While it may not fit your line of thought Ray,my early 240Z was the best inline 6 I've ever owned.
It was smooth,tons of torque,, and after I dropped in a close ratio 5 speed and a LS 4:11
rear it had huge top end.Later own it became more race car then street with carb,header and chassis changes.I was middle of the pack competitive and I never changed the cam, compression or CI. I never trailered it to a track either.