I did a little digging and it was a Kieft at '54 LeMans that first used an
FW Climax engine. Then later in the same year, two Kiefts and one Lotus ran
FWA's at the Dundrod TT, so Lotus was in before Cooper.
Roger
>From: "Roger Sieling" <Rogsie@telesistech.com>
>Reply-To: "Roger Sieling" <Rogsie@telesistech.com>
>To: <WSpohn4@aol.com>, <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Race Engines in Street Cars
>Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 13:42:29 -0400
>
>Bill,
>
>I don't think Chapman had anything to do w/ the Climax engine being a race
>engine. The FWA was used in Bobtail Coopers before Lotus and it's first
>reported use was in a one off Elva ?, I think, entered for 1954 LeMans.
>Since
>it was a made over firepump, it didn't make the distance. I think what Tony
>and I have stated, is that the two designers were race engine designers and
>the requirements for the pump spec were much the same as for a racing
>motor,
>and they knew how to do race motors. Voila, a race motor detuned to fit
>into a
>pump carriage.
>
>Also, the Chrysler hemi was a streched version of the old "Firedome" V8
>392?
>cid in most Chrysler and Desotos in early 50's. Not a race engine at all,
>just
>lots of potential to be rodded.
>
>Roger
>
> >>> <WSpohn4@aol.com> 04/10/01 12:42PM >>>
>You may recall the question I raised about engines originally designed from
>scratch (i.e., not based on some previous design) for racing purposes that
>found their way into street models.
>
>The score so far:
>
> Lamborghini (designed by Bizzarini from plans for a Ferrari Formula 1
>design).
>
> Alfa Montreal - derived from the T-33 Alfa race engine.
>
> Porsche 4 cam - originally in the racing 550s, later installed in
>Carreras
>
>Close but no cigar:
>
>Chrysler Hemi - derived from the 413 wedge motor, although it raced before
>it
>hit the street cars.
>
>Lotus engine used in Jensen Healey etc. - built on stock block Vauxhall 2
>litre block.
>(there is still some life in this one as it has been argued that the
>original
>was tested using the cast iron block and soon after went alloy, but I have
>to
>wonder if the alloy block was virtually the same if this one doesn't fall
>just over the line)
>
>Coventry Climax - originally designed as a lightweight firepump engine,
>able
>to be carried to fires. I remain unconvinced that Chapman et al were
>waiting
>in the wings, having tricked them into designing an engine that just
>happened
>to be easily convertible to race use, although more evidence could tip the
>balance, I suppose.
>
>A new contender!
>
>A friend who is a trivia buff like me commented that many Bugatti engines
>would qualify, which I think is correct, but he also told me about one that
>I
>hadn't known about.
>
>He said the racing engine used in the Maserati 450S was an oddball design
>with the cam drive for the timing gear running in the middle of the block
>instead of at one end or the other (I am not familiar with this motor, so
>can't comment). He told me that when Maserati designed the V6 engine for
>the
>Citroen conglomerate (later used in the SM, one of my favourite oddball
>cars
>- you don't mash the brake pedal, vous manipulez le champignon), which was
>also used in the Maserati Merak, they more or less just chopped off the end
>2
>cylinders, and that you can tell, because it is a 90 degree V6 with the cam
>drive running between cylinders, as in the V-8 version.
>
>So I think we have another winner.
>
>And I thought of another one that would marginally qualify, when I was
>thinking about the Maserati cam gear. The racing prewar Alfa 8C 2900 race
>car
>engine was a straight 8 with central cam drive to the valves. It was copied
>almost bolt for bolt, I believe by Donald Healey, for use in the Triumph
>Dolomite (the old neat one, not the boxy newer one).
>
>
>Anyone else?
>
>Bill
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