The Sunday Times has run an article comparing Jenson Buttons car, the Honda RA106 with the 1951 Alfa Romeo Tipo 159 of Juan-Manuel Fangio. The most startling thing is the power that was being extracted from the Alfa. It was a 1.5 litre straight 8 pushing out 425bhp @9300rpm and had a top speed of 190mph. In comparison the Honda is 2.4 litre and knocking out 760bhp @ 18500rpm and a top speed of 225mph. What ever happened to Alfa Romeo in modern times, its sounds as though they had the motoring world all stood to attention then.

What kind of charger did it have to get 425 from a 1.5? Super charges were very popular in the 40's50's so guessing a fooking big 1!

impressive still shame they didnt have wide tyres

There's all sorts of stuff that was in pro motor sports through the decade which was touted as "new" in the 80s/90s. Twin cams, twin spark plugs, all sorts of stuff.

 

For some reason it just didn't take off in the commercial world.

 

For outright power, there's the qualifying-spec BMW F1 engine (early 80s?), getting 1500bhp from a road-block 1.5 litre. Then things kind of went backwards.

Kind of go's back to clarkson's arguement on top gear where the zed beat the 350z.

 

For outright power, there's the qualifying-spec BMW F1 engine (early 80s?), getting 1500bhp from a road-block 1.5 litre.QUOTE]

 

 

Yep those things ran 60psi/4 bar of boost :bow: Highly impressive. They got away with that amount of boost by using toluene as a fuel, not petrol :p it massively combats detonation.

It was supercharged and weighed in at 750kgs without the driver, and fitted with drum brakes all round. No seat belts either because all drivers feared being trapped in a burning car. Very brave people.

It was supercharged and weighed in at 750kgs without the driver, and fitted with drum brakes all round. No seat belts either because all drivers feared being trapped in a burning car. Very brave people.

Crazy you mean !

 

impressive though.

Aircraft in the 2nd world war used superchargers, multi-valve engines etc. Nowt new at all.

and Nitrous on the Me109..........just for your info , later used on the typhoon also

I hate when people start digging up old Formula 1 engines and compare them to modern ones based on rated BHP.

 

The modern 2.4 V8's have to last 2 grand prix weekends, that includes practise runs, qualifying and race, they "could" be more powerful, if the FIA wasnt trying to cut costs by imposing annoying engine rules.

I hate when people start digging up old Formula 1 engines and compare them to modern ones based on rated BHP.

 

The modern 2.4 V8's have to last 2 grand prix weekends, that includes practise runs, qualifying and race, they "could" be more powerful, if the FIA wasnt trying to cut costs by imposing annoying engine rules.

 

that's not what's being done - it's just being pointed out how early race cars were performing at unbelievable power levels, and using innovations we all think of as modern. I think we're all aware that the 2 aren't directly comparable. :slap:

Where can i buy toluene? !!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that what you put on hemorroids mate ?

Think also, it's generally accepted that BHP figures from those days were not particularly accurate, they only had water dynos at the time.

Ok- here's a related side-question:

 

Is it true that oil suppliers are buying up patents of combustion engine innovations in order to keep the market full of fuel-hungry machines, then when they have to relent because stocks really are drying up, they are in control of the more fuel-efficient technology?

 

Just an urban legend I heard once.

 

:confused: