BRABHAM'S ENGINES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31579, 17 January 1968, Page 10

BRABHAM'S ENGINES

The Australian-designed and built Repco-Brabham racing engine which in 1966 and 1967 proved the giant-killer of the world’s grand prix circuits is being modified in Melbourne in preparation for the 1968 world series.

Motor-racing is one bf the world’s most exacting enterprises for both men and machines, and there is no time for manufacturers to rest on their laurels, yet the Repco-Brabham team has good reason for satisfaction. In the last two seasons the engine has powered the Brabham cars and driving team to a very creditable list of successes which include: the world drivers formula one championship in 1966 and 1967, the world racing manufacturers formula one chant-

pionships in 1966 and 1967, the runner-up in the formula one driver’s title in 1967, and a world motor-racing first in 1966 when Brabham won both the drivers and the manufacturers’ titles. The power and reliability of the Repco-Brabham engine has allowed it to top the performance of engines from Ford, Lotus, Cooper, Ferrari and 8.R.M., yet by comparison with the other formula one engines the Repco-Brabham engine is comparatively inexpensive. Each unit costs about $7500. The engines are produced in the small, modern factory of Repco-Brabham Engines, Pty., Ltd, in a western suburb of Melbourne by a team of 50 men. Up to one complete engine can be built a week. At present the team is working on modifying the current world champion engine for the 1968 series. The 1969 engine is a 3-litre V 8 motor with fuel injection and developing a maxium power of more than 320 b.h.p. at 8300 r.p.m. The engines are the culmination of design and engineering of the three times world driving champion Jack Brabham and the engineering and design experts of the Repco group of companies. Repco, Ltd, began in Mel-

bourne in the 1920 s as a oneman engine reconditioning business and now has assets worth more than $6O million. The group’s numerous products, from piston rings to machine tools for the automotive industry, are exported to 85 countries. Repco first made contact with Brabham in 1957 when one of the group’s subsidiaries began making special universal joints and drive shafts for Brabham’s Cooper racing cars in which he won his first two world championships in 1959 and 1960. The RepcoBrabham car is one designed by Brabham in England and fitted with Repco components and the Repco-Brabham engine. It made its first appearance in 1963 in the Tasman circuit of motor races. It entered formula one racing when the formula was altered to 3 litres in 1966. The development budget for the first engine was a modest $20,000, but this disguises the considerable research the company'was able to draw on from its various existing divirions. Repco-Brabham Racing Engines Pty, Ltd, was formed in April, 1966.. Repco’s other facilities, including an engine testing laboratory, are available to the company. About 80 per cent of the engines being made are for export.