# Cosworth FVA and FVC (1966–1971)

- Source: https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/cosworth-fva-fvc/
- Publisher: Racing Car Network (racingcarnetwork.com), the race car marketplace
- Type: part · Brand: Cosworth
- Discipline: historic-racing, parts
- Series: f2, sports-racer, historic-sportscar
- Era: 1960s
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

The FVA is Cosworth's 1.6-litre, 16-valve, gear-driven twin-cam built on a Ford production iron block for the 1967 Formula 2 rules. It dominated the 1.6-litre formula until 1971. The 1.8-litre FVC version became the standard engine of 1970–1971 two-litre sports racers such as the Lola T210/T212 and Chevron B19.

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Inline four, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, gear-driven camshafts, Ford production cast-iron block, aluminium head [0][1][2] |
| Capacity | FVA 1,598 cc; FVC 1,790 cc [2][5] |
| Bore Stroke | FVA 85.7 x 69.1 mm [0][15] |
| Power | FVA 218–225 bhp at 9,000 rpm (1967), about 240 bhp at 9,500 rpm (1970 rating); FVC 235–250 bhp [0][2][5] |
| Redline | About 9,500 rpm maximum for the FVA in period [0] |
| Compression | 11:1 (FVA) [0] |
| Management | Lucas mechanical fuel injection with belt-driven metering unit; Lucas transistorised ignition [0][1][2] |
| Weight | 118 kg (FVA, excluding the chassis-mounted fuel pump and spark generator) [0] |
| Applications | 1.6-litre Formula 2 (Lotus, Lola, Brabham, Cooper, McLaren, Matra, Tecno, March); FVC in 2-litre sports racers such as Lola T210/T212 and Chevron B19 [1][3][4][6] |
| Years | FVA 1966–1971 in F2; FVC from 1969 [0][2] |

## History

Ford paid for the FVA under the same contract that produced the DFV V8 for Formula 1 [2]. The four-cylinder came first and tried out much of the head design later used on the V8 [2][14]. A short-stroke 1.5-litre version, the FVB, was raced by Mike Costin in a Brabham at club meetings from July 1966 [0]. In early 1967 an FVB gave 200 hp, which Cosworth used to predict DFV output [0].

The 1967 Formula 2 rules demanded a production cylinder block, so Cosworth used Ford's five-bearing Cortina iron block [0][1]. On top sat an aluminium four-valve head with a pent-roof chamber and twin cams driven by straight-cut gears from the crankshaft [1]. A belt from the gear train drove the Lucas injection metering unit [1][2]. Cosworth priced the engine at £2,500, and the first production run of 40 had sold out by March 1967 [1]. Period figures were 218–225 bhp at 9,000 rpm [2][15].

For 1969 Cosworth revised valve timing and port shapes, fitted a four-into-one exhaust and strengthened the con rods for higher revs [0]. The 1970 rating was about 240 hp at 9,500 rpm [0]. The FVA stayed the dominant F2 engine until the 1.6-litre formula ended after 1971 [2].

The FVC arrived in 1969 as a larger-bore FVA of 1,790 cc, rated around 235 bhp [2]. It suited the new European 2-litre sports car championship, where privateers could buy it off the shelf [5]. Lola built 15 T210s for 1970 around it [5]. By 1971 ten of the eleven drivers in the championship table used FVC power [4]. The later FVD of 1975 moved to 1,975 cc and an aluminium block [2]. The belt-driven BDA, built on a taller Kent block, reused the FVA breathing layout for road and rally use [14].

## Palmarès

The FVA was the engine to have in 1.6-litre Formula 2 from 1967 until the formula ended in 1971 [2]. Matra drivers took the first three European F2 titles: Jacky Ickx (1967), Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1968) and Johnny Servoz-Gavin (1969) [3]. Clay Regazzoni won in 1970 with Tecno and Ronnie Peterson in 1971 with a March 712M [3]. In 2-litre sports cars, Jo Bonnier took the 1970 drivers' title in an FVC-powered Lola T210 [5]. Chevron won that year's makes' title by a single point [5]. In 1971 Helmut Marko won the drivers' title and Lola the makes' title with 63 points [4]. The 1971 table shows FVC engines in ten of the eleven classified drivers' cars [4]. The T210 has kept winning in historic racing, including first overall at the 2011 Silverstone 1000 km [5].

