Arlington Automotive Industries [1924007]

[Texaslav]

Arlington Automotive Industries

The story so far

Arlington Automotive Industries (AAI, Arlington) is a large automotive conglomerate based in - you guessed it - Arlington, Texas. It was founded in 1924, in the middle of the Roaring Twenties. It manufactured the Arlington 44 (4 cylinder - 4 door), a car meant to appear as a logical next car for old Ford owners and thus a fierce regional rival to the Model A. That same year, Arlington also launched production of the Bowie Truck, a Speed Wagon ripoff. While the company successfully established a foothold in its home state and was able to weather the Great Depression, it was not until after WW2 that the Texan upstarts went national.
In the 1950s and 1960s, AAI expanded by buying the small-time Kentucky luxury car company Somervell and the tooling and factories of a defunct German company called Waldersee, making Bowie into a whole line of trucks and eventually its own brand, and entering the pony car race. In the 1970s, Arlington's strong regional loyalty helped the company through the malaise, while the Analog family car and the Bowie 500 truck helped fund research for the next, explosive decade.
In the mid-80s, Arlington took markets by storm with the Airacruiser family sedan, the Foxhound sports/muscle car and the upscale 'semi-offroader', the Woodlander. Positioned between mainstream and premium domestic brands but with an aggressive focus on quality assurance and appearances, these three models elevated Arlington to a true global producer of cars. After further expanding its model range in the 2000s and producing several enthusiast favorites, Arlington was forced to sequester its budget-car operations into a new brand, Callahan, to counter the looming threat of brand dilution.

Brands:
Callahan - low-cost brand; 1983-present
Arlington - entry-level premium brand, flagship; 1924-present
Somervell - sporty luxury brand and second attempt at Waldersee rebadges; Cadillac rival. 1949-Present
Bowie - trucks and offroaders; 1973-present
Waldersee - European hub of company and sporty brand; 1952-Present.
Warren - Arlington’s mid-range, “old-man-premium” brand; started off as an Arlington companion make. Sold a couple Waldersee cars during the Malaise era; 1927-1996.

I’ll be posting models at a rate I can managed to write articles for them and linking to them up here. Now that I have made this skeleton post, I can claim that Arlington began on the 185th anniversary of San Jacinto.

[Texaslav]

List of Arlington Engines:

This is a (WIP) chronological list of Arlington Automotive engines, categorized into cylinder counts. It does not cover the weird air-cooled engines produced by Waldersee before Arlington’s purchase, or any prewar or early postwar engines using layouts unavailable in game (i8s, flatheads).

6-cylinder engines

Arlington Valve-in-Head (1939-1975)

The Valve-in-Head Arlington was the very first overhead-valve engine used in production Arlington cars. A direct descendant of the company’s previous flathead six, it became the mainline Arlington passenger car engine of the time. The block had a tall deck allowing for strokes of up to 4.1 inches, making the engine more than suitable for utility applications prioritizing low-end power. Typical configurations included a 185ci/3.0L single-carburetor version for the base-model Arlingtons, as well as 220ci/3.6L and 244ci/4.0L versions for the higher-up Arlingtons and more mature Warrens. the 244ci version, starting with one single-barrel carb and growing later to a twin-barrel one, also appreared on the Bowie utility trucks.

Applications

1939-1958 full-size Arlington
1953-1960 Arlington Business Coupe
1946-1955 full-size Warren
1946-1961 Bowie Modern Line
1962-1975 Bowie B-series

Specifications

Somervell Super Six/Waldersee Grosser Sechs/Bowie HD6 (1947-1989)

The Super-Six was originally made by Somervell. Before their acquisition by Arlington, they were actually very familiar with OHV, producing a straight-8 and a V12 with the technology before or alongside the straight-six. The Super Six remained more than a potent engine long after the Somervell company became a subsidiary of Arlington and received the option of using V8s in their cars, though the archaic production modes (such as Somervell stubbornly casting the cylinder block and crankcase separately) were liquidated almost immediately.

The engine was given over to Waldersee to power their flagship sedans (and sports/racing cars, after they developed it into a twin-cam - details later in this section). It remained in that duty until the twin-cam versions fully displaced it. It also became a mainstay in Bowie trucks.

