I wrote some personal responses before I read all submissions.
To set the record straight:
1961-1963 Buick Special (and a few Skylarks, darn few) had the
all-aluminum 215 cid eight-cylinder as standard equipment. The 1961-1963
Oldsmobile F-85 offered the same standard engine. The Pontiac Tempest
was offered with the 215 as an option.
Now, hang on for the option permutations:
The optional Buick engine was a 90-degree V6; an eight with two cut off.
The optional Olds engine was a low-compression unit, borrowing an
un-intercooled turbo from the Corvair assembly line.
The standard Pontiac Tempest was a four cylinder (half of the
current-production iron V8). 1961-62 Tempests borrowed the transmission
from the Corvair. The engine was up-front, and the tranny was in back.
Leave it to Generic Motors to design a great engine, and then sell it to
somebody else! Oh, well, Austin-Rover made better use of it than GM ever
could have tried to.
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* Patrick M Clawson *
* Eng. Technologist *
* pclawson@mail.orion.org *
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