Speedy Climax

• 

As is well known Coventry Climax made engines for fire pumps which were later adapted for use in sports racing cars. Coventry Climax had made engines for cars in the 1920s and 1930s, but mainly for minor makes. Post-war they only made industrial engines.

In 1952 they took a stand in the Marine section of the Motor Show where their engines were seen by such motoring engineers as Colin Chapman, John Cooper and Cyril Kieft. The Company was pressed into making an engine suitable for racing cars but stayed with their main business, industrial engines.

This illustration appeared recently in “Impressions” the magazine of the Hillman Imp Club. It was reproduced from a magazine dated 1962. It looked to me as if it might have been the work of well-known motoring artist Michael Turner in his younger days. Motoring art historian Tony Clarke agreed with me, so I wrote to Michael Turner about it. Here is his reply “Unfortunately although I did a lot of advertising art in the sixties and seventies, I did not produce the Coventry Climax piece you ask about, so not any help to you I am afraid”. I copied that to Tony Clarke who replied: “That is a surprise, I would have lost money gambling on that”. Both Tony and I, and incidentally Michael Turner as well, wonder who the artist was.

Does anyone know?

Words by Michael E Ware.

Ajoutez un commentaire...