Boxers!

Nope, this blog isn’t about Muhammed Ali, Tyson, Sugar Ray, Camacho, or any of those guys.   We’re gearheads, and the focus today is on boxer engines.

The boxer engine configuration is one that has been around for a long time and it has powered quite a few cars, motorcycles, and aircraft.   The boxer name presumably comes from the horizontal motion of the pistons…they jab out (and back and forth) like a boxer’s fists.   It’s a cool designation.

If you’re a rider you probably know of the twin boxer engine in BMW motorcycles.    Other motorcycles that have used the boxer configuration include the German Zundapp, the Honda Goldwing and Valkyrie, the Japanese Marusho, and several Chinese and Russian BMW clones (the Russian Ural and at least four Chinese outfits making BMW copies).  Hey, Harley even made a boxer during World War II…it was a copy of the BMW boxer, and it would have gone into rate production had it not been for a vehicle the Army found more useful (and that would be the Jeep).

The boxer engine concept found a home in more than a few automobiles, too.   Consider the one we’re probably most familiar with…the VW Beetle.   Did you know that the Chevy Corvair had a six-cylinder boxer?   And that Subaru has both four and six cylinder boxers in its wonderful cars?  Let’s not forget Porsche…they’ve probably created the most advanced boxer engines in the world (although in my opinion Subaru’s engineering is right there with Porsche’s).

Airplanes, too, use the boxer configuration.  There are so many I couldn’t begin to describe them.     Google “airplane boxer engines” and you’ll see what I mean.

Yep, the boxer has found a home in all of these vehicles…but for our focus here, I’ll turn back to the VW drags this past weekend.   What’s cool about this photo collection is the extent to which these V-Dub owners have turned their four-cylinder boxer engines into chrome-laden jewels.   And one more thing that’s cool about the bling on these engines:   If you see any goodies you like, our Pro-One sister company can provide it.

Enjoy the glitter, folks!

Onward and upward, boys and girls…I just received a nice photo and note from my good buddy Carlos.  The photo shows a very cool Rickman desert sled with a Matchless motor, so stay tuned! 

And yes, I still have a photo or two to show you from the VW meet in Irwindale this past weekend!

Ride safe.