mk1-forum.net

Hello there.
I am a new member to the forum since i have recently brought a mark 1 austin cooper s.The car is badged as Downton but i am not sure if this is a downton car or just a replica.I travelled to the Downton cuckoo run to try and find out some further information.I did not have the car in my possesion back than but asked lots of questions.the judge for the cars told me that I should have some stamping or engraving to the left hand side of the head.When i recieved the car i did find some markings in this area but i am unsure as what they mean.(.100, 16.8 and 813)
If anybody can translate these for me then i would be very pleased to hear from them.


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.100 thou off the face,
16.8cc chambers
and job number 813.

you cant really tell if its genuine unless you where to strip it and have a look at the quilty, provideing it hasnt been played with.

there are plenty of fakes out there. i dont really know a great deal myself about original period speed equipment, but others on here do, so i hope this helps.

Can't help with your Downton questions, but the car on the left looks very Sprint like, could you tell us a little more about it (perhaps in another thread so your current one doesn't get to far off topic )

I'm not sure about the rocker cover badge it looks like a copy because of the missing piece in the "O," I had a similar one which I am advised was a copy. I have a non Downton performance head which has markings to identify spec but I'm sure someone on the forum who is more knowledgeable will be able to confirm how Downton Heads were marked.

Right numbers

Wrong stamps

I also have one downton head (a 997) with those kinds os markings... Altough is too easy to copy, so you have to take it out and know if it is a real one...

I agree with Simon 215ENG.

The numbers are sort of OK, but a job number of 800 & something on a 1965 car is wrong, as is the badge, which is a Japanese repro.

Could probably tell a lot more from the actual chambers if you ever get the head off.

The car itself seems to ring a bell, what colour was it originally ?

I have just been having another look at the stamps on your head & it just could be a very early Richard Longman head.

Style of stamps & number look to possibly tie up.

No guarantees, but it is definitely a possibility.

Surf 1275 wrote:The car itself seems to ring a bell, what colour was it originally ?

the heritage certificate shows a tartan red and black roof.
buff log books shows the colour changed to blue and white on the 8th september 1969.
all the previous owners appear to be east and west sussex, uckfield area.
original owner wasa ritchard hicks from Hampstead, London

mk1 wrote:I have just been having another look at the stamps on your head & it just could be a very early Richard Longman head.

Style of stamps & number look to possibly tie up.

No guarantees, but it is definitely a possibility.

well i could not have hoped for evan a chance of that.
What would be my next move to try and authenticate, hopefully without taking the head of.The car runs too well for me to take it apart for the fun of it.
next week i shall try and put more pics on of both the cars.

Unfortunately Richard put Richard Longman & Co into voluntary liquidation a couple of years ago. I assume he will still have his company records, but how you could contact him to ask is beyond me.

Sorry.

i am looking at rebuilding the carbs somewhen.can i tell anything by looking down the inlet ports?

mk1 wrote:Unfortunately Richard put Richard Longman & Co into voluntary liquidation a couple of years ago. I assume he will still have his company records, but how you could contact him to ask is beyond me. Sorry.

A couple of years ago, Avonbar were able to tell me all about my head, which is a Longman. The provided build details, date and even the name of the customer, so they must have had full records.

Al

mk1 wrote:Still lying low re the Mini world though as far as I am aware.

I was told that he's still selling stuff on eBay. Didn't Mark post something about this a while back...??

Re the numbers etc stamped on the head.
I think the 100 relates to the recommended fuel octane, if Slark head codes are anything to go by.
I'll dig my GT17 head out and check the numbers on that for comparison.

Dai.

InimiaD wrote:Re the numbers etc stamped on the head.
I think the 100 relates to the recommended fuel octane,

Dai.

and 813 being the recommended idel speed?

InimiaD wrote:Re the numbers etc stamped on the head.
I think the 100 relates to the recommended fuel octane, if Slark head codes are anything to go by.
I'll dig my GT17 head out and check the numbers on that for comparison.

Dai.

I've searched everywhere for that site where i saw the Slark head codes, but failed to find it.
So, my Longman head runs on 90 fuel octane (fat chance) if the Slark codes are to be believed. Duff info obviously.
My Longman head No's are 90, 168., and 1767..
168. is the CC's.

InimaiD,

The code on your head is as follows;

90 - 90 thou skimmed of the face to raise the compression ratio

168 - 16.8cc finished volume when new

1767 - job number

ALL Downton, Longman, Slark & probably a few other codes ALL follow this pattern without exception. Whoever sold you the pup about one of them being the ocatne rating of fuel needed was either making it up or had been told it by someone who hadn't got a clue what they were talking about.

I Avonbar could quote chapter & verse on Richards heads a couple of years ago, I suspect they probably gave him a ring and asked.

Dave Boswell was selling a lot of Richard Longmans stuff for him on ebay & other places too, & as far as I am aware continues to do so.

Thanks Mark.
Still trying to find that website so i can tell them their info is bollox.

Dai.