O.T. (totally, but don't know who else to ask!)

If Google doesn't help then I'd suggest posting in alt.fan.cecil-adams. Even if no-one there can help, the ensuing discussion might be interesting. :-)

I don't recall a dragster, but there was Mickey Thompson's four engine land speed record car. He used Pontiac engines with blowers

Tue, Sep 27, 2005, 1:55pm (EDT-3) snipped-for-privacy@tesco.net (Limey=A0Lurker) mumbled: I'm trying to find information and pictures of the 4-Allison-engined Dragster from the '60s; I've DAGS loads of times but all I can find is Tommy Ivo, and it's not him. Can anyone suggest where I might successfully search,please?

google Quad Al Jim Lytle

JOAT The Truth Shall Set Ye Fred

Wow, I did a bunch of searching and all I found is references to various drivers, the builders and owners of the Ivo machine. Are you sure it was a drag car and not one of the Land Speed Record cars?

Allen

Don't forget Goldenrod.

Thanks, JT, that's the one! (When all else fails, ask on the Wreck!) But, Buick-shmuick, Tommy Ivo's only had 32 cylinders; this one had 96, and 2 plugs per cylinder!

Usenet has a large heirarchy under rec.autos...

Allen Epps wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.dca.giganews.com:

No, it was a dragster (at least, that was the idea - it was actually a colossal failure, being far too heavy and vastly underpowered, it could barely get out of it's own way). It today's terminology it would be called a funny car, since it featured a VW Beetle "body" on a purpose-built chassis.

Consider that the car weighed about 7000 lbs (4 allisons alone weigh 5600 lbs, and the chassis on the thing would have been more suitable for a tractor), propelled by a measly 5200 hp, and you can see the problem (a modern top-fuel dragster weighs around

John

HUH? 4 times 12 was 48 when I went to school.

Wed, Sep 28, 2005, 7:23pm (EDT+4) snipped-for-privacy@ix.netcom.com (John=A0McCoy) who does say: it featured a VW Beetle "body" on a purpose-built chassis.

Looks like a Fiat Topolino (sp?) to me. Which is what all references say too.

JOAT The Truth Shall Set Ye Fred

Wed, Sep 28, 2005, 4:16pm snipped-for-privacy@madbbs.com (Norman=A0D.=A0Crow) is puzzled: HUH? 4 times 12 was 48 when I went to school.

He used new math.

JOAT The Truth Shall Set Ye Fred

"J T" wrote

Wed, Sep 28, 2005, 4:16pm snipped-for-privacy@madbbs.com (Norman D. Crow) is puzzled: HUH? 4 times 12 was 48 when I went to school.

He used new math.

Which gives different results, depending on how fresh the batteries are.

He probably meant valves.

Actually, I believe it was 96 spark plugs and 192 valves. If you see one in a pulling tractor, there are 12 straight exhaust stacks on each bank, indicating 2 exhaust valves per cylinder, and more than likely 2 intakes per cylinder as well.

Well, you're right. I didn't realize that was a DOHC, four-valves-per-cylinder powerplant.

Here's a really thorough treatise:

--

Well, I thought they were V24s, like the one George Barris fitted to his trike. I do remember the magazine article pointed out the 94 visible exhaust pipes; 2 were invisible bacause they were routed under the body.