Hooniverse Asks- What's The Most Audacious Car With Another Brand's Motor?

Robert Emslie

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1978 Dodge Omni-00

You know, sometimes the old adage, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, is the best motto to maintain. In the case of the automotive industry, that admission of competitive unbalance can play into a car maker’s favor, imbuing one marque with the brand equity of another, more venerated, one. That has resulted in Lotus-Cortinas, Cosworth Vegas, and a myriad of Italian stallions with American horses housed in their corrals.

Sometimes, it’s another company improving a maker’s existing mill- hence the aforementioned twin-cam Vega, Ford’s Yamaha-headed SHO V6, and the similar work Lotus did to the Blue Oval’s Kent four. On other occasions it has been the case that a smaller maker simply didn’t have the resources to make an appropriate engine, and was fortunate enough to find a savior in a competitor willing to sell a few of their own.

An example of this are the Dodge L-cars which at various times had Simca and VW power before Chrysler got their own 2.2-litre sorted out. Other instances are of course the Bristol-powered AC models, GM-motivated Jeeps, and of course the granddaddy of all engine donations, the Ford-powered AC Cobra.

From Omnis to Omnipotent Cobras, these cars all have one thing in common, they had someone else’s heart beating under their hood. Which one of those maker mashups do you think was the most jaw-dropping in its unexpected partnership?

Image source: Old CarBrochures

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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118 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What's The Most Audacious Car With Another Brand's Motor?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    It seemed really strange that the Saturn Vue got a Honda V-6.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Saturn_Vue_RedLine_–_10-31-2009.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      This may be the last big manufacturer to use essentially a competitor's powerplant.
      Land Rover uses the ecoboost and Lotus is in bed with Toyota but they really don't have any cross shoppers.
      Prove me wrong internets.

      Reply
      1. Maxichamp Avatar
        Maxichamp

        BRZ-FRS?
        Roatan-Caravan? (That's more badge engineering.)

        Reply
      2. TurboBrick Avatar
        TurboBrick

        Infiniti sells cars in Europe with Mercedes diesel engines.

        Reply
        1. duurtlang_ Avatar
          duurtlang_

          Infiniti doesn't sell cars in Europe. They say they try to, but to this day I've yet to see proof with my own eyes. Looking up the statistics they sold a whopping 12 new cars in my country, the Netherlands, in calender year 2012, which was less than brands like Fisker, Tesla and dead Saab. Two more than Cadillac, I'll give them that. It's a country of 17 million people I must add.

          Reply
          1. TurboBrick Avatar
            TurboBrick

            EDIT:
            Infiniti sells offers (unsuccessfully) cars in Europe with Mercedes diesel engines.

        2. Guillaume Avatar
          Guillaume

          These are Renault diesels (V6 3 liter 240hp and loads of torque)
          Still, no one wants these cars here, but that's not worse than Lexus when they arrived on that same market years ago.

          Reply
    2. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      That was what I was coming to post. Odd pairing, but, a reliable, high reving 250 V6 in a little Vue surely was entertaining.

      Reply
    3. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      Wasn't that in exchange for a 1.7L Isuzu diesel for Honda to use in the Euro market in the Civic (and some others, maybe)?
      I'd say Saturn got the better half of that deal, though IIRC, the J35 Honda gave them was built more cheaply.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I think they got the Isuzu diesels and access to OnStar as part of the deal.

        Reply
  2. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    Remember how Saturn was supposed to be an import fighter? It probably didn't suggest a bright and sunny future when they started shoving Honda motors in the Vue.

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      That's what I get for typing at stoplights. I'll throw out the Shelby Series 1 as well, for using the Olds Aurora V8 over the full-fledged Northstar.