The Super Six was offered in 260ci (4.3l) and 282ci (4.6l) variants in Somervell vehicles, 230ci (3.8l) to 270ci (4.4l) variants in Waldersee vehicles, and 260ci (4.3l) to 305ci (5.0l) variants in Bowie vehicles.

Applications

1947-1953 Somervell Super Six
1954-1961 Somervell Bayonet
1947-1958 Somervell Barricade

1955-1972 Waldersee Typ K/Kurfürst
1955-1961 Waldersee WR series

1971-1987 Bowie B-series

Specifications

Waldersee K-6 (1959-1982)

This engine is a smaller six-cylinder engine, made in displacements from 2.3 to 3 liters. While it is related to the Arlington Valve-in-Head, it is presented as distinct here because the VIH was initially developed into a more modern and smaller four-cylinder for the smaller Waldersee cars, and that engine was in turn furter modernized and lengthened back into the K-6. Optimized from the start for higher-rpm operations, this engine powered the lower, more economical versions of the company’s Kurfürst flagship, but was also later used as a ‘muscle’ engine for the luxury compact/midsize Ritter model line. The K-6 was the first Arlington Automotive engine to use analog-electronic fuel injection, as early as 1964 with D-Jetmatic.

Applications

1959-1968 Waldersee Kurfürst
1966-1977 Waldersee Ulan
1964-1982 Waldersee Ritter
1975-1982 Waldersee Landgraf

Specifications

Arligton Small-Block V6 (1961-1989)

One of the most common and important engines in Arlington industry, this middleweight engine was co-developed with Arlington’s similar small-block V8, sharing most of the latter engine’s dimensions with the exception of generally having a lower deck. This 90-degree V6 was a rather unbalanced odd-fire unit for the best part of two decades, only gaining a balance shaft and an even-fire crank in a 1978 redesign. The odd-fire engine appeared in displacements of 185ci (3.0l), 195ci (3.2l) and 210ci (3.4l); the even-fire version was eventually punched out to 228ci (3.7l) and 240ci (3.9l), with the 3.2 engine staying on as the economy option.

Applications

1961-1962 Arlington Business Coupe
1961-1975 Arlington Alpha/Warren Windfall
1976-1987 Arlington Analog/Warren Western
1966-1980 Arlington Adamant/Warren Warfighter
1982-1988 Arlington Foxhound/Warren Warfighter

1978-1988 Somervell Spear
1986-1988 Somervell Sinclair

1970-1982 Waldersee Typ N/Markgraf (Modified aluminum block, balance shafts)

Specifications

[Texaslav]

Lazy Lorepost I

Arlington Automotive has never produced a small V6 for sale in America. During the Malaise era, the company’s 2.5l i4 was positioned directly below a rather large 200ci (3.3L) 90-degree pushrod V6. The company’s “middle-of-the-road” engine was the 5-cylinder i5 introduced with the Airacruiser, available in displacements of 2.5 to 2.8 and outputting from 130 to 200 horsepower when naturally aspirated. Initially an iron-block, aluminum-head design, the engine became all-aluminum with cylinder liners for its second generation in the 1990s, and was finally moved to a linerless alloy block in the 2000s; All the while remaining a single-cam design, but adding extra valves and lift/timing control as time went on. In 2011, the i5 lineage was broken when Arlington introduced its V5 engine, a twin-cam, 16-degree-vee design with full variable valve control, natural or forced induction and displacement varying from 2.3 to 3.0L [This engine is obviously still represented by i5s in-game, though a 60-degree V6 with equivalent displacement is used as a placeholder wherever length is an issue]. The V5 replaces both the old i5 and the large SOHC V6 that shared a production line with the company’s V8 engines.

[abg7]

@Texaslav

pop-down headlights

Those are distinct from pop-up headlights in that the lights are fixed while the covers drop down.

[Texaslav]

That is correct! And the Foxbat has pop-downs. The covers are up in that picture, I’ll make one with them down after I get another model out and also fix the lack of indicators everywhere.

