Hooniverse Asks- What’s Your All-Time Favorite Mid-Engined Car?

Robert Emslie

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twini

It’s pretty safe to say that the vast majority of cars sold today are of the transverse-engine, front wheel drive variety. That’s just the most common, and especially when you get down to compact and smaller sizes, one of the most space efficient designs available. And that’s what makes it kind of dull. 

Cheap cars, at least those form Europe and Japan, used to have their engines in the back, usually hanging off like a dingleberry and ensuring the cars handled like a bucket on a rope. Front wheel drive with the engine weight baring down on those driven wheels is lots better, trading snap spins for boring but speed scrubbing understeer. For many however, the best solution for both handling and exotic coolness is to put the motor and the rest of the remaining mechanical bits fully in between the axle centers. Hence, the mid-engine car.

These mid-engined cars have not only owned much of the high-end performance landscape for decades. Even some sports cars with the engine in front of the passenger compartment can be considered mid-engine as the mill still resides within the wheelbase. It’s the ones where the engine sits over you shoulder that holds the greatest mystique however, and whether in front or behind you, what I want to know today is which most sets your heart aflutter. Which is your all-time favorite mid-engine car? 

Image source: Spagweb

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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77 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What’s Your All-Time Favorite Mid-Engined Car?”

  1. grdotnet Avatar
    grdotnet

    Previa. Hands down.

    Reply
    1. buzzboy7 Avatar
      buzzboy7

      The 5 speed with an engine swap from the supercharged model

      Reply
      1. justgregit Avatar
        justgregit

        Hadn't even thought about it. My first car was a 5spd RWD '91. The supercharged engine would have made it perfect.

        Reply
    2. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Exactly what I was going to post. Previas are already good handling vans, and can be even better with shorter springs and other tweaks.

      Reply
    3. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      I'll just leave this here. http://hooniverse.info/2013/07/11/craigslist-1995-…

      Reply
    4. Maxichamp Avatar
      Maxichamp

      My in-laws and two families they summer vacationed with all got Previas in the early 1990s. The other two families made fun of my in-laws for getting the AllTrac version (they lived in Virginia). My bro-in-law got it as a hand-me-down and it survived despite receiving zero maintenance for like three or four years.
      My step-nephew also has a hand-me-down Previa that his mom got new. He drives it cross country between grad school and home every year.
      Finally, a friend went to a talk given by Previa engineers. It is the second most durable Toyota ever sold, after the LS400.

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        That says as much about the LS as it does the Previa.

        Reply
  2. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    Tough, truly tough
    Frank Insight http://superfastminis.com/FRANK-INSIGHT.html
    <img src="http://superfastminis.com/Gallery%20Files/FRANK-INSIGHT/GALLERY/FIS.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Renault Sport Clio V6
    <img src="http://www.allvehicles.co.uk/20273.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. desolit Avatar
      desolit

      thumbs for clios

      Reply
  3. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    This one………….because Ford GT.
    <img src="http://www.scenicreflections.com/files/Ford_GT_Engine_Wallpaper__yvt2.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
  4. Bhobrain Avatar
    Bhobrain

    Nsx that is all

    Reply
  5. DonFehlio Avatar
    DonFehlio

    For obvious reasons.
    <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGFPykqHmoc/UdQ6LtVIMGI/AAAAAAAAGc4/AgpdcL72oKA/w900-h611-no/IMG_7803small%255B1%255D.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Kamil_K Avatar
      Kamil_K

      What did this run?
      With t hat wheelbase it looks like it would be a handful at speed.

      Reply
      1. SSurfer321 Avatar
        SSurfer321

        Only if you set the front tires down!

        Reply
      2. DonFehlio Avatar
        DonFehlio

        I'm not sure; my co-worker was the one who took the pic. I just love it because AW11.

