Does anyone know of any example of a ground vehicle powered by a rotary engine, that is to say, the kind of spinning engine found on some WWI fighters, not a Wankel rotary?

The only ones I know of are a handful of obscure motorbikes (one called the Megola) which used such an engine inside one of the wheels, and the Adams-Farwell car, which used horizontally mounted 3 or 5 cylinder engines.

Quote from: Weaver on May 29, 2023, 04:08:25 PMDoes anyone know of any example of a ground vehicle powered by a rotary engine, that is to say, the kind of spinning engine found on some WWI fighters, not a Wankel rotary?

The only ones I know of are a handful of obscure motorbikes (one called the Megola) which used such an engine inside one of the wheels, and the Adams-Farwell car, which used horizontally mounted 3 or 5 cylinder engines.

Not that I know of.  I do know a Lemons racing team stuffed a Kinner 5 cylinder radial in a Toyota MR2

Sounds like it's time to build a whiff of one!

In fact I am on that project     

Got a dozen rotary engines left over from my builds 

Imagine the torque reaction when you blipped the throttle with the car in neutral.   

Quote from: zenrat on May 30, 2023, 04:08:55 AMImagine the torque reaction when you blipped the throttle with the car in neutral.   

With the crankshaft vertical take it to an icy parking lot and rev the throttle to see if it spins in place!

The sole surviving Adams-Farwell rotary-engined car demonstrated running:

The exact opposite of Colin Chapman's 'Simplicate and add lightness' philosophy!

'Complicate and ad heaviness'!!!

I've seen that car at the Harrah Museum, but didn't realise what I was looking at as I only looked at the front.   

Fit it to an afv - didn't some Shermans have a radial engine?

Quote from: Leading Observer on May 30, 2023, 09:12:34 AMFit it to an afv - didn't some Shermans have a radial engine?

Correct!!  Some had a Wright RD 1820  9 cylinder diesel radial  and others a Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cylinder radial petrol engine.

Quote from: Leading Observer on May 30, 2023, 09:12:34 AMFit it to an afv - didn't some Shermans have a radial engine?

Yes, but that's not a rotary, the cylinders stand still.

A rotary of sorts as the 3-cylinder radial engines, plural, are mounted directly to the non-steering front wheels:
Rohrbach concept

You cannot view this attachment.

More on the Adams-Farwell at Douglas Self's Museum of RetroTechnology:

Adams-Farwell

Quote from: Rheged on May 30, 2023, 09:26:20 AM

Quote from: Leading Observer on May 30, 2023, 09:12:34 AMFit it to an afv - didn't some Shermans have a radial engine?

Correct!!  Some had a Wright RD 1820  9 cylinder diesel radial  and others a Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cylinder radial petrol engine.

Oh , THAT's a difference I am also ignored .

Quote from: jcf on May 30, 2023, 10:35:31 AMA rotary of sorts as the 3-cylinder radial engines, plural, are mounted directly to the non-steering front wheels:

It steers from the rear wheel?   

Be afraid, be VERY afraid!