Editing V16 engine (section)

=== Racing cars ===
[[File:1930 Maserati V4 16-cylinder engine.jpg|thumb|right|A 22.5-degree [[Maserati Tipo V4|Maserati V4]] 16-cylinder engine]]
[[File:AutoUnion16Zyl.jpg|thumb|right|[[Auto Union racing car|Auto Union Type C]] engine]]
{{Listen|filename=Auto Union Type A (1934).ogg|title=1934 Auto Union Type A|description=Auto Union Type A}}

The first known use of a V16 in motor racing was the [[Maserati Tipo V4]] car used in Grand Prix racing.<ref>{{cite web |title=A history of innovation |url=https://www.maserati.com/ma/fr/marque/OLD-history-innovations |website=www.maserati.com |access-date=22 July 2020}}</ref> The Tipo V4 debuted at Monza in 1929 and achieved a world speed record of {{convert|152.8|mph|km/h|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} at an event in Cremona, Italy.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Short and Intruiging History of V-16 and W-16 engines |url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/the-short-and-intriguing-history-of-v-16-and-w-16-engines/ |website=TopSpeed.com |date=29 June 2020 |access-date=22 July 2020}}</ref>

At the [[1931 Indianapolis 500]], a custom-built V16 engine was fitted to a [[Cord (automobile)|Cord]] "supercar" driven by Shorty Cantlon. The car was competitive, charging from 26th on the grid to 3rd, but was slowed by unreliability, further exacerbated by having to change all sixteen spark plugs. The following year, Bryan Saulpaugh qualified the car in third position. The car suffered a broken oil line on lap 55 and their race was over. Shortly after the race the V16 was removed and replaced with a conventional Miller four-cylinder engine.<ref>[http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO09&CarID=r207&fc=0 1931 Miller V16 Racing Car] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712071351/http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO09 |date=2009-07-12 }}, ''RM Auctions'', Retrieved 2010-06-14</ref>

The mid-engined [[Auto Union racing car|Auto Union]] ''Type A'', ''Type B'' and ''Type C'' Grand Prix cars of 1933 to 1938 were powered by supercharged {{convert|4.4|L|cuin|0|abbr=on}} engines. Due to a rule change in 1938, these were replaced by a V12 engine for the ''Type D'' racing car. Prior to this rule change, the [[Alfa Romeo Tipo 316]] competed at the 1938 Tripoli Grand Prix powered by a 60-degree V16 engine, and in 1939 an unusual 135-degree V16 engine was installed in the [[Alfa Romeo Tipo 162]].<ref name="alfaklub.dk">{{cite web|url=http://www.alfaklub.dk/_kb_mthclassic_2001_1.html|title=ALFA ROMEO TIPO 162|access-date=2007-12-18|work=alfaklub.dk |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080601033405/http://www.alfaklub.dk/_kb_mthclassic_2001_1.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-06-01}}</ref>

The only known use of a V16 engine in the post-World War II era is the [[British Racing Motors V16|British Racing Motors (BRM) V16 engine]] used in Formula One racing from 1950 to 1955. The engine was a {{convert|91|cuin|L|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} supercharged design, which was unsuccessful despite its high power output. Officially, it produced {{convert|550|hp|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}} but probably delivered around {{convert|600|hp|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref>Nye, Doug (2003). BRM: Front Engined Cars, 1945-1960. Volume 1. Motor Racing Publications. {{ISBN|0-947981-37-3}}.</ref> The car was difficult to drive, due to the power band being in a narrow range and at high RPM.
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