        Reply
    2. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick ★

      I never really thought of wheelies as being the obvious reason for liking the Mister Two…
      Not to say it's a bad reason. Just… ya know…

      Reply
      1. DonFehlio Avatar
        DonFehlio

        Part of me wants an air-cooled VW. Mostly because they're neat, and I could learn to wrench better with a VW project. But also because I want a car that can potentially do wheelies.

        Reply
        1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
          Scandinavian Flick ★

          I've often thought about how easy it would be to junkyard turbo build one of those to do the scariest quarter mile ever… They're light, everything you need to work on is right there, and of course, wheelies. Glorious, scary, death defying (or inducing) wheelies…

          Reply
  6. Kogashiwa Avatar
    Kogashiwa

    Mine. (At least, it used to be mine. And will be again.)
    <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dzpeazpztl9bf57/MR2_elevator_800x600.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Synchromesh Avatar
      Synchromesh

      Love those! Make mine a '95 in Solar Yellow please!

      Reply
  7. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    The Renault 5 Turbo! The 205 Turbo 16 is a close second…
    <img src="http://www.ucapusa.com/images/car_info/large/renault_5_turbo.jpg&quot; width=650><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R3dWmF8IIeo/T6IMPyTBD2I/AAAAAAAAFmI/xZANepmzN1E/s1600/za IMGP5000.jpg" width="650/">

    Reply
    1. quattrovalvole Avatar
      quattrovalvole

      Ohh this reminds me of the awesome 405 T16
      <img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/319648/2_Peugeot%20405%20T16%20Pikes%20peak%2002.jpg&quot; width=640 />

      Reply
      1. Vairship Avatar
        Vairship

        Which reminds me of a mid-engined DAF <img src="http://www.highperformancetrucks.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3593&g2_serialNumber=2&quot; width="600">

        Reply
  8. stickmanonymous Avatar
    stickmanonymous

    Given that my feet are dangling in front of it, I'd consider the engine to be mid-mounted.
    <img src="http://images-2.drive.com.au/2011/03/31/2263056/travi!20070205141122-360×0.jpg"&gt;
    5-Speed column shift diesel FTW!

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      I can see that's a Toyota, but what is it?

      Reply
      1. Maxichamp Avatar
        Maxichamp

        HiAce.

        Reply
  9. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    There's the one I currently drive: <img src="http://images.cars.com/phototab/DMI/461/120490A/01.jpg"width=500&gt; (not my truck pictured) The centerline of the V-6 is well behind the centerline of the front axle.
    The one I might some day be able to afford: <img src="http://carfindernet.com/vehicles/3590/images/3590-001.jpg"width=500&gt;
    And my favorite: <img src="http://www.karkraftengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1967-Ford-GT40-MK_IV-Le-Mans-Kar-Kraft-at-SEMA.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Honorable mentions:
      <img src="http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre/ferrari/250/lm/1964_ferrari_250_lm_02_sb.jpg"width=500"&gt;
      <img src="http://strumors.automobilemag.com/files/2010/08/28681289.jpeg&quot; width="500/">

      Reply
  10. Bryce Womeldurf Avatar
    Bryce Womeldurf

    Countach, of course!
    <img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8279410115_69a6496039_z.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  11. quattrovalvole Avatar
    quattrovalvole

    Hmmmm
    <img src="http://www.ek9.org/forum/attachments/general-chat/17267d1368976224-nsx-r-forsale-uk-what-i-wouldnt-do-honda-nsx-r-02.jpg&quot; width="640">

    Reply
  12. Pidgeonsplatz Avatar
    Pidgeonsplatz

    Always thought the Fiero could have been made into a great car, if Pontiac had stuck with it. But my favorite will always be the Tangerine Dream Corvair from back in the day…
    http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/02/14/hem…

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

      I met someone a while back who has a Crown conversion second-generation Corvair with a highly tuned 283 — shorter stroke and more oversquare than a 327 and thus more willing to rev with appropriate cam and valve gear. A 327 would have more torque, of course, but with the Crown-style conversions that was really the last thing you wanted; you had less weight than a Camaro and too much torque would split the transmission case.

