Cars with more than 12 Cylinders (14, 16, 18, 20, and beyond!)

"Flat Six" (flat-six) 01/09/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

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I was getting an insurance quote and the drop down box asked me to select how many cylinders the car had. I noticed options for 14, 16, 18, and 20 cylinders. That seemed mighty thorough on their part! I know of very few cars that have that many, so I did a little research which I thought I would share.

Fourteen Cylinders

There don't seem to be any cars with 14 cylinders, although supposedly Gordon Murray asked Honda about building a V14 for the Maclaren F1.

Fourteen cylinder engines are rare even in maritime applications. One famous beast is the inline-14 Wärtsilä-Sulzerin RTA96-C, which is the world's most powerful combustion engine.

So if you decide to drop one in your new Lego Emma Mærsk , USAA's got you covered!

Sixteen Cylinders

Cars with 16 cylinders are the most common on this list. Probably the most famous is the Cadillac Sixteen's V16, seen at the beginning of this article in Fleetwood Dual Cowl Phaeton form. Below is a more modern variant (yet another fizzled Caddy concept):

Alfa Romeo experimented with 16 cylinder configurations, first with the 16C Bimotore (a.k.a. the First Ferrari) which cheats by having two straight 8 cylinder engines - one in front, one in back.

Next came the V16 in the Alfa Tipo 162 race car.

The engine was used in the fantastically weird mid-engine Alfa Tipo 163 concept car (not sure if it was ever built).

It kind of reminds me of the Buckminster Fuller Dymaxion car.

A few years later Alfa made one more V16 race car, the Tipo 316.

British Racing Motors put a notoriously awful sounding H16 in their BRM P83.

Porsche crammed a flat-16 in their 917, but it got less power than a twin turbo flat-12 so it was never raced.

There is a pseudo-V16 in disco legend Giorgio Moroder's Cizeta V16T. I feel love, indeed.

It used two flat plane Lamborghini Ferrari V8's sharing one block.

More cowbell! And more cylinders!

And of course there is the Veyron's W16. No car pic because you are about to get a Bugatti bukakke.

Eighteen Cylinders

The only cars I could find with 18 cylinders are a quartet of Bugatti show cars, all with a W18. First up is the EB118 concept:

The EB218 concept:

The engine itself:

The 18/3 Chiron concept:

Lastly, the EB 18.4 Veyron Concept. It "only" made 555 horsepower.

You can read more !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Okay guys, family picture!

Ferrari experimented with a W18 for Formula-1 in 1967 but never used the design. They only got as far as a single module W3 as a prototype. Engines with more than 12 cylinders were banned by F1 starting in 1972.

Twenty Cylinders

I couldn't find any sports cars with 20 cylinders, so I give you the 20 cylinder Caterpillar 797F:

Twenty-Four Cylinders

Sorry, we are now in the range where you can't use USAA's website anymore. I think you will have trouble getting this insured anyway:

It uses a Detroit Diesel 24V-71

Thirty Cylinders

The M3A4 tank used a Chrysler A57 engine which combined 5 6-cylinder engines:

It may have been designed by Homer Simpson.

http://www.enginehistory.org/featured_engin…

One Hundred Cylinders

This Power Puller has 100 cylinders, although technically it is 5 V20 engines. Also technically it is made out of Lego.

http://lotekbricks.blogspot.com/2003/01/super-…

Did I miss anything cool?

Tom McParland > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:01

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MOAR CYLINDERS...MOAR!

Flat Six > Tom McParland 01/09/2014 at 11:05

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Can you ever have enough?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:05

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Yup. 16 Cylinders

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:06

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http://jalopnik.com/5294379/48+cyl…

Cough cough.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:09

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http://www.wyldsyd.com/dolmette.htm

Also.

Flat Six > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/09/2014 at 11:09

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That is nuts!

Flat Six > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/09/2014 at 11:10

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Auto Union Silver Arrow right? That is a beauty.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:13

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Silver Arrows are MB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Unio…

Flat Six > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/09/2014 at 11:14

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Madness!

