1911 Fiat S76 aka the Beast of Turin
Posted by MikeHeu@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 112 comments
Credit: Jonas Lach / jonnysgarage
Posted by MikeHeu@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 112 comments
Credit: Jonas Lach / jonnysgarage
Guy_in_canada@reddit
28 liter inline 4 cylinder. Engineers were crazy back then
Willing_Big194@reddit
Only way to gain power back then was by increasing displacement
Distinguishedflyer@reddit
how do you gain it now?
ArriDesto@reddit
"Nothing cinches cubic inches!"
( Except better engineering,tyres,roads fuel...)
SendTitsPleease@reddit
Also- "no replacement for displacement"
jujubean14@reddit
No obsession like high compression?
Nothing insane as high octane?
No headline like a high redline?
SendTitsPleease@reddit
I like that as well
EleanorRigbysGhost@reddit
Turbos: š
Willing_Big194@reddit
Wasnt a thing back then. Although the idea existed it wasnt successfully used until much later
SendTitsPleease@reddit
Nah thats a great add on, but def not a replacement
torino42@reddit
No replacement for displacement
Low-Individual2815@reddit
Inches and tyres interesting
the_big_sad-@reddit
British
Reasonable_Living408@reddit
Plus donāt forget, back then gasoline quality SUCKEDā¦. Probably less than 60 octane, if that. Needed DISPLACEMENT!! :-)
burgonies@reddit
Nothing replaces displacement
MurphysRazor@reddit
I'd like to put some pressure on that theory but I don't feel the atmosphere is quite right for it here.
GREG_FABBOTT@reddit
Boost isn't a replacement because you can always boost a big engine, too.
Turbocharging is only a valid replacement when it comes to regulations (emissions/racing). Remove the artificial legal constrictions and everyone would be scrambling to use bigger and bigger engines as a starting point (and if they want to add boost afterwards, they can still always do that).
A lot of regulations target displacement. The logic of most Asian/European regulatory agencies is that an LS7 is more fuel inefficient than an F20C, because it has a larger displacement. This is despite the LS7 managing better fuel economy while powering a car that weighs significantly more than the S2000.
So not only is boost not a replacement (all else being equal), but boost is only encouraged through flawed regulatory environments that are written by lawmakers who don't really understand what they are trying to accomplish.
MurphysRazor@reddit
Lol... Valid schmalid. More pressure more power without increasing displacement.
Don't make me laugh...ing gas.
funwithdesign@reddit
Almost as if thereās no replacement for itā¦
burgonies@reddit
Damnit. I knew I was saying it wrong. "I thought this rhymed better" and I guess I was right.
Honcho_47@reddit
Itās the 2k ft lbs of torque that gets me
YOUTUBEFREEKYOYO@reddit
I could listen to that run for ages
backbiter0723@reddit
Cars ain't got whimsy no more
gev1138@reddit
Whimsy. That's totally what this thing runs on.
backbiter0723@reddit
I mean come on, you can see the whimsy spitting out the side of the hood
gev1138@reddit
Such pretty whimsy!
TheMetalWolf@reddit
I am going to start saying that instead of they don't make them like they used to.
ArriDesto@reddit
Land speed record holder.
You have to lean out and look round as the bonnet is too long and high.
Was also nicknamed The Slug.( as in both the gastropod and a bullet.)
I think this and The Blitzen Benz went round the Top Gear track.
The Blastolene Special was a modern attempt to create one of these types of machine.
javoss88@reddit
Gawh I gotta see that
ArriDesto@reddit
There was a copy of The Blastolelne Special in one of the Gran Turismo games.
Also,appeared in some issues of classic car,( even though a modern take,)...possibly at Goodwood and on Jay Leno, but I may be tripping on that.
There are 6 concept car books, very expensive, released in the early Millenium think it's in one of them.
Willing_Big194@reddit
Ive never seen The Beast of Turin on Jay Leno's garage
ArriDesto@reddit
So,am tripping! Thanks!š
ArriDesto@reddit
But,I was thinking about the Blastolene Special on Jay Leno. Do you recall seeing that on Lenos show?
