67-year-old businessman Paul Halstead aims to bring a ‘Great Aussie Mid-Engined Supercar’ to the market in just a few years, one that will feature a W16 engine made from a pair of LS7 Corvette engine blocks. Sounds ferocious.
The car, which doesn’t appear to have a name yet, will feature carbon fiber and Kevlar body tub construction, a bubble-style canopy similar to a fighter jet, and one-plus-two seating. The engine, which will be highly modified but feature two LS7 blocks, is expected to push an estimated 1,200 horsepower, sending the power through a custom transfer case and bolted to a 6-speed sequential transaxle. The engines are rolled over at a 45 degree angle to bring them closer together and keep the power pack’s width acceptable, thereby necessitating a bespoke dry sump oiling system.
The Melbourne native hopes to debut and win the prestigious Ridler hot rod awards with this mid-engine supercar in the US in about three years’ time.
To make sure the project is in good hands, Barry Lock, a former McLaren F1 engineer, and partner on some of Halstead’s previous projects, is handling suspension design. Meanwhile, Halstead is so far $100,000 AUD into the project already, and has set a self-imposed budget cap of $1 million. The next step is the fabrication of the monocoque chassis, so it’s going to be some time before this sixteen-cylinder engine fires up in the completed version of what could be the prototype of Australia’s most powerful car ever.
Comments
This is incredible. Though I have to ask; the last time an X-style engine was done with any kind of success was in 60’s, yet the W-style is semi-common these days. Is there some reason an X-style or even a Radial, haven’t been looked into in the current age for use in vehicles?
X and radial configurations likely take up too much space to be useful for automotive applications.
Radial designs, however, work great on a WW1 bi-planes. Given how large the area sweep of the proppeller was, the engine was offered with more than enough clearance when the prop was bolted on one end of crank.
BTW, google Napier Deltic
Ah yes, the Napier Deltic diesel. What an engine! 18 cylinders and 36 pistons. Must be a bear to time all three crankshafts.
Almost looks like Rube Goldberg designed it.
It is incredible. High power