Member Article

Top 5 British car engines

Top 5 british car engines

Here’s a potted shortlist of the best british car engines!

K-series

The K series is the modern rover engine. It powers all the modern rover cars apart from the original mini since 1989. It largely saved rover from collapse (until 2005!)

The K-series is undoubtedly a durable engine; the bottom end is practically unburstable on engines that have not been tuned.

The K-series- the four-cylinder engine weighs only 100 kg (and the KV6 weighs in at an equally impressive 150 kg) ! Incredibly, after all this time, the K-series remains a class-leading engine. Even though it is quite widely renown for head gasket issues, it is revolutionary in design, economical to produce and brilliant on the road! It pioneered several techniques that have been adopted by car makers across the world!(It still is in production today in China!)

A-series

The king of all british car engines it powered a whole range of british cars and was still in production in the millenium. Despite not being the most powerful it was the most versatile.

It also had this special ‘sump in transmission’ design. Which basically meant you could change the clutch without having to remove the engine or the gearbox!

B-series

Cars it powered: The 1800-2200 series, Early Princesses/18-22 series, MGB.

Launched in 1954 and redesigned in 1961 replaced in the early seventies but still in production in 1980! Replaced by the E-series in 1969 and the O-series in 1978.

Originally the more upmarket/upper range engine model of the A-series and more expensive, more powerful bigger cars.

O-series

Cars it powered: The Princess, Maestro, Montego, Marina.

Originally launched in 1978 in the Marina the first car to have the 2.0 litre version was the Princess. The O-series replaced the B-series and it was 20 kg lighter.

The O-series evolved into the M-series.

E-series

The E-series was conceived in the late sixties to replace the A and B series which were beginning to look dated cars it powered: Maxi, Princess,1800-2200 (landcrab),1500cc Allegro.

It was in production for about 15 years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hugh Waddell .