[Texaslav]

Arlington UFR Platform (1990-2000)

Left to right: Somervell Halberd, Arlington Albatross 300SR, Arlington Albatross 4.3

The UFR (Unibody, Full-size, Rear-drive) platform was Arlington’s attempt to shock the full-size car market in America in a similar fashion to what the Airacruiser did to the premium compact market. It envisioned an American-made luxury car that would compete with European offerings rather than fellow domestic ones. It replaces a body-on-frame, solid-axle platform used by older large Arlington sedans, and is a much more contemporary design owing to a new, multi-link rear suspension and unibody construction; the wheelbase is considerably shorter than that of its predecessors at 112 inches.
The platform underpins the Arlington Albatross sedan (and its upmarket rebadge, the Somervell Spear) and the Somervell Halberd personal luxury coupe. The Spear and Halberd feature air suspension as standard whereas the Albatross does not.
Generally, the Arlington B engine - a SOHC V8 - powers UFR cars. At the platform’s debut in 1990, the Albatross received a 2-valve 4.2L cast iron engine that was only good for 180 bhp, with the Spear receiving a 5-liter version thereof; However, when the Halberd was introduced, all UFR cars were migrated to a 3-valve aluminum-block 4.3L engine putting out 220 to 235 horsepower depending on exhaust configuration.
1993 saw the introduction of the Albatross 300SR, a sports sedan meant to fight the likes of the BMW M5; it received an aggressively-tuned 5-liter version of the B engine capable of 328 horsepower. A milder tune of the same engine became standard on the Somervell cars. In 1995, the Halberd received an optional 385-horsepower 7-liter V10 - the first of many such powerplants by Arlington Automotive - and the associated trim became known as the Four-Twenty-Seven.
The UFR cars were produced for the entirety of that decade and achieved reasonable success. The Arlington Albatross did well in the first six years, but was eventually outsold by the Spear and ended production without a replacement in 2000, after completing a limited run of “320SR” super sedans. The successful Spear was succeeded by the 2001 Grand Spear, and the slow-selling Halberd was discontinued in favor of the retromodern Bayonet.

The 300SR is the most interesting car on this list for an enthusiast - so here are its specs.

Specifications

Model Year.................................................................................................1995
Make.................................................................................................Arlington
Engine.............................................................300 CID V8 SOHC 24v MPFI
Transmission.................................................6-speed manual floor-shifted
Drivetrain................................................................RWD 3.70:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 111.81 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................201.01in/75.81 in
Weight..................................................................................................3651 lbs
Front Suspension.................................................................Short/Long Arm
Rear Suspension............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels..............................Alloy 15-inch; R255/55 front, R265/55 rear tires
Brakes................................................................4-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$30,600
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................5.5 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................121 ft
Skidpad grip..........................................................................................0.97 g
1/4 mile time...........................................................................................13.9 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)...................................................17.4 mpg

A 300SR: Note the large bottom grille

[Texaslav]

Lazy Lorepost II

Yes I am making this a pattern

Waldersee, the German brand purchased and thus saved by Arlington back in 1952, is responsible for most of the advances in suspension and electronics tech that propelled Arlignton to the forefront of the automotive world in the 1980s. Research sharing between Arlington’s American brands and Waldersee paid off immensely when the Americans realized they needed independent suspension, electronic fuel injection, insight on how to handle miniaturization and so forth. Despite this, however, the Americans and Europeans maintain a healthy distance when it comes to actual development, with only several engines and a couple platforms shared between the continents.

[Texaslav]

SPECIAL BULLETIN: 2001 Airacruiser SRR

The 2nd-Gen Arlington Airacruiser (full dispatch of that coming soon) arrived to the market in 1996, a whole 11 years after the original. Despite the time it spent in development hell, it still offered an engine-over-transaxle longitudinal layout. Two years later, in 1998, Arlington rolled out its revolutionary liner-less, 3-valve alloy V8 that they slated to replace all OHC V8s in existing models. You can see where this is going, can’t you?

The Airacruiser SRR, released in 2001, is a limited-production variant of Arlington’s 4-door premium compact liftback. It features larger and wider wheels, a sports suspension with adaptive damping and a stiffer rear sway bar, an innovative electronic differential, revised bodywork, and a sporty interior with lightweight materials and no fifth seat. Did we mention it’s powered by a 4.3-liter, 314-horsepower V8?

