Cars with Straight 8 Engines

Introduction

A straight-8 engine is an internal combustion engine with eight cylinders arranged in a straight line, with all of the pistons driving a single crankshaft. This design was once very popular, but it has since been largely replaced by the V8 engine, which is more compact and lighter.

Advantages of Straight 8 Engines

There are several advantages to using a straight-8 engine:

Smoothness: Straight-8 engines are known for their smoothness of operation. This is because the firing order of the cylinders is evenly spaced, so there is no unevenness in the power delivery.
Power: Straight-8 engines can produce a lot of power. This is because the long stroke of the pistons allows for a high compression ratio.
Durability: Straight-8 engines are very durable. This is because the simple design of the engine means that there are fewer parts that can go wrong.

Disadvantages of Straight 8 Engines

There are also some disadvantages to using a straight-8 engine:

Size: Straight-8 engines are larger and heavier than V8 engines. This is because the cylinders are arranged in a straight line, which takes up more space.
Weight: Straight-8 engines are also heavier than V8 engines. This is because the larger size of the engine means that it requires more metal to construct.
Cost: Straight-8 engines are more expensive to produce than V8 engines. This is because the more complex design of the engine requires more labor and materials.

Cars with Straight 8 Engines

There are a number of cars that have been produced with straight-8 engines. Some of the most famous include:

Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B: This Italian sports car was produced from 1936 to 1940. It was powered by a 2.9-liter straight-8 engine that produced 180 horsepower.
Bugatti Type 57: This French sports car was produced from 1934 to 1940. It was powered by a 3.3-liter straight-8 engine that produced 160 horsepower.
Cord 810/812: This American luxury car was produced from 1936 to 1937. It was powered by a 4.8-liter straight-8 engine that produced 125 horsepower.
Duesenberg Model J: This American luxury car was produced from 1928 to 1937. It was powered by a 6.9-liter straight-8 engine that produced 265 horsepower.
Packard V12: This American luxury car was produced from 1932 to 1942. It was powered by a 7.3-liter straight-8 engine that produced 180 horsepower.

Conclusion

Straight-8 engines are a classic design that was once very popular. They offer a number of advantages, including smoothness, power, and durability. However, they are also larger, heavier, and more expensive than V8 engines. As a result, they have been largely replaced by V8 engines in modern cars.