Jay Leno takes a closer look at the most innovative hybrids you’ve ever heard of.
Did you know that Briggs & Stratton made a car? Yes, Briggs & Stratton built a car. This company is best known for its small engines that power lawnmowers. It’s not a car any more, it’s a hybrid. Built in 1980. We didn’t even know such a thing existed until this clip appeared at Jay Leno’s Garage. But when we saw the six-wheeled hatchback that looked almost identical to a 1980’s L-Body Dodge Charger we couldn’t not click it. We couldn’t not share the video with you once we had viewed it.
This car is a prototype and is not intended to be used as a demonstration vehicle for technology. Richard Petty, according to the video, managed to drive this car to an impressive 68 mph in a closed track. Craig Claerbout, a Leno and Briggs & Stratton Engineering Technician, was able to reach 60 mph on the streets of California. However, when you consider that the engine is only 18 horsepower (13-kilowatts) and the twin-cylinder Briggs Briggs engine is under the hood, it’s still quite impressive. The engine is powered by an electric motor, which connects to a 4-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.
The design is a parallel hybrid. It can either run on the electric motor or the gas engine. The car’s back has six 12-volt batteries. They are placed so that the weight of the vehicle is supported by the second rear wheel. It can travel approximately 50 miles on an electric-only charge. This car is quite impressive, considering it was built in a time when Ford Pinto was still popular.
Pinto is a reference to Briggs & Stratton’s inability to build a car from scratch. The front suspension, steering and transmission are all from a Pinto. VW enthusiasts will recognize the VW-inspired doors, windshield, and dash from the first-generation Scirocco. Briggs is responsible for the rest of this design.
This unlikely combination was created to show a more efficient method of traveling. The electric motor’s instant torque and speed would drive the car to maximum speed. At that point, the gasoline engine could be used for highway speeds. Although the top speed was only 60 mph, in 1980, the U.S. had an official speed limit of 55 mph. This car would theoretically be able to run within those limits. The car would have been noisy, but the video shows it is very loud inside the cabin with the 688 CC air-cooled twin at its maximum.
This is the first concept car of its kind. It also displays an astonishing (pun intended!) amount of hybrid technology, which was well ahead of its time. We love that Briggs & Stratton maintained this prototype in great condition over the years and brought it back to life for road use. We are left wondering if there are other concept machines out there that we don’t know about.