CalzoneGolem > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:16

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Cadillac was making v-16s in the 30s

thebigbossyboss > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:18

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This thing looks like a crustacean, but I can't think of which one exactly.

kanadanmajava > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:20

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Dragon Fire tractor puller has 42 cylinders in a single engine. The engine is modified into an Otto engine (spark ignited) from a Zvezda M503 marine diesel engine. It has 126 spark plugs which has to be a record.

It is not car but this list has some even without wheels.

Flat Six > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/09/2014 at 11:22

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Madness!

505Turbeaux > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:26

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http://jalopnik.com/5294379/48+cyl…

this

Flat Six > thebigbossyboss 01/09/2014 at 11:26

2

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/09/2014 at 11:27

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shit sorry I just reposted this.

Flat Six > 505Turbeaux 01/09/2014 at 11:28

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That might be the winner, have to disqualify the Lego car.

davedave1111 > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:30

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam_1…

2x 22.4 litre V12s, making over 900hp in total. First car to do over 200mph. Chain driven...

The Thunderbolt was another twin-V12er:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbo…

Three times a world land speed record holder, the fastest at 357mph.

The Railton Special was another LSR holder, also with twin engines, this time with twin W12s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railton_S…

First car over 400mph. One engine driving each axle for four wheel drive.

The Napier Railton was only 12 cylinders, but one of several W12s of the era. Posting just because it looks so good.

Flat Six > davedave1111 01/09/2014 at 11:33

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Awesomeness. I'll let the Napier Railton slide, it looks incredible!

davedave1111 > davedave1111 01/09/2014 at 11:34

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Oh, whoops. How could I leave out the White Triplex, a triple-engined 36-cylinder monster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tri…

This one's an unsuccessful speed record attempter.

ToyDeathbot > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:35

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Didn't RR have a V16 that they put a Phantom?

IIRC Rowan Atkinson asked if he could use it for Johnny English and managed to get it...

Also your insurance company missed out one cylinder. The first VW 1L concept used a single cylinder engine

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 11:57

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I've seen the M3A4 tank motor at the Chrysler Museum. It is huge.

Flat Six > kanadanmajava 01/09/2014 at 12:11

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It totally qualifies :)

Flat Six > ToyDeathbot 01/09/2014 at 12:15

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Looks like BMW designed a V16 for the 7-series but it never made production. I guess they reused it in the Rolls?

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-16-cylinde…

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Flat Six > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/09/2014 at 12:16

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That is a monster!

BJ > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 12:37

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I played with Lego a lot as a kid, and my daughter is starting to play now. So this got me looking at LEGO online...

I might be in trouble. Lord help me!

Flat Six > BJ 01/09/2014 at 12:49

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My kids definitely inherited the Lego bug from me, but they drive my wife nuts because they get everywhere. Admittedly its not very romantic having Lego sticking into your back in bed. So my ability to acquire new sets is based on how close I sense my wife is to divorcing me :)

Alex87f > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 13:13

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Here are a few:

BMW 767i "Goldfish"

It used a 6.7 liter V16 with 408hp and a 6-speed manual, and was meant to show Mercedes who was the boss. It never made it into production though.

Rolls Royce 101 EX

This is the car that was used in the movie Johnny English: reborn. Apparently, BMW had made a few experimental V16's when they bought Rolls Royce, and wanted the production car to be V16-powered. They eventually went back to reason (or lost reason, if you ask me), and settled for a 6.75L V12. The V16 displaced 9.0 liter, no horsepower figures are know.

Last but not least -and I know this doesn't really count but I believe it deserves mentioning- the Connaught Type D:

This is supposed to be a tribute to old Jag's, and is about the size of an FR-S. Only it weighs 2 100lbs, and had a 2.0 liter supercharged V10 with 300hp.

BJ > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 13:14

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I saw the new Simpsons house coming out Feb 1, 2500+ pieces for $200, and mentioned to my wife that I should buy two - one to play with, one as a collector's item.

