13 Automobiles With Engines In The Again

Rear-engined automobile fashions have been uncommon throughout automotive historical past, however lots of them are historic and iconic. It is essential to grasp the distinction between mid- and rear-engine placement and the way it impacts a automobile. Rear-engined automobiles have their motors positioned behind the rear axle, on the very again of the automobile, whereas mid-engine automobiles place theirs simply behind the motive force and close to the middle of the automobile’s weight distribution. The automobiles on this checklist are true rear-engine automobiles — or a van in a single case.

Inserting the engine near the rear axle presents a number of advantages. It places extra weight on the rear drive wheels, which improves traction for higher acceleration. Moreover, and not using a driveshaft, energy is transmitted immediately and extra effectively to the rear wheels. There are braking benefits, too, since brake pressure would not shift primarily to the entrance tires because it does in a front-engine automobile. Lastly, in some small, economy-minded rear-engine automobiles, this structure was chosen to maximise area within the passenger cabin.

Rear-engine automobiles have some disadvantages, as effectively, particularly in performance-oriented fashions. With a lot of the burden within the again, they’re liable to oversteer, which is a sort of skid through which the rear finish “fishtails” or slides broad. This may make these automobiles difficult for inexperienced drivers.

One of many world’s most well-known sports activities automobiles has been rear-engined from the beginning and stays so right this moment. Constructing on the legacy of the legendary Porsche 356, the 911 debuted in 1965 with an air-cooled, flat-six “Boxer” engine mounted behind the rear axle. This 130-horsepower sports activities automobile might hit a high pace of 130 mph. Over the a long time, the 911 developed via targa-topped, “Carrera,” and turbocharged fashions. In 1994, Porsche switched to a 99x naming conference with the 993, however it’s additionally nonetheless referred to as the 911.

The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera T sports activities a twin-turbocharged flat-six with 388 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of three.1 seconds. There’s additionally a 572-horsepower 911 Turbo with a 2.3-second 0-60 time and a 911 GT3 with 502 horsepower and a 0-60 time as little as 2.8 seconds. Previously, the 911’s rear-engine design was notorious for oversteering when drivers backed off the throttle in a nook, making them difficult automobiles to drive. Subsequent generations of the 911, just like the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 of the early Nineteen Nineties, grew to become simpler to drive quick with out having the tail finish kick out unexpectedly.

Maybe probably the most well-known rear-engine automobile of all time is the unique Volkswagen Kind 1 Beetle, which remained in serial manufacturing for nearly six a long time, from 1945 to 2003. Beetles have been ubiquitous on nearly each inhabited continent, and even reached an uninhabited one: Within the Sixties, a passel of Beetles made their strategy to Antarctica. With greater than 21 million Kind 1 Beetles offered, even some people who do not know a lot about automobiles can let you know that the first-generation Beetle featured an air-cooled engine within the rear.

A number of issues made the Volkswagen’s air-cooled engine so particular. For one factor, it required much less upkeep than bigger, extra difficult engines, and when upkeep was wanted, it was straightforward to work on. It was a flat-opposed four-cylinder, making it very compact and liberating up area for the passenger cabin, whereas its air-cooling system made it low cost to construct.

It was by no means highly effective, producing 25 horsepower within the first post-war VWs and 60 horsepower from the Sixties onward. But it was straightforward to provide this engine an influence increase with a number of easy tweaks. With some primary upkeep suggestions and tips, proudly owning an previous Beetle is usually a rewarding expertise even for first-time automobile collectors.

The Chevrolet Corvair was one of the uncommon automobiles to be produced by a mainstream American carmaker, and one in every of its quirks was its air-cooled, rear-mounted engine. In fact, the Corvair was additionally well-known for controversy after it featured prominently in Ralph Nader’s e-book, “Unsafe at Any Velocity.” But the Corvair is arguably top-of-the-line examples of automobiles that do not deserve their unhealthy reputations.