## What to check before you buy

Confirm it is a gear-driven FV engine, not a belt-driven BDA dressed up: A BDA is legal in place of an FVA in HSCC Historic F2, so many cars carry one; an FVA should have a front gear train driving both cams. Ask for the Lucas metering unit, injection pump and spark generator: The metering unit is belt-driven from the gear train, and the pump and spark generator lived on the chassis in period. Ask for crack-test results and an independent inspection report: Sellers of stripped FVAs have offered crack-tested components and specialist reports; without them you are buying blind. Measure bore and stroke: Confirms FVA (1,598 cc) versus FVC (about 1,790 cc) and shows how far the block has been bored. Ask for a recent dyno sheet and the builder's name: Listings of fresh engines quote dyno sheets and a named builder; compare power with the period 218–240 bhp range. Check the car's FIA Historic Technical Passport and engine type: HSCC Historic F2 requires an HTP and the type of engine originally fitted in international competition.

## Did you know

- Cosworth's first production run of 40 FVAs had sold out at £2,500 each by March 1967 [1].
- Mike Costin raced the short-stroke FVB development engine in a Brabham at club meetings from July 1966 [0].
- Had the 1971 European 2-litre series run an engine title, the FVC would have won it comfortably [4].

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I race a historic F2 car with a BDA instead of an FVA?** In the HSCC Historic Formula 2 International Series, yes. The 2022 draft rules state that a Ford Cosworth FVA may be replaced by a BDA. Other series may differ, so read the current rules. A BDA-engined car should not be priced as if it carried a genuine FVA [7].

**What is the difference between an FVA and an FVC?** The FVC is a larger-bore FVA of about 1,790 cc, against 1,598 cc for the FVA. It appeared in 1969 for 2-litre sports racing and was rated around 235 bhp. The gear-driven four-valve head layout is shared, so capacity is the key check [2][5].

**How much power should a healthy FVA make?** In 1967 the FVA was rated at 218–225 bhp at 9,000 rpm. After the 1969 revisions to valve timing, ports, exhaust and rods, Cosworth's 1970 rating was about 240 hp at 9,500 rpm. Ask for a dyno sheet and compare it against these period figures [0][2].

**What does an FVC engine cost?** Few bare engine prices are public. A Clarkson Engineering FVC with dyno sheets was listed on Racing Car Network at $10,000 in May 2024 and again in July 2025. Expect wide variation with condition, paperwork and included injection parts [8][9].

**Is the FVA related to the DFV?** Yes. Ford funded both under one contract with Cosworth, and the FVA head pioneered ideas later used on the DFV V8. A short-stroke FVB was even used in early 1967 to predict DFV output. Buyers should still value each engine on its own history [0][2].

## Sources

- Note 79: Comparison of Climax FPF with Cosworth FVA — https://www.grandprixengines.co.uk/Note_79.pdf
- Prospects for Formula Two — https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1967/16/prospects-for-formula-two/
- Cosworth — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosworth
- Formula 2 index — https://www.oldracingcars.com/f2/
- European 2-litre Sports Car racing 1971 — https://www.oldracingcars.com/sports/2-litre/1971/
- Lola T210 — https://lolaheritage.co.uk/type_numbers/t210/t210.html
- Speedshop: race car buying, Lola T210/T212 — https://motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-2019/164/speedshop-4-race-car-buying-3
- HSCC Historic Formula 2 International Series Draft Regulations 2022 — https://hscc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Historic-F2-Draft-Regs-2022.pdf
- Cosworth FVC Engine (stock 6870) — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/cosworth-fvc-engine/
- Cosworth FVC Engine (stock 8435) — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/cosworth-fvc-engine-3/
- Cosworth FVA F2 Engine — https://race-cars.com/Advert/Details/131076/cosworth-fva-f2-engine
- Cosworth FVA — https://race-cars.com/Advert/Details/131045/cosworth-fva
- Chevron B19 1971, chassis B19-71-12, lot 73 — https://www.aguttes.com/en/lot/153731/27350715-chevron-b19-1971-chassis-ndeg-b19-71-12-vehicule-de
- Focus: the 1967 FVA-powered Ford Cortina Lotus Mk2 — https://historicmotorsportconsulting.com/2015/01/20/focus-the-1967-fva-powered-ford-cortina-lotus-mk2/
- The Cosworth BD engine — http://historicmotorsportconsulting.com/2014/04/16/the-cosworth-bd-engine/
- Lotus 48 Cosworth specifications — https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/spec/682/Lotus-48-Cosworth.html
- F2 / Atlantic / FB Race Car: 2015 Market & Price Guide — https://www.supercars.net/blog/f2atlantic-fb-market-guide
- Aguttes La Vente d'Automne, December 1, Paris — https://www.racecar.com/news/100976/market-and-auction/aguttes-la-vente-dautomne-december-1-paris

## Related entries

- Cosworth BDA engine — https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/cosworth-bda/
- Cosworth DFV — https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/cosworth-dfv/
- Chevron B19 — https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/chevron-b19/
- Lola T210 (2-litre sports) — https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/lola-t210-sports-racer/
- Lotus Twin Cam race engine — https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/lotus-twin-cam-race-engine/