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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Profreedomokie" data-source="post: 3972131" data-attributes="member: 524"><p>I was like most Americans in thinking that the hemi motor was the pentacle of motor design. I didn't mention the long run of the Mopar hemi because most gearheads know it was out in the '50s and mutated into a drag racing motor legend. The thing is hemi motors were out in cars long before Mopar made them famous. One of the best motors I found in a list ( I don't remember the source) of top 10 motors was the Jaguar straight 6 aluminum head overhead cam hemi. It was out in production in 1948 and was used for about 45 years in various forms. The 3.8 liter (231 cu. in.) had 220 hp. In those days 1 hp per cu. in. was a pretty hot ride. The 4.0 liter used in the XKE was 242 hp first and then 262 hp later. If newer management of Jaguar hadn't had stopped the XJ13 project the movie Ford vs Ferrari may have been Ford vs Jaguar with a different victor.  A low wide lightweight midengined V-12 car with over 500 hp would be a contender. Throughout automotive history there could have been more legendary motors put into production if it wasn't for the bean counters.</p></blockquote><p></p>