In lots of respects, the Corvair was an excellent design proper out of the gate with the 1960 mannequin. Chevy launched this compact automobile to compete with the more and more fashionable Volkswagen Beetle, and it provided a number of benefits over its Teutonic competitor. It featured unibody development, extra inside area, an non-compulsory automated transmission, and a six-cylinder engine — one thing the Beetle by no means had.

Within the 1960 Corvair, that engine generated 80 horsepower from 140 cubic inches, an honest quantity for this little automobile that hardly weighed over 2,300 kilos. Its $2,049 base worth was considerably greater than the Beetle’s $1,565 sticker, however Corvair consumers received fairly a bit extra horsepower and three-across seating for the additional cash. Later Corvair fashions just like the Corsa and the Monza launched extra efficiency with as much as 180 horsepower.

The Kind 1 Beetle was a worldwide sensation for Volkswagen, however its small measurement finally restricted its market. Enter the Kind 2, additionally known as the Transporter, the Kombi, the Bus, or the Microbus. Launched in 1950, it adopted an analogous structure to its smaller sibling, full with an air-cooled engine on the again.

This configuration would final via the primary three generations (referred to as T1 via T3) of the Kind 2, proper as much as 1992. The 1950 mannequin was powered by a 1.1-liter engine producing simply 24 horsepower, however energy grew through the years, and the 1992 mannequin featured a 2.1-liter powerplant producing as much as 92 horsepower.

The Kind 2 grew to become one other iconic best-seller for Volkswagen, in addition to a traditional in its personal proper. A primary-generation 23-window VW bus is uncommon, and its worth right this moment can simply attain six figures. However different fashions are additionally extremely collectible: A 1965 21-window Deluxe Bus offered at a Barrett-Jackson Public sale for an eye-popping $302,500. Not unhealthy for a hippie van!

The Tucker 48, typically referred to as the Tucker Torpedo, beat the Corvair to the rear-engine sport by a dozen years. The engine structure was solely one of many Tucker’s distinctive options; actually, the historical past of the Tucker 48 is a story of improvements that set it far forward of its time. But the corporate’s founder, Preston Tucker, grew to become embroiled in controversy and fraud fees, and solely 51 examples of his “automobile of the long run” have been constructed.

After unsuccessfully making an attempt to shoehorn a 589-cubic-inch flat-six engine into the 48’s rear engine bay, Mr. Tucker settled for a water-cooled, opposed six-cylinder engine initially designed for helicopters. But this motor was hardly a slouch; its 166-horsepower score was probably the most of any American automobile in 1948. With a lot energy and weight positioned to date to the rear of this lengthy automobile, the 48 is liable to oversteer, though not severely so. The 48’s cutting-edge “Torsilastic” suspension helped to maintain the automobile on a fair keel.

The Tucker 48’s checklist of auto-industry firsts goes far past its helicopter engine. It sported a 3rd, central headlight that swiveled within the course of steering, together with disc brakes in an period when most different automobiles had drum brakes. It additionally provided security options like a pop-out windshield and a padded dashboard, each of which protected passengers throughout crashes.

The “Again to the Future” film franchise turned one other troubled automobile, the DeLorean DMC-12, into one of the beloved rear-engined automobiles of all time, though for some contrarians, it is also one of many traditional automobiles they like to hate. The brainchild of John DeLorean, a legendary government who had labored at Chrysler and Basic Motors, this futuristic-looking wondercar is understood for its stainless-steel physique and gullwing doorways. But not all the automobile’s followers (and haters) notice it is also a member of the rear-engine membership.

That rear-mounted engine, alas, was underpowered and arguably the largest weak spot of the DMC-12. It was a 2.5-liter V6 that despatched an underwhelming 130 horsepower to the drive wheels through a five-speed handbook transmission. Then again, the engine was a Peugeot-Renault-Volvo unit, which was acceptable for this worldwide automobile: Though the DeLorean was an American automobile, its physique was designed in Italy, its suspension was engineered by Lotus within the U.Ok., and it was inbuilt Northern Eire.

