11 replies to this topic

[Snakedriver]

Does anyone know if Cosworth offers a "Heritage" type of service.  My Cooper which is lacking a data tag has a Cosworth engine that Im quite certain is not its original engine.  However the engine does in fact have a Cosworth serial number.  It would be grand if that engine was to provide a clue as to the history of my car...or at least who bought it or such information as that.

 

Cheers

Leo 

Edited by Snakedriver, 05 February 2014 - 00:48.

[Peter Morley]

Most Coopers had BMC engines, so ones fitted with Ford engines from new are rarer and more desirable in Europe since they want you to keep the original engine type.

Doug Nye's Cooper book lists the original chassis, engine numbers and owners for most of them but it sounds like you don't know the chassis number?

 

Cosworth used to offer such a service, but they have changed owners a few times so not sure if they still do.

 

The engine number gives you a clue.

The first number is the engine type

Then the year it was made

Then the engine number itself (sequential from the beginning of the year e.g. 10 was the 10th engine made that year).

 

So 136510 was a Mark 13 (twin-cam) made in 1965 and was the 10th engine they delivered that year.

 

Wikipedia has a list of the model types and a Junior engine should start with 3, 4, 11 or 17.

[Tim Murray]

Here are Leo's earlier threads seeking info on his Cooper, including photos and serial numbers:

 

Help With Cooper Ser. Number

 

Help With Cooper Ser. Number...Revisited

 

Leo, would it not be a good idea to keep all the discussion on your car in just one thread, to avoid confusion and to save you having to resupply info you've already posted?

 

[Snakedriver]

You know Tim, I thought about that, but I was thinking that by breaking down questions, maybe I could get answers.  Like a guy that knows a lot about Cosworth, but not about Coopers may be less inclined to open a thread titled "Help with my Cooper". 

 

Its a bit frustrating trying to sort a car that's in the States when all of its history is in the UK.  LOL...

But thanks for helping me.  Do you reside in the UK?

 

Cheers,

Leo

[Tim Murray]

Fair point, Leo. Yes, I'm in the UK - I live near Bristol.

[Snakedriver]

Tim,

 

The Cosworth web site doesn't offer email as a way of contacting them.  Could I impose on you to give them a call and just ask if they can help with maybe providing a direction in which to search?

 

Cosworth Northampton:  1604 598300

 

Cosworth Cambridge:  1954 283600

 

Thanks so much...regardless.

 

Leo

[Peter Morley]

I thought I'd seen a thread about your car before, I've just seen that your engine number is MAE 650501

That would be the first engine they built in May 1965.

 

As for the chassis number, Cooper (and some of their customers) might have avoided paying Purchase Tax which was extremely high on cars sold in the UK.

It is possible that if they had all the documentation to show that a particular car had been exported, and was therefore exempt from Purchase Tax, that might have been rather useful to someone in the UK who did not fancy paying it.

[Snakedriver]

Thanks Peter.

 

Im aware of the tax thing and such.  Also that some of the cars may have gone out the back door as well.  Im quite certain that engine was not married to the car at the time of construction.  But Im hopeful that somebody can put some light on the history of the car...just for my knowledge.

 

Leo

[D-Type]

Tim,

 

The Cosworth web site doesn't offer email as a way of contacting them.  ~

Leo,

 

The Cosworth home page doesn't give an e-mail address under 'Contacts', but if you go into 'Automotive' or 'Sports' they have 'Contact our team' boxes that lead to a list of personnel with their e-mails.  e.g.

 

America

http://americas.cosw...utomotive-team/

http://americas.cosw...torsports-team/

 

UK

http://www.cosworth....utomotive-team/

http://www.cosworth....torsports-team/

 

None of the job descriptions seem to fit your request, but I'm sure a request to a sales manager or someone like that would be passed to the appropriate party.  Good luck!

Edited by D-Type, 05 February 2014 - 20:03.

[Snakedriver]

Very Good,

 

Email sent.

 

Thanks!

 

Leo

[Tim Murray]

I've just spoken to a very friendly and helpful lady at Cosworth called Maria. She told me that, sadly, their heritage department closed just before Christmas. However, she then went away and contacted a man called Alex Lowe, who may be able to help. She promised that he would get back to me either today or tomorrow. Watch this space.

[Snakedriver]

AWESOME Tim! 

 

Thanks so much!

 

Im really anxious to see where this goes.  

 

Leo

Edited by Snakedriver, 06 February 2014 - 16:57.