Speaking of the UK's Popular Classics (a very nice rag indeed),
in the latest issue they publish a fascinating fact (if indeed
it is a fact). This is a paraphrase, I don't have the article
in front of me:
Towards the end of the Spitfire run they began having delivery
problems with the 1500 engine. With the line stopped until
more could be found, somebody started looking over at the line
where the Dolomite Sprint was being assembled. A bit of measuring
and experimenting showed that the Sprint engine would fit almost
perfectly. A little work with the tin snips and the line started
moving again...
This implication that some late Spitfires left the factory with
Dolly Sprint engines has fired my imagination! Anyone know of
any truth to this urban legend? And wouldn't it have been great
if B(p-s)L had chosen to develop the Spit this way?
djp@alpha.sunquest.com
'79 Non-Sprint Spitfire
'65 Vitesse under reassembly
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