The official reason the Arlington press department gave for making the car was as a demonstration of its engineering prowess: “We can build a true sportscar out of a front-drive compact”. And a true sportscar it was: Sold fitted with Arlington’s first series production e-diff and performance tires, the roided-out 'Cruiser managed a 5.1 0-60 time, above-1g skidpad performance, and a mean exhaust note. (Also an in-game Nordschleife time of 8:18.22)

Extra Lore for Nerds

The main challenge to the Airacruiser is obviously weight distribution: Not only is the car obviously front-heavy due it its front-drive layout, but it’s also pretty top-heavy due to the fact that the rather large V8 engine is located directly above the transaxle. Combatting the body roll and understeer necessitated a super-stiff rear sway bar, wide unstaggered wheels and numerous other remedies, basically amounting to the inverse of what one would do to a 911 or Corvair to control its understeer.

The engine under the hood is a tuned version of the standard 4.3/264 engine. Compared to the regular mill it has a different cam profile, forged connecting rods, a lightweight performance intake manifold, tubular exhaust headers, and a retune - but the crank, bore and stroke are bone-stock. Horsepower is up 37 hp from the standard dual-exhaust 4.3 and a whole 58 hp from the single-exhaust to 314@6400, with torque topping out at 292@4200 lb-ft.

Much of the car’s adult-sized price point can be traced back to the difficulty of making the FWD setup work with the engine’s comparatively enormous torque output: This required the single most complex differential in the company’s history and a new traction control system, on top of the already torque steer-negating effect of having a longitudinal FWD layout. Still, it apparently ended up being a cheaper solution than putting a torque-sensing AWD system under the car.

The SRR was produced in somewhat limited numbers, with around 11000 produced between the car’s 2001 release and 2005 discontinuation. The SRR cemented the Airacruiser as a serious compact-performance vehicle.

Specifications

Model Year.................................................................................................2001
Make.................................................................................................Arlington
Engine.............................................................264 CID V8 SOHC 24v MPFI
Transmission................................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain................................................................FWD 3.93:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 105.12 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................181.37in/73.39 in
Weight..................................................................................................3115 lbs
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels.......................................Alloy 18-inch; R245/45 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................3-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price...............................................................................$35,500 (2001)
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................5.2 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................109 ft
Skidpad grip..........................................................................................1.09 g
1/4 mile time...........................................................................................13.5 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)...................................................19.7 mpg

Gallery

[abg7]

This brings to mind the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP of the mid-00s in terms of drivetrain layout. By the way, is that engine transversely mounted (as was the case with said GXP) or longitudinally mounted, as it is in some Audis?

[Texaslav]

Longitudinal, like all 1st and second gen Airacruisers. Says so in the post. In the lore, it’s mounted over the transaxle, but sadly the game’s idea of LongiFWD is Audi based.

The GXP and Impala SS were my assurances that this is only a mildly unsettling idea and not an outright bad one. The C&D review on the Impala complained it didn’t have the sportiness to handle the engine… Not a problem here

[Leone]

Longitudinal mounted V8 in a FWD car. Seems fun!

[Texaslav]

You have no idea. I had an absolute blast making it and I’m pretty sure my giddiness about it has managed to annoy the entire Discord. Want the car file?

[Leone]

Sounds like it was fun to make, and sure, I’d be happy to do something with this car.

[Texaslav]

Well go ahead then, Mr “the idea is absolutely fucking stupid”

Arlington_Airacruiser_II_-_SRR.car (95.4 KB)

[Texaslav]

AC2 Arlington Airacruiser (1996-2005)

A 2001+ AC2 Airacruiser LF, consistent with the below specs

The first-generation Airacruiser started seriously showing its age in the early 1990s: Old safety features, headlights that still fit in ex-sealed beam slots, and a somewhat off-putting boxiness overall. The successor’s design and body shape were penned and frozen as early as 1993, however management difficulties marred the engineering process of the car, with many executives pushing to adopt the (logical) transverse engine layout. Furthermore, with Arlington’s budget Callahan marque in full volume production, it was unclear if the Airacruiser’s compact-family niche even needed to be filled anymore. In the end, it was determined that the most popular nameplate in Arlington’s arsenal would be reimagined as a light midsize, with a full range of solely i5 powertrains and a new, multi-link rear suspension, while the engine layout would stay as in the previous model: engine-over-transaxle longitudinal.

