Solved - NEH 4077: M.A.P. mid-engine supercharged diesel Le Mans car - 1950

[Carnut]

What's this, powered by what - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[58_spyder]

MAP diesel 5 litres 4 cylinder engine.

Not easy to find confirmation, I knew it was a MAP (Manufacture d'Armes de Paris), but MAP grand prix gave me all kinds of circuits but not the car...... I have an article about it in my Science et Vie magazines. I will see if I can scan it. Placed: DNF 39 laps

Not the frst Diesel engined car to run at Le Mans, but it was the first cental engined car.

[58_spyder]

Actually, I just saw it is a M.A.P. 1950 Le Mans, according to Science et Vie (Map was used in 1949 in combination with Delahaye: Delahaye Map)

[Carnut]

Indeed.
A bit of an ugly brute but technically quite ahead of its time.  I wonder why it needed that bulbous front though when its engine was behind the driver?
The car has actually been pictured here before as part of a group puzzle.
1 point for you.

More pictures:

[Wendax]

It was based on a Delage V12 chassis with Diesel mid-engine, driven by Pierre Veyron.

[oko94]

The engine was very original : a supercharged, 2-stroke, 8-piston horizontal four cylinder.

[Carnut]

The engine was very original : a supercharged, 2-stroke, 8-piston horizontal four cylinder.

With a 5-litre displacement!

[Oswald]

The engine was very original : a supercharged, 2-stroke, 8-piston horizontal four cylinder.

8-piston four-cylinder? 

[Carnut]

The engine was very original : a supercharged, 2-stroke, 8-piston horizontal four cylinder.

8-piston four-cylinder? 

Can't imagine it!

[nicanary]

The engine was very original : a supercharged, 2-stroke, 8-piston horizontal four cylinder.

8-piston four-cylinder? 

Can't imagine it!

Think Commer TS3. Two  opposing  pistons using one cylinder. Very, very noisy. I expect the drivers of the faster cars would have heard the racket well above the sound of their own engines, when they passed the thing on the Mulsanne.

[Wendax]

Looks theoretically like this:

[Wendax]

And in reality:

[Oswald]

Good grief, that is something!
Thanks for the explanations guys.