Low Horsepower - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Superbelt · 06-09-2004, 06:52 AM

Can you guys help me find a car that has the lowest horsepower of any car ever built? i need it for a project to see if an experimental engine could power a car. so can you also include any specs that go with it, thanks ahead of time

onetime2 · 06-09-2004, 07:31 AM

What would be the definition of a "car" then? What is the weight it needs to haul to qualify? I mean they created a "car" that was smaller than a penny:

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9711/22/micro.car/

Does it need to be a "typical" passenger car? How much weight does it need to pull and at what speed does it need to travel to qualify?

Additionally, what horsepower would you be talking about? Rear wheel? At the flywheel?

I know of cars with as little as 40hp and I'm sure there are those that had less.

Superbelt · 06-09-2004, 07:46 AM

i need a regular passanger car. i need the car with the biggest engine space but the lowest over all power

onetime2 · 06-09-2004, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superbelt
i need a regular passanger car. i need the car with the biggest engine space but the lowest over all power

Out of curiosity, what is the range of horsepower you're trying to prove as acceptable?

Quote:

A frenchman named Etienne Lenoir patented the first pratical gas engine in Paris in 1860 and drove a car based on the design from Paris to Joinville in 1862. His one-half horse power engine had a bore of 5 inches and a 24 inch stroke. It was big and heavy and turned 100 rpm. Lenoir died broke in 1900.

http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cars/carhist.htm

irseg · 06-09-2004, 08:13 AM

That's a tough question since it's pretty vague. As for somewhat modern, regular production cars made to carry a family (albeit not very comfortably), I'd say Citroen 2CV. It started out at 2hp, but soon got a boost all the way to 9.

shakran · 06-09-2004, 09:12 AM

You could also look for a Trabant. The thing basically had a lawnmower engine.

Putting a different engine in it would require some work though as the fuel tank was mounted above the stock engine in the Trabant - it was a gravity-feed fuel delivery system.

Superbelt · 06-09-2004, 10:20 AM

hey guys the traban and the citroen are very helpfull, to give you an idea of what im doing this for:
i am experimentally finding if a Stirling Engine could possibly effectivly power a car engine or other types of engines. I would not actually be making one to put in a car or anything like that:
by the way, do you guys know any modern cars that have very low horsepower? say 1980's - 2005?

CrazySaturn · 06-09-2004, 02:46 PM

Any of the late 70's boats would work. Due to smog control, they were putting out less than 200 horsepower from 300+ cubic inch engines. Albeit, most had boatloads of torque, but that would work.
Toss out some power specifications and size/weight and we could help a lot more.

bodypainter · 06-09-2004, 02:58 PM

The old rear engined Volkswagen Beetles had less than 100 HP and IIRC the models from the 60's had around 40 HP.

shakran · 06-09-2004, 03:02 PM

don't forget the manual transmission, 3 cylinder BEAST of a Metro!

choskins · 06-09-2004, 03:03 PM

As far as availability, I would say any old VW Beetle motor.

Scorps · 06-09-2004, 05:22 PM

hummm I can't come up with a car right off the top of my head, but maybe a 90's Honda Civic CX Hatchback?

i8one2 · 06-09-2004, 05:22 PM

mid seventies Cadillacs had 500cubic inches and 180-190 horses, if that helps

Nimisys · 06-09-2004, 05:56 PM

look at you omni's, metros, festivas crowd of the early 90s and late 80;s... all in the double digit range. karmenghias and asquarebaqck vws from the 70s were way low as well...

however before you go about proving it would work, the above mention cars were wildly known for the complete and dangerlously low amounts of power.

DEI37 · 06-09-2004, 07:11 PM

Some of the old VW air cooled engines were in the 40HP range, and some of the early VW diesels that I think started in the 30hp range...upper 30's, I think.

impulse03 · 06-09-2004, 07:23 PM

geo metro...i dunno the specs, but one should get the job done lol.

BigTruck1956 · 06-09-2004, 08:47 PM

Good luck with your project. A few years ago i was at a car show and saw a guy who had built a few sterling engines. None were in cars though although he had one in a sailboat. Ill see if i can find his card...
not to rain on your parade, but i think one of the reasons sterling engines are difficult to put into moving vehicle applications is because they arent capable of changing speed as quickly as internal combustion engines..
good luck and keep us updated on how it all works out.

big_bubba · 06-09-2004, 08:50 PM

How about a new smart (atleast I think that's what it's called). Being sold pretty unsuccessfully in Europe and I think they're trying here too. It has a 600cc, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 33HP and 52 ft-lbs of torque.

MSD · 06-10-2004, 12:35 AM

Have you considered the possibility of running a stirling engine as the generator for a hybrid car? Since it can be extremely efficient if built right, it may be worth considering.

Quote:

Originally posted by big_bubba
How about a new smart (atleast I think that's what it's called). Being sold pretty unsuccessfully in Europe and I think they're trying here too. It has a 600cc, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 33HP and 52 ft-lbs of torque.

