Dear Goggo and Smart 51 and Marcus
Thank you for your input
It was through the BSA FWD club that we identified the gearbox and date and this has led me to believe that the engine is probably British. Unlike the 2CV the engine is behind the gearbox like on a Renault 4 which makes for a very long unit. I did consider that the diff had been turned around and the unit was running in the opposite direction with the gearbox at the back and the engine in the mid position like a formula one car, but 1934 would have been too early for that type of layout and the diff does not look as if it has been turned around, so it still looks like I am looking for a front wheel drive unit.
The Coventry Victor car did use both an air cooled and water cooled engine, and some also had over head valves, but they were all rear wheel drive with the gearbox at the rear and the prop shaft running at engine speed through the passenger compartment.
I do think that I may be looking at a Coventry Victor engine fixed to a BSA gearbox and diff. But what car whas it designed to be used for ? The installation has been done very professionally and does not look like a prototype or one off.
I am looking at other flat engines like the Panhard, Douglas, BMW and the Zundap to see if there are any similarities in the crank case design. But I was hoping to come at this problem from both ends by trying to find the car, and then trace the history back the other way.
So has anybody else any ideas.
Many thanks
Chris Thomas