Journal: A Mechanical Symphony of Car Sounds

A Mechanical Symphony of Car Sounds

By Petrolicious Productions
March 14, 2013
18 comments

As a kid, I was initially attracted to cars by colors and shapes, I still remember my neighbor’s Smurf-blue MGB—my first love. As I grew I learned to appreciate cars for other reasons: freedom, speed, engineering, the skill involved in driving well. These are the things that nurtured my love throughout childhood, and continue to sustain my passion for all things car as an adult.

Above all these things, though, is the sound. The sound of a throttle bodies honking, cams whirring, gears meshing, internals churning away at over 100 times per second—a labyrinthine network of complex and precisely machined pieces, working in tightly choreographed unison, enriched and amplified through a series of resonant metal tubes and blasted out through the back like Dizzy Gillespie on the horn—pure aural magic.

Here are a select few of our favorites from a back-catalog of more than a 100 years of hits.

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Jurgen De
Jurgen De
11 years ago

Matra’s V12 sound is unbelievable…

I would add 16cylinder BRM engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBKUQPjQ16I#t=00m29s
or
5cylinder IMSA Audi one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LUEo27faPU&list=FLZCkBPxmC2trEtrcu_Y2jIg&index=78

Kuroneko
Kuroneko
11 years ago

It’s only 800cc & 4-cylinder, but four carbs, twin cam, roller bearing crank, at 9000rpm, it has to give the best return on investment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9WvY9kyw0w

Mick Ord
Mick Ord
11 years ago

This is one of the greatest examples I know of absolute balls out car control……AMAZING !!!!
Oh and its a M3 E30…maked want one every time I see it !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ShlIgm2Bw

Joe Sterling
Joe Sterling
11 years ago

Audi 4000 with 10v inline 5….love the sound

http://youtu.be/tSsSkkwEctc

Erwan Brillot
Erwan Brillot
11 years ago

Got to love the TVR sound.

Here is my little contribution, it’s a fight man versus machine, I love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQlJWV0RrmI

Josh Clason
11 years ago
Reply to  Erwan Brillot

Wow, just wow.

Erwan Brillot
Erwan Brillot
11 years ago
Reply to  Josh Clason

I warned you 😉

BLS
BLS
11 years ago
Reply to  Erwan Brillot

I was going to post the same thing but you beat me to it. I liken it to God (or maybe the devil) screaming at the top of his lungs. Unbelievable.

Clayton Merchant
Clayton Merchant
11 years ago

I had to add the iconic howl of the V12 Matra 650. If you’ve ever seen the Steve McQueen movie “LeMans” (and if you haven’t, it’s required viewing) you’ll recognize this as it’s all over the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnCNyB52J0Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8fcA6lcpX4

Adam Fairfax
Adam Fairfax
11 years ago

To me, this is virtually unbeatable…

its a Hakosuka Skyline. Watch the video from about 1:25 onwards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9sLsAOgTAE

Clayton Merchant
Clayton Merchant
11 years ago

Try this one out, Maserati 450s, an absolute beast making some FANTASTIC music. I love the the muscular note of this monster and the transmission whine is awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzvdYJXQh7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czpDRoy7kWk

Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson
11 years ago

This should be a weekly thing i think, there is so much you could add to this.

I vote yes for one next week

Matthew Kolabinski
Matthew Kolabinski
11 years ago

Dear Petrolicious,

This, and a great many of your other postings (in vlog and blog format) need to be clearly marked NSFW. If my boss catches me fapping it to one more of your videos, he says he’ll have to let me go.

Signed,
Petrosexual at heart.

Terrence Dorsey
Terrence Dorsey
11 years ago

One of my all-time favorite sounds – a Corvette at Le Mans: http://youtu.be/uuGncl36J9E

Lancia Delta HF Integrale at Tour de Corse (with El Matador!): http://youtu.be/CuaBHNKycvI

Group B Rally “The Sound”: http://youtu.be/hrlhepfy9-I

1965 Porsche 911 2.0 rally: http://youtu.be/_-oBjQctFAE

Brian Monet
Brian Monet
11 years ago

Try this heavenly track: Mark Hales driving Nick Mason’s glorious BRM v16! Doesn’t get better
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMPDCNyQxE

Aaron Venable
Aaron Venable
11 years ago

Ok, you got me. I played them all at the same time 🙂

That Guy
That Guy
11 years ago

“more than a 100 years of hits” – love this statement.
Personally, an exhaust note can be great or terrible, but most importantly it has to be right for the car. The 360 Challenge Stradale has one of the most beautiful, yet loud and aggressive exhaust notes, which I absolutely adore.
At the same time, I find the standard F355 exhausts to be too loud!!
Despite the fact that the later is quiter in real terms, it just does not suit a standard F355, as a standard car should not be so loud imho.

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