By Jeff Glucker
The answer to today’s question could be as simple as the Ford F-150. Or as complicated as some little known eight-axled Russian military machine that seven people have ever heard of. To help cut down on even more vehicles fitting the answer to this question, I’m excluding airplanes. Yes, you could consider each bit of landing car as a different axle. But those aren’t really driven axles and even if they are, they don’t count for today. We’re talking land-based vehicles with power sent to more than one axle.
Could it be the original Willy’s Jeep? Maybe you love the Bronco, the Land Cruiser, the Land Rover, G-Wagen, or a Unimog? Or maybe it’s none of those things.
I want to hear what you believe is the best multi-axle-driven vehicle ever built. Let us know below.
Gresley A4 Pacific. Six driven wheels. 230,000 lbs, 126 mph.
How about SP 4449 8 axles, 475,000lbs, 100mph, not quite as elegant but imposing and capable of running longer and harder.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Night_session_june_23_2011_033xRP_-_Flickr_-_drewj1946.jpg
I remember standing next to one of those big Southern Pacific locos in the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry. Thinking of it going 100mph, with those connecting rods hurtling back & forth & up & down and the whole bomb filled with 200 psi of 800 degree steam scared the bejeezus out of me.
They went 100 mph with a quarter mile of cars behind them, too.
I remember standing next to one of those big Southern Pacific locos in the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry. Thinking of it going 100mph, with those connecting rods hurtling back & forth & up & down and the whole bomb filled with 200 psi of 800 degree steam scared the bejeezus out of me.
They went 100 mph with a quarter mile of cars behind them, too.
LeTourneau VC-22 Sno-Freighter. Engine unit and 5 trailers all 24 wheels driven by individual electric motors. (You didn’t say the axle had to have more than one wheel on it.)
Nice Studebaker pickup too at the end.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF SHIT I WANTED TO SEE
Purely to throw a non-off-road/non-utilitarian vehicle into the mix, I’m going to nominate the 2004 Keio University Eliica EV concept. Each wheel has an individual 80bhp motor for a total of 644bhp. It also looks like the result of a one night stand between a Citroen DS an Lady Penelopes Rolls Royce from Thunderbirds, which does it for me, but I realize looks are subjective.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Eliica2.jpg/1280px-Eliica2.jpg
I’m a sucker for twin steering axles and crew cabs so a Tatra 813 gets the nod https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Tatra_813_KOLOS_1.jpg but I also love Landrovers and Unimogs as a result of my childhood Matchbox collection (I suspect my love of twin steering also comes from a Matchbox).
I am thinking in much the same direction, even though Jeff already was well aware that this would be a topic. The ZiL 131 is a 6×6 that over decades has proven it arrives where you point it. Fuel consumption is equal to about 1.3 death stars, but we’re doing “best” not “well-rounded”, eh?
http://military-vehicle-photos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/4211.jpg
Truck trials is the most relaxing motorsport to watch ever.
Might as well make it amphibious then. Apocryphally, one of these was taken by a disaffected British serviceman in Europe and driven back all the way to England, including the sea crossing
The Alvis Stalwart and derivatives.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Stalwart_Mk_2_FV_622.JPG/1280px-Stalwart_Mk_2_FV_622.JPG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mr_pCrhTkk
Looks cool! Then again, there are people that do that but a much longer swim from dry land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8cEzVbk9vU (do tracks count as many ales, or as no axles?)
I still experience some regret when thinking about this FWD Teracruzer that came up for sale not far from me a few years ago, although the price was too high and I’m reasonably confident it would not have fit down my driveway without damage to something:
https://barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1957-MM1-Teracruzer.jpg
Worth it just to show up at Tire Rack and watch the reactions.
It’s nice to know that the ‘stylist’ of your KV Mini found further employment.
Love me some Rolligon.
Purely to throw a non-off-road/non-utilitarian vehicle into the mix, I’m going to nominate the 2004 Keio University Eliica EV concept. Each wheel has an individual 80bhp motor for a total of 644bhp. It also looks like the result of a one night stand between a Citroen DS an Lady Penelopes Rolls Royce from Thunderbirds, which does it for me, but I realize looks are subjective.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Eliica2.jpg/1280px-Eliica2.jpg
The American Dream limo had a drive axle (can it be called “front wheel drive” if there are undriven wheels farther forward?) just before the hood, and another drive axle (and motor/transmission) between the back of the cab and the hot tub.
https://www.entertales.com/wp-content/uploads/American-Dream-1.jpg
Peak ‘murica
Porsche 918. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dc8e13c14e87907524b6be59e71939e8ef0825a93267d68a086e14761c0260c1.jpg
Since the LeTourneau snow train’s taken, I nominate a LeTourneau construction machine, the LT-360 scraper that was used to help build I-20 across Texas…
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/x04hqg5odwrvjmhczj00.jpg
Tatra T815 (six wheel drive) aka the War Rig
https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Tatra_T815_%22The_War_Rig%22