Company History 1929 - 1979

Date Details

1929Michael Charles Costin born in London, England; educated Salvatorian College, Harrow Weald, England

1933

Keith David Duckworth born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England; educated Giggleswick School, Yorkshire, England

1953Mike Costin design draftsman, de Havilland, during day and engineer with Lotus Engineering at night

1956Mike Costin Technical Director, Lotus Cars

1957Keith Duckworth transmission development engineer, Lotus Cars

1958Mike Costin/Keith Duckworth found Cosworth Engineering; first sited in Shaftsbury Mews, London W8, England. Mike Costin with Lotus Engineering during day and Cosworth Engineering at night.

1959Cosworth Engineering moves to 43 Friern Barnet Road, Friern Barnet, London, England

Project Mk I: modified 4 cylinder pushrod Ford 105E Anglia engine

1961Cosworth Engineering moves to 2 Kenninghall Road, Edmonton, London, England

Project Mk IV: bored out version of MkIII fitted with bigger valves

1962Mike Costin joins Cosworth Engineering full time.

Project Mk V: modified 4 cylinder pushrod Ford 109E Classic for installation in Lotus 7

Project TA: twin cam Lotus

1963Project Mk VIII: modified 4 cylinder pushrod Ford 116E Cortina engine for road-going Lotus Super 7

1964Cosworth Engineering moves to St James Mill Road, Northampton, England

1965Project SCC: SCA with increased bore, 1100CC for US sports car formula

Project MA: MAE 4 cylinder pushrod engine, modified Anglia Series E (Ford 105E), for Formula 3

1966Keith Duckworth signs the Ford-Cosworth contract for the DFV

1967Lotus Cosworth-Ford DFV debuts at Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort: Jim Clark wins by 27 seconds

DFV Grand Prix victories=4

Project BDA (BDA=belt-drive, series A)

1968Project DFW: converted DFV, 54.00mm short stroke for Tasman series

DFV Grand Prix victories=11

Project BDB: modified BDA for Ford rallying

Project CA: Cosworth car

1969 DFV Grand Prix victories=11

1970Project BDC: fuel-injected BDB, for Group 2 saloon car rallying

Project BDD: Formula Atlantic version of BDA

DFV Grand Prix victories=8

1971DFV Grand Prix victories=7

1972 Project EA: Chevrolet Vega

Project BDE: Formula 2 version of BDA, bored to 85.6mm

Project BDF: modified BDE for Formula 2

DFV Grand Prix victories=10

1973DFV Grand Prix victories=15

Project BDA: belt drive types A, now BDR for Ford RS1600 Escort

1974Project JA: motorcycle 750cc twin-cylinder for Norton Villiers Triumph, 30 built

DFV Grand Prix victories=12

1975Project LA: Cosworth automatic gearbox

DFV Grand Prix victories=8 Project

DFX: 57.30mm long stroke turbocharged

DFV for Indianapolis racing

1976

DFV Grand Prix victories=10

1977DFV Grand Prix victories=12

1978Project VA: differential limit slip

DFV Grand Prix victories=9

Project KA: rally version of Opel Ascona 400

1979DFV Grand Prix victories=8

Project OA: Formula Supervee Volkswagen 4 cylinder engine

Castings plant established at Worcester, England

Castings manufacture heads and blocks for F1 and Indy