci V8 from Wisconsin.
|
SX-70
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 19:55 |
|
This is the sort of thing The Most Interesting Man In The World would drive.
|
472CID
> Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
06/03/2015 at 20:02 |
|
It started as v8s only, also I couldn’t think of any good examples of American 4s or 6s in Euro car. (i’m sure 7s use mostly Euro Ford engines)
|
SX-70
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
06/03/2015 at 20:02 |
|
Much as I love Devins, it doesn’t count, as they were made in America. El Monte, California, to be exact.
|
472CID
> MultiplaOrgasms
06/03/2015 at 20:03 |
|
Yup also late model Vauxhall VXR8s
|
Clouds
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 20:07 |
|
Interceptors look magnificent
wætherman
> Maxxuman
06/03/2015 at 20:08 |
|
Radix Lecti
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 20:08 |
|
Can’t remember the details but I’m pretty sure most V8 Rovers were using an American engine. I seem to recall that the story was the owner found a discarded engine prototype in a junk yard while on a visit the states and decided to buy the design. Buick I think...
|
carcrasher88
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 20:10 |
|
Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
Zagato designed body on a Dodge Viper ACR-X chassis and powertrain.
Being a model that’s technically an official Alfa Romeo and designed by Zagato allows it to count as European, just like the Bertone Mantide is, as it’s literally a Bertone designed rebodied Corvette ZR1.
stillthrottledown
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 20:15 |
|
Current Maserati using Chrysler engines. They can deny if they want but we all know the truth
Thedude
> The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
06/03/2015 at 20:15 |
|
Interesting! I’m working on putting a Pontiac Solstice drivetrain into a ‘66 Morgan +4. Here I was thinking I was making a American hot rod out of my euro-car. :)
|
The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
> wlb50
06/03/2015 at 20:18 |
|
That is correct, but I am referring to the 2.0L and 2.3L engines that in America became colloquially known as the “Pinto Engine”. For might claim that it’s a clean sheet design, but it looks like an evolution of the Kent Crossflow to me.
Conan
> 472CID
06/03/2015 at 20:18 |
|
This formula totally works for me. I drive a car from an American company that’s secretly a European car though. The Facel Vega is also pretty much the only French car I’ve ever thought is gorgeous.