Her reply was something along these lines:

At least I didn't get the the other response, which was when I told her I had Disco Fever and was actively checking the classifieds for an '04 Discovery II (which I might still be doing, please don't tell on me):

Chuckybas > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 13:24

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I won't swear to it, but I think the Cizeta has an engine based on Ferrari V8s, not Lamborghini.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Chuckybas 01/09/2014 at 13:31

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Came here to post the exact same. Its V16 block is derived from the Ferrari 308, but with twice as many cylinders and displacement.

Flat Six > Chuckybas 01/09/2014 at 14:00

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You guys are right. From http://www.supercars.net/cars/390.html :

"The block was similar to two Ferrari V8 engines but in the end it had to be cast as a fully custom unit."

I must have been confused. The designer (Marcello Gandini) was ex-Lamborghini and based the car (not the engine) on his designs for the Diablo.

Flat Six > Alex87f 01/09/2014 at 14:01

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Cool - did the 767 and Rolls use the same Goldfish engine?

Alex87f > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 14:12

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Good question... the V16 in the Ghost was apparently derived from BMW's N73, whilst the 767 had an engine based on the M70. Since the N73 is supposed to be an evolution of the M70, they do -albeit remotely- share the same basis.

Flat Six > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/09/2014 at 14:19

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Oops, so I guess it is a Type-D? Reading about it looks like the Type-C also had a V16 and was designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

TwoFortified > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 15:34

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I've always like this styalized Panther De Ville, made for the movie 101 Dalmations, because, in the cartoon version, Cruella's car was drawn long (even if, by other evidence, one could surmise that she was driving an 8 cyl). If money wasn't an object, I'd love to try tacking together two Nissan I6's and sticking that in a car. RB52QETTTT anyone (Well, ok, I'm not sure if you could do quad-overhead cams...the synchronization involved might be too extreme, and may require custom built, extra long, dual overheads).

Flat Six > TwoFortified 01/09/2014 at 15:56

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Yeah that sounds hairy. Although Cruella only had a V8, you could get a Panther with a V12:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_D…

If money was no object you could also get a 13 L Bugatti Royale

TwoFortified > Flat Six 01/09/2014 at 15:59

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Personally, I feel that hacking it together is half the fun.

Also, I don't think I could muster the willpower to do that to a pair of otherwise-perfectly-good RB26's. I've also heard that SR20's fetch a premium price before raceday...and I'd want/need 3 of them...RB20's though? I12 RB40DETT with a redline at 7600? Could be badass...

Flat Six > TwoFortified 01/09/2014 at 16:07

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No doubt, very cool idea.

Burt > Flat Six 01/11/2014 at 11:18

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I wouldn't consider it missed, but there is this:

The story behind it is that back when GM was building the B-Body Caprice, they were interested in the idea of using an engine with more than 8 cylinders, and wanted to study the NVH properties of a V12, but didn't have a developed engine to use. They called up BMW to ask for one o their V12 to use for testing, and BMW wanted no part of it. So what did Chevrolet do? Go to a showroom, buy a V12 BMW, pull the motor, and swap it into a Caprice. It looks like it belongs there, doesn't it?

Flat Six > Burt 01/11/2014 at 12:54

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That's wild, cool story!

Burt > Flat Six 01/11/2014 at 13:16

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I know right? I want to replicate it with something similar, even if it wouldn't be as nicely done.

Flat Six > Burt 01/11/2014 at 13:44

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How about a GMC 702 V12?

http://www.thunderv12.com/

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/the-gmc-t…

Burt > Flat Six 01/11/2014 at 21:35

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YYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Those thongs are nuts, and I love them.

Thomas R > Flat Six 01/22/2014 at 05:03

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As well as the lego car mentioned, there's also the Super Awesome Micro Project - an air-powered car made from lego, feature 256 pistons, and a top speed of 30km/h.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > Flat Six 01/22/2014 at 09:59

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This has a 20-cylinder engine. Does USAA insure locomotives?