      Reply
  13. Hopman Avatar
    Hopman

    Call be crazy: FIERO. But I've had a thing for the 80's latley.

    Reply
  14. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Asked and answered.
    <img src="http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/images/car_info/large/lancia_stratos.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  15. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    I’m having a difficult time coming up with a mid-engine car that I dislike. Sure, there are a few that I don’t want to own, but there is something magical about a mid-engine car that just makes it cool, even if it would otherwise not be. I mean the Fiero was an amalgamation of a Citation and a Chevette, and the MR2 was a Corolla. Sure, mass centralization is a fine rationale for it, but there is something more emotional about what makes a mid-engine car cool. It’s so cool, in fact, that people with front-mid cars are quick to point out that their car is technically mid-engined, just so they have some connection to the cars that we know that we are really referring to when we say “mid-engine.”

    Reply
  16. MindHacker Avatar
    MindHacker

    [img ]http://cdn4.automotiveset.com/pics/88/80/Mclaren-f1-2009_a6a22.jpg[/img]

    Reply
    1. MindHacker Avatar
      MindHacker

      <img src="http://]http//cdn4.automotiveset.com/pics/88/80/Mclaren-f1-2009_a6a22.jpg%5B/img%5D&quot; width="600">

      Reply
      1. MindHacker Avatar
        MindHacker

        <img src="http://cdn4.automotiveset.com/pics/88/80/Mclaren-f1-2009_a6a22.jpg&quot; width="600">
        Third time's the charm?

        Reply
  17. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    Front mid engine:
    <img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/24ctqid.jpg&quot; width="500"/>

    Reply
  18. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Well, I have a soft spot for the 914, 'cause it was the first mid-engine I ever encountered; my engineer uncle spent some time describing the advantages of the layout in his 914.
    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4085162653_ef56803f24.jpg&quot; width="450/">
    But all-time favorite status goes to the one of a kind Lamborghini Miura Roadster (a.k.a. Spider, a.k.a. Zn-75).
    Bertone never even bothered making a top for it.
    <img src="http://www.lambocars.com/images/miura/miura_roadster3.jpg&quot; width="500/">

    Reply
  19. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    You never forget your first love.
    <img src="http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2012/11/cars/1992_Lamborghini_Diablo-2.jpg&quot; width="500">
    I know there are probably better mid engined cars out there, some of them even made by Lamborghini itself, but the Diablo was the first one I was ever slightly obsessed with (way back when I was 8), so it has to be my favorite.

    Reply
  20. racer139 Avatar
    racer139

    The 1989 ford festiva shogun. It was built by California special editions in the late eighties. IIRC they had plans to build morw of them but it didnt materialize. I think that they only built a few but the most famous is the one Jay leno owns. Somone whos more expertacated should post up a pic as trying to do so in the past has led to me needing a new phone and I dont want to repeat that.

    Reply
    1. Otto Nobedder Avatar
      Otto Nobedder

      $48K in the early '90s was a lot of dough for a Hot Rod Festiva… http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/custo…

      Reply
  21. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    The answer is Ariel.
    <img src="http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201011/ariel-atom-v8-500_600x0w.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  22. windbuechse Avatar
    windbuechse

    Maserati Bora
    <img src="http://all-carz.com/data_images/maserati-bora-gr4/maserati-bora-gr4-03.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://image.motortrend.com/f/classic/features/12q3_1973_maseratri_bora_and_merak/46155867/1973-Maserati-Bora-side-in-motion.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/MASERATIBora-3128_7.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      Those seats are fabulous.

      Reply
  23. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Hey, check it out! The Sunbeam Tiger is the featured article on en.wikipedia.org!
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Sunbeam_Tiger%283%29.jpg/320px-Sunbeam_Tiger%283%29.jpg"&gt;
    (Disclaimer: This automobile is not mid-engined)

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      A cousin of mine owned one of those, back when they were new. BRG it was.