Willing_Big194@reddit
Oh yeah definitely! Jay loves his tank car
roltrap@reddit
Also don't forget the Brutus. This German dude constructed it itself, using the engine of a spitfire plane lol.
Willing_Big194@reddit
Was built by the Sinsheim technik museum no?
ArriDesto@reddit
There's a bike too, the MSC? With a helicopter engine! Probably handles like a lopsided brick!
javoss88@reddit
Welp I guess Iāll never see it but thanks
ArriDesto@reddit
Good news! Just checked. There is a wiki page!š
For the Top Gear thing,it was when BBC had the show, so can probably stream the Blitzen Benz and Beast Of Turin going round the track there?
javoss88@reddit
Saving your comment so I can look later
TacTurtle@reddit
Ah so not being able to see over the hood on modern trucks is just a return to tradition.
moving0target@reddit
The Blastolene has similar displacement and eight more cylinders. Gotta love it.
Willing_Big194@reddit
Absolutely amazing machine!
7 liters... per cylinder!!! š¤Æ
Geology_rules@reddit
how were they able to get such precision fitting valves/pistons back then?Ā
or is that why it's 7 litres? because of the inefficiencies?Ā
is there not a risk this thing will grenade every time they take it for a rip?Ā
I have so many questionsĀ
RestaurantFamous2399@reddit
Most of today's machining concepts existed back then. The engine is inefficient because of primitive design, not flaws in its manufacturing.
Yes 7 litres is to make enough horse power with the inefficient flow to achieve what they needed to break records.
This thing is built pretty stout. So it wont grenade so easily. It also doesnt rev very high due to the hige capacity, it simply doesnt need to, it was built for torque. This engine I belive has modern built internals made from original plans, so it is much stronger than the original.
Willing_Big194@reddit
290hp, 2700nm, at 1400rpm, wheels driven by chains, insane right?! š¤Æ
Geology_rules@reddit
thank you so much.Ā I want to learn more about this beautiful monstrosity!Ā
Willing_Big194@reddit
Its not all that precise, thats why its so big. They were overcompensatingš
torb@reddit
Wonder what kind of milage you get on this monster.
Willing_Big194@reddit
Miles per gallon āļø
Gallons per mile ā ļø
Distinguishedflyer@reddit
goblins per mile with those flames...
ItsStraTerra@reddit
0-1
ContributionDapper84@reddit
Gets 5 mpg with current transmission (half that with the old transmission).
Lamborghini_Espada@reddit
I think it's about 5½ miles per UK gallon.
Willing_Big194@reddit
Nah, irs about -5 mpg
Gypsyfella@reddit
Each cylinder has more capacity than an entire Corvette engine.
I will never tire of watching videos of this Beast, it just makes me laugh.
DoubleTime53@reddit
That's as big as a whole LS7. A whole LS7!
Willing_Big194@reddit
Thats a whole ass Cadillac Eldorado
blankblank@reddit
wtf!
oodnanref@reddit
You can own one.
Interesting_Dingo_88@reddit
Currently available from Hot Wheels!
vdcsX@reddit
found it already!
Gundam07@reddit
I'm on the lookout for this one
MountainMedium6326@reddit
Damn nice find. I collect hot wheels and look through them at every store I go to but I never found this one yet
MadameKamaysHR@reddit
Hell of a find, homie. Good pull. Congrats.
Jlx_27@reddit
The coolest car at Goodwood.
gypsydanger38@reddit
Thatās more locomotive than car
DickweedMcGee@reddit
My anxiety went through the roof watching that trap himself between the front springs to pull the starting crank. Thatās highly dangerous, right?
wdb07@reddit
not as dangerous with proper technique. pull up, not push down.
DickweedMcGee@reddit
Ok, some completely safe as long as I do it right. Yeahā¦push down, not pull upā¦wait thatās not riā¦oh shit![MINCEMEAT]
Odotop2688@reddit
It has a wooden partition between the engine compartment and the cockpit. This isn't a good idea.
CellsReinvent@reddit
MICE. Mostly internal combustion engine.
