All,
In the Feb. 2012 Hemmings Classic Car magazine on page 70 in the "Automotive Pioneers" section by Jim Donnelly is a short Biography on Barney Roos the brilliant engineer who at Locomobile in circa 1922 to 1924 "supervised the development of the modern straight-eight" the break-through Overhead Valve(OHV) engine design first seen as the 1925 Locomobile Junior 8 engine.

The article also confirms previous "indications" that these engines were built by Continental under licence to Locomobile. These "new design" Locomobile engines were said to be "the first engine ever to do 3000 RPM continuously", and were raced at the Indianapolis 500 at this time.

Later after "infighting with Billy Durant" it appears that Roos left and took the design of a "physically small straight eight that had very similar OHV architecture to the Locomobile engine" (almost the same engine}to Marmon in 1927(to replace their aged Marmon Six).

Billy Durant earlier had come out with a Flathead eight for the 1927 Locomobile model 8-70, again built by Continental (cheaper?)and dropped the break-through Locomobile Junior 8 model and the "Roos" deveolped cutting-edge OHV straight eight. Probably lots of Durant Mtrs company intrigue here.

Roos after much work at Studebaker and developing a better 9 bearing Straight eight engine, later(1936)went to England to work with the Rootes Group,did great work there to develop a new Planar-style independent front Susp. which was adapted for the Hillman,Talbot and Humber.

Then later came back to work for Willys-Overland as Chief Engineer and designed the World War II Jeep, post war Jeepster, and F-Head Go-Devil engine with another engineer (A.C. Sampietro)following him from Rootes!!

A great engineer with a great history of development. Lance C.

Where Are You From? Niceville Florida

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1925 and 26 Locomobile JR-8's, 1928 Loco 8-70, 30 Durant 610