[mab01UK]

Originally Posted by mab01UK

Designed and built by Gordon Allen from half a 1700cc BDA (so rated at 850cc). In the 1970's special saloons there was an 850cc class which was full of destroked/overbored 970 Cooper S engines, usually running exotic 8-port heads and the like. This 2 cylinder BDA was a real winner once a few niggles were overcome. It was used by Peter Day in a Mini and also a Fiat 500 (the "Mighty Mouse") Here it is at home in the Mini;

This 2-cylinder 850 Allen BDA engine on a Mini gearbox was a real winner once a few niggles were overcome in the 1970's. It was used by Peter Day in a Special Saloon Mini and also later in his Fiat 500 (the "Mighty Mouse") with the Hybrid Mini unit and front subframe now mounted at the rear.
Here it is at home in the Fiat;













The Fiat was bought by Ian Medcalf off Peter Day as a rolling shell in 1987 and a Swiftune A-series engine installed for hillclimbs and sprints.
Ian is trying to find some in period film footage of the Fiat (or Mini) with the unique sounding half BDA engine.....so if anyone has any footage or photos from back in the day please share!

Ian Medcalf Video Interview | Pride of the Paddock | Race Retro 2019.
"Graham Clark of VFS Videos interviewing Ian Medcalf in the Pride of the Paddock area at Race Retro 2019. Ian talks about his totally rebuilt Fiat 500 with its Swiftune engine (the car was more famous for the 850cc half BDA engine in circuit racing days), which he now uses to do sprints and hill climbs throughout the United Kingdom."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gQmGqteGc8