Unusual Ford engine, any 1 any idea's what it is

M

Murto

Petrolheads
Hi lads, i know this isnt Subaru related but my Dad who's a Ford nut( some people you just cant help ) can't seem to find any info on it.
What we do know is that it is a 1500cc engine, the block might be Lotus, but Lola Steele we never heard of before. He has twin weber's on it too.
Any info would be much appreciated :thumbsup:
 
Had a look around and what I'm getting is that a lad called ERIC BROADLEY in 1965 designed sports/racing cars, that where called Lola.

Ford took on his designes.
 
Lola did not build engine's, only sport's and racing car's, and are still one of the largest in the world. Lola was started by Eric Broadley, and won many championships all over the world until entering F1 in the 80's where it streched there budget and went bust. They were bought by Martin Birrane, from Mayo and are now back building and designing car's. Martin Birrane is the current owner of Mondello Park.

As far as I know Steele built engine's from the mid 60's and appeared in many cars, such as Lola, Cooper, and Ford. The engine looks like a Kent (Ford push-rod) but the head is not a crossflow, so maybe precede's the Kent. I cannot see the block, so it's hard to say. Another engine that is similar is the 1500cc engine that came in some Hilman's of the time and was better according the many tuner's. I think the guy's name is John Steele.

Put up some more picture's, where are you based, as I would be very interested in having a look at a bit of history.


John
 
There you go! Light at the end of the tunnel. Fear play Johnny99.
 
Thats a great bit of info, the home place is in Kildare, just outside Athy, i'll be down home the weekend and get some more pic's,
my Dad will be delighted anything old skool Ford, he fecking loves them.
 
Murto said:
Thats a great bit of info, the home place is in Kildare, just outside Athy, i'll be down home the weekend and get some more pic's,
my Dad will be delighted anything old skool Ford, he fecking loves them.
Click to expand...

Does he have a garage load of old fords & parts out the back?
 
That sounds like him alrite, we dont have as many as we used to, chopped up alot of them, still a few parked up though. Got taking to my Dad and we got the engine from a Mk2
Cortina 66 or 67 it has the 1st 4 numbers ground off just leaving Lxxxx6015 on the block, it also has short flat pistons with 4 rings on them, great sound out of it.
He's tried england for info but nobody seems to know anything. Keep the info coming lads its a great help. :thumbsup:
 
Murto said:
That sounds like him alrite, we dont have as many as we used to, chopped up alot of them, still a few parked up though. Got taking to my Dad and we got the engine from a Mk2
Cortina 66 or 67 it has the 1st 4 numbers ground off just leaving Lxxxx6015 on the block, it also has short flat pistons with 4 rings on them, great sound out of it.
He's tried england for info but nobody seems to know anything. Keep the info coming lads its a great help. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

A friend of mine was looking for a mk2 about 5yrs ago & we were golfing down in Killeen Castle one day & passed the house & saw all the Escorts, think there was one out at the edge of the road so we just stopped & out came the owner and was chatting for ages (reckon it must have been your dad) - sound man so he was :thumbsup:
 
:)That'd be him alrite, the esorts were mine, XR3i's had 5 of them at one stage!!,(madness i know) grew up with the smell of petrol and engine oil.
He's thing for us as kids was "can ya push that, hold this and go get my 13inch spanner and tell Ma to make teaaa"
 
that engine looks like a mk1 cortina gt pre crossflow my dads friend has a similar engine in a 1964 anglia rally car. also i have a mk2 escort that i am restoring.
 
Mk1 GT is a possibility, as the was a Steel GT. I didn't know (too young) that there was a non-crossflow that wasn't a side valve, like the Anglia.

John
 
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