Belgrifex@reddit
I've had a little toy car of this since I was a toddler. Always cool to see it
Xivios@reddit
The Beast has raced at Goodwood, at least a few times. Not sure if they ran it last year though.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t8WkwCNaHhs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7WEE9_3hWw
JoseSpiknSpan@reddit
Oh fiat. How the mighty have fallen.
iMadrid11@reddit
Follow the āGoodwod Festival of Speedā on X/Twitter and Yotube. To see legendary cars like these being driven.
https://x.com/fosgoodwood?s=21
https://x.com/goodwoodrrc?s=21
https://m.youtube.com/@GoodwoodRR?ra=m
LounBiker@reddit
Is this simultaneously an internal and external combustion engine?
TacTurtle@reddit
Combustion: Yes Engine
Noodnix@reddit
This āBeastā still races in the Edwardian class.
RikimaruRamen@reddit
Ah yes when 'safety' was just another term for coward
MurphysRazor@reddit
Somethings never change.
vespers191@reddit
Don't they drive on the left in Turin?
BlackSwanMarmot@reddit
"Pittaway has driven it on public roads many times. There is no gauge for the fuel tank, which holds only 10 Āgallons, so on the 146-mile trip from his house to Goodwood, Pittaway stopped for gas 11 times."
The dude run-what-cha-brung it to Goodwood!
einTier@reddit
11 fill ups times ten gallons is 110 gallons. It traveled 146 miles, so thatās approximately 1.32 miles to the gallon, assuming perfect fill ups, starting on full and ending on empty.
Iād say more realistic is two tanks worth of full between what was in it at arrival plus what remained in it at each stop. So 90 gallons and 1.62 miles to the gallon.
MurphysRazor@reddit
Does it pump oil or splash and gravity feed it? They may have to stop for oil maintenance anyhow. I know at least one old REO is like that. There is a well for every rocker arm and I think you add some to the open lifter bores too. You have to stop every few miles and top it off. The oil can is mounted on the fender. A top off was needed every 3-7 miles iirc.
Willing_Big194@reddit
This shows how huge this thing is
Horror-Raisin-877@reddit
Back in the teens those exhaust flames must have fairly mesmerized the proletariat watching the race, imagine some goatherd watching the Grand Duke of Turin racing by on some country road :)
notapunk@reddit
It'd keep people from passing on your left I'd imagine
airfryerfuntime@reddit
It never raced with an open exhaust like this.
Atholthedestroyer@reddit
True, but I've seen footage of it running at Goodwood with the exhaust manifold in place and it was still throwing flames.
AVgreencup@reddit
Redditors: "Stellantis garbage!!"
joshu@reddit
i saw this at goodwood once... beast is right
AnonPoliteness@reddit
Watch it race at Goodwood, thing's amazing
ashyjay@reddit
Seen it a few times at Goodwood, it's amazing and deafening.
PMmeplumprumps@reddit
Believe it or not, this beast is actually more reliable than a 2026 Fiat Panda
Suturb-Seyekcub@reddit
Displacement: yes
Compression: lolnope
ybot_wnklr@reddit
Having seen this beast run in person multiple times, it really is a special thing.
ResidentNumber3603@reddit
Donāt let Greta Thunberg see this
Horror-Raisin-877@reddit
How dare you!
Wickedsnake00@reddit
Even with the low compression of those days, it is wild to even think of crank starting something with that much displacement. Just spinning that much mass has got to be some work- pistons and rods were way heavier back then.
Also crazy to think of how high the center of gravity must be.
mob19151@reddit
Idles at 3 rpm, redlines at 4.
Realistic_Calendar42@reddit
It sounds like when I take my exhaust off my Harley
NocturnalPermission@reddit
I love when it finally turns over and the whole chassis twists, as if the car is saying āfuck, OK. Iām awake!ā
fuzzimus@reddit
1 hp, 1000lb*ft torque
rjablonski@reddit
Average fiat starting procedure
meshisecret@reddit
I have the same car(Hot wheels)
Speedracer666@reddit
And I canāt get my snowblower started.
gankindustries@reddit
This and the Buick Bug are some of the wildest pre-war cars ever built
BlackSwanMarmot@reddit
Imagine going 132 mph in THAT!
Ivebeenfurthereven@reddit
Centre of gravity: Yes
SpaceXmars@reddit
So cool that it's still alive!
Ace_Robots@reddit
I finally know what Rocket Manās daily was.