Highest level of motorsport to use the Rover V8 - Le Mans?
Discussion
Hi,
Random question, but I was wondering what how far the Rover V8 had gone in motor racing?
The old BTCC SD1's used a Rover-based engine; the Marcos LM500 did too, but ditched it in favour of a Chevy lump by the time the LM600 Le Mans programme came about; likewise Morgan had gone over to BMW by the time they returned to La Sarthe, I believe. So what's the highest level of motorsport reached by a car with a Rover V8-based engine?
Chris
Random question, but I was wondering what how far the Rover V8 had gone in motor racing?
The old BTCC SD1's used a Rover-based engine; the Marcos LM500 did too, but ditched it in favour of a Chevy lump by the time the LM600 Le Mans programme came about; likewise Morgan had gone over to BMW by the time they returned to La Sarthe, I believe. So what's the highest level of motorsport reached by a car with a Rover V8-based engine?
Chris
chapperssx said:
How about this...
http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/articles/stori...
Did 200mph down the Mulsanne straight over 30 years ago with 3.6litres. Broke its Jaguar drive shafts in practice. Is the LS3 now playing catch up? oops! http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/articles/stori...
chapperssx said:
How about this...
http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/articles/stori...
Very nice. I think we might have a winner (assuming the Repco engine is deemed a stretch too far...)http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/articles/stori...
MrFrodo said:
Meant to include the Dakar. I think most of the early Bowlers used Rover V8s.
I presume the 1960s Le Mans Morgan is too early for a Rover V8?
Interesting comment on the Brabhams. I'm guessing that's a very heavily re-engineered version if it is the case?
The Morgan Plus 8 (Rover V8) was launched in 1968. The Le Mans 1962 Class Winner was in the 2.0 litre class and used a specially prepared version of the Triumph TR engine.I presume the 1960s Le Mans Morgan is too early for a Rover V8?
Interesting comment on the Brabhams. I'm guessing that's a very heavily re-engineered version if it is the case?
Hi! Nice query.
Mark Donohue ran Traco-Oldsmobiles for a while. So these were developments of the same block. I'd have to visit the library to look up the exact formulae Donohue was racing in... The Unfair Advantage is the wonderful book that tells that story.
Now don't forget the McLaren M1B, Bruce's first sports-racer. Very similar engine to the above. I reckon they all make a fantastic noise, but run short of puff a little at high speed owing to a lack of sheer horsepower.
Mark Donohue ran Traco-Oldsmobiles for a while. So these were developments of the same block. I'd have to visit the library to look up the exact formulae Donohue was racing in... The Unfair Advantage is the wonderful book that tells that story.
Now don't forget the McLaren M1B, Bruce's first sports-racer. Very similar engine to the above. I reckon they all make a fantastic noise, but run short of puff a little at high speed owing to a lack of sheer horsepower.
Hi! Nice query.
Mark Donohue ran Traco-Oldsmobiles for a while. So these were developments of the same block. I'd have to visit the library to look up the exact formulae Donohue was racing in... The Unfair Advantage is the wonderful book that tells that story.
Now don't forget the McLaren M1B, Bruce's first sports-racer. Very similar engine to the above. I reckon they all make a fantastic noise, but run short of puff a little at high speed owing to a lack of sheer horsepower.
Mark Donohue ran Traco-Oldsmobiles for a while. So these were developments of the same block. I'd have to visit the library to look up the exact formulae Donohue was racing in... The Unfair Advantage is the wonderful book that tells that story.
Now don't forget the McLaren M1B, Bruce's first sports-racer. Very similar engine to the above. I reckon they all make a fantastic noise, but run short of puff a little at high speed owing to a lack of sheer horsepower.
EGB said:
MrFrodo said:
Very nice. I think we might have a winner (assuming the Repco engine is deemed a stretch too far...)
Not a stretch too far. With Jack Brabham and Denis Hulme, it won many a F1 in Europe.EGB said:
Did 200mph down the Mulsanne straight over 30 years ago with 3.6litres. Broke its Jaguar drive shafts in practice. Is the LS3 now playing catch up? oops!
The TR register ran a detailed article on this story a few years ago. The story was very david against goliath and ended up being more of a fight against the organising authorities who didn't want a backstreet built car to run against the might of the manufacturers. in the end I thing the qually times were inflated to effectively disqualify the car from running in the race. The car however would have potentially destroyed a few Giants.If you can track the story down it makes for very good reading.
N.
mad4amanda said:
erm hardly a dfv for example does not share the cortina block .
...and neither does the Repco engine share the Rover V8's valvetrain (or much of its cylinder heads I'm guessing). My point was they've evolved to such an extent that they aren't really recognisable as the base engine.But if you like, you can substitute the DFV reference for the FVA, which did use the Cortina block and won races in Formula Two.
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