VEHICLES
Creating and developing a new engine calls for real world testing. The Radial Motion Fleet is eclectic and eccentric, with each machine providing us with different challenges and different insights.
As you'd expect, our customer builds are unique too.
MEYERS MANX
The Meyers Manx dune buggy was initially designed for desert racing by Californian engineer, artist, boat builder and surfer Bruce F. Meyers.
The Radial Motion engine is now an option with the Meyers Manx Remastered Kit, elevating the Meyers Manx driving experience.
AERO 356
Ron Goodman is well known in the Porsche scene for his outlaw builds and race machines, always presented in his trademark Goodman Grey livery.
His latest build is an aero-themed outlaw 356, which has been fitted with our first Aero style Radial Motion engine with distinctive air cooling fins.
This classic racer has been built to an exacting standard with some unique touches, and needs an engine to match.
The Radial Motion engine will give it plenty of punch, especially with a dash of nitrous...
Zombug prepped and ready for the Adelaide Rally.
Zombug performed fantastically in the Adelaide Rally, with plenty of power making wet stages a challenge.
First generation Radial Motion engine.
Zombug prepped and ready for the Adelaide Rally.
ZOMBUG
The ZOMBUG started life as a battered and bruised 1972 Super Beetle. We set about fitting a first generation Radial Motion three-cylinder engine to the car. This was an air cooled version with exposed pushrod tubes and our first generation head design. Dyno tuned in-house, the engine produced 120hp from its 1.6 litre capacity, some 80hp more than it left the VW factory with nearly 50 years ago. We entered the ZOMBUG in the 2019 Adelaide Rally with this engine, which made the high-riding car a handful on tight tarmac.
Zombug then received a pre-production liquid-cooled Radial Motion engine, which has passed the strict emissions test, making it legal to fit to late-model vehicles in Australia. It has now been lowered, with sticky tyres and a revised roll cage design a better match for the 150hp 2.0-litre engine.
In this guise it was entered in the 2020 Adelaide Rally. That event was postponed and ran in March 2021. Zombug performed flawlessly, with ample power on tap, especially on the wet stages. One minor altercation with an armco barrier didn't dampen our crew's enthusiasm and Zombug continued on to complete the event.
BON-TRIKE
The Bon-Trike HS3 is the ideal test mule for the Radial Motion engine, with its ease of access for installation.
These popular trikes are essentially a VW beetle rear end, connected to a long set of girder forks by a strong and light steel tube chassis. They were originally sold with 1200-1600cc VW engines, which were enough to make the 450-odd kilogram trike fun to ride.
We fitted a triple-carburettor version of our Radial Motion engine, tuned to a conservative 120hp, turning the once-tame trike into a wheelie monster until it fried the clutch.
We then took the most obvious next step – drag raced an aeroplane.
Two very different radial engines, 70 years apart.
Bon-Trike side view
Fitting the Radial Motion engine is easy on the trike – so accessible and just four bolts secure the engine to the transaxle.
Two very different radial engines, 70 years apart.
Measuring the engine bay with the 3D scanner
KOMBI POSTAL VAN
This 1976 VW Type 2 was originally a post office van. It came to us in a well-used state, complete with hippie mural and plenty of rust.
We've had it tidied up and freshly painted, and it's next on the list of Radial Motion test mules.
We'll be tuning the engine for low-down torque and driveability, with the aim of towing a loaded car trailer on long hauls – not a use the original 70hp engine was well suited for...