DC Dart .55 CU . CM In Box with Parts Vintage Model Engine Diesel Second Hand (Box 109)

0.55cc Dart diesel engine was designed by Alan Allbon in 1950 and was initially produced and sold in its green jacketed form as the Allbon Dart by Alan Allbon's own company, Allbon Engineering.

In 1955, Alan Allbon joined D.C. on the Isle of Man, likely as a D.C. shareholder. The Allbon engine range had already been produced by D.C. for several years by then as Allbon Engineering had lacked the required production capacity to meet demand.

By 1958, all of Alan Allbon's engines, including the popular Dart diesel engine, displayed D.C. on their crankcases in place of Allbon. The D.C. Dart Mk.3 diesel engine pictured here features the D.C. Quickstart spring starter, which was introduced in 1959, helping to date this particular engine as post 1958.

The D.C. Dart Mk.3 with its distinctive red anodised barrel shaped cooling jacket was the last of the Darts to be made using cam-operated automatic lathes, which allowed the barrel-shaped cooling fins to be easily formed. The change to faster, but less versatile, plug-board controlled automatic lathes in the early 1970’s, necessitated a change to a more basic cylindrical shape, designated as the D.C. Dart Mk.4.

There were a total of six different versions of the Dart, one produced by Allbon, four by D.C., and the final version produced by Dev-Cal, with a total non-stop production span of 34 years. All the versions of the Dart were effectively driven by changes in manufacturing methods rather than attempts to raise performance which meant spare parts remained interchangeable even if they looked a little different.

It is worth noting that in 1959, a glow-plug derivative of the Dart was introduced and marketed by D.C. as the D.C. Bantam. This new Quickstart-equipped engine was supplied with the new small and lightweight "KLG MINIGLOW X" glow-plug, which D.C. had played a key role in convincing KLG to produce, primarily for small 1/2A capacity engine use.

Capacity: 0.55 cc (0.0336 cu in) - Bore: 8.89 mm (0.350 in) - Stroke: 8.89 mm (0.350 in) - Power: 0.0415 BHP @ 11,000 RPM (0.031 KW) - Weight: 35.4 g (1.25 oz) - Induction: Front rotary valve - Ignition: Diesel (compression ignition) - Piston / Liner: Cast iron piston / Nickel chrome