""(a) How the hell did you get a 2-litre into an A40 (I assume it was the A40 Farina) Don? The standard engine was the 1098 BMC A series and in the very similar Minor even the B engine needed a split rad and/or the fan outside the radiator""

The guy who did that shoehorn job went on to work for Rod "spinner" Chapman of Rallycross fame and was responsible for Rod's winning Escort Twincam.

The modified A40 Mk II with the slightly longer (about 4 inches) wheelbase made it just possible to fit the two litre by moving the bulkhead to the rear, modifying the propshaft tunnel, shifting the driver's seat back almost eight inches, extending the steering column and (you are right) fan in front of rad.
Pop in a roll cage, beefed up brakes and lowered (almost solid) suspension and you are in business.

It would see off just about anything around from the start to 70 mph, when the larger specials (the class I had to enter it in) would start to catch up. As Murray Walker was fond of saying "It's one thing to catch up, quite another to pass". The little beast had the advantage over larger cars when cornering, so we managed to win quite often.

Don T.