      Reply
  3. miki Avatar
    miki

    The Lancia Thema 8.32. Take a luxurious, soft , comfortable car with power-everything, heated seats, hand-made leather interior and even a phone (so 80s) and drop in a Ferrari V8.
    <img src="http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/modelpicture.php?id=2457&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q8kBt8ooNTE/THOVheekE2I/AAAAAAAAElM/rIFIP8rlRWE/s1600/thema.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. miki Avatar
      miki

      <img src="http://wakpaper.com/large/Cows_wallpapers_326.jpg&quot; width="600">
      Speaking of Ferrari, did you know that the engine of the very first car made by Enzo Ferrari (called Auto Avio Costruzioni 815), was created joining two engine taken from the most popular Fiat of the time, the 508 ?
      <a href="http://magazine.ferrari.com/blog/2011/11/origins/” target=”_blank”>http://magazine.ferrari.com/blog/2011/11/origins/

      Reply
      1. miki Avatar
        miki

        link doesn't work, use this : http://magazine.ferrari.com/blog/2011/11/origins/

        Reply
  4. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    AMC with an Audi engine.
    <img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Fullscreen-capture-7172012-90920-AM.bmp.jpg"width=500&gt; <a href="http://hooniverse.info/2012/07/17/hooniverse-two-door-tuesday-a-1978-amc-concord-dl-with-the-heart-of-an-audi/” target=”_blank”>http://hooniverse.info/2012/07/17/hooniverse-two-door-tuesday-a-1978-amc-concord-dl-with-the-heart-of-an-audi/

    Reply
  5. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Recently? Dodge Avenger with VW 2.0 TDI. There's your mid-size class-leading MPG's right there, but not available in the US.

    Reply
    1. Perc Avatar
      Perc

      I remember this, but not why they did it. Was this before the FIAT merger? Because fiat has excellent diesels already, widely used by Saab and Opel… And Alfa, of course.

      Reply
      1. TurboBrick Avatar
        TurboBrick

        I can think of three different diesel suppliers they've used over the years: Venturi, Mercedes and VW. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there's some old Cherokees running around with Renault engines. The diesel Avenger was definitely before the FIAT era. I think this was towards the end of the Daimler era or maybe during that few years that Cerberus was calling the shots. At least it's a common engine so you're not going to run out of support in a few years.
        "Widely used by Saab"… erm… I don't know if that's a selling point anymore 😉

        Reply
        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          Only three?
          <img src="http://www.ramsouthwest.com/files/2011/01/cummins_logo-novo01.jpg"&gt;

          Reply
          1. TurboBrick Avatar
            TurboBrick

            Oh yeah, then there's those guys too…

        2. Perc Avatar
          Perc

          > I wouldn't be surprised at all if there's some old Cherokees running around with Renault engines.
          http://hooniverse.info/2012/01/12/hooniverse-truck…

          Reply
    2. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
      Dean Bigglesworth

      The Journey was also available with the 2.0 TDi engine and DSG box, a guy at work has one. And the Grand Cherokee and 300C had a 3.0 Mercedes diesel, but that's not nearly as weird as the VW engines.

      Reply
  6. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    Citroen SM got the Maserati engine under the hood
    <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Citro%C3%ABn_SM_C114-03_Engine_011.jpg&quot; width="600">
    And what a hood
    <img src="http://ifaster.tiscali.cz/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/citroen-sm-1.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Perc Avatar
      Perc

      That is because Citroen owned Maserati back then. There are also Maseratis with Citroen hydraulics in them.

      Reply
      1. miki Avatar
        miki

        The 2nd gen Quattroporte shared the engine and many mechananical parts (including the hydraulics) with the SM.

        Reply
    2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      And what an engine bay! Look how much space there'd be in front of the engine if the hydraulics weren't there. Odd to think that so much of Citroen architecture is defined by its suspension system.

      Reply
      1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
        BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

        Handy guide how to disassemble your SM engine, first step of 12894 steps: take of the sparkplug wires.

        Reply
      2. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
        ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

        <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PXdaAlqZVWg/UavWI0GIKjI/AAAAAAAAGhk/QFT8iEOtFM0/s660/100_1071.jpg"&gt; Look what I saw? The photo is fuzzy, but the knobs are those chrome ones from CL crap shoot last week! It was a scary bad car: cage, rear seats, original seat belts.

