Rotovic engine made from Ariels

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In the September issue of Motor Sport (UK Magazine) there was mention of a 1964 1.5L V-12 air-cooled engine used in a Lotus 23 race car. According to the report it was made from "six Ariel V-twin motorcycle engines nailed together".

I was in the industry at the time, and I sure don't remember an Ariel 250cc V-twin. Does anyone else? The only Ariel 250 I remember was the Leader/Arrow 2-stroke parallel twin. At that time, Ariel was on its last legs as a company, having failed to capitalize on the Arrow/Leader concept and not having anything else competitive.

The last hurrah was an in-line 600 cc 4-cylinder engine that was to be laid on its side in an extended-wheelbase Leader-style frame. Unfortunately, the first test engine could only produce 25 horsepower and the project had burned up all the development capital. It may have been the cause of Ariel's demise.
 
frankdamp said:
In the September issue of Motor Sport (UK Magazine) there was mention of a 1964 1.5L V-12 air-cooled engine used in a Lotus 23 race car. According to the report it was made from "six Ariel V-twin motorcycle engines nailed together".

A quote from the webpage below:
"The second car is the 1963 Rotorvic 23B. This car got its strange nickname because it was originally outfitted with 6 Ariel Arrows motocycle engines in tandem to form a V-12."

http://www.utahlotusmuseum.com/id104.htm

So, not six V-twins but six parallel twins!
 
Boy - a 2-stroke V-12. Must've sounded pretty impressive.

According to Motor Sport, someone has bought the Lotus 23 car that originally had that engine and has persuaded the museum at Donington Park racetrack to let him have the engine to put back in its original chassis.

The purchase of the car was "in the US", so it's probably the one form the Utah museum.
 
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