Our Two Cents: Vehicles That Never Got the Engine They Deserved
What vehicle never got the engine it deserved? That’s the question we asked the staff here at Hagerty Media. Our love of cars goes back decades, or centuries if you combined us into one superhero of an automotive journalist, and we’ve all wondered how much better certain cars would be if they had a different engine …
… Or a better engine, something that truly spoke to the rest of the car. Let’s see what alternate realities we have created!
A Standard V-8 for Every Cadillac
For me, it’s the fact that all Cadillac cars (cars—Escalade excluded) from the last 20 or so years lack a standard V-8 engine. GM has an excellent LS motor, and a baby Caddy with a modest 4.8-liter small-block would give buyers more reason to avoid a thirsty BMW for a slightly more thirsty Caddy.
As the Caddy becomes larger, the V-8 engine follows suit (5.3-liter CTS, 6.2-liter CT-6, etc.) with increased displacement, and forced induction for the V-series examples. The inherent torque and simplicity of a pushrod V-8 complements the minimalist architecture of GM’s new EV powertrains, and exclusively pairing those two in a luxury car brand will make Cadillac more appealing than any of its competition. — Sajeev Mehta
As under-the-radar-good (and as mod-friendly) as the ATS-V’s LF4 V-6 is, I agree. After having spent over ten thousand miles with the smaller of the Alpha-chassis Caddys, the ATS should have gotten the 455-horse LT1 from the Camaro, and the ATS-V should have gotten the LT4. — Eddy Eckart
V-8 Bronco Raptor/ Ford GT
Ford Bronco Raptor. Lack of a V-8 is … yeaaaaah. For the record, I am fully aware that you can’t easily fit that V-8 into Ford’s T-6 frame. Actually, here’s the same opinion again: This also applies to the most recent Ford GT. — Matt Tuccillo
For sure, the Ford GT shoulda had a V-8. — Larry Webster
I think I’ll also jump on the Ford GT bandwagon, as I don’t care for the reasoning of why it got the EcoBoost V-6. That car deserved a V-8 based on heritage alone. – Greg Ingold
Yes, please! Kill the flying buttress, make room for a 900+ horsepower Coyote with a twin-screw supercharger. — Sajeev Mehta
V-8 Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler comes to mind. Chrysler Corporation came up with a car that was a modern nod to the classic hot rod but forgot the one factor that people want from a hot rod: A V-8 engine. You have to actively try to miss that detail. I don’t think anyone would’ve minded seeing a 318 Magnum out of a Ram pickup in the Prowler, as long as it came with eight cylinders. — Greg Ingold
Honda Motors in a Modern Lotus
Any modern-day Lotus fits in this category. They make do with Toyota engines but the chassis deserves the character of a Honda motor. — Larry Webster
Having a Lotus with a K-Series would be excellent! Totally agree with that take. — Greg Ingold
A Straight-Six SLK
Let’s not overlook the original Mercedes SLK. This folding-roof roadster needed Mercedes’ juicy and punchy 2.8-liter straight six. That supercharged four-cylinder engine was disappointing, and the manual gearbox was even worse. — Larry Webster
SHO-inental, If Only
I only thought of this car/engine combo since I yanked my 1989 Continental Signature Series out of storage. Turns out it needed new rubber, and tires from a 1989 Ford Taurus SHO are a smidge wider on the same-sized wheel. Getting a set of those and slapping a set of 1/4-inch spacers on the rear gave it a stance that I can’t stop looking at. And now, curiously, it’s getting a lot more compliments. Even the manager of a local burger joint stopped me from giving my order so he could compliment me on it.
He thought it was a Town Car, but that’s not the point. These moments get this Lincoln-restomodding fool thinking about one thing: Ford needed an automatic transmission ready for the Taurus SHO sooner, and should have slapped it all into the 1989 Continental. Such a tragedy! — Sajeev Mehta
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS was so unconventional and interesting that it’s easy to forget there was only ever an old-fashioned, underwhelming OHV four under the hood. The later SM got a Maserati V-6, but the DS was never so lucky. — Andrew Newton
The Sky Shoulda Been the Limit
GM flogged its Ecotec four-banger, and I know they made crazy power for drag racing. But I thought the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky deserved a more refined motor. — Larry Webster
They needed an LS, maybe just a small-displacement 4.8-liter, to keep Chevrolet appeased with their Corvette’s dominance. But I am sure that was discussed in some conference room at GM, and it was quickly shot down. — Sajeev Mehta
Datsun 240Z. Yes, you could add triple Mikuni’s, hot cam and better exhaust, but still didn’t get the kind of power that beautiful car deserved.
The Scarab aftermarket SBC conversions were good, but the later (better engineered) conversions done with the Jaguars That Run manual nailed it, moving the Chevy V8 back to the firewall and using a T5 for overdrive cruising.
In the 90’s, I built a 302 Ford/T5 conversion that benefited from the lighter engine weight, but that’s when Z’s were a $1000 used car. It’d be insane to mod one now.
’03-’04 Mercury Marauder. Should have had the 5.4 – or the 3 valve 4.6 with the blower.