      Reply
  24. desolit Avatar
    desolit

    EB110
    I had a steel model of this when i was a kid. I think i was attracted to it by the color. Still my favorite to this day.
    <img src="http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/rare-bugatti-eb110-spotted-in-japan-57231-7.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  25. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
    Scandinavian Flick ★

    Since we're also doing cars that are technically mid, by virtue of the engine being mounted behind the front axle, I really miss my FC… It was such a fun little car with such great control and a near perfect 50/50 weight balance. I wish I had had the opportunity to get the suspension dialed in just right. I'll most likely own another one some day…
    <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SRUGRGoV6ho/TRAsKiFImZI/AAAAAAAAAsY/z_gQnknpfvs/s550/DSC00177.JPG"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Kogashiwa Avatar
      Kogashiwa

      I've long been in the camp that prefers the SA22C/FB and FD whilst more or less passing over the FC, but I'm really starting to appreciate the middle child. I'd still get another GSL-SE if I went back to rotaries but if one like yours popped up I would be very tempted.
      (Sadly no FD for me I think. Even though its the most beautiful car ever made in Japan. I finally rode in one a while back and felt like a tinned sardine. So cramped.)

      Reply
      1. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick ★

        I think the FC is the best value for the buck, as they can be picked up pretty cheap now. (If you can find one in passable condition, it's a little bit more, but still usually less than $5K) But the FD is still in my top 5 list of favorite sports cars of all time. It was a long shot out of my price range at the time though. I agree that it is incredibly gorgeous, and it's so much fun to drive. While it is a bit small, I found it to be surprisingly comfortable, but at my size I'll take what I can get. Being physically able to drive it was an accomplishment to me.

        Reply
      2. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
        BlackIce_GTS

        BW20
        Often suggested, never accomplished.

        Reply
  26. Chuck Avatar
    Chuck

    My sorely missed Lotus Elise…

    Reply
  27. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    Because wheelstands:
    <img src="http://www.prostockhemi.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=697&g2_serialNumber=2&quot; width="650/">

    Reply
  28. e46christopher Avatar
    e46christopher

    Does anyone remember this? …
    http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/ford-five-hun…
    <img src="http://www.crownvic.net/carlisle/DSC_0050.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Wasn't that a project car, built by some college kids?

      Reply
      1. e46christopher Avatar
        e46christopher

        Yep!

        Reply
  29. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Lancia Montecarlo
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Lancia_Monte_Carlo_Milanesa.jpg/800px-Lancia_Monte_Carlo_Milanesa.jpg&quot; width=600>

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      You and Herbie The Love Bug both love a Montecarlo.
      <img src="http://www.soundonsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/herbie_and_gisele.jpg&quot; width=400>

      Reply
  30. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    <img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/05/Mega_Track.jpg"&gt;
    PAH!

    Reply
  31. bhtooefr Avatar
    bhtooefr

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Neckarsulm-AudiForum-Audi-R10-TDI.jpg/600px-Neckarsulm-AudiForum-Audi-R10-TDI.jpg&quot; />
    The first successful diesel prototype race car.
    I love the relatively simple, elegant design. I like the fact that it's an open top car (there's closed top prototypes I like, but I like this, too).
    I know it was a bit of a pig when it came to handling (which, at Le Mans, it made up for by blasting out of every corner with a wall of torque), and it aged fairly quickly, but it still hung on nicely.

    Reply
  32. rovingardener Avatar
    rovingardener

    Front Mid-Engine is a toss-up between the 2003-08 Maserati GT Coupe or BRZ, and I am actively cross shopping them having driven both. Maser is magical with manual and fairly reliable.
    Rear Mid-Engine is a toss-up between the latest Cayman S and Ferrari 328 GTB. Both are heartbreakingly expensive choices, though.

