British Racing Motors V16

This compressor charged 16 cylinder engine from 1951 was competing in Formula 1. It is a 1.5 litre engine producing Auto bhp|600|-1.

Technical data

* Cylinders: V16
* RPM: 12000
* Displacement 1487.76 cc
* Power 410.1 kW (549.9 bhp)
* Dry sump 50 to 70 lbf/in³
* 135 degree V16 alloy cylinder block and crankcase. Cast iron wet liners.
* Bore 49.53 mm (1.95 in)
* Stroke 48.26 mm (1.90 in)
* Fuel system Rolls Royce two-stage centrifugal supercharger with two convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on. SU carburettors. 5.7 bar maximum boost.
* Fuel Petrol/alcohol fuel
* Ignition Lucas coil, later four Lucas magnetos. One spark plug per cylinder
* Valve gear 2 valves per cylinder @ 80 degrees with twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, via gear train from the centre of the crankshaft. Hairpin valve springs.
* Inlet valves Auto in|1.25|0
* Exhaust valves Auto in|1.09|0
* Crankshaft Counterbalanced two piece with 8 plain bearings & 2 main roller bearings. (Later 10 plain bearings.)

In Raymond Mays' book, he claimed the following power curve with the 4.0:1 supercharger (5.7 ata):
* @ 5,000 rpm
* @ 6,000 rpm
* @ 7,000 rpm
* @ 8,000 rpm
* @ 9,000 rpm
* @ 10,000 rpm
* @ 11,000 rpm
* @ 12,000 rpmHe also stated that at Albi 1953, Fangio's V16 had a claimed 72 psi boost (4.9 ata) and Auto bhp|585|0 @ 11,800 rpm. He reached Auto mph|186|0.

Tony Rudd's book showed a power curve peaking at Auto bhp|612|0.

Trivia

The great power was not a guarantee for success:
* Number of Grand Prix 4
* Number of starts 2
* Number of finishes 2
* Number of finishes in points 1

Stirling Moss refused to drive the BRM because of its performance.

A BRM V16 was once owned by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. He has subsequently sold this car.