The second-generation car finally overcame production delays and released in 1996. Noted for its unrestrained styling and high component quality, the AC2 'Cruiser was available with either a 140 hp 2.3, 157 hp 2.5 or sporty 214hp 2.8 i5 engine and a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The engines correspond to the standard (LF/EF), premium (LT/ET) and special sports (SR) trims, and are all part of the same three-valve family, and have a single camshaft, variable valve timing and an iron-liner aluminum block. The L and E in trim names correspons to Liftback and Estate, the only two body styles available.

This iteration of the Airacruiser was a serious success once again, praised for its high-strength steel unibody, impressive practicality and brisk engines. The design received much more mixed reviews, though, the large headlights feeling like something from the late 1980s.

In 2001, the 'Cruiser received a mid-cycle refresh with more modern amenities, and all i5 engines received direct injection; the base 2.3 and 2.5 were uprated to 156 and 172 hp respectively, whereas the SR’s 2.8 was replaced by a 2.7 variable-lift engine capable of 228 horsepower. The ludicrous, 314 hp V8 SRR made its debut that year, as well. Electronic stability control became an option. Finally, the 2002 model year saw the introduction of a V6 AWD estate-exclusive trim, the EX, which functioned as a soft-roader.

The specs below are for a 2001 LF.

Specifications

Model Year.................................................................................................2001
Make.................................................................................................Arlington
Engine...................................................................139 CID V8 SOHC 20v DI
Transmission................................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................FWD 4.70:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 105.12 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................181.37in/72.20 in
Weight..................................................................................................2861 lbs
Front Suspension...............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension.............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels.......................................Alloy 16-inch; R195/60 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$22,200
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................8.5 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................149 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................128 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................0.89 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................16.4 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................30.2 mpg

Gallery

A pre-facelift LF Airacruiser; note the undersized wheels and large headlights.

A facelifted ET. This one would likely have had a 2.5l engine.

An SRR Airacruiser. They were distinguished from ordinary SRs by their hood bulge and badging.

[Texaslav]

Lazy Lorepost III

The Arlington CamTech V8 used in the first-generation 1983 Foxhound muscle car was little more than the company’s small-block V8 with an overhead camshaft swap - not as a fully-fledged advancement but as a mere performance modification. The same iron casting for the block was used, so these early engines still have their cam journals and pushrod channels - now unused. Chain-driven overhead cams are responsible for keeping the simple, 2-valve-per-cylinder system going. Only after the engine’s successful debut in the Foxhound did AA management commit to developing and refining the overhead-cam design for use for ordinary vehicles, a practice that began in earnest with certain light-duty Bowie trucks.

[Texaslav]

DW5 Waldersee Ritter (1992-2001)

A red Ritter L32 and black C40R, both 1996 models

The Waldersee Ritter started out in 1967 as the German company’s sedan in the 100-inch-wheelbase class. The car accumulated many ‘firsts’ - first car in class to have a six-cylinder engine, for instance. The fifth generation, launched in 1992, was both a beginning and an end in some ways: It was the last strut/trailing arm Ritter, keeping a lengthy tradition set by the second generation, but also the first one not to top the range with a six-cylinder.

The DW5 Ritter initially used 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder SOHC inline 3-valve engines; the former two were shared all over Arlington and were a new aluminum-block design; The i6 was a Waldersee exclusive, and used an iron block that had already picked up some mileage with the German firm. The engine range consisted of a 2-liter i4, a 2.3-liter i5, and a 3-liter i6. For the customary performance 30R, a supercharger was used for the first time instead of making a high-revving version, resulting in 300 horsepower dead. A choice of sedan, coupe and wagon was available for each engine option; The five-cylinder and NA six-cylinder were both available with all-wheel drive.
In 1996, a facelift resulted in new top-of-the-range engines being introduced. The NA 3-liter engine was replaced by a new, aluminum-block 3.2l i6 with twin cams, producing 223 hp over the old mill’s 195; the 30R model’s iron supercharged engine received a bump to 320. Most significantly, however, a Coupe-only C40R variant was introduced, a limited-production track beast with a 385-hp 4.0 V8 engine based on an Arlington unit but enhanced with quad cams, individual throttles and forged internals - and capable of rocketing the car to 62 in just 4.7 seconds. The C40R was, bar none, the fastest compact executive car of its time.
The DW5 Ritter might not have been technologically or culturally revolutionary, but it was a versatile platform that satisfied many buyers in Europe. The next generation, the DW6, would move to newer components and direct-injection engines.

