Downton 850..

[gs.davies]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C473406#

72bhp - 848cc. Really?!

Any ideas on what the engine spec is likely to be here - I can see how that can be driveable. That's like what, 120% power increase?

[rich@minispares.com]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C473406#

72bhp - 848cc. Really?!

Any ideas on what the engine spec is likely to be here - I can see how that can be driveable. That's like what, 120% power increase?

its a 1275 engine isn't it?

[gs.davies]

"A Genuine Matching Numbers 1963 original 850 cc Austin Mini with FIVA papers & Full Period E FIA Papers."

DVLA shows it as 848cc..

[rich@minispares.com]

"A Genuine Matching Numbers 1963 original 850 cc Austin Mini with FIVA papers & Full Period E FIA Papers."

DVLA shows it as 848cc..

its a an 11 stud 12g940 head on it.........................

[Dr S]

45K? Am I just mean? That seems an awful lot of money for something that's albeit rather nice not that rare or difficult to recreate?

[Dr S]

Didn't say the matching numbers engine was fitted to the car

[In the shed]

I'm sorry. That is just ridiculous money.

The guy must have a leaky gas cylinder in his office.

[woodypup59]

What matching nnumbers ?

Engine, Chassis, Body & FE numbers are always different, even on a genuine car !

[Pete]

Looks like it ram raided Minisport.

[nick@dunsdale]

"Retaining the Original Block – a Full Downton Engine Conversion has been achieved — on Completion this Car is Dyno’d at 72bhp.This Engine is at the Heart of the Car"

Certainly reads like it still has the 850 in it. But it does have 11 stud head as mentioned.

[ianh1968]

its a an 11 stud 12g940 head on it.........................

Certainly reads like it still has the 850 in it.
But it does have 11 stud head as mentioned.

Why is this a "deal-breaker"?

The other 9 studs are all in the same position and the heads are
all interchangeable - It would be entirely possible to drill and tap
the extra two stud holes, even by hand using a pistol-drill with the
engine still in the car... (This may well be what happened here!)

The advert does have a complete lack of detail, though.
The person/people that screwed the thing together would know the
valve sizes, CR, cam spec and other details - Why would they not
quote them?

"it was without hesitation that Phil consulted with Nick."
... and Nick said, "yes, please buy one of my cams, they are great,
but I won't tell you what the specification is, it's a secret..."

For £45,000 I'd expect a few more numbers in the description.
This appears to be being sold purely on the word "Downton", but
even then, only "Downton Spec"...

Ian

[Jack of all trades]

They entered the named Winterraid as a 850 and came in 43;
http://www.raid.ch/pdf/winter/WR14_rangl_gesamt.pdf

Fitting a 940 head to a 850 is possible when you pocket the block, so it could be fitted.
But looking at the pictures the tapped covers are at least the later type, a 850 of that builddate never had a remote change but a magic want, no Hardy spicers.

But on the bright side, they did a lot of work on the car and it became a nice package.
The only claim on their own site is "build to Downton specification". So it could be the spec of a Cooper S build by Downton at any time during their trading days

[surf-blue-850]

Sorry to disagree later 850's did have rod change boxes. I have one in my stash.

[mk1]

Having studied Downton conversions for many years & having a pretty good record of what kits & conversions did what I cannot for the life of me think of what "Downton Specification" would have been used to produce this particular engine.

It looks like a nice car but as is often the case, the true story has been obscured by a whole pile of words that don't actually mean a great deal.