Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Suzuki Nialco race car

In 1969, Japanese racing car manufacturer Nialco built a single-seater called the RQ which utilized the triple-carb Suzuki LC10 two stroke triple engine and competed in the RQ ("Racing Quarterly") Minicar Racing Tournament. Their best result was a fourth in the 1969 meet at Fuji, with Kikuo Kaira (future co-founder of Tommy Kaira) at the wheel.
The engine was first seen in air-cooled form, equipped with three Mikuni VM carburettors, in the 1967 LC10 Suzuki Fronte 360. Displacement was 356 cc (21.7 cu in), from a bore and stroke of 52 mm × 56 mm (2.0 in × 2.2 in). Originally developing 25 PS (18.4 kW), a 36 PS (26.5 kW) SS version soon appeared, with a stunning 101.1 PS/L (338 kW/imp gal). For the conventionally laid out Fronte Van, Estate, and Custom a single carburettor version was used. Combined with a lower compression ratio of 6.8:1, this meant a max power of 25 PS (18.4 kW). For 1971, the LC10 engine received Suzuki's new self-lubricating "CCIS" system (Cylinder Crank Injection and Selfmix).
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