The specs below are for a 1996 L32.

Specifications

Model Year.................................................................................................1996
Make.................................................................................................Waldersee
Engine.....................................................................194 CID i6 DOHC 24v DI
Transmission............................................5-speed automatic console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................RWD 3.90:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 107.87 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................182.62in/68.82 in
Weight...................................................................................................3252 lb
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension..............................................................Semi-Trailing Arm
Wheels......................................Alloy 17-inch; R205/55 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$33,800
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................7.0 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................149 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................127 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................0.90 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................15.3 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................23 mpg

[Texaslav]

Foxhound (FH1) (1983-1992)

A 1989 Foxhound GS (V6)

Sharing many of its underpinnings with the Airacruiser and preceding it by 2 years, the Foxhound was envisioned as a modern, forward-thinking pony car. Aerodynamic, relatively practical and featuring an independent rear suspension design derived from Arlington’s German subsidiary, it was not as cheap or as simple as its contemporaries, instead bridging the gap between those ordinary American cars and expensive, unattainable imported sports cars - a similar role to that filled by the Airacruiser in the compact segment.
To avoid overrunning on costs, all three engines available for the car were variations of Arlington’s small-block V8: Namely, a 3.7-liter OHV 2-bbl V6 rated for 131 horsepower, the ‘303’ 5-liter throttle-body small-block itself rated for 176, and a ‘jury-rigged’ overhead-cam engine with dual throttle-body injection. This engine reused the same 5.0 block of the OHV small block, but had a chain-driven 2-valve SOHC valvetrain that necessitated new heads; It produced 221 horsepower, making the SR version of the car deadly fast for its time - but more importantly, it kicked off a series of developments at Arlington that permitted the creation of a true overhead-cam small block replacement.

The Foxhound achieved considerable sales success and was a powerful performance halo for the company at a time when most manufacturers were struggling with their cars’ credibility; the newcomer quickly demonstrated the advantages of even a simple (semi-trailing arm) independent suspension. By 1986, higher-powered port-injected versions of the engines entered production, but these were an interim measure until the introduction of the 1988-1989 line of true SOHC 2-valve engines, now simplified to one 3.7 V6 and one 5.0 V8 and equipped with aluminum heads. By 1991, the engines were capable of 186 and 257 horsepower, respectively, making them among the best in class. 1991, the penultimate year for the Foxhound, saw the advent of one last performance model - the SR348, a version with a magnificent 5.7-liter, 320-horsepower engine using forged internals. A hardened pack called the ‘Disintegrator’ was also produced, shedding weight and adding harder suspension along with sports tires.

The specs below are for the 1991 Disintegrator.

Specifications

Model Year..................................................................................................1991
Make.................................................................................................Waldersee
Engine.....................................................................348 CID V8 SOHC 16v MPFI
Transmission............................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................RWD 3.41:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 103.94 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................182.81in/72.21 in
Weight...................................................................................................3165 lb
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension..............................................................Semi-Trailing Arm
Wheels......................................Alloy 17-inch; R255/45 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$25,800
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................5.1 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................109 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................1.08 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................13.4 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................14.6 mpg

Publicity photo of the limited-edition Disintegrator in its 3 available colors: Retribution Red, Hell Green, Sabbath Black.