You forgot the part about it being butt-ugly.

BigTruck1956 · 06-10-2004, 04:36 PM

Mr self-destruct is on to something....

06-09-2004, 06:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	Low Horsepower Can you guys help me find a car that has the lowest horsepower of any car ever built? i need it for a project to see if an experimental engine could power a car. so can you also include any specs that go with it, thanks ahead of time

06-09-2004, 07:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	What would be the definition of a "car" then? What is the weight it needs to haul to qualify? I mean they created a "car" that was smaller than a penny: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9711/22/micro.car/ Does it need to be a "typical" passenger car? How much weight does it need to pull and at what speed does it need to travel to qualify? Additionally, what horsepower would you be talking about? Rear wheel? At the flywheel? I know of cars with as little as 40hp and I'm sure there are those that had less. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant. Last edited by onetime2; 06-09-2004 at 07:39 AM..

06-09-2004, 02:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
CrazySaturn Insane Location: Champaign, IL	Any of the late 70's boats would work. Due to smog control, they were putting out less than 200 horsepower from 300+ cubic inch engines. Albeit, most had boatloads of torque, but that would work. Toss out some power specifications and size/weight and we could help a lot more. __________________ What's the difference between you and a mallard with a cold? One's a sick duck...I can't remember how it ends, but your mother is a whore!

06-09-2004, 03:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
choskins Psycho Location: Greenville, SC	As far as availability, I would say any old VW Beetle motor. __________________ "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Sigmund Freud

06-09-2004, 05:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
i8one2 COMPLETED and A TRAINER Location: BEAN_TOWN	mid seventies Cadillacs had 500cubic inches and 180-190 horses, if that helps __________________ LEATHER, LATEX and LACE "SSC" "Nothing That Gives Pleasure is Bad" Quality is for those who know what they want and are at peace with what they have. "S/M is about emotion; the erotic tension between my impulse toward something and my resistance against it."-- Virginia Barker

06-09-2004, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	i need a regular passanger car. i need the car with the biggest engine space but the lowest over all power

06-09-2004, 08:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	That's a tough question since it's pretty vague. As for somewhat modern, regular production cars made to carry a family (albeit not very comfortably), I'd say Citroen 2CV. It started out at 2hp, but soon got a boost all the way to 9.

06-09-2004, 09:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	You could also look for a Trabant. The thing basically had a lawnmower engine. Putting a different engine in it would require some work though as the fuel tank was mounted above the stock engine in the Trabant - it was a gravity-feed fuel delivery system.

06-09-2004, 10:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	hey guys the traban and the citroen are very helpfull, to give you an idea of what im doing this for: i am experimentally finding if a Stirling Engine could possibly effectivly power a car engine or other types of engines. I would not actually be making one to put in a car or anything like that: by the way, do you guys know any modern cars that have very low horsepower? say 1980's - 2005?

06-09-2004, 02:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
bodypainter Psycho Location: Sarasota	The old rear engined Volkswagen Beetles had less than 100 HP and IIRC the models from the 60's had around 40 HP.

06-09-2004, 03:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	don't forget the manual transmission, 3 cylinder BEAST of a Metro!

06-09-2004, 05:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	hummm I can't come up with a car right off the top of my head, but maybe a 90's Honda Civic CX Hatchback?

06-09-2004, 05:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Nimisys Crazy Location: San Diego	look at you omni's, metros, festivas crowd of the early 90s and late 80;s... all in the double digit range. karmenghias and asquarebaqck vws from the 70s were way low as well... however before you go about proving it would work, the above mention cars were wildly known for the complete and dangerlously low amounts of power.

06-09-2004, 07:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	Some of the old VW air cooled engines were in the 40HP range, and some of the early VW diesels that I think started in the 30hp range...upper 30's, I think. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

06-09-2004, 07:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
impulse03 Crazy	geo metro...i dunno the specs, but one should get the job done lol. __________________ BLUE HENS!

06-10-2004, 04:36 PM	#20 (permalink)
BigTruck1956 Psycho Location: norcal	Mr self-destruct is on to something.... __________________ so much to do, so little time.....at least i aint bored.

06-09-2004, 08:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
BigTruck1956 Psycho Location: norcal	Good luck with your project. A few years ago i was at a car show and saw a guy who had built a few sterling engines. None were in cars though although he had one in a sailboat. Ill see if i can find his card... not to rain on your parade, but i think one of the reasons sterling engines are difficult to put into moving vehicle applications is because they arent capable of changing speed as quickly as internal combustion engines.. good luck and keep us updated on how it all works out. __________________ so much to do, so little time.....at least i aint bored.

06-09-2004, 08:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
big_bubba Psycho	How about a new smart (atleast I think that's what it's called). Being sold pretty unsuccessfully in Europe and I think they're trying here too. It has a 600cc, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 33HP and 52 ft-lbs of torque.