Name That Engine #1779 - Peek Wildcat Boat (Twin Crosley) Engine

[Otto Puzzell]

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of what this is, and what it was for.

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[Otto Puzzell]

Maybe an expert has seen this one before...

[cmetisse]

Matra Bagheera U8 ?

[Otto Puzzell]

No - I think we had that one before.

[Tom_I]

U-8s are pretty unusual. If this intended to run as it is, with stub exhausts, then it couldn't be used in an enclosed space, and noise would presumably not be an issue.

So is it an aeroplane engine?

[Aaron65]

Are those twin Crosleys tied together?

[Tom_I]

Found it - it's not an aero engine at all, but is intended to power a boat.

Its a Peek's "Wildcat, Sr." vertical bank eight, consisting of two Crosley CIBA (cast iron block assembly) engines mounted side by side with the crankshafts geared together, and producing 80 hp from 88 cubic inches.

The Peek-built "Buddy" (L-21), with a vertical eight "Wildcat, Sr." set a new world record and won the National championship for 1949 at St. Petersburg, Florida, during the Southland Sweepstakes Regatta of February 12 and 13, 1949. "Buddy" averaged 53.540 MPH in five mile competitive racing and has been clocked at over 75 MPH on straight runs!

[Otto Puzzell]

 

[Otto Puzzell]

Here's the whole ad.