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Thread: Quad-Al (Fiat Topolino powered by four Allison V-12s)

  1. #1
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    Quad-Al (Fiat Topolino powered by four Allison V-12s)

    From Dragracingonline

    Behold the wildest Competition Coupe that you never saw run, and the most powerful piston car in history (as documented in the Guinness Book Of World Records, 1974-89 editions). In stock form, its quartet of WWII-vintage, Allison V12 aircraft engines collectively displaced 6,840 cubic inches and produced 12,000 horsepower — an output that remains unchallenged by any piston vehicle, more than four decades later.

    What was its builder thinking? We tracked that guy down to the Hawaiian island of Maui to ask a question that’s been raised by anyone who’s ever seen a photo of this 7,000-pound, four-wheel-drive, eight-wheeled oddity.
    “Well, I’d just sold the second Big Al [fiberglass ’34 Ford sedan] to Ray Alley,” recalled Jim Lytle, who turns 70 in September. “ I was looking for another Allison project. A buddy of mine, Ron Jolliffe, made a drawing of a coupe with side-by-side Allisons. It looked pretty cool. I said, ‘Ivo’s got four engines; why don’t we?’ So, I bought four AMT Allison kits and one of a stock Fiat, and built a model. The actual car turned out real close to that model, except I wound up tilting the rear engines 15 degrees, so their carburetors and throttle linkage would line up with the front engines.”

    Shown atop an Allison rocker cover, here's the custom-built model that convinced Lytle to create Quad Al. Starting with plastic models of four aircraft engines and a stock Fiat Topolino, he fabricated the rest.
    “The motors were the easy part,” he added. “In 1965, you could buy Allisons all day long for 50 to 150 bucks — and they made 3,000 horsepower apiece, unmodified! I only had $2,000 in that whole car, thanks to my sponsors. Cal Automotive gave me a ’glass body and grille shell; Moon donated the tanks; Champion came up with some special, unshrouded racing plugs that were developed for Allison hydros. All that was left to do was install clutches and gears.”

    Alas, at this point, progress was suddenly stopped — by sticker shock: The lowest quote that Lytle could find for custom-built ring-and-pinion sets and clutch assemblies was $5,000. “I was making 110 bucks a week as a design draftsman,” he explained. “Coming up with five grand for clutches and gears was out of the question.”

    Instead, in late 1965, Jim reluctantly accepted an offer of $4,000 for the car and trailer — which weighed 9,000 pounds, combined. “It took eight guys to load that thing,” said Lytle. The buyer was a flamboyant movie stuntman, Tex Collins, who had previously purchased Cal Automotive, an early fiberglass manufacturer. He certainly had the means to finish Quad Al, plus a desire to drive it himself.

    Before Tex could get it running, three unforeseen events intervened. First, Collins bought Big Al II from Alley (who had renamed the sedan P-51), giving him a race-ready Allison exhibition car (which Collins called Tex’s Twister.) Then Tex was shot to death. Finally, his widow sold off the dozen Allisons that he’d collected — including the four residing in Quad Al’s square-tube frame. Learning of this sale, Lytle abandoned his dream of seeing his creation on a drag strip.

    Amazingly, the chassis and body have survived the years and at least two additional owners. The current one met with Lytle last year in Indiana, where the car now resides, still sans engines. “This guy bought it with intentions of finishing it,” said Lytle, “but he can’t afford the engines; nobody can, anymore. The last one was built in 1947, and the airplane guys have scooped them all up. They’re getting 40 grand for a used, 60-year-old engine — and Quad Al needs four of those things.”
    _________________________________________

    I think this car's craziness is awesome. It defines allyourbasearebelongtous.
    There is another quad-engined dragster called the Riviera Wagon Master, but currently I can't find enough information about it to post.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    "Kimi, can you improve on your [race] finish?"
    "No. My Finnish is fine; I am from Finland. Do you have any water?"

  2. #2
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    This thing looks like death on wheels.
    I dont if I'll make home tonight
    But I know I can swim
    under the Tahitian moon

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by digitalcraft View Post
    This thing looks like death on wheels.
    Not with 8WD traction.
    I read somewhere (forget where) that this was actually pretty planted on its 1/4 runs.
    "Kimi, can you improve on your [race] finish?"
    "No. My Finnish is fine; I am from Finland. Do you have any water?"

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13 View Post
    Not with 8WD traction.
    I read somewhere (forget where) that this was actually pretty planted on its 1/4 runs.
    didn't you post that it was never finished because they couldn't find a clutch?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by 092326001 View Post
    didn't you post that it was never finished because they couldn't find a clutch?
    Hmm, that I did. I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it was about the Riviera Wagon Master??
    Good catch, btw. Thanks.
    "Kimi, can you improve on your [race] finish?"
    "No. My Finnish is fine; I am from Finland. Do you have any water?"

  6. #6
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    Odd... sounds like it was never done, yet called the most powerful piston car - even though you can't drive it... We're gonna need more info here...
    ...Utah! Get me two...

  7. #7
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    oh yes we need more info

    looks awesome

  8. #8
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    Just freakin' awesome.

  9. #9
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    I found this thread earlier today.
    I did a Google search earlier today after a facebook conversation with my nephew, trying to track down a car which had 4 Allison engines for motive power.
    When at school in the UK in the 1960's, a friend (author Brian Laban) and myself were keen followers of the US Hot Rod/Drag Racing scene and regularly read a couple of US magazines. I can't remember their titles (although I believe one was actually called Hot Rod Magazine), but I do remember a photograph of a car powered by four Allisons in action. I don't know if it was this one or not but I am certain someone built and ran such a car. I remember being bemused by the fact that the said vehicles fuel consumption was measured in gallons per mile rather than vice versa

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