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There is a very interesting article in the November edition of the German old timer magazine "Motor Klassik". Starting on page 40 is a fve page article describing how Aston Martin in the early 60s tested putting a four cylinder DB4 motor in a Volvo P1800. The DB4 motor was actually a six cylinder motor, but for the purpose of this test was produced with four cylinders.
According to the article Aston Martin's records did not reflect this test and no one there today was interested until the current owner of the motor, a Swiss engineer, finally provided them with the evidence. After a more intensive review of the the Aston Martin archives they found that in March of 1961 Project DP 208 was put in motion to design a four cylinder 2.5 liter motor using the 3.7 liter six cylinder motor as the basis. The motor was first installed in a P1800 in Jul 1963.
The motor has dual weber carbs and produces 151 HP. It appears that the only visible modification to the body is a slight "bubble" in the center of the hood (sort of like a TR4 has) to accomodate the bigger motor. The car in which the motor is currently installed is not the one it was originally in, but it is of the same era. It does 0 to 80 Km per hour in 8.5 seconds with a top speed of 210 Km per hour.
It appears that only one of these engines was produced......too bad.
Jerry
1969 123GT
Oberstaufen, Germany
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