Like Preston Tucker, John DeLorean needed his automobile to be protected, and to that finish, he outfitted it with dashboard pads for knee and leg safety. Sadly, his firm suffered a destiny just like Tucker’s, collapsing beneath the burden of authorized scandals. He confronted drug fees, and though he was acquitted, his firm’s fame suffered irreversible injury.

At this time’s Fiat 500e is an EV, however the authentic Fiat 500 sported a 479cc, two-cylinder engine on the rear of its diminutive physique in 1957. This structure was chosen to avoid wasting area and maximize the inside quantity of the cabin, making this exceptionally tiny automobile a sensible runabout. The air-cooled motor was additionally mounted transversely to avoid wasting much more area. The engine was not solely small however easy and straightforward for homeowners to work on.

Italians of the period have been used to sustaining their motorized scooters, so the five hundred match proper into their way of life. Even for its small measurement, the automobile was extra-light due to its unibody development, making it fuel-efficient and nimble. The steering was unassisted, but surprisingly gentle, excellent for a metropolis automobile.

The 1957 500’s minuscule engine produced solely 13 horsepower, though a later improve to a half-liter unit boosted that to 21 horsepower. By 1975, a 594cc unit made 18 horsepower however boosted torque from 22 to 27 lb-ft. Rear-hinged doorways have been changed with front-hinged doorways in 1965, and material sunroofs have been out there in all mannequin years. The Fiat 500 made our checklist of the cutest automobiles ever made.

There are a variety of hidden info about Good automobiles for consumers and drivers to concentrate on, however one which may shock lots of people is that this: The Good ForTwo is a rear-engine little runabout. The product of a collaboration between Nicholas Hayek, the founding father of the Swatch watch firm, and Mercedes-Benz, the 1998 Good ForTwo was born out of the conclusion that the majority automobiles on the highway have just one or two folks on board. To make this tiny two-seater, each space-saving innovation was used.

This included a rear-mounted engine, which allowed the engineers to design a crumple zone into the entrance of the automobile. Security was a serious concern, given the Good ForTwo’s tiny measurement, and the automobile incorporates a stable metal body across the passenger compartment.

In 1998, consumers had a alternative of 599cc or 799cc three-cylinder engines. By 2016, the out there engines included an 89-horsepower, 898cc, turbocharged three-cylinder or a 1.0-liter, 70-horsepower Mitsubishi three-cylinder. Energy was enough for this 106-inch, 2,200-pound automobile. In 2019, Mercedes introduced that the Good model was withdrawing from the American market.

Good adopted up on the success of the ForTwo by introducing the Good Roadster, a 1,851-pound drop-top two-seater with bulging entrance fenders and a visual, basket-handle structural member arcing behind the seats. It was very eye-catching and reminded many observers of traditional British roadsters just like the Austin-Healey Sprite or the MG Midget. However not like these automobiles, the Good Roadster stored its engine within the again.

Its transverse-mounted rear engine allowed the Roadster to have a wheelbase barely longer than that of an MX-5 Miata, with loads of room for the passenger compartment. With no transmission hump, the cockpit was much more spacious. With its low and modern nostril, nevertheless, there was little or no baggage area within the entrance trunk.

The engine was a turbocharged 698cc, Mercedes-built three-cylinder producing 80 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque. Even on this featherweight automobile, this was solely good for a ten.7-second 0-60 run. Nonetheless, just like the British roadsters that impressed it, the Good Roadster’s energy lay in its dealing with: It might pull 0.91 g on the skidpad. Plus, there was the fun-in-the-sun issue after retracting its accordion-like, totally retracting roof.

