British ABC Wasp Note: This item is currently in storage. The ABC Wasp is an experimental seven-cylinder, radial engine of 170 hp, designed by the noted British engineer Granville Bradshaw. At a weight of 290 pounds, it had one of the most advanced power-to-weight ratios of the day -- 1.7 pounds per horsepower. This World War I-era engine is noteworthy because it was the first in which the cylinders were coated with copper in an attempt to dissipate heat. The ABC Wasp never evolved beyond the experimental stage, but it was the predecessor of the unsuccessful production "Dragonfly" engine. Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index.