# Unofficial World Record Engine Swap

> Royal Marines set 42-second engine swap record in 1985.
- Title: Unofficial World Record Engine Swap · Jalopnik | Shortify
- Summary: Royal Marines set 42-second engine swap record in 1985. Royal Marines completed a 42-second engine swap in a Ford Escort in 1985, beating previous records by…
- Keywords: royal marines, ford escort, engine swap, record breakers, bbc, 1985, 42 seconds, cars, culture, Unofficial, World, Record
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2275932/unofficial-world-record-fastest-engine-swap-ford-escort-42-seconds-1985-over-40-years-later
- Author: Simon Stark
- Published: 2026-10-04T23:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: royal marines, ford escort, engine swap, record breakers, bbc, 1985, 42 seconds, cars, culture
## World Record Engine Swap
Royal Marines achieved a 42-second engine swap in a Ford Escort on the BBC show Record Breakers in 1985.
## Practice and Execution
The team reportedly practiced only two weeks before the attempt, completing the swap in under 10 seconds.
## Engine Swap Process
Marines cut the engine, slid under the car, unbolted it, lifted the block, and installed the new engine within 30 seconds.
## Previous Record
The previous record was a 49-second swap by RAF Abingdon engineers using a Mini Cooper engine.
## Skepticism and Criticism
Some questioned the swap's authenticity, claiming one Marine made engine noise with his mouth and others flinstoned the car.
## Modern Context
Most garages take eight to 20 hours for complex engine swaps, including diagnostics and customer time.
## Key takeaway

Royal Marines completed a 42-second engine swap in a Ford Escort in 1985, beating previous records by seven seconds.