Ginetta is a supercar model you’ve got most likely by no means heard of, however from 1968 via 1974, Ginetta constructed a road-going, fiberglass-bodied coupe with a Hillman Imp engine within the rear. It was impressed by Ginetta’s racing automobiles and meant for drivers who have been keen to work on their very own automobiles and fling them via the curves of nation lanes on weekends. Its racing heritage was fairly uncooked, and this wasn’t a automobile for informal drivers.

The G15 featured an 875cc Hillman Imp Sport engine, though a 998cc engine was non-compulsory. The automobile’s exceptionally gentle weight made up for its small engine displacement, and the G15 would fortunately attain 85 mph and cruise at that pace effortlessly, or proceed on to 100 mph. It additionally provided large grip and easy steering, together with a stiff however very competent suspension.

The tail of the automobile folds as much as expose the engine nestled inside the subframe. This made it simpler to service or totally take away the engine/transaxle meeting. Ginetta offered 800 G15s, some as completed automobiles, and others as package automobiles.

The BMW 700 might rank amongst BMWs that everybody forgot existed, however this small and economical automobile helped to avoid wasting BMW throughout a darkish time within the carmaker’s historical past. Within the Sixties, BMW was in dire monetary straits. The 700 was a gross sales success, promoting greater than 180,000 items over the course of the mannequin’s lifetime and serving to to rescue the corporate. And it did all this with a rear-engine structure.

At first look, the 700 appears like a traditional front-engine coupe or convertible. There’s nothing overt in its exterior design to point that the engine is within the again, because the automobile has a normal-looking entrance finish till you discover the shortage of a grille. This comparatively lengthy entrance finish offers the 700 a spacious entrance trunk, making it a terrific automobile for weekend getaways. In the event you open up the again bonnet, you may discover a 697cc, flat-twin, two-cylinder engine. This was primarily based on the BMW R67 bike’s engine and had additionally been used within the BMW 600.

In its preliminary type, the engine produced 30 horsepower. A Sport model in 1960 got here with a 40-horsepower model of that powerplant. Because of the automobile’s gentle weight, this was good for a 78 mph high pace. The low weight mixed with a inflexible monocoque physique to provide the 700 spirited dealing with.

The low-slung and beautiful Renault Alpine A110 shocked the world by profitable the primary World Rally Championship. It featured Italian design by Giovanni Michelotti, giving it futuristic appears for its time, and just like the Porsche 911, its engine was mounted behind the rear axle. This made it have a tendency towards oversteer, however rally drivers used that to good benefit to slip round corners, a lot to the delight of onlookers.

The engine in earlier fashions was a 956cc four-cylinder, however displacement elevated in levels till the ultimate competition-spec fashions ran an 1,800cc model. Alongside the best way, Renault transformed the engines to aluminum development. The A110 was a really gentle automobile, so these small engines have been greater than sufficient to energy it via the curves. The A110 dominated rally automobile racing till it was overthrown by the Lancia Stratos in 1974. Sadly, the A110’s trendy successor is one in every of many nice European automobiles not offered in North America.

This one could also be a shock to some, and technically it was a “rear-motor” automobile fairly than a rear-engine automobile because it was pushed by an electrical motor, however for a lot of its historical past, the Mannequin S was propelled by a single motor at its rear axle. After 2017, the Mannequin S went all-wheel drive with a dual-motor configuration that positioned one motor on every axle.

Since its introduction in 2012, the Mannequin S has been a sport changer for the automotive {industry}. Tesla had beforehand constructed the Roadster, however that automobile, whereas thrilling to take a look at and drive, had restricted utility and enchantment. The Mannequin S sedan was the primary EV with appears, practicality, vary, and driving pleasure to cross over and enchantment to mainstream drivers. Motor Development named it its 2013 Automobile of the 12 months, and Automobile and Driver named it to its 2016 Ten Greatest checklist.

Automobile and Driver famous that within the 2016 mannequin with the rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive structure, its AC induction motor generates 315 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Its EPA-rated metropolis/freeway gasoline financial system equal was 88 and 101 mpg, achieved with electrical energy fairly than gasoline, after all.