The Turbo Buick V-6 would have worked well for the Sky/Solstice.
The Ford V4 for the SAAB 96 was too heavy for that car. They had the solution … but too late.
https://www.saab96t3.com
Renault R-10. I know, I know, Renault’s reputation in the US was a disaster in the ‘70’s (“The Renault for people who swore they’d never buy another” was the actual as pitch!) but the R-10 was a competent handler with great steering/brakes, a sporty 4-door with Abarth R-8 heritage that deserved far better that an 1100cc pushrod four.
There was a silver R-10 with a 2 liter Alfa DOHC 4 that used to blast around San Francisco in the ‘70’s…subtly lowered, shorter/wider tires gave it a great stance. Struck fear in the hearts of every Datsun 510 in town.
Good times.
The big one that came to my mind was the AMC Pacer – designed to utilize the Wankel rotary engine GM was developing for the Chevrolet Monza.
When GM realized they couldn’t accomplish what little Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) did by in coming up with a commercially-viable rotary engine, they abruptly and unapologetically dropped the project and shoe-horned a 262-cid small-block V8 in the Vega-sized engine compartment (even though the engine had to be rocked on its motor mounts to reach the back two spark plugs).
AMC was left without an engine for the radical, inventively-engineered “first wide small car” they had broke their bank designing. With no other option, they modified the firewall to accept the back two cylinders of their long and ancient 258-cid straight six.
Later, to address performance complaints, they designed a new hood and grille to accept their 304-cid V8, but this wide small car was then very heavy and returned gas mileage no better than many of GM’s newly-downsized full-size cars.
But imagine a Pacer with a tiny, rev-happy rotary power plant, hundreds of pounds lighter and vastly more balanced. It might have been as revolutionary as the odd-looking minivan than Ford was considering but didn’t reach the marketplace until Iacocca took the idea to Chrysler.
I’ve always imagined what an interesting experiment it would be to install a Mazda rotary engine in a Pacer to get a sense of what might have been. But I was never curious enough to take on the project myself.
GM tried rotary engines. Smokey Yunick told me that he saw probably 100 of them running durability tests on GMs dynos. A huge (!) investment – and it was a good one. They experienced seal reliability and durability problems. Mazda drove on, fielded a lot of rotaries and let the customers find out for themselves… But just as important, it was the high fuel consumption that finally killed off GMs rotary. GM rotaries were supposed to be used in their small, fuel efficient cars. Definite non-starter, logical disconnect…
There’s a Triumph TR7 here in town (or was, haven’t seen it in a while) with a Mazda rotary in it. Looks like it grew there.
My 91 SHO with the proper 5 speed manual had all the joys & toys of a Continental, plus way better seats without any of the aggravations of the Continental, specifically the air suspension. All that would be gained by putting the SHO drive train in the Continental would be length, weight and additional maintenance items.
Having owned/driven two DS-19s over 13 years, I would have loved the 2l inline 4 in an SOHC FI version. The chain-jumping V-6 would not have been a good choice.
You missed one of the best a chrysler crossfire V8. i have built 3 of them, using a 5.5 from a mercedes E55 &
SL55 both these engines are supercharged and running the 1/4 in the mid 10’s
SC Merc 8 in Xfires = Awesome! Even more wild than a stock supercharged SRT6 Xfire @155mph top speed!
I own an SRT6 and Prowler. Both fantastic and wouldn’t change anything. If I was stupid enough to change the engine and devalue my Prowler the only engine I would throw in is the SRT6 3.2L Supercharged V6. Needswings an SRT6 aftermarket for the Crossfire owned and operated by Rob will set you up with all you need to get the already perfect Roadster to kick 🦵 some serious ass, Not like you need to anyway. 350 horse 🐎 and similar torque in relation to power to weight just like the Prowler, enough said. Halo cars are worth their weight in Platinum.
I had a Fiat X1/9 back in the day. There wasn’t a lot of room in that engine bay, but I’m pretty sure a nice, compact, 2-rotor Mazda rotary would have fit. Would have been a hoot!
Not sure anything could have saved the Pontiac Solstice. Simply the worst thing I have ever driven or tested, apart from perhaps the Smart Fortwo. Just awful all around.
The 1st gen R170 SLK got the 3.2L M112k supercharged in the SLK32 AMG. I think someone forgot about that trim. 350hp is pretty fun in that chassis.
The Prowler 3.5 L V6 is the only engine for the car. It’s funny how none owners like to throw their opinions around. Buy one, then comment. The beautiful V6 kicked inefficient V8 ass all day long then and now. I own one, therefore I will speak to fact. Line up with my Prowler anywhere and I’ll show you what time it is, period. Kudos to Chrysler, they got it right.
Another great miss was the Cosworth Vega
The Panthers deserved better engines, especially the P71’s. The 4.6 SOHC, and even the Marauders DOHC just didn’t do it. Sure the 90’s sucked for Ford V8’s, but surely they could have come up with something.
I’m looking at swapping a Coyote and 10r80 into a Crown Vic. That would have been perfect.