10 of the best two-cylinder classics

Small is mighty!

From Gottlieb Daimler’s 1895 Phoenix inline twin to Aurelio Lampredi’s ill-fated 1955 2.5-litre Type 116 Formula One engine, two-cylinder engines have powered some of the most intriguing, quirky and downright interesting cars ever built.

Here are 10 of the best. 

1. Abarth 695 SS

Launched in 1957 to replace the outgoing Topolino, the Nuova 500 featured a 479cc two-cylinder engine producing just 13bhp.

A perfect combination of light weight, decent fuel economy and peppy, characterful performance made the car an instant hit, with more than 180,000 examples being built in the first three years. 

Abarth 695 SS (cont.)

By 1958 the Sport model had arrived, upping power from the now 499cc engine to 21bhp – enough to reach 65mph with a decent tailwind.

But it wasn’t until 1964 that the truly exciting Abarth 695 SS came on the scene. 

Abarth 695 SS (cont.)

Carlo Abarth’s hotted-up 500 became available in 1966, boasting a power output of 37bhp thanks to a host of engine upgrades.

2. FMR TG500

Messerschmitt had been building its Kabinenroller series of microcars since 1953, starting with the three-wheeled, single-cylinder KR175.

A modified version of the more powerful KR200 set 22 three-wheeler 250cc speed records at Hockenheim in 1955, proving the model’s pace and endurance. 

FMR TG500 (cont.)

From 1958 until 1961, German manufacturer FMR took up the design, adding an additional wheel for greater stability and swapping from a single-cylinder engine to a 494cc air-cooled two-stroke unit, designed by Fichtel & Sachs. 

FMR TG500 (cont.)

With a fair wind the TG500 ‘Tiger’ could hit 78mph, taking around 27 seconds to get to 60mph from a standstill. 

This makes it one of the speediest microcars and today they’re pricey, too – this is one of approximately 150 known survivors and recently sold for $145,600 (around £112,000) with RM Sotheby’s.

3. Citroën 2CV

In many ways, the 2CV became to France what the Beetle was to Germany.

Like the Volkswagen, the little Citroën had been conceived in the 1930s as a means of mobilising the masses, and both cars proved so popular that they would remain in production for more than four decades. 

Citroën 2CV (cont.)

The secret to the 2CV’s success is part simplicity and part charm.

Powered by an air-cooled flat-twin, the earliest models produced less than 9bhp, but things quickly improved with a 425cc engine arriving in 1955, followed by a 602cc unit in 1970. 

Citroën 2CV (cont.)

With a kerbweight of just 600kg and the softest suspension this side of the Seine, it doesn’t really matter which engine is under the bonnet.

Either way, the classic, charming 2CV is one of the most rewarding and downright hilarious cars to hustle quickly. 

4. Toyota S800

When Toyota’s super-futuristic Publica Sports concept made its debut at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1962 it caused quite a stir.

And while it might be diminutive in stature, in other respects it is an automotive giant.

Toyota S800 (cont.)

The slick little machine eventually went on sale three years later as the Sports 800, and was little changed from that head-turning show star.

And not only was it Toyota’s first-ever production sports car, it was one of the first cars to have a targa-style roof.

Toyota S800 (cont.)

By the time it was made available to the public, the S800 had received a useful power upgrade from the 28bhp engine fitted to the Publica.

The capacity of the air-cooled flat-twin was increased to 800cc and twin carbs were added, resulting in a power output of 45bhp – not bad for a car that weighed just 580kg. In fact, it could almost hit 100mph!

5. Honda Z600

The Japanese kei car segment produced some fascinating, pint-sized automobiles over the years.

And here is one of them, the brilliantly quirky Honda Z600, a slicker, sportier version of the more boxy N600. 

Honda Z600 (cont.)

Powered by a 598cc single overhead cam twin producing 36bhp, the interesting Honda was marketed in America alongside the firm’s motorcycles.

Well, even in 354cc trim the little engines were capable of spinning up to 9000rpm. 

Honda Z600 (cont.)

Ultimately, the little Honda was killed off by the arrival of the frugal Civic in 1974.

