Got this set for Christmas one year and it was THE BEST! Back then my dad and by association me where huge drag racing fans so this set hit a special spot or me.

This set was also the first time and still the only differential and "timing chain" that i have. I know its not really a timing chain but that's how its used in this model and i like that detail even though it didn't really do any thing. The use of colors was a nice touch as compared to other sets of the day. accept for the yellow exhaust pipes. Gray ones would have been better in my opinion.

I had the same issues as others with this set where there where clear weakness in the steering linkage. I do not remember if my instructions came with the supplemental instructions to beef up the linkage. I do recommend it though.

The second model in this set was also nicely refined and fun to build and play with.

From today's point of view, this set isn't very special at all.
In 1983, it must have been very appealing, due to the following reasons:

- it was the first technic set ever that contains white technic bricks

- it contains 2 big "unimog" wheels (at least I call them "unimog" wheels because of set 8848)

- and it contains more useful special parts, like hinge bricks and 1x3 slope bricks

The features are rather standard: steering and a working 2-cylinder engine.
But the overall design of this set is well done.Even compared to the first Model Team sets released in '86, the dragster really looks fine.

Finally, this set keeps a mystery: officially, it has been released as an US-only set in 1983.
But in 1984, it has been released in Germany, too. Not within the official line-up, but it has been sold as an exclusive item at a certain toy store chain called "Idee & Spiel". I uploaded a picture of the 1984 Idee & Spiel catalog at brickshelf:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=5344307

Summary: 8847 is not a "must-have"-set. But i's nice-to-have, in the truest sense of the word.