OHC

[David Kemp]

Years ago some one found an experimental Jowett OHC head for Jowett Jav/Jup, they only had one, did this individual ever find another, or have one made?

[David Morris]

Hi David,

Some years ago, the Coventry Motor Museum (CMM) had a much-modified Javelin/Jupiter engine on display. I believe this was in connection with the work Jowetts did for Harry Ferguson. I have a block that is stamped HFH 1 and this has seperate rear main thrust bearings. However this still has a central camshaft and is probably an early developmental engine that Jowetts were doing for Harry Ferguson?

The engine I saw at the CMM had a pair of overhead camshafts, belt driven as in engines fitted to flat four Alfa Romeos. In other respects you could see it was basically a Javelin/Jupiter engine and was probably a much later design from Jowetts for Harry Ferguson?

I don't believe it is now on display at the CMM, but perhaps Malcome Oliver could throw some light on this?

I do know the CMM has ( or certainly had several years ago, as I took photos of it ) a complete car in storage, fitted with what looks like a Jowett-derived engine, that I believe was part of this work for Harry Ferguson. It even had Javelin hub caps!

I am sure there is a great story waiting to be told here, and if we can, we should ask the ex-Jowett employees for their recollections? Or maybe someone else can contribute? I have some information on what Ferguson's called the 'R5' engine!

All the best,

David

[David Kemp]

I would love to hear the story behind this motor, being both a Jowett & Ferguson fan it is nice to see a connection. Hopefully there may be a photo somewhere too.

[robert lintott]

If you google Coventry Transport Museum ? same as CMM? you will find pictures of the cars and articles Bob

[PJGD]

There is no doubt that the Jowett engine would have been greatly improved had it been available in OHC format, but given Jowett Cars Ltd. shaky situation it was not to be. While the various prototype Ferguson engines had some basis in the Javelin engine, I don't think that JCL ever did any design or development for HFR. Claude Hill at HFR was very capable of designing an engine without help from JCL.

I have some patent and other period material on the HFR cars and engines in my Gallery pages here: TOPIC

[David Kemp]

Just saw photo of Ferguson R4, have not been able to see an engine shot however. The R4 appears to have Jowett hubcaps, looks similar to a CD Bradford, but then many cars of this era had this styling.
It also had torsion bar suspension, given initial design started 1952, borrowing parts from a Jowett would be quite logical,