Still, between 1970 and 1974, more than 40,500 Zs were produced, of which 918 were sold in Europe. 

6. Panhard 24CT

Despite being one of the world’s oldest car manufacturers, French firm Panhard’s swansong came in 1964 with the arrival of the intriguing 24, a stunning streamlined two-door coupé. 

A planned four-door version never came to fruition.

Panhard 24CT (cont.)

The car was propelled by a front-mounted 848cc two-cylinder boxer engine that produced either 42bhp or 50bhp.

While its body was new, this powerplant was tried and tested, having made its debut in the Dyna X back in ’52.

Panhard 24CT (cont.)

Because the engine was air-cooled and didn’t require a radiator, Panhard’s designers were able to create a sleek, contemporary body.

What’s more, its incredibly strong tubular chassis allowed for neat design features such as the cabin’s thin pillars, which also gave great visibility. 

7. NSU Prinz

NSU is perhaps best known for its Wankel-engined Ro80 and Spider, but the former motorcycle manufacturer also knew its way around a two-cylinder engine.

Its first post-war car, the Prinz, was powered by a 20bhp, 600cc engine that may have been unrefined, but was also both frugal and reliable.

NSU Prinz (cont.)

Though the more powerful four-cylinder TT and TTS garner most attention today, a two-cylinder engine also powered the stylish Prinz 4 that broke cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1961.

When tested by Autocar, it hit 70mph and took a glacial 35.7 secs to complete the standard 0-60mph sprint.

NSU Prinz (cont.)

The economy runabout resembled a Chevrolet Corvair that had shrunk in the wash.

But that’s no bad thing and today, as in the early 1960s, it is an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous Mini.

8. BMW 700

It may seem hard to believe it today, but BMW came close to bankruptcy in the post-war years.

That was until the arrival of an unlikely saviour in the form of a charming microcar: the 700.

BMW 700 (cont.)

The 700 was commissioned by BMW’s Austrian distributor Wolfgang Denzel, who charged none other than Giovanni Michelotti with styling a new car to sit on a lengthened 600 chassis.

Sold as a saloon and a coupé, it made its public debut at the 1959 Frankfurt Motor Show.

BMW 700 (cont.)

The 697cc flat-twin 700 was a huge success both in showrooms and in motorsport.

As well as being campaigned everywhere from the Rallye Monte-Carlo to the Nordschleife, more than 188,000 examples were sold by the time production ended in 1965. 

9. Piaggio Vespa 400

Best known for its scooters, Italian manufacturer Piaggio turned its hand to car design in the late 1950s.

And it unveiled the Vespa 400, a rear-engined microcar in Monaco in September 1957. 

Piaggio Vespa 400 (cont.)

The new car was built by ACMA in France, and within the first year 12,000 examples had been built, in either Luxe, Tourisme or GT form.

As you can see, its fabric roof could be rolled back for wind-in-your-hair motoring, which might have been a bonus because on early examples, the doors’ windows didn’t open.

Piaggio Vespa 400 (cont.)

With space for two adults up front and two small children in the back, the two-stroke-powered Vespa offered all the mobility of a scooter with the added practicality of weather protection and additional space.

But with a top speed of around 55mph, you wouldn’t get anywhere quickly! 

10. Morgan 3 Wheeler

Few car companies can claim such an affinity and long-term association with two-cylinder engines as Morgan, the British manufacturer which made its name building record-breaking three-wheelers.

Indeed, the firm’s first automobile was a three-wheeler built back in 1908, using the Peugeot twin from a motorcycle.

Morgan 3 Wheeler (cont.)

Fast forward to 2011, and the company once again revived the three-wheeler name, this time built for the modern age. 

And it still looks like nothing else on the road.

Morgan 3 Wheeler (cont.)

While the basic idea remained the same, the new, 21st-century 3 Wheeler sported a powerful 1998cc S&S engine – a torquey v-twin that produced 82bhp and enabled the Morgan to hit 60mph in just 8 secs, proving just how far two-pot power had come.

Warm clothing is definitely required, though!