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          Holy crap! Dang!
          You win the Universe. All of it.
          <img src="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/files/2011/10/SUTU_53.jpg&quot; width=400>

          Reply
    3. TurboBrick Avatar
      TurboBrick

      It's a front mid-engine configuration, you can see the transaxle sticking out in front of the engine. The accessories seem to be hanging from some kind of rack all the way at the front. See that huge prop shaft that drives the hydraulic pump? I do believe that gets powered off the crank via chain at the back of the water pump which is located between the engine and the firewall.

      Reply
    4. Jay_Ramey Avatar
      Jay_Ramey

      I heard that some owners later dropped Maser Biturbo engines into SMs….. as if the original 3.0 liter Maser engine is too simple to maintain.
      But then again, the value of a Maser Biturbo engine may exceed the value of an engineless Maser Biturbo.

      Reply
  7. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The Lincoln Mk VII with the BMW Turbo Diesel
    <img src="http://www.autofiends.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/diesel-linc.jpg"width=500&gt;
    I recently saw one of these at the self-storage yard where my dad was keeping his boat.

    Reply
    1. LTDScott Avatar
      LTDScott

      The "Water In Fuel" light on the gauge panel of my '85 LSC confused me at first until I learned about the BMW diesel Lincolns.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        This also explains why my dad's '87 LSC had a sunroof relay with BMW stamped on it.

        Reply
    2. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Yeah, a cousin of mine down in La. once owned one (an LSC with the 2.4TD).

      Reply
    3. Tomsk Avatar
      Tomsk

      Also available in the Continental.

      Reply
    4. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      …hence why Speedycop's wretched '63 Thunderbird with that motor made perfect sense!
      <img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5218/5537189728_87dc556173_o.jpg&quot; width=600>
      Well, some sense.

      Reply
  8. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    International Harvester Scout with Isuzu diesel engine.
    <img src="http://www.adclassix.com/images/80ihscout_turbodiesel.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. Jim Brennan Avatar
      Jim Brennan

      It was actually a Nissan Diesel…
      According to Wikipedia: International did not manufacture a diesel engine small enough to be used in the Scout, and so starting in 1976 used the Nissan SD33 diesel engine as a diesel option. This engine was replaced by the Nissan SD33T turbodiesel engine in 1980.

      Reply
      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Thanks. I got it confused with the small Isuzu diesels that GM was using at the time in the Luv and Chevette.

        Reply
    2. scoudude Avatar
      scoudude

      Yes it was a Nissan diesel but the strange thing is that it was purchased from Chrysler for the first few years and was called the CN-33 For Chrysler-Nissan 3.3. At the time Chrysler was the sole US distributor for Nissan industrial engines. Near the end IH purchased the engines directly from Nissan. If it is painted yellow it is a CN-33, blue and it is a SD33.

      Reply
  9. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/Rover-75_V8_2004_1024x768_wallpaper_01_zps611bb13e.jpg&quot; width="500">
    I know we're a struggling little company, but we're going to take our front wheel drive sedan, (And wagon!), yes, thank you Tim, and we're going to convert them to rear wheel drive and put in a Ford V8. Naturally, there will also be a Rover version.

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      That was a strange time for MGRover.
      I've heard differing stories- One which the Rover 75 was developed without interference from BMW and the FWD had to be extensively reworked to make RWD happen. The other is the 75 was developed with BMW 5 Series structures underneath and the RWD wasn't difficult to achieve.
      Too bad it all went kaput. Imagine a MG ZT-T V8 with a 660hp GT500 engine.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        I heard that the 75 was developed by BMW to become the 6-series, and that it was subsequently altered to be a Rover. My uncle had a 75 6-cylindre. It was a nice car, but the interiour design was really too much of everything – trying very hard to be British. And he had it for ten years because it was impossible to sell it for a decent price.

        Reply
    2. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      TopGear did a drive of one back in Season 4 (just watched it on Netflix last week).

      Reply
    3. Perc Avatar
      Perc

      I like to think I know how this car was built. Someone with a forklift picked half-baked 75's off of the assembly line and took them to a shed in the back of the Longbridge lot, where people with sledgehammers cued the music.

