Another mysterious engine????

[Art Anderson]

Now this one is intriguing! Warning, it may not be what you think it is! Anyone?

Art

[Mr. Can Am Garage]

Once again, I know the answer but I'm sworn to secrecy.

[kjadud0667]

any clues on this one ?

[MrObsessive]

The shock towers and inner fender braces kinda say Ford, but I'm not sure............

[MrObsessive]

On second thought.............I see a sticker that may denote a rotary. So is it some sort of vintage Mazda?

[Zoom Zoom]

On second thought.............I see a sticker that may denote a rotary. So is it some sort of vintage Mazda?

Before I saw that sticker I figured it was a rotary based on it's size and being so far back in the engine compartment (that crazy fan shroud filling the gap), but it's no Mazda. Probably a GM car of some sort; smaller chance that it's a Ford. Probably a Vega or Monza.

[James Flowers]

Looks like a Ford engine bay? Maybe a V six cylinder with a turbo. I see what looks like carburetor by the shock tower .

Edited September 3, 2008 by mustanglover1951

[ismaelg]

That's a prototype rotary early Mustang. I remember reading something about it a while ago.

[MrObsessive]

Ahhh.........So my first guess was right! At least with the make.........Ford seemed to have a certain trademark "look" with the way they did their engine bays back then.

The way the shock towers sit so high and those inner fender braces..........

[george 53]

I was confused (when aren't I)By the fender supports, that maybe it was an experimental Rotary by G.M. I had heard they tried to do one before. But them struts kept messin with me, caz I din't remember them on Vega's or Monza's. Iz's reply makes alot more sense to me now. I'll agree with him.

[ismaelg]

Stepping a bit away from this original thread, GM did experiments with rotary engines. In fact, they paid about $50 million dollars in license fees to produce them in the early 70's. The Monza, was originally supposed to be powered by a Wankel rotary and there were other prototypes including the 4 rotor Corvette. AMC was to buy the rotary engines from GM for the Pacer but GM eventually cancelled the project in the mid '70s.

Thanks,

[Zoom Zoom]

Well isn't that ironic? A Mustang with a rotary

With all the wailing and gnashing of teeth when The Fast And The Furious/Tokyo Drift came out with a Nissan Skyline SR20DET blown straight six, you'd have thought that the world was ending. Considering how many Mustangs came from the factory with inline sixes, I think the Nissan engine was pretty appropriate! Far more appropriate than the thirsty and torqueless wonder of a rotary

[James Flowers]

That's a prototype rotary early Mustang. I remember reading something about it a while ago.

They put a Wankel Rotary engine in a early Ford Mustang. I found it under Ford Prototypes So you are right.

[ismaelg]

While not my favorite of teas, I wouldn't call a rotary exactly torqueless.....

That was a world record broken in Puerto Rico last year. Not sure if it's still standing. Check out the other videos of the local drag racing scene. Gregg was there

Thanks,

[Art Anderson]

They put a Wankel Rotary engine in a early Ford Mustang. I found it under Ford Prototypes So you are right.

Yes, this is a Wankel Rotary in an early ('65) Mustang Fastback, but it's not a Ford engine. Rather, the engine was built and installed by the late Curtiss Wright Corporation (the folks that brought you all those "Hawk" US Navy and US Army fighters in the 20's, 30's and for WW-II -- the P-40's -- along with the long-running series of radial aircraft engines, the Wright Cyclones).

Here's the car:

And the sign on the side of it:

Found in the NATMUS, Auburn IN, Saturday August 31, 2008.

Art

[Harry P.]

[James Flowers]

I wonder if it still runs? I had never heard of it till now. I wonder what its worth? One more odd ball car found.