10 very different rear-engined cars

Cars with an internal combustion engine close to the rear axle have never been very popular. And now representatives of this species are counted on the fingers of one hand. However, some of these models have managed to gain cult status over the years and leave a serious mark on the history of the automotive industry. Motor1 gives us just such examples.

10 different rear wheel drive vehicles:

Alpine A110

Let's start with the classic Alpine A110, introduced in 1961. Unlike its successor, which has a mid-engine layout, the original two-door engine is at the rear. This car not only wins popular love, but also performs very successfully in races. It is also produced all over the world - from Spain and Mexico to Brazil and Bulgaria.

BMW i3s

If you consider the funny BMW i3 hatchback an electric car, then you are absolutely right. Nonetheless, the Bavarian finds his place on this list, as the REX version was offered with a 650cc motorcycle internal combustion engine. See, which was located on the rear axle and served as a battery generator. This version of the i3 covers 330 km, which is almost 30% more than the standard model.

Porsche 911

This car needs no introduction. It debuted in 1964 after 9 generations, but has always remained faithful to its original design. All the while, Porsche engineers have refuted the theories of those who criticize rear-wheel drive cars. Despite its lightweight front end and short wheelbase, the 911 rides in a way that most competitors never dreamed of.

Renault Twingo

What is remarkable about the third generation of the little Frenchman? Despite the Smart affinity and the switch to rear-wheel drive, the Twingo received two additional doors and is more compact than its predecessor. The top version of the GT is equipped with a 3-cylinder turbo engine producing 110 horsepower, which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 3 seconds.

Skoda 110R Coupe

In the middle of the last century, many rear-wheel drive cars were produced in Mlada Boleslav, including the very beautiful 1100 MBX two-door coupe. However, the list included the 110R coupe, created in 1974, which has no analogues in Eastern Europe. Even Leonid Brezhnev drove such a car.

Daddy Nano

The creators of the Indian hatchback Tata Nano presented in 2008 actually pursue a noble goal - to offer humanity a real car at a ridiculous price. However, not everything goes according to plan, because although the car only costs $2000, it is not valued. And plans to produce 250 units a year are falling apart.

However, the Nano plays a role. It is powered by a 2cc 624-cylinder engine. Cm, which develops 33 horsepower.

Tatra T77

This car is from 1934 and its creators Erich Loewdinka and Erij Ubelaker created fashionable aerodynamics. The Tatra T77 is powered by an air-cooled V8 engine mounted on the rear axle, which is integrated with the gearbox. The car is assembled by hand and therefore has a small circulation - less than 300 units.

Tucker Torpedo

The car debuted in 1948 and boasts an incredible design for its time. At the rear is a 9,6-liter "boxer" with direct fuel injection and hydraulic distributors, there are disc brakes on all wheels and an independent suspension. However, this does not help him, and the story of "Torpedo" ends sadly.

The Big Three from Detroit (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) are clearly worried about a competitor and are literally destroying Preston Tucker and his company. Only 51 units of the model were produced, and Tucker died in 1956.

Volkswagen Beetle

Now we go to the other extreme when we talk about different scales. One of the most popular cars in history (the most popular if you keep the original design, not the model name) is a rear wheel drive car.

The legendary Volkswagen Kaefer (aka Beetle) was created by Ferdinand Porsche and was produced from 1946 to 2003. The circulation for this period is more than 21,5 million copies.

ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets"

The rear model from the times of the USSR is produced in Zaporozhye, equipped with a V4 engine with a capacity of 22 to 30 horsepower. It was collected from 1960 to 1969, during which time it gained immense popularity not only in the Soviet Union, but also in the countries of the Eastern Bloc.