6 replies to this topic

[Wirra]

A recently published image of Lex Davison's Cooper Climax ('63-'64) reminded me that the Australian Gold Star was then Formula Libre. Several Climax engines were stretched to 2.7 ltr.

I've often wondered if Lotus, Frank Williams and Repco-Brabham really went to the trouble and expense to run 2.5ltr Cosworths, and Repco Brabhams in the Tasman Series. There have been nudge-nudge, wink-wink suggestions over the years.

Were there ever any official checks?

Surely enough water has flowed under the bridge by now that, if true,  someone with the knowledge might make a statement one way or the other?

I guess the same query could be made of the locals and their Climax engines - 2.5 or 2.7ltr?

[opplock]

If Lotus were using DFVs the results achieved by Chris Amon in the Ferrari 246T are truly amazing. 

[LittleChris]

Assuming it wasn't an early 312 

[Catalina Park]

The Cosworth guys that designed and built them get cranky when people claim the DFW didn't exist. 
The existing 2.7 Climax engines were converted to short stroke 2.5 and became more reliable.

Bill Tuckey like to spread the story that they were 3 litre. Bill liked to make up stories, that's why he invented Romsey Quints.

[Ray Bell]

The opposing mechanics were keen to suggest their opposition was running bigger engines...

 

And that's from both sides. But there's no doubt that the Repco-Brabhams were genuinely 2.5-litres and, as has been suggested above, if the DFVs weren't they would have obliterated the opposition more thoroughly than they did.

 

Another engine which could have been a 'cheater' running in 3-litre form would have been the BRM V12, but I think that's highly unlikely as Pedro clung to the 2.2-litre V8s as long as he could.

 

As for the, by then, venerable FPFs, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that one or two of the also-rans got away with keeping their engine in 2.7 form. It always surprises me to go back and see just how many 2.7s were running in the years leading up to the Tasman Formula and they did convert easily to a short-stroke 2.5 as the years rolled along.

[Lee Nicolle]

The Cosworth guys that designed and built them get cranky when people claim the DFW didn't exist. 
The existing 2.7 Climax engines were converted to short stroke 2.5 and became more reliable.

Bill Tuckey like to spread the story that they were 3 litre. Bill liked to make up stories, that's why he invented Romsey Quints.

What? Quints was not real?

[Ray Bell]

Sometimes it was hard enough to believe Bill Tuckey was real...

 

Romsey Quints took that to a whole new level.