Flat Six > Dream Theater of the Absurd 01/22/2014 at 10:15

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It fits in their drop down box so why not?

Flat Six > Thomas R 01/22/2014 at 10:19

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Wow I didn't realize the lego engine on that car was actually functional. That's incredible.

thebigbossyboss > Flat Six 01/29/2014 at 16:29

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Nope. I finally figured it out. It took a while until I watched a video of the 25 most terrifying sea creatures. It looks like a giant isopod.

Flat Six > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2014 at 17:48

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Ew gross that is totally it!

thebigbossyboss > Flat Six 01/29/2014 at 19:48

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I know right! hahahaha! This may have to be a post itself.

thebigbossyboss > Flat Six 01/29/2014 at 20:17

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I made the post. Don't worry you got lots of credit!

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-alfa-tipo-…

Flat Six > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2014 at 21:39

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Cool, thanks!

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Alex87f 03/05/2015 at 01:22

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I don't know where to find a 2.0 supercharged V10 but I need that immediately in my life right now.

Jens > Flat Six 04/10/2015 at 09:36

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Well this one, O&K RH 400, has got a 32 cylinder engine. Also got a 4200 gallon fuel tank.

Flat Six > Jens 04/10/2015 at 09:54

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WOW

LongbowMkII > Flat Six 11/06/2015 at 08:17

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Stupid stupid Cadillac.

Tohru > Flat Six 11/06/2015 at 09:41

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As a World of Tanks player, the M3 tank sucks ass.

SteveLehto > Flat Six 02/06/2016 at 08:32

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Saw this in the basement of the Petersen. I have no ideas beyond the pics as there were a lot of cars I was more interested in.

Flat Six > SteveLehto 02/06/2016 at 10:16

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Cool, the Petersen is amazing.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > TwoFortified 05/15/2016 at 16:55

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quad overhead cams are commonplace in the auto industry, V6, V8, V10, and V12 are all commonly quad overhead cams, 2 cams in each bank. A quad overhead I12 would be fairly easy, just attach the engines nose to tail and keep the timing gear for each half separate. You just have to get each engine on the right phase when you attach them.

TwoFortified > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 05/16/2016 at 15:42

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At the time I wrote that post (read: a million years ago), I was not really aware of quad-overhead. I am now, but I wouldn’t call it “commonplace”. As far as I understand:

- The LS engines are dual-overhead

- The VR Nissan Engines are dual-overhead

- The Voodoo engine in the new Mustangs are dual-overhead (afaict)

- The STi’s EJ257 is dual-overhead

- The old Viper is dual-overhead (afaict)

- The Benzo V12 is a *single* overhead cam (again, afaict).

So I don’t know where you get this “commonplace” from. As far as I can tell, quad-overhead has been largely relegated to exotics (and the Nissan VG engines, inexplicably)...or I’m just dumb and I’m reading all of these engine specs wrong. That’s always a possibility.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > TwoFortified 05/16/2016 at 15:47

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When they say DOHC on an V engine, that means each cylinder head has 2 cams in it, for a total of 4 cams in the engine total. AFAIK, nobody had shoved 4 cams in one head parallel to each other, if that’s what you were thinking.

TwoFortified > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 05/16/2016 at 16:43

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Oh. Then I’m dumb. So an LS1 has 4 camshafts in total? And this is called DOHC? That’s dumb, but understandable, I guess. But that’s where my confusion stems from. Ok, thanks!

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > TwoFortified 05/16/2016 at 16:59

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The GM LSx engines have their cams in the block and drive the valves via pushrods. AFAIK, they only have a single cam driving everything.

carl m anderson > Flat Six 09/22/2020 at 17:37

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there was a one off show car Vosion ? skip spelling . 1940s . it had a straight 16 two straight eights merge together , some of the engine was under the dashboard . there is somewhere a  black and white photo of this car in some book and or magazine . Good luck hunting for this image .