The Leyland Eight
Sir, Re-reading your fascinating article "The Last Leyland Eight" (July 1977), reminds me that this car ran in the Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in (I think) 1965.…
Principal Characteristics
Engine : .traight-eight supercharged, with interchangeable cylinder blocks (size normally used-59 mm. x 76.5 mm.-1,673 c.c.); two valves per cylinder operated by separate overhead camshafts (20 degrees overlap) ; five-bearing crankshaft, tubular steel connecting rods, Martlet aluminium pistons. Bosch magneto, modified W ingfield downdraft carburettor. Blower pressure. 15-25 lbs. per square inch, depending on engine speed and gear ratio ; compression
ratio from 6.8 to 1 to 8 to 1, according to duration of trial. Power at 6,500 r.p.m. 200 h.p. approx.
Transmission : F .W .D. through three-speed gearbox straight-toothed crown wheel and pinion, and two universally-jointed half shafts. Suspension : Front—four quarter elliptics : rear—two semi-elliptics (front and rear axles are tubular). Brakes : One on each rear wheel, and one with separate
drums on each side of front transmission case.