      Reply
  10. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    Volvo 740 Diesel, powered by VW
    <img src="http://ipocars.com/imgs/a/e/l/m/h/volvo__740_2_4_diesel___import_niemcy_1987_8_lgw.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. joedunlap Avatar
      joedunlap

      And lets not forget the same engine in the 240 as well. And that , at least here in the US, an engine that Audi themselves never used.

      Reply
    2. TurboBrick Avatar
      TurboBrick

      VW LT truck diesel – when your Volvo just feels too smooth, fast and refined.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        That was so well said, my grin froze.

        Reply
      2. Perc Avatar
        Perc

        I love the sound a D24 volvo makes, especially when idling. Manly, somehow.
        But it was probably a lot more competitive in the 240 than in the 940 towards the end of the 90's, turbo/intercooler or not.

        Reply
    3. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      That's what I came here for. I'd have made a crack about reliability, too, if not for the pre-B280 PRV.

      Reply
  11. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Not sure where the Buick Opel by Isuzu falls on this.
    <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8261610856_d5332950a4_z.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. LTDScott Avatar
      LTDScott

      That's just badge engineering. It was an Isuzu with an Isuzu engine but a different nameplate.

      Reply
      1. bryce Avatar
        bryce

        Actually its an Opel built in Japan by Isuzu

        Reply
        1. LTDScott Avatar
          LTDScott

          I'm aware that it's a T-platform car, which originated with the Opel Kadett C, but it's an Isuzu Gemini, plain and simple. So it's an Isuzu car with an Isuzu engine, but rebadged for the US market.

          Reply
          1. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            But it definitely takes the crown for the weirdest rebadging effort. Imagine Fiat now trying to sell a car with the handsome name of Chrysler Alfa Romeo Ferrari. It just doesn't make sense. Which should have been GM's slogan for decades.

  12. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    At the end, Sunbeam Tigers had Ford V8 engines, though the company was owned by Chrysler.
    http://www.howstuffworks.com/sunbeam-sports-cars2…
    <img src="http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mfc3Bz6bvCbo1Oz4p3Z7vpA.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. sunbeammadd Avatar
      sunbeammadd

      Sunbeam were at it again in the next decade with the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus.
      <img src="http://www.motorlist.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/12-Motortlist-Renault-Clio-Lotus-Sunbem-Shoot-04.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
  13. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
    ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

    [youtube KXBHdBEhHd0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXBHdBEhHd0 youtube]

    Reply
  14. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Allard J2, powered by many American V8s, most successfully Cadillac's 331 c.i. mill.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/1950_Allard_J2_no1578.jpg/220px-1950_Allard_J2_no1578.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  15. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    What about a Simca with a Ford engine, the Simca Chambord
    <img src="http://bimg1.mlstatic.com/simca-chambord-1961_MLB-F-3243943534_102012.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://images02.olx.com.br/ui/16/32/29/1322063206_283212329_1-Simca-chambord-centro.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Apparently the Simca flatheads are considered superior to the Ford version. http://www.sfflatheads.com/history/

      Reply
    2. Bryce Avatar
      Bryce

      Thats a Simca Vedette Ford Matra became Simca and these used the V860 also available with the 4cyl Rush engine as the Ariane

      Reply
  16. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Apparently a few of the last Checker Marathons got stuck with an Oldsmobile diesel V-8.
    <img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6621458681_bdbccaa15e_z.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
  17. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Off the top of my head: Ford Taunus V-4's in SAAB 95's and 96'ss, Navistar diesels in Ford pickups, and my favorite one, BMW providing engines to Volkswagen for use in Bentleys. Packard V8's in 1955-56 Hudson Hornets and Nash Ambassadors.

    Reply
    1. Van_Sarockin Avatar
      Van_Sarockin

      Came here to mention one German engine in another's English luxury car, but forgot the specifics.

      Reply
  18. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    "Totes the tots."
    I don't know why I find that so funny.

    Reply
  19. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Nominally, a Shogun is all Ford, but realistically, it is a Yamaha-designed engine powering a Mazda-designed Kia,powering the "proper" pair of wheels.
    <img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ford-fiesta-shogun-yellow-1-700×525.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
  20. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Tritec engines in first-gen MINI's and in non-US market Neons and PT Cruisers. Prince engines in MINI's and lots of Peugeots and Citroens. This is a little tangential, but the whole JDM in the 80's and 90's was full of badge engineering, with Honda-built Izusus and Suzuki-built Subarus and Toyota-built Daihatsus.

