Tethered car and hydro photo album

A gallery of motors that have just 'taken our fancy' for a variety of reasons.

What most of them have in common is that they are the work of one person, rather than a factory or commercial enterprise, although some did become cottage industries or even larger.

The first image has to be the motor that fired the interest of a student back in the late 60s, courtesy of Ron Moulton, a Fred Carter Dooling 29. It would have been beyond any expectation at the time that fifty five years later, said student would be able to photograph two originals, both with impeccable provenance. The second motor was something of a mystery as it was sold separately to the car it was built for. Only the front housing gave it away, which is engraved R.G. Cameron Gatehouse of Fleet, which enabled its history to be established and later, via a unbelievable series of coincidences, reunited with the car.


Ray Gibbs' & Johnny Hall's Carter Doolings	10cc Car motor by R.G. Cameron

The second pair of engine represent two contrasting experiences. The Eagle on the left was produced in the Ukraine as a 'subscription' project from the USA to compete with the later versions of the Picco. Unfortunately it also resulted in a disagreement that required an entire batch of similar engines to be 'reduced to produce' as mentioned in the Pylon for May/June this year. The EMCO is notable for its obscurity as no one was aware of its existence until two turned up at a swapmeet. No further information or examples have yet to come to light.


10cc Eagle from the USA	EMCO (Experimental & Model Company)

The fully working and scale Ferrari V12 appeared on our sale page and is worthy of further mention as it is a masterpiece of engineering. Built by Rolf Luther between 2006-2009 it was intended for a replica of the 1953 Arno X1 record breaking hydro. It now resides with an enthusiast in the UK. At the other end of the scale is a piece of more basic engineering created through necessity. Purpose built tethered car engines were few and far between, so many resorted, as is still the case, to converting aero or other engines, which usually involved turning the engine round, new cranks, intakes etc. The turning round bit was relatively easy but new cranks etc more difficult, so the route seen on the right would be taken, especially with Rossi motors. 1.5cc engines for Class 1 were even more rare so the Webra 1.8cc was pressed into service with a reduced capacity. This example was by Leif Karrman who went on to build his own engines and break records in the process.


1/4 scale V12 Ferrari by Rolf Luther	Turned round Webra

Two more engines from the era of 'if you can't get what you want, make one'. Dooling copies were prevalent throughout Europe but in Italy, a group of workers at the Lancia factory went further still, not only producing a near copy, but incorporating the Lancia logo and badge on the transfer bulge, rather than just a name. Anyone lucky enough to have a copy of Ulf Carlen's Swedish Engine Encyclopaedia will be aware of just how many commercial and small production engines emanated from Sweden from Komet and Bohlin down to Karrmann and Akerstedt. With the exception of the Komet, most were entirely original designs with a very purposeful look about them, as with the PAA on the right.


Dooling copy from the Lancia factory	5cc car motor from Per-Arne Akerstedt

Another two extremes, the single cylinder on the left from Ted Vanner around 1910 showing the basic nature of an engine from that period, but with radical development such as a cam controlled inlet valve. Very much a case at that time, if you wanted an engine, you had to make it. On the right one of my favourite 'flights of fancy', the B20 from Picco and OPS, built very much as an 'I can so I will', especially easy when you have the facilities and stores of an engine manufacturer at your disposal. The single, four stroke motor and similar models were in use for 40+ years, the B20 from factory to collectors item almost instantly.


Vanner single from 1910	OPS B20 1976

On the left the only successful 1.5cc motor from western Europe to hold its own against the dominant Russian motors. Built by West German Lothar Runkehl and used to great effect by him and his son, but also made available, along with cars to other competitors. This is one of the earliest and is tiny by comparison with the Kapu and AFA motors. On the right, what you can do if you work at Doosaf and are a successful F2A flyer and engine builder like Vladimir Maslonkin. Need a car motor, no don't convert an aero engine, but make an entirely new casting with the exhaust over the flywheel.


Diminutive LORU 15	Maslonkin F2A motor in car guise

Italy has a rich history of world beating aero, car and marine engines from Rossi, ST, OPS, Picco, Nova etc, but there were also a large number of individuals who produced motors for their own use or in limited numbers for others, most of whom passed under our radar until the arrival of a quantity of Modellismo magazines and Google translate. Through these and our numerous contributors we became aware of Lorenzo Penna, The Mondanis, Alberto Dall'Oglio and others. Below are two motors from Penna, the commercial Penna 10 and a 2.5cc speed motor.


Penna 10	Penna 2.5

To finish this trip through OTW nostalgia, a one off tethered hydro motor from the late Terry Everitt based on the original 'OPS Warthog', but with the exhaust facing the right way, a very limiting factor on the original factory OPSs, that were inspired by the Muzio brothers who were speed flyers. The TWE 10 was the last home built engine to hold the British 10cc record. Finally, and again down to the Ron Moulton Encylopedia, is the AMRO that featured alongside the Carter but was equally to remain no more than a photo for the next 55 years.


TWE 10, last home built engine to hold the British record	The Elusive AMRO