It would seem reasonable that, as you suggest, the basic design came from
someone like Palmer, the detail and productionising from the engine plant.
>From what I have read of Palmer I don't think he would have claimed credit
for someone else's work.
Allison also mentions a rival Twin Cam designed by the Austin engineers, who
claimed theirs would have been more reliable as it was a new deign and not
an adapted push-rod motor. They also claimed it would have been able to meet
later emissions legislation.
Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Garside" <Paul.Garside@seagatesoftware.com>
To: "'Neil Sherry'" <neil@sherry02.freeserve.co.uk>;
<british-cars@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 10:47 AM
Subject: RE: MGA twin cam
>
> Hi Neil et al,
>
> Production engineering would certainly have been done at Morris Engines
(as
> opposed to Austin). By the way, was this plant at Coventry? I had assumed
it
> was at Oxford.
>
> Gerald Palmer claims in his book "Auto Architect" to have made the
original
> design, and shows drawings. Like most things Palmer did, it wasn't quite
> right out of the box, but was eventually got right. Perhaps this always
> happens with new designs.
>
> Who do you believe?
>
> Paul.
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Neil Sherry [mailto:neil@sherry02.freeserve.co.uk]
> > Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 9:48 AM
> > To: Paul Garside; british-cars@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: MGA twin cam
> >
> >
> > Mike Allison's book 'Magic of the Marque' mentions '...Eddie
> > Maher and his
> > team at the old Morris Engines pant at Coventry...' as the designers
> > responsible for the Twin Cam engine.
> >
> > Neil
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Paul Garside" <Paul.Garside@seagatesoftware.com>
> > To: <british-cars@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 9:16 AM
> > Subject: MGA twin cam
> >
> >
> > > Hi Larry,
> > >
> > > I think the engine was 1558: basically the 1500 with a new
> > head, designed
> > by
> > > Gerald Palmer of Jowett fame.
> > >
> > > Yes, it has twin-cam type cam covers, with the plugs in wells in the
> > middle,
> > > which fill up with oil! The cam covers are art deco-esque
> > octagonal in
> > > section.
> > >
> > > No the wheels weren't chromed but painted silver. I looked
> > at cadmium
> > > plating mine (to look like alloy on a D-type), but it was
> > too expensive,
> > so
> > > I settled for gold, which, with the red bodywork, aped Ferrari. Hey,
> > chaps,
> > > I was young and foolish and the car cost me GBP 250!
> > >
> > > Paul.
> > >
> > > > Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 01:04:23 -0700
> > > > From: Larry Colen <lrcar@red4est.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: Re:Johnny Lightning British Invasion!!
> > > >
> > > > I went to Toys R Us today where they had all of the
> > > > collection except for
> > > > the Frogeye. Arrggh, the one that I *really* wanted. I
> > > > noticed that the
> > > > picture of the 1961 MGA 1500 Twin Cam on the accompanying
> > > > card has wire
> > > > wheels. Oops, it's not a twin cam. What size engine was the
> > > > twin cam
> > > > anyways?
> > > >
> > > > The wheels on the actual car also seem to represent wires
> > > > rather than the
> > > > disc wheels. I don't think that the disk wheels were
> > chromed anyways.
> > > > I also remember that the twin cam valve cover actually was split,
> > > > maybe even with plugs down the middle? The engine in the
> > J.L. model
> > > > looks like a normal 'B' series engine to me. So, I just want
> > > > to warn folks,
> > > > that despite advertisement, it doesn't seem to be a twin cam.
> > > >
> > > > The cars, however, are indeed cool.
> > > >
> > > > lrc
> > >
> >
>
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