When we talk about legendary engines, we tend to get trapped in the-bigger-the-better thinking. V8s, V10s, and V12s get all of the ink in the annals of automotive history, but there’s much to be loved about the humble four-cylinder engine.
Often seen as more of an engine of necessity than love, the four-cylinder has powered the majority of economy cars for decades. However, in all that time, thanks to armies of engineers working to create the engines most of us actually use, there have been some gems.
The restomod community is now giving a handful of those spectacular engines the love they deserve, and they’ve been collected together by Top Gear to look at what makes them so special and so desirable.
Read: Fiat Panda 4×4 Piccolo Lusso Is A €30k One-Off Restomod With A Mediterranean Flair
For this video, Ollie Marriage brings the MST Escort MkI, the Porsche 912c by Kamm, and the Aflaholics GTA-R together. The trio help highlight how flexible the four-cylinder engine can be. Organized in a line at the front or lain flat at the back, used for road racing or rallying, the engine is comfortable everywhere it goes.
In the case of the MST Escort MkI, the engine is a 2.0-liter unit that runs on individual throttle bodies, has electronic ignition, and can rev all the way up to 9,000 rpm. That allows it to make 250 hp (186 kW/253 PS), which is more than enough to push the 2,094 lbs (950 kg) car around quite happily.
The 2.3-liter unit in the Alfaholics GTA-R introduces a little more displacement, but makes a little less power at 240 horses (179 kW/243 PS). Longer gearing and a slightly smoother nature make it feel a little less aggressive, and shows that the four-cylinder engine isn’t just an angry terrier, it can do refined performance, too.
Finally, the 912c is proof positive that the four-cylinder engine is unfairly cast as a lesser engine. Although not as popular as the 911’s flat-six, the flat four shaved about 220 lbs (100 kg) out of the car, and made for a more balanced driving experience. Although this prototype 912c by Kamm restomod still needs some refining, it’s a reminder that the siren’s call of cylinder count isn’t always best.
While it’s hard to deny the allure of big cylinder counts and the big power that often follows, these cars are a reminder that sometimes less is, if not more, then at least more appropriate in certain circumstances.