Project Gallery

Explore our collection of engine builds and restorations.

1958 Alfa Romeo 105 1600GT engine
1958

Alfa Romeo 105 1600GT

The legendary Alfa twin-cam engine evolved from the earlier 1950 1900cc engine and was introduced in 1954; this engine continued with minor changes until 1997! This particular engine was fitted to a 105 series coupe destined to be a rally car.

1958 Alfa Romeo 105 1600GT car
1923 Alvis 12/50 engine
1923

Alvis 12/50

Bought and expertly restored by the owner who wanted to take the car Continental touring. Larger capacity, higher compression, and a fast road camshaft provided much extra torque and power to keep up with modern traffic.

1923 Alvis 12/50 car
1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk2 engine
1957

Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk2

Aston Martin 2.6 and 3.0 litre VB6 type engine, in this instance installed in a beautiful green DB2/4 Mk2. 3.0 litre. The VB6 type engine design was overseen by W.O. Bentley and started with 105 bhp, we can now offer this type of engine with a range of tune from 125bhp to over 250 bhp.

1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk2 car
1966 Aston Martin DB5 4.2 litre engine
1966

Aston Martin DB5 4.2 litre

Aston Martin DB 4/5/6 engine available in 3.7 to 4.7 litre capacity with stages of power output. 4.5 litre capacity engine specifically for lightweight race cars also available.

1966 Aston Martin DB5 4.2 litre car
1952 Ferrari 625A engine
1952

Ferrari 625A

Chassis 0482 was originally a 2-litre Ferrari 500 that competed in World Championship races in 1952 and 1953. Regulation changes in 1954 allowed a 2½-litre engine to be fitted, and the car was redesignated a Type 625. Later in 1954, a 2942cc engine from a Ferrari 735 sports car was installed; this is the format the engine was rebuilt to in 2007.

1952 Ferrari 625A car
1971 Ferrari Gipsy P272 engine
1971

Ferrari Gipsy P272

A sports prototype car developed through collaborations between Paolo Cassoni, Giancarlo Guidetti, and Alberto Laurenti, with a Ferrari Dino 2.0-liter V6 engine plus Lucas fuel injection and a dry sump conversion. The car was designed for the Sport Prototype 2000 series, and it participated in races at Monza in 1971, the Nürburgring in 1972, and frequently competed in hill climbs.

1971 Ferrari Gipsy P272 car
1955 HWM Jaguar (Chassis 52106) engine
1955

HWM Jaguar (Chassis 52106)

The famous ex-works car, chassis 52106. Painted in its original green and bears the same competition number, 545, as it did in the 1956 Mille Miglia. It won the Woodcote Trophy race at Donington driven by Gregor Fisken and Sam Hancock.

1955 HWM Jaguar (Chassis 52106) car
1954 HWM Jaguar (XPA 748) engine
1954

HWM Jaguar (XPA 748)

Outstandingly restored in recent years by specialist David Brazell, XPA 748 again wears its historic period colour scheme. This HWM has continued its racing ways, winning the 2022 and 2024 Woodcote Trophy for pre-1956 sports-racers at the Silverstone Classic and Goodwood Revival respectively.

1954 HWM Jaguar (XPA 748) car
1955 Jaguar D type XKD 518 engine
1955

Jaguar D type XKD 518

Jaguar XKD 518 in rare and distinctive period correct red with red interior. Sympathetically restored with the emphasis on keeping originality by specialist David Brazell. A who's who of owners, purchased new from Bernie Ecclestone by racer Peter Blond, passed to Jean Bloxham and Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant.

1955 Jaguar D type XKD 518 car
1953 Jaguar Hansgen Special engine
1953

Jaguar Hansgen Special

A hugely important piece of American and Jaguar racing history. Built in America by Walt Hansgen, his father, and special body by Emil Hoffman, the Hansgen was lighter than an XK120 on which it was based by 300kg. A 3.4 Jaguar engine with a unique inlet manifold allowing 3 x 2" sand-cast SU carbs to be fitted provided the power to beat much of the opposition.

1953 Jaguar Hansgen Special car
1954 Lotus VIII SAR 5 engine
1954

Lotus VIII SAR 5

The legendary Lotus Mark VIII that beat Porsche at the 1954 British Grand Prix, found and restored to its original condition by Colin's son Clive Chapman in 2021. John built its period-correct engine from scratch to the exact specifications that helped establish Lotus' legacy.

1954 Lotus VIII SAR 5 car
1956 Lotus XI engine
1956

Lotus XI

Series 1 Le Mans, chassis 550, fitted with Coventry Climax FWB 1460cc single-cam engine and period Weber 40 DCO3 carbs.

1956 Lotus XI car
1958 Lotus XV engine
1958

Lotus XV

Chassis 603 features a Coventry Climax 2.0 FPF engine and a streamlined aluminum body over a tubular space frame. This front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports racer had Coventry Climax FPF engines ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 litres, giving it the heart of a Formula Two car. Lotus' own sequential transaxle, affectionately dubbed the "Queerbox," kept things interesting. This particular car has period SU DU6 carbs fitted.

1958 Lotus XV car
1970 Porsche 914/6 GT engine
1970

Porsche 914/6 GT

A historically significant ex-works Porsche 914/6 GT, one of Porsche's earliest experimental test cars, fitted with the first-ever 914/6 engine. John rebuilt the engine as a twin-spark 2.0-litre S specification delivering 230 bhp for period racing, and additionally built a twin-spark 2.7-litre engine specifically for European hill climb events.

1970 Porsche 914/6 GT car
1963 Simca Abarth 2.0 GT engine
1963

Simca Abarth 2.0 GT

This rare Abarth Simca 2000 represents one of the most advanced Italian performance cars of the 1960s, capable of an impressive 168mph from its 210 bhp engine. John rebuilt the complex 2-litre Abarth engine to period specifications, preserving the importance of this car's history.

1963 Simca Abarth 2.0 GT car

Image Attribution

If you recognize any of the images in our gallery and believe they belong to you or require specific credit, please contact me.

Get in Touch