Solved NIC#578 - 1957 Connaught D-type under construction

[nicanary]

This is a very interesting photo. What are we looking at in this picture?

[nicanary]

Experts?

[Willie McCrum]

Mid-engined Connaught F1 car. Never completed after the Goduiva Climax V8 project was canned. Interstingly it seems to have a 4cyl (Alta ?) engine in the back in this pic.
Or.......

[nicanary]

Mid-engined Connaught F1 car. Never completed after the Goduiva Climax V8 project was canned. Interstingly it seems to have a 4cyl (Alta ?) engine in the back in this pic.
Or.......

Well solved. It is indeed the projected D-type under construction in 1957.  I think the engine is an Alta - I know that engine makers often provided mock-ups to help with installation calculations, but I reckon in this case Coventry-Climax didn't get that far. (Having said that, where did the engine come from which now powers the one-off Kieft F1 car?)

It was a bit of a shame - Climax believed the boasts of power outputs from other makers, and felt they might be out of their depth. Connaught were admired for their quality engineering and their cars handled well. It could have been a winner.

Here's an artist's impression of the finished car.

[nicanary]

50-up for Willie McCrum!  Now a well-deserved Expert!

[Willie McCrum]

That pic - which appeared a few years ago in an Ian Stewart thread is what got me hooked on TNF !

[Wendax]

I've promoted Willie McCrum to expert rank (again). 

[Willie McCrum]

Thank you kind Sir !