Exposed Engine: 1949 Volkswagen

January 19, 2017 Archive Insight

1949 Volkswagen
 Horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine, overhead valves, 69 cubic inches displacement, 30 horsepower



By American standards, almost everything about the Volkswagen was unconventional. That included the rear-mounted engine. Instead of a V-8 or an Inline-6, VW used a flat-4 “boxer” engine with horizontally opposed pistons and rods that looked a bit like prizefighters going at each other. The air-cooled motor was simple, efficient and highly adaptable, eventually powering everything from dune buggies to light airplanes.

Europe, 1940s, 20th century, Henry Ford Museum, Engines Exposed, engines, Driving America, cars, by Matt Anderson