    Reply
    1. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      There were also Daihatsu-engined Minis produced by Innocenti.

      Reply
  21. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    Alright, so this was badged as a Mazda, but the idea of a rotary-powered Holden is still sufficiently weird.
    <img src="http://hh.hansenits.com/assets/images/roadpacer-multi-promo.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
  22. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
    Ate Up With Motor

    The Argentine IKA Torino 380W: a Renault-marketed, Pininfarina-facelifted Rambler American with a souped-up version of the 3.8-liter Kaiser-Jeep Tornado SOHC six, making 176 hp with three Weber 45 DCOEs.
    What would have been the runner up was the abortive Austin-Healey 4000, with Rolls-Royce's aluminum F-head FB60 engine.

    Reply
  23. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    A Dodge Demon powered by the Abarth motor… No, wait, that is just in my imagination.

    Reply
  24. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
    Ate Up With Motor

    Oh, I almost forgot: the Mazda Roadpacer AP, which was essentially a big Holden (GM's Australian brand) with Mazda's emissions-controlled 13B rotary engine and three-speed JATCO automatic. I think it was an (unsuccessful) attempt to do a Toyota Century-style conservative luxury barge that would take advantage of a contemporary tax credit for low-emissions vehicles. Not many were built and I don't think they were officially exported.

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      This was the period when Mazda thought it was a great idea to put a rotary engine into a pickup…
      <img src="http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Mazda-R-Pu-rq.jpg&quot; width="480/">
      …and a freakin' bus.
      <img src="http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4666/pw0000035b15d.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. MrHowser Avatar
        MrHowser

        I saw one of those pickups today… I had assumed that the "rotary power" signage was custom. It appears not to be the case.

        Reply
        1. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
          Ate Up With Motor

          I had the exact same reaction when I saw one at a Japanese car show a couple of years ago. I saw the fender flares and big ROTARY POWER stickers and figured it was somebody's project. Afterward I was kicking myself for not getting pictures of it.

          Reply
      2. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
        Ate Up With Motor

        Part of the reason for Mazda's all-in embrace of rotary engines was that they originally thought the rotary was going to be the only way to meet U.S. 1975 emissions standards — the rotary with a thermal reactor had acceptably low HC emissions and could meet the original NOx standards, which was a tall order for carbureted reciprocating engines. As it happened, the feds pushed back the NOx standards and the REPU, which was intended entirely for the U.S., ended up being too expensive and way too thirsty for compact truck buyers.
        The Parkway bus was only for Japan, but was also probably driven by emissions concerns. Big Japanese cities were having serious air pollution problems and threatening to impose their own local emissions standards, so I assume Toyo Kogyo figured there would be a market for a low-emissions bus. Again, its downfall was probably fuel consumption.

        Reply
  25. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    DeLorean DMC-12 with the PRV-engine. A Peugeot-Renault-Volvo-developed V8 that got its balls cut off during the oil crisis and became an awful V6. They could have put anything in the car, and chose this desaster.
    <img src="http://www.fastcoexist.com/multisite_files/coexist/imagecache/960/article_feature/delorean-ev-main.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. julkinen Avatar
      julkinen

      I think that photo is of the electric one.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        There was an electric one? I come here to learn.

        Reply
        1. seguin Avatar
          seguin

          There is now. A company in Houston, TX purchased the remaining stock of parts from the factory, as well as reproducing many of the parts themselves – they have enough pieces to make new Deloreans to spec, and one of the options is electric drivetrain.

          Reply
        2. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
          BlackIce_GTS

          Granted!
          [youtube RA6Lz-s9SE8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA6Lz-s9SE8 youtube]

          Reply
          1. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Wow…how cool is that!? One excited CEO, and he has a good reason to be. A silent DeLorean seems like a perfect fit, even though I am not that much into electrics yet. 95000$ would actually be competitive – easy to register, I hope!?

