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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2018 => Topic started by: nicanary on April 13, 2018, 04:52:35 AM

Title: Solved NIC#945 - Connaught L2 Lightweight of Ken Downing
Post by: nicanary on April 13, 2018, 04:52:35 AM
What is this car, and who owned it?
Title: Re: NIC#945
Post by: nicanary on April 28, 2018, 04:26:42 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NIC#945
Post by: tobytwirl on April 28, 2018, 06:40:18 AM
I think it is an early Connaught, and it is driven by Ken Downing who presumably is the owner, (or was it Ken McAlpine's) in about 1952. That presumably means it is based on the Lea Francis engine and chassis like the L2.
Title: Re: NIC#945
Post by: nicanary on April 28, 2018, 07:22:05 AM
Quote from: tobytwirl on April 28, 2018, 06:40:18 AM
I think it is an early Connaught, and it is driven by Ken Downing who presumably is the owner, (or was it Ken McAlpine's) in about 1952. That presumably means it is based on the Lea Francis engine and chassis like the L2.

You've solved it in one go! When Ken Downing ordered a new L2, he arranged to have a lightweight body built for it for use in sprints/hillclimbs/short circuit races. I believe he also had the standard body for using in longer races. He also ordered a smaller 1.5-litre engine in order to qualify for the smaller-engined class because the 1.7-litre normally fitted made it uncompetitive against 2000cc machinery.

This is the well-known OPC3.