There were some huge engines that were built with just a 2 barrel carburetor.
Didn't Buick, Olds or Pontiac put a 2 barrel on a 455? Our own Industrial 413 came with 2 barrel carburetors in HD trucks.
That I don't know.
Most 4 barrels are progressive anyway. In other words, the secondaries only begin to move after the primary throttles are partially open. Then they catch up, or partially catch up. Some designs never get the secondaries to full 90 degree (on purpose).
My point was that it doesn't take much throttle opening to get a car to move. Its hard for people for wrap their heads around that.