SU Carb Sources

MIDEL in Sydney, Australia is the best source of SU parts anywhere.
They purchased all the original SU factory stock when SU folded in UK,
including all original Engineering Drawings and the SU Museum including
the original Skinner Union carburettor. Based on original stock of spare-parts,
augmented by new parts made to the SU Engineering drawings, Midel are the
source of the 'new' Sandcast H8 carburettors, suitable for 'C' types and
XK140's that are sold in UK and USA. Apparently efforts in UK to get a
heritage order (or similar) to keep all this in England was too late. I
understand they supply Rolls Royce and others with obsolete SU items to
supply to their own customers. All this says, serrated fibre washers to
100% correct spec is straight forward. MIDEL often have a stand at the
Beaulieu Autojumble. They can supply new, or restore to Concours original
standard anything SU supplied to Jaguar, pre or post war. - Roger Payne

I guess a fax no. would be useful, but let me know if you want it. I
will have to telephone him during business hours to do this. He does not
seem to advertise much, but I spoke to him the other day about things SU
and by the way told him of my sad tale in which I gave away 2 x 2 inch
SUs that had come with my first 120, in exchange for a couple of new 1
3/4 inch carbs (the 2 inch fouled the RHD steering column). Bill said to
me that he had worked at the particular place where I did this, and that
the 1 3/4 inch carbs I had acquired had come from the Jaguar fire. This
was circa 1971 - the fire was in Feb 57, so I am not sure what explained
the delay. He also told me that he had made about 150 sets of 2 inch carbs
that had been sold all through the world, and that Burlens (in the UK)
had copied several of his new (or reproduced) ideas and products over the
years. I plan to pay him a visit sometime soon. - John Elmgreen

For those that don't know about them, the BEST source of bits and pieces
for SU carbs and fuel pumps.... and manifolds and linkages and anything
that gets hung on and around them I cannot recommend Burlen too highly.
For about £10 in the UK you can get the full stripdown and service
manual and a COMPLETE listing of cars vs. carbs/jets/needles etc.

I don't have their details to hand a the moment, but they do have references
on the Internet so perhaps I could recommend one of the search engines?
Alta Vista, perhaps? - Dick Clements

See also John Elmgreen's comment and my earlier advice about Midel.
We are very aware of the UK sensitivity about Midel acquiring all the original
SU stock/ spare parts, all the Engineering drawings, and the total Museum
Collection.

- Roger Payne

Letter from Burlen Fuel Systems regarding information above:

We have just come across your web site for XK Lovers and are pleased 
to note that we are recommmended as Suppliers.

However we would like to comment on the article "SU Carb Sources" 
and correct the mis-information about the supposed demise of SU in the UK.  
The following facts set the recorded straight.

1.      

Midel did not purchase the entire contents of the SU factory - only 
the contents of the Company Workshop stores situated a short 
distance from the main plant. 

2.      

SU having changed names several times and currently called SU 
Automotive are alive and kicking and reside at the same 
factory that they have occupied since 1947.  The Company still 
make products for the OE market including throttle bodies, 
fuel rails, oil pumps etc.
(See SU History on Burlen Website).

3.      

All orginal engineering drawings and museum items are still held by 
SU Automotive and orginal Skinners Union Carb is on display in 
the Science Museum in the UK.

4.      

SU Carburetter, pump and spares production is now at Burlen Fuel Systems in
the UK where all items are manufactured legally under licence from SU
Automotive.

5.     

All Burlen Fuel Systems manufactured products are legally allowed to 
be sold as "Genuine SU" and are made from the original drawings - 
not copied from Midel or anyone else.

In conclusion we now have our own website and would appreciate if you could
please update your data as follows, any comments, enquiries would be
welcome.      
        
        
        Burlen Fuel Systems Limited
        Castle Road
        Salisbury
        Wiltshire
        SP1 3SA
        UK

        Tel: +44 (0)1722 412500
        Fax: +44 (0)1722 334221
        Email: info@burlen.co.uk
        Website: www.Burlen.co.uk


John Burnett
MANAGING DIRECTOR

If you have any questions or comments send e-mail to: ted@jag-lovers.org
Main Page	Back to the Library