Curtiss engine

I said I would love to be able to build one but couldn’t ever be able to afford it. He replied with words to the effect ‘ oh, you can pick up OX-5’s in the US quite cheap- I know of one in running condition for $20,000’
This was interesting mostly for the fact that he thought $20,000 dollars was not expensive- different world!

Having said that, he was extremely friendly and very willing to chat for some time, a real gentleman

$20,000 might not be a lot of money to some people but it all comes down to what you think is important to spend your money on?

I know plenty of average joes who are restoring an Auster or Tigermoth or building a homebuilt / kit and will be notching up bills in excess of $20,000 to buy / refurbish engines and complete the airframe.

They are not “rich” but aviation is their passion and they scrimp and save to pursue it.

I used to smoke and gave up in the 1980’s with a pack a day habit then costing me $2/day, $14/week or $730/year.

I havent smoked for 30 years but dont ask me exactly where the supposedly “saved” $22,000 went, and “no” its not in an OX-5 in my shed, but yes it effectively “is” there in other “things”.

Today the same packs are @$15 so that same habit would cost $5,000 a year.

If I could “afford” to smoke $5,000 a year, I could probably also afford to spend $20,000 on an OX-5 as well, if that was more important to me.

Home ownership, holidays, fast cars, fast women, a pack of smokes and a pint at the pub, paying to go to the “footy” each week – in the end there are few people in western economies who couldnt save up and buy an OX-5 for $20,000 if that really was their life’s passion, and they chose to pursue it.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

I have an interest in aero engined specials, have had for years. A few years ago had a very interesting chat to a guy who had built an Amilcar with a Hispano V8 when he was preparing it for a practice at Silverstone. I said I would love to be able to build one but couldn’t ever be able to afford it. He replied with words to the effect ‘ oh, you can pick up OX-5’s in the US quite cheap- I know of one in running condition for $20,000’
This was interesting mostly for the fact that he thought $20,000 dollars was not expensive- different world!

Having said that, he was extremely friendly and very willing to chat for some time, a real gentleman

I have an interest in aero engined specials, have had for years. A few years ago had a very interesting chat to a guy who had built an Amilcar with a Hispano V8 when he was preparing it for a practice at Silverstone. I said I would love to be able to build one but couldn’t ever be able to afford it. He replied with words to the effect ‘ oh, you can pick up OX-5’s in the US quite cheap- I know of one in running condition for $20,000’
This was interesting mostly for the fact that he thought $20,000 dollars was not expensive- different world!

Having said that, he was extremely friendly and very willing to chat for some time, a real gentleman

How difficult is it to get parts are they available as I may have found one in an incomplete condition!

I daresay it depends on what is missing altogether. There would probably be someone in the States who specialises in OX 5’s, or you may be able to get bits machined up, as it isn’t for an airworthy engine ( Is it? ). Again depending on what is missing.

How difficult is it to get parts are they available as I may have found one in an incomplete condition!

Have you tried Barnstormers or Trade-A-Plane? You may have to look to the US for an affordable example since several are still used in vintage aircraft.

Afternoon gentlemen,

I don’t think you will get an OX-5 for less than that in the condition you describe, they are a very early engine, because they can power a vintage special they hold there money.

Good luck

Andy

any ideas what sort of price I should be paying for a complete engine?

Wow I see what you mean, that’s pretty heavy duty money, considering no carb and mags either. Thanks for the reply.

The chap is looking for offers around £12000 and I do not know if its complete as it is totally in pieces and the pieces are taken to pieces as well there are definetly no carbs or mags

Just as a interest thing wildside , what sort of money did they want and was it all there, or parts missing?

Thankyou I am searching hard and have been offered one that has been taken to pieces but its far to much money

Hi Wildside,

you are thinking of the OX-5, they do come up for sale but due to the fact they fit well in vintage race cars the value’s are high, good luck.

Andy

I think it is a c5 I am after I know the model number of the one I saw had a 5 in it!!

Which model are you after?. Good luck and if there’s a spare I’d also be interested.:eagerness: