WHETHER IT'S A MANUFACTURER's FLIGHT OF FANCY or a wild homebuilt special, the notion of slotting an oversized or unlikely engine into an equally unexpected host is a novelty that never fails to capture the imagination.
There have been some spectacular efforts over the years.
You'll doubtless recall Renault's remarkable money-noobject V10-engined Espace F1. Likewise, BMW's bonkers McLaren F1 V12-engined X5 Le Mans. Nissan GB's one-off 350Z V6-powered Micra and Aston Martin's more recent V8 Vantage-engined Cygnet are other prime examples, while US pro drifter Ryan Tuerck's Ferrari 458-engined Toyota GT86 and Judd V10-engined Supra are iconoclastic indie outliers.
And now there's 'Vini' to add to the Engine Swap Hall of Fame. Brainchild of Powerflex boss David Power, this wild V8 Mini is the result of almost six years' hard graft and testament to the fabrication skills of Eliot Dunmore at EDM, who masterminded the build process.
'It seemed like a good idea at the time,' says Power with a smile when quizzed on what possessed him to embark on the project. Had he known it would take more than half a decade it's doubtful he would have gone through with it, but seeing Vini being unloaded from its trailer in the paddock at Anglesey's Trac Môn circuit we're very glad he did.
The thought of an R56 Mini with a 4-litre V8 stuffed beneath the bonnet is almost too far-fetched to take seriously.
Especially when that bonnet is unaltered. No extra bulges.
No holes. Just a slightly larger air intake. It was clearly paramount to Power and Dunmore that Vini should give as few clues as possible to the crazy powertrain shoehorned inside. The end result is an extraordinary piece of deception.
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
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Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Cupra Formentor Abt
It's farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It's a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...
Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo
This misguided departure from the French brand's hot hatch heritage saw the Clio fall from grace
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
The Kalmar 9X9 is a modernday reinterpretation of Porsche's game-changing 959 supercar, with a carbon body and up to 917bhp. And evo is helping to develop it
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The underachieving Mk8 GTI gets a shot at redemption with the new, revised Mk8.5 version. Is it the leap forward it needs to be?
BEST BUYS
FAST FORDS FROM THE CORTINA TO THE ESCORT AND THE FIESTA, Ford is responsible for some of the most popular cars in British history. But alongside these everyday machines it has also produced a stream of desirable driver's cars.
HY AND DRY
The switch to electric power means an early exit for Hyundai N's brilliant ICE hot hatch duo. We go for a farewell drive in the 120 N
SEXY BEAST
The Vanquish name is back for Aston Martin's latest seriesproduction flagship, with a stunning new look and simply brutal performance from an 824bhp twin-turbo V12
THE JOY OF DRIVING
From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident and ultimately more skilled behind the wheel
TINY DANCER
You haven't seen a Mini dance like this before, but then you haven't seen a Mini with a 4-litre M Power V8 under the bonnet and rear-wheel drive. Introducing Vini...
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO
Grandaddy to the Temerario and the car that transformed Lamborghini was the brilliant, V10-engined Gallardo. We get reacquainted with a Lambo legend