The hypotheticals are interesting for sure, but I do think the engine development that was done was really the limit of what made sense at the time, and certainly if the accountants got involved. I can't imagine MPI buyers that really wanted an extra 10-20bhp were anything other than a minority at the time and with the age of the design, it would have been a very significant investment. I would guess it was firmly in 'put a different engine in' territory by then.
Agree to some extent. 1275cc was the limit with the old transfer machinery / etc BMC were using at the time, the company introducing new production line for the A-Series at an earlier stage would have potentially increased the limit to 1372-1380cc, whereas anything beyond 1380cc towards the motorsport focused 1596cc limit established by Vizard and others would have required a new engine (being to the A-Series what the Renault K-Type was to the Renault C-Type / E-Type).
At the same time could easily some owners and modders still pushing the boundaries with the 1372-1380cc A-Series, similar to real-life by pushing out the bore from 71.5mm to 72-72.19mm (likely 73.5mm+) and the stroke from 86mm to 91mm creating tuned 1400-1490cc+ engines though obviously they would not be capable of being productionised as such and would also likely overlap with the production 1485cc E-Series.
BMC/BL unwittingly found themselves in a situation where they had a very difficult time replacing the A-Series, rather than improving on what they already had for some reason they were unwilling to entertain a linear approach as a middle of the road solution (as was embraced to much success by various carmakers) and instead chose the option of either belatedly updating the A-Series (which was something they should have arguably done at a much earlier stage) or develop a new engine at great cost.
Edited by Mite, 25 September 2020 - 10:03 PM.
