[Lewis]

Thank you all for the interesting speculation and forgive me for not responding more promptly. We have been shepherding the youngest son through Year 12 exams and, frankly, mounting a takeover for BHP would be easier. His school days over, he will be concentrating on the pursuit of young women and booze.

I bought this engine from Graeme Lowe of Mornington (?), Victoria. It was the usual heap of boxes filled with almost unrecognizable bits of metal. There were no carburetors, manifold or crankshaft. A bloke in Geelong had just made two crankshafts, at the request I believe of Will Bailey who bought one and I was able to buy the other. Colin Young supplied three Solex carburetors and manifold.

It looks as if mine was the "Touring" engine with a single carburettor, although as it seems likely to have been the 65th made, not a particularly early one.

Why would anyone want to buy a Bristol with a less powerful engine? One presumes the cars were originally bought, as now, by people who generally
wanted something better and faster than the usual run.

I cannot see what is at the rear of the block. The body is a tight fit and the block is only an inch or two from the bulkhead with the lip of the bonnet rim blocking vision. I'll see what I can do next time the car is serviced. The number stamped on the block by the starter motor is 1065, no prefix.

Perhaps Geoff's suggestion of a mistake by the man who stamped the plates is correct. I don't think we'll ever get to the bottom of this.

Regards,

Lewis