Nostalgia: The DFV is the greatest racing engine of all time | FerrariChat

Nostalgia: The DFV is the greatest racing engine of all time

Discussion in 'F1' started by william, Jun 3, 2021.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,608
    #1 william, Jun 3, 2021
    Opinion: The DFV is the greatest racing engine of all time

    The Ford Cosworth V8 won more than 150 grands prix and was instrumental in revolutionising F1 car design

    https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/motorsport-news-f1/opinion-dfv-greatest-racing-engine-all-time

    The DFV’s last F1 race came in 1985, and even in the early turbo years, it had remained competitive. In its heyday, it was used by the majority of teams, including Brabham, Ligier Lotus, March, Matra, McLaren, Shadow, Tyrell, Williams and Wolf.

    It was and still is a remarkable design that stood the test of time, and it continues to this day in historic racing supported by some ace specialist engine-builders. Will there ever be another engine quite as ground-breaking? It's unlikely.
     
  2. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    14,532
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    #2 spirot, Jun 4, 2021
    I would agree. It won the first time out in F-1 and then went on to be used in Sports Cars as well as the basis for Indy cars turbo engines as well. the sound is also great. The Ferrari 308 engine and the DFV (other than belts vs. gears ) is somewhat of a copy ... when you look at them they are of similar architecture. Ferrari copying DFV - Rocchi denies that but its pretty obvious.

    it won championships from 1968 through 1981 the only other engine that won was Ferrari's Flat 12.... in 75,76,77,79, all other years were DFV powered cars.
     
    william likes this.
  3. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,608
    #3 william, Jun 4, 2021
    During its lifespan in F1, many teams were started thanks to the availability of the DFV.

    Cosworth equiped most teams bar Ferrari at one point.

    Regularly maintained DFVs could be used for several seasons and upgraded.

    There was a trade of "second-hand" DFVs, and some units ran for years in different teams.
     
  4. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    14,532
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    #4 spirot, Jun 4, 2021
    I remember looking at one that was for sale - I think it was $55K back in the 80's... i had a crazy thought of putting it in a Lotus... but the mtns on them was horrendous... if they were not tuned right - the vibrations would shake everything around it and the mount points were also very difficult to work with ... .but ti was a great dream. I would imagine with modern electronics today - they may run better but still mtns hogs.
     
    william likes this.
  5. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,269
    #5 Mitch Alsup, Jun 4, 2021
    Where "maintained" means sent back to the factory after each race for a complete tear down and rebuild.

    And where "upgraded" means that the pistons, heads, cams, and sometimes fuel injectors, and crankshaft were replaced at the cost of about ½ of a new engine.
     
    william likes this.
  6. Sempre_gilles

    Sempre_gilles Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2003
    1,602
    Full Name:
    AdK
    #6 Sempre_gilles, Jun 4, 2021
    There we go again... "Most successful" is NOT equivalent to "greatest".

    While there is no argument that the DFV is the most successful F1 engine of all times, what is the greatest is a matter of personal taste. For me it is the Ferrari 3 liter boxer engine of 1970 - 1980.
     
    Nortonious likes this.
  7. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,608
    #7 william, Jun 4, 2021
    Generally, "Most successful" is objective and supported by stats.

    However "Greatest" is subjective and supported by emotion.

    The former can be measured; the later cannot be proven.
     
  8. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,269
    #8 Mitch Alsup, Jun 4, 2021
    The one with 5 main bearings or the one with 3 ?

    The one powering the B series transmission or the ones powering the T series transmissions (without flywheel) ?
     
  9. Sempre_gilles

    Sempre_gilles Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2003
    1,602
    Full Name:
    AdK
    #9 Sempre_gilles, Jun 5, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2021
    The one for the B series. First version of a car / engine is in my opinion more what the creator intended.
     

Share This Page