Practically Classics Forum

Seen today at a local country show. 2 Downton tuned motors that can run either independently or together in a 4WD set up.

Interesting.

I think that having two engines running each end of the car may actually be illegal, really not sure.

If one engine won't start bump start it off the other. Put one in reverse and one in first and see which end wins.

Minis will only take so much HP before it becomes pointless. I guess this doubles the limit.

I don't like the chrome over the wheel arches. : Still its not my car and the owner likes it, so fine.

Bob

It was a "factory" option


I can't think why it wouldn't be legal to run two engines on the road.

Well that's jolly interesting. Off to find out more!

I can't see why it wouldn't be legal either. After all that's essentially what all the new highbrids are. (ok one of them is electric but still...)

And obviously it isn't or this car wouldn't have been able to drive to the show.

I remember a grass track "special" car in "Hot Car" in the early 70's with two Mini engines, IIRC, the back engine was an auto-box version - otherwise it needs some complex timing and linkage mechanisms to get the gear changes synchronised! I vaguely remember the article saying something about not being road legal because of two engines - I won't argue either way as it was a long time ago and it's quite possible that the law has changed. As it happens, the special was more like an Atom, with a skeletal frame with no lighting and not much bodywork, so it wasn't road legal in any case!

Now that could be really entertaining if the hubs on the rear frame were steerable!
I see no reason why it shouldn't be permitted under C&U regs to use twin engines and Citroen's (twin engined) 2CV Saharas - chassis pic attached below - appear occasionally at shows under their own steam.
A quick search shows twin engined Fiestas, Golves and Peugeot 205s are around and road legal too.

VW did a twin engined mk2 Scirocco if I recall correctly

Forgive the Lazarus, but I was watching an old "Scrappy Races" last night and one team's vehicle had two old taxi front ends and two Vauxhall engine/gearboxes. The second engine wasn't fitted at the start (a drive to Pendine Sands) and, for the first event, they removed the rear frame and fitted one with the second engine because "It's illegal to use two engines on the road". I knew I'd seen it somewhere - I have seen that episode at least three times (and twice this year)!

Isn't there a twin engined vehicle at Gaydon motor museum? For some reason I've got in mind it may be a joke! Sure it's a pair of 'A' series engines anyway. I've certainly seen it done on a Golf with two VW engines.

bmc made a twini moke too