The MGA With An Attitude
Blue Steak 6-cylinder Engine in Australia - CKD-102N
This article has nothing to do with MGA, but is an interesting spin-off of the MGA engine design. A 2433cc 6 cylinder B-Series “Blue Streak Six” was manufactured in 1962 for the larger Farina saloons in Australia. This engine is essentially a stretched version of the MGA 1600-MK-II 1622cc engine with two more cylinders added. It was later considered for fitting to the MGC. It is smaller and substantially lighter than the Austin C-series engine that was ultimately installed in the MGC. Apparently no one knows why the Blue Streak Six was not used in the MGC, perhaps just a matter of domestic source in England.
Photos below show this engine installed in a 1972 MGB (after the MGC was already out of production). I think it is a replica of an earlier MGB prototype. The engine is a decent fit in the MGB using the same engine mounts and location for the 1800 cc 4 cylinder engine, and no design changes to the front suspension were required (except maybe stiffer springs).
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It is interesting to note that when supplied in the Austin Freeway in the early sixties for a modest extra the triple SU carb conversion could be supplied and fitted by the dealer with retention of the factory warranty.
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