Jim Lytle's "Quad Al" four-engine Allison Dragster

Hello guys. I saw this 'hot rod' on FB and i wonder when, where ang why! It had four WWII Allison V12 aircraft engines, Fiat 500 Topolino body and 12,000 hp. The engine-less chassis is now in Indiana. Allison machines become collector items, so it will probably never be restored.

Does anybody know the history behind this.

Thank you in advance.

 

I don't know any history, but sure would like to!

 

Never ran. Lytle built several Allison-engined cars, but only "Big Al" (A chopped '34 Ford Tudor) was a real drag racing competitor. The others, including Quad Al, were showpieces. As I understand it, the four engines in the Topolino were empty; had no internal parts.

 

Yep, I think it was he couldn't afford the clutch, needed so it would work.
Something like that, the engines were good to go as I recall.

 

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/01/18/rip-jim-lytle-a-power-crazed-genius/

 

I don't know how it ended up in Indiana, but I had a chance to buy the engineless chassis in the early 90's, and seriously considered buying it just for the slicks. I don't remember the exact price, but it was really cheap. Something like $500.00 sticks in my mind.

 

It's being re-assembled as a museum piece....google it.

 

Thanks ProEnfo for posting that link.

 

Google it how? I didn't find anything that was more current than a couple of years ago.

 

Jim Lytle also built (besides the three already noted) another, single-Allison-engined Fiat Topo that was basically four wheels, the motor, and a cockpit big enough for your average midget... kind of the anti-Quad Al. This car appeared on a R&C cover in the mid-60s, and I never saw/heard of it again. The White truck was the last one he built, and that one was a runner.

 

great info thanks for the link.

 

Thank you all for the infos and thank you ProEnfo for sharing the link. It would be amazing if this thing could work. Almost insane!

Really appreciate it.

Best regards
Greg

 

Imagine the sound of that thing on song. It'd be insane! Someone should buy it and make a runner out of it

sent via classroom note. pass it on

 

here is a photo

 

I could be wrong. But for some reason I think there was a model car made of that. Gene.

 

"Big Al", One of the COOLEST cars ever built !! Chris Lytle

 

Mike Guffey always comes up with the coolest stuff! Notice the truck in the background.

 

There was another -- perhaps the one you're thinking of -- that was built from a BMW 600, which is essentially a stretch Isetta. As you say, the entire car was full of Allison.

 

When i was a kid I saw that car in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world's most powerfull car. Glad to see it still exists in some form.

-rick

 

I would love nothing more then to see some one rebuild that thing and get it running again, but the cost to get that thing into running order would be enormous. The supply of V-1710 Allison parts is quickly dwindling to zero and no one is repopping them. It is easy to spend upwards and beyond 6 figures to get one Allison running properly, let alone 4. It seems that it may be destined for a museum, but that is still a much better place then under the scrappers torch.

 

all I know is I do not Want to have to check the plugs between rounds on that one ...

 

Cost of just of a running Allison is outrageously expensive. Jim, in his later years, had been looking for one for a long time and finally found one. He made a static display for demonstration at events like March Meet for one. When he fired it up the crowds swelled to see and here it run. Unfortunately he told me it was in poor mechanical shape and did not last long.
He was an amazing guy for sure, he built that monster in a tiny L shaped cluttered garage in Culver City.
He started on a VW Van with one in it but I am not sure if he completed it or not.
Quad Al made the show rounds for a while.

 

Just seen it yesterday in Gas City, Indiana for the 2015 Ducktail Run. Looked like it's all back together.

 

Can you imagine his neighborhood association if it were for real. ...and mine thinks my big block open header runs are intrusive! LOL

 

" smoke gets in your eyes"

 

Yep! Sitting in the swap meet area. AWESOME!