Rumour has it, they also provided the AC power for the Army's Ptarmigan units although I wasn't much of a car buff then, so never really knew how to tell. Agree on the (not) featherlight bit, though - they were a two-man lift, for sure. Just as well they could be used and serviced without dismounting them from the vehicle!

Coventry Climax engines were used in a host of industrial applications like forklift trucks,drots/dumper trucks,pumps/gennies as well as a number of vans and cars.

The company was started in 1903, Wikipedia has a good write up about them :

Coventry Climax - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just a few of the cars they were used in :

Some notable Coventry Climax-powered cars:

1929 AJS Nine

1930 Crossley 10, 1122cc straight-4

1933 Vale Special

1935 Triumph Gloria

1935 Crossley Regis, 1122cc 4 cylinder, 1476cc and 1640cc 6 cylinder

1936 Morgan 4-4, 1122cc straight-4

1957 Lotus Elite, 1216cc FWE

1958 TVR Grantura, 1216cc FWE

The engines were also used in F1 cars and powered cars driven by Stirling Moss and Maurice Trintignant with them winning Grand Prix races.

Jack Brabham also won the championship several times racing these engines.

F1 engines

The F1 engines were as follows:

1954 2.5 litre V-8 2.94 x 2.80" 264 bhp @ 7,900 rpm Godiva

1959 2.5 litre 4 cyl 3.70 x 3.50" 220 bhp @6,500 rpm

1960 2.5 litre 4 cyl 3.70 x 3.54" 240 bhp @ 6,750 rpm

1960 1.5 litre 4 cyl 3.20 x 2.80" Formula 2

1961 2.75 litre 4 cyl 3.78 x 3.74" Tasman and Indianapolis

1961 1.5 litre 4 cyl 3.22 x 2.80" 150 bhp @ 7,500 rpm

1962 1.5 litre V-8 2.48 x 2.36" 180 bhp @ 8,500 rpm

1963 1.5 litre V-8 2.675 x 2.03" 195 bhp @ 9,500 rpm fuel injection

1964 1.5 litre V-8 2.85 x 1.79" 200 bhp @ 9,750 rpm

1965 1.5 litre V-8 2.85 x 1.79" 210 bhp @ 10,500 rpm 4 valve/cyl

1966 2.0 litre V-8 2.85 x 2.36" 244 bhp @ 8,900 rpm 4 valve/cyl

1965 1.5 litre F-16 2.13 x 1.60" 220/225 bhp @ 12,000 rpm 2 valve/cyl (209 bhp measured)

These links have more info and some great photos of engines and some of the cars they were raced in.

Coventry Climax engines - Google Search

tag > coventry climax engines : open stock photography : 100% free open source stock photography

Coventry Climax - The Imp Site

Coventry Climax - Motorbase

Historic Coventry Climax Engines - quality photographs

Edited 28 September, 200817 yr by Octoplus
added links.