B.R.M. V8 Stretched to 2-Litres

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The Owen Organisation has developed a 2-litre version of its 1 1/2-litre Formula One engine for use in sports cars. Based on all the main castings from the existing Grand Prix engine, the 2-litre (or 1,880 c.c. to be precise) version weighs 264 lb., and is the same length as the 1 1/2-litre engine. The width is only 0.2 of an inch larger than the Grand Prix engine, and the height has been increased by only 0.7 of an inch. A recent test of the new unit gave power outputs of 240 b.h.p. at 9,500 r.p.m., with a slight tail-off to 10,000 r.p.m. One of the main points of this new venture from Bourne is the engine’s torque figures. These start at about 115 ft./lb. at 5,000 r.p.m. and gradually increase to a maximum of about 140 ft./lb. at 7,000 and 8,000 r.p.m., to gradually slide down to 125 ft./lb. at 10,000 r.p.m. The makers claim that further development will be carried out if there is sufficient interest in the engine to produce torque figures in the region of 145 ft./lb. and power in excess of 250 b.h.p.

The engine should be particularly welcome in sports-car events, where there is a sad lack of really interesting 2-litre engines, and will undoubtedly find a market in the small sports and G.T. classes as well as being a possible for the European Hill-Climb Championship. One cannot but wonder what the outcome would have been had B.R.M. managed to develop the engine in time for the Tasman Championship series. The 2-litre engine uses transistorised ignition and Lucas fuel injection. Existing 1 1/2-litre B.R.M. engines can be modified to the same specification. Jack Brabham has ordered one such engine for his new Brabham BT8 sports/racing car. No prices have been released at the time of going to press. – E. L. W.