Rolls-Royce Meteorite

The Rolls-Royce Meteorite, also called the Rover Meteorite, was a post-war British V8 engine of about 18 litres derived from the Meteor tank engine. Rover, wanting a range of heavy duty engines built from common parts, devised it by removing four cylinders from the Meteor. It kept the 60 degree V layout, the 5.4 inch bore and the 6 inch stroke of the Meteor, with the crankcase, block and heads cast in aluminium alloy and a dry sump that let it run at extreme angles without oil starvation. It first ran on petrol and, with CAV indirect injection and a higher compression ratio, was also made as a diesel with a flame heater for cold starts. It is best remembered for powering the early Thornycroft Antar tank transporters, and it was built alongside the Meteor at Rover's Ministry of Supply factory at Acocks Green.