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Cross-shopping a Maserati and a Subaru? I love this place.

      Reply
      1. rovingardener Avatar
        rovingardener

        A Maserati GT costs less than 20K so its cheaper than the Subaru and with a manual there are really not a lot of reliability problems. Also, it would be a my daily driver. They both take premium only and the Ferrari engine sounds absolutely righteous, any time, all the time; the BRZ less so.
        The Maserati gets about 17m.p.g..The BRZ doesn't sound as good. But gets 30-ish m.p.g..
        Also, when the Maserati is reclaimed by nature, I have an awesome drivetrain, brakes, suspension and interior to build into a kit car/ replicar or something of my choosing.

        Reply
        1. Maymar Avatar
          Maymar

          I wish I had more to add, just, good luck with whatever you choose!

          Reply
  33. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    TVR, whom put the engines at the front of the mid.

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Do forward-control vans count as mid-engined?

      Reply
  34. brucemcl Avatar
    brucemcl

    I'd have to say the 914-6 is my favorite mid-engined car. I was in High School in LA when I first saw one of these. It was bright yellow, and my dad was driving it. For some reason he got it for his company car for one year. The year before they had LTDs, the year after, VW Bugs. He said when he picked it up at the dealer a guy named Richie Ginther gave him an orientation. Dad thought he was a race car driver. Yes, he was.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Ginther
    I did get to drive it; eventually all the way to San Francisco and back, solo. It wasn't easy to see out of, the clutch was difficult, first gear was hard to find, and the plugs loaded up easily (Dad was told to drive it on the freeway in second gear to clean out the plugs). Still, despite all that, definitely my favorite.

    Reply
  35. James Avatar
    James

    [img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQICRUY2zh6PW6N1gswU5um1eX47HE-Q333AvmeVLwVrx3GG5owxg"%5D
    SW20 MR2 Turbo T-tops! Never had that much fun driving a car. That turbo spooling in your ear, those hip-hugging leather buckets, the t-tops, the steering feel… lovely car. And built like a brick sh*thouse!

    Reply
    1. James Avatar
      James

      whoopsie!
      <img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQICRUY2zh6PW6N1gswU5um1eX47HE-Q333AvmeVLwVrx3GG5owxg"&gt;

      Reply
  36. Rover1 Avatar
    Rover1

    Mid engined,four wheel drive, turbocharged and supercharged production homologated
    <img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Lancia-Delta_S4_1985_800x600_wallpaper_04.jpg"width="600"&gt;
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Lancia_Delta_S4_001.JPG"width="600"&gt;
    <img src="http://homepage.virgin.net/shalco.com/images/lancia_delta_s4_san_remo.jpg"width="600"&gt;

    Reply
  37. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
    Dean Bigglesworth

    Of those that haven't been posted, Lancia 037.
    <img src="http://www.germanexotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lancia-037-abarth-620×465.jpg&quot; &lt;="" img="">
    Also I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet.
    <img src="http://carinpicture.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ferrari-F40-1987-1992-Photo-24.jpg&quot; width="600" </img>>

    Reply
  38. Funpotato Avatar
    Funpotato

    <img src="http://www.classiccarracers.co.za/forum/images/photos/xk13Jag11.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Hello

    Reply
  39. 5keptic Avatar
    5keptic

    surprised this is missing.
    <img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3277/2954742331_0996c63b6c_z.jpg&quot; width=600px />

    Reply
  40. Deception Avatar
    Deception

    Matra Murena anyone?

    Reply
  41. Skin Spa Avatar
    Skin Spa

    Affiliate Marketing Domain Name Gdi Free Affiliate Program What else could we possibly need.
    Before engaging an online marketing consultant
    therefore, make sure they have all of these skills and more, in order for them to offer you
    a great value proposition. A skilled SEO campaigner knows to ease out a complex site and re-structure it to
    suit real users as well as search engines.

    Reply