By the time an engine is fit to be considered iconic, it may have mobilised millions in a people’s car, proven eminently tuneable and capable of huge power, or raced and rallied its way to motorsport success. Sometimes, it will have managed all of these things.
But they all have to begin somewhere. Some of these legendary power units were merely additions to line-ups for existing models, while others were part of the fanfare surrounding the launch of an all-new car. Whether humble or mighty, sporty or simple, these engines owe their legacies to these starting points, and here we’re celebrating eight of the most notable.
BMC A-SERIES: AUSTIN A30 (1951-1956)
Launched as the ‘New Austin Seven’ at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show before going on sale in 1952, the simple but charming A30 was the first Austin to be built with a monocoque construction, and was neatly styled in-house by Ricardo ‘Dick’ Burzi. Originally, only a four-door version was offered, but a two-door variant followed in 1953, with a van and a van-based Countryman estate arriving a year later.
The simple but charming A30 had plenty to recommend it, even in the face of its Morris Minor rival. Not only was it £62 cheaper than the Minor, but could boast the new A-Series engine rather than the Morris’ outmoded sidevalve unit. Of course, once Morris came under the umbrella of the newly formed British Motor Corporation, it too would get A-Series power.
Launched in 803cc guise, the A-Series was an all-iron four-cylinder unit with a three-bearing crankshaft. An overhead-valve design, it also boasted a Harry Weslake-designed head, making it state of the art for the time. The low octane rating of post-war petrol necessitated a compression ratio of just 7.2:1, meaning that performance of the 28bhp A30 was decent in the context of the period. It was easily maintained too, and economy was a big benefit, with the A30 achieving a remarkable 42mpg.
However, in truth the