    2. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
      Ate Up With Motor

      In fairness, they did consider a number of other engines, including the NSU-Citroën Comotor rotary (!) and Ford-Werke's "Cologne" V6. The reason DMC went with the PRV engine was that Renault already had a transverse FWD version for the R30, and DeLorean could just use pretty much the complete R30 drivetrain, including transmissions. At that time, I think the Cologne engine was only used in longitudinal RWD applications (the V4 version had of course been used in the FWD Taunus and Saab 96, but still longitudinally mounted), so DeLorean would have had to deal with adapting the mounts and ancillaries as well as coming up with a suitable transaxle.
      It's also worth noting that the DMC-12 ended up being a lot heavier than originally planned. It was supposed to weigh only about 2,200 lb, which would have made it a lot quicker with any of those engines.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        What a strange bunch of engines. Thanks for the info!

        Reply
  26. TheOnlyCannoli Avatar
    TheOnlyCannoli

    Doesn't Pagani use an AMG Mercedes motor?

    Reply
  27. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The Lamborghini LM001 (not the LM002) was only a prototype, but it got a AMC 360 V-8 in the rear.
    <img src="http://www.all-car-brands.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lamborghini_lm_001-1.jpg&quot; width="500/">
    The LM001 was derived from the Cheetah project which had a Chrysler 360 V-8.
    <img src="http://www.lambocars.com/images/off_road/cheetah2.jpg"width=500&gt;
    Which looks an awful lot like the 1980s GI JOE VAMP.
    <img src="http://www.yojoe.com/images/resize/w/MAX/vehicles/82/vamp/vamp_left_iso.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. facelvega Avatar
      facelvega

      Excellent observation about the GI Joe Vamp, one of my favorite toys when I was a kid. Oddly the SWB version in the toy has better lines than the actual Cheetah. Heck, I'd consider buying one right now if they were on the market as a wrangler competitor.

      Reply
  28. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    The Lotus Elan M100, with a turbocharged 1.6L Isuzu lump driving the front wheels.
    <img src="http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/modelpicture.php?id=6058&quot; width="500" />

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I've actually seen one of those showing up in the company parking lot the last few months. (In a much more attractive red).

      Reply
    2. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Later, a Kia badge and powerplant.
      <img src="http://speedhero.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/clasicospto98.jpg?w=600&h=450"&gt;
      <a href="http://elanm100.com/” target=”_blank”>http://elanm100.com/

      Reply
  29. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    I'm trying to think of how many Asian manufacturers GM has slapped a badge on for the US market. So far I've got Toyota, Suzuki, Daewoo, and Isuzu.

    Reply
    1. sunbeammadd Avatar
      sunbeammadd

      And Subaru (Saab 9-2X)

      Reply
  30. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    Bizzarini P538, below and all the other Iso, DeTomaso etc. Italian-American classics
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/SC06_1967_Bizzarini_P538.jpg/800px-SC06_1967_Bizzarini_P538.jpg&quot; width="622">

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Except for the De Tomaso Guara which got a BMW V-8 for a while, before they switched to Ford V-8s.
      <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Guara_2.jpg/280px-Guara_2.jpg"width=500&gt;

      Reply
  31. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    Volvo PRV engine has wound up in a lot of strange places. Also Ford engines in their English Marques after they were sold off to the Germans and Indians. BMW has managed to sell plenty of engines to other manufacturers. And I'm still having trouble coming to grips with Toyota engines in all manner of Loti. Then again, Lotus will sell their chassis to anyone.

    Reply
  32. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    You would expect some sort of fire apparatus engine or maybe a tractor engine in a 1960s British sports racer, but the Elva BMW MK VIIIS got a 2.0L BMW engine.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Elva_BMW_Mallory_Park.JPG&quot; width="500/">
    Also the GT160 prototype got a BMW engine.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Elva_160_%282009-08-07%29_ret.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
  33. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Not really an engine (not at all, actually) but Peterbilt 265 with MAN-VW G90 cab:
    <img src="http://www.funrapid.net/pixhost/trsite/images/75695709.jpg&quot; width="600">
    VW Taro: basically a license-built Toyota HiLux:
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/VW_Taro_1987-1991_frontleft_2008-03-29_A.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Stu_Rock Avatar
      Stu_Rock

      I can't recall ever seeing one of those Peterbilts. Do you have any idea when they were made, how many there were, or what region they tended to be sold in? Google's not helping very much.