Engines (Big tab, open with care)

1983-1985 3.7 "High Efficiency"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................7.5
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Single-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................145 hp@5000
Torque@RPM........................................................................191 ft-lb@2700
Weight.....................................................................................................522 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1983-1985 5.0 "303 Small-Block"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................7.7
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake...................................................................................4-bbl Carburetor
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................178 hp@4900
Torque@RPM........................................................................253 ft-lb@2500
Weight.....................................................................................................641 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1983-1984 5.0 "303 CamTech"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.0
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Single-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................221 hp@5600
Torque@RPM........................................................................267 ft-lb@2800
Weight.....................................................................................................647 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1986-1989 3.7 "DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.0
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................157 hp@5000
Torque@RPM........................................................................199 ft-lb@2700
Weight.....................................................................................................521 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1986-1998 5.0 "303 Small-Block DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................204 hp@5200
Torque@RPM........................................................................265 ft-lb@2900
Weight.....................................................................................................647 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1985-1988 5.0 "303 CamTech DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1985
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................260 hp@5600
Torque@RPM........................................................................276 ft-lb@3500
Weight.....................................................................................................651 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1990-1992 3.7 "V6 CamTech"
Model Year................................................................................................1990
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................180 hp@5500
Torque@RPM........................................................................211 ft-lb@2400
Weight.....................................................................................................451 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1992 5.0 "265 CamTech II"
Model Year................................................................................................1989
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.54/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................265 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.7
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................216 hp@5500
Torque@RPM........................................................................248 ft-lb@2900
Weight.....................................................................................................566 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1992 5.0 "303 CamTech II"
Model Year................................................................................................1989
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................9.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................280 hp@5700
Torque@RPM........................................................................301 ft-lb@3000
Weight.....................................................................................................585 lb
Fuel Type...........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1991-1992 5.7 "348 CamTech SR"
Model Year................................................................................................1991
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.85 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression..............................................................................................10.0
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................329 hp@5900
Torque@RPM........................................................................361 ft-lb@2800
Weight.....................................................................................................590 lb
Fuel Type..........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A

[Texaslav]

(semi-)Lazy Lorepost IV

Arlington is one of a short list of companies to adopt longitudinal front-wheel drive en masse, with the mainstream Arlington marque pretty much exclusively using it. Such systems are marketed under the 1970s marketing name of “Integrated PowerTrain”, or IPT.

When Arlington modified the Foxhound muscle car’s Advanced Compact architecture for a front-drive application - the Airacruiser - the transmission was mounted just as far back as in the former car, but slightly higher up and to the right (passenger side), coupled to a slanted inline engine.

The transmission drove a driveshaft along the side of the engine’s sump, concluding with a differential - u-joint on the left side, and a rigid shaft through the sump leading to another u-joint on the other side. This resulted in two half-shafts of equal length and greatly reduced torque steer.

The setup had both serious advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, Airacruisers had great handling characteristics due to a more favorable weight distribution and less torque steer; steering radii were tighter, and incorporating double wishbones into certain designs was easy. On the other hand, the transmission was not as efficient, required an elongated hood (though this was a feature to some) and was somewhat difficult to maintain, even after painstaking efforts by Arlington engineers to make all components of the IPT as non-integrated (heh) as possible.

[Texaslav]

$1.20 ddrivel.porg......................................................................................................................August 13, 1995 THE DAILY DRIVEL You Are Not Immune To Propaganda

A newspaper detailing a Foxhound-related accident

The SR348 Disintegrator, a 1991 high-performance track version of the Foxhound muscle car, was notorious for its frightening speed and grip, as well as what tended to happen once said grip expired. With a manual transmission, no traction control and a semi-trailing arm rear suspension, the automobile required tremendous precision to drive at the limit, while still being more affordable than even significantly less powerful German models.
Automotive journos in glasses decidedly disapproved, and so did families, Congressmen, and cheap newspapers. Even as SR348s (both Disintegrators and regular ones) were only bought up by enthusiasts and power maniacs, the public pressure to tame the beast was immense, and a traction control system did make its way onto the 1992 model.
However, with or without TC, the SR348s - and by extension all 1st-generation Foxhounds - garnered a very particular image among enthusiasts. Out of the 250 Disintegrators (allegedly the handling package) produced, 19 were totaled, and 2 of them killed - but the people who kept taking them out became Alexander, and the Disintegrators were their Bucephalus.
So then, a trim level that enthusiasts were awed by and everybody else feared, easily recognizable due to its iconic wing. When this teaser photo showed up 13 years later, everybody had something to say.