      Reply
      1. marmer01 Avatar
        marmer01

        Basically mid-80s to mid-90s in the US market. I used to see them pretty often in Houston, TX. Never saw the VW or MAN version. Wiki says they're still being made under the VW name in Brazil.

        Reply
        1. Stu_Rock Avatar
          Stu_Rock

          Cool, thanks. During that era I lived in Wisconsin, and all the COE medium-duty trucks there were Ford C-series, Ford/Iveco Cargo, Isuzu NxR, Fuso FE, and maybe a few old IH Loadstar CO-series. I'll keep my eyes open for those Petes. The one you linked is clearly in California (where I currently live), but I'll be moving to Houston next year.

          Reply
  34. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    When you open the bonnet (hood) of a Honda Concerto…
    <img src="http://en.club-honda.eu/graphics/gallery/full/34_concerto.jpg&quot; width=640>
    …I bet you would never expect to find a Peugeot 1.8 Turbo Diesel engine!
    <img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/502331/16022008.jpg&quot; width=640>

    Reply
  35. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    '33 Ford Coupe. Or are you going to try and tell me those didn't come with Chevrolet V8s and either a Turbo-hydromatic or a Muncie 4-speed from the factory?

    Reply
  36. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    My favorite just for irony's sake is the Toyota-powered Loti (think Elise and Exige), but it gets even weirder for the Elise. The Series 1 and early Series 2 Elise used a Rover engine.
    <img width=500 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/LotusElise.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  37. Slow_Joe_Crow Avatar
    Slow_Joe_Crow

    For unexpectedness, I like the South African Landrover Defender 90 with the BMW M52 engine. These were the fastest factory Defenders ever built, outrunning even the 4.0 V8 powered 50th anniversary models.

    Reply
  38. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    Same (well, not entirely but that's how the folklore goes) engine in this:
    <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Ltpyramiden.jpg&quot; width="600">
    and that:
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/2011-09-30_Bonn_Polizeiauto_Deutschlandfest_%281%29.JPG&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  39. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    Another one I just remembered. The Holden VL Commodore had a Nissan RB30 for some reason, you could even get it with a turbo.
    <img src="http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/attachments/parts-other-items-sale/21677d1151895714-vl-commodore-sale-vl1.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
  40. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Surprised that nobody has mentioned the Noble M600 with its SUV-heart yet:
    <img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Noble-M600_2010_800x600_wallpaper_01.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  41. HTWHLS Avatar
    HTWHLS

    Jensen Interceptor with the American 383 and 440ci Mopar engines!

    Reply
  42. desolit Avatar
    desolit

    What the f*** was this? <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/1st-Honda-Passport.jpg/800px-1st-Honda-Passport.jpg"&gt;
    I think this is still haunting Honda's suv sales.

    Reply
  43. ata Avatar
    ata

    In Europe GM:s Opel was selling the Omega B (also known as Cadillac Catera for the US market) Diesel with a BMW 6-cylinder diesel engine, familiar from 5-series diesel BMW's. The smaller front wheel drive diesel models from Opel received an Isuzu diesel engine in the 90's and nowdays they use Fiat diesel engines in some models. Fiat is also using Opel gasoline engines in some of their models in exchange…

    Reply
  44. cap'n fast Avatar
    cap'n fast

    detomaso and the ford 351w
    Pontiac firebird with 403 olds engine…..
    anything that flies and has pratt and whitney engines is an absolute mismatch

    Reply
  45. 123d Avatar
    123d

    The pinnacle has to be the gold foil wrapped BMW V12 in the back of the McLaren F1

    Reply
  46. Employment Agencies Los Angeles Avatar
    Employment Agencies Los Angeles

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  47. Clash of clans account Avatar
    Clash of clans account

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