Perkins Outboard Models and Manuals

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Chris Craft / Oliver / Perkins / Rootes / Anzani Outboard Identification

The chain of ownership began with Chris Craft outboards which sold to the Oliver Corporation in 1954, who sold to British engine manufacturer Perkins in 1959 with Oliver and Perkins production being moved to the UK. Sales and production of Oliver outboards ended as of May 1960 in the United States.

Perkins resolved prior design and quality problems with their first range of outboards consisting of 6, 16 and 35 horsepower units. Then from 1962-1964, they produced outboard units of 4.5, 6.5, 18, 30 and 40 hp. Additionally, in 1962 they resold the outboard business to Rootes Marine, while continuing production for both Perkins and Rootes nameplate models up until 1964.

Note: Serial numbers include a P followed by model hp letter, then specific outboard configuration letters as in examples below:

1959-1961 = PJ = 6HP, PK = 16HP, PB = 35HP
1962-1964 = PA= 4.5HP, PQ = 6.5HP,  PR = 18HP, PT = 30HP, PN = 40HP

• M = manual start
• E = electric start
• S = short shaft
• L = long shaft

PKMS = 1959-61 16HP manual start short shaft
PNEL = 1962-64 40HP electric start long shaft

Outboard brand names through ownership and production changes:

• Chris Craft (Challenger and Commander) 1949-1953
  • 1954 Chris Craft agrees to sell outboards sector to Oliver
• Oliver (J-Challenger, K-Commander, B-Olympus) 1955-1960
  • 1959 Oliver agrees to sell outboard sector to Perkins
• Perkins (1959-1961 = 6, 16, 35, 40 hp) (1962-1964 = 4.5, 6.5, 18, 30, 40 hp)
• 1962 Perkins agrees to sell outboard sector to Rootes Marine
• Rootes Marine (1962-1964 = 4.5, 6.5, 18, 30, 40 hp)
  • 1964 Rootes agrees to sell outboard sector to British Anzani
• Bitish Anzani (1964-1967 = 6.5, 18, 40 hp)

Outboard Production Design: Oliver to Perkins

1959

• 6HP Green castings, white top cover. Built by Oliver Corp USA - Perkins badged, Models designated “J”
• 16HP Bronze colored castings with white top cover. Model KMS (Manual, short shaft) built by Oliver Corp - Perkins badged, Models designated “K”
• 35HP Gold colored castings with white top cover. (Built by Oliver Corp and Perkins badged, Models designated “B”

1960 models had a plain top cover – just the glass fiber molding

• 6HP Blue castings, white top cover. First motors built in Peterborough. Model designated “J” still. Serial Numbers start 1J00251
• 16HP Blue castings, white top cover. First motors built in Peterborough. Model “K” still. Serial numbers start 1K00251
• 35HP Blue castings, white top cover. First motors built in Peterborough. Model “B” still. Serial numbers start 1B00251

1961 motors were same colors as 1960 range, but model numbers were PJ2, PK2, PB3

• .New 40HP introduced, all white paint. Looks same as the 35HP. Electric start only, Model designation “N”.
• All 1961 models had an extra cast aluminum “handle” at the upper rear of the top cover, to assist in tilting the motor.

1962

• 4½ HP Light blue castings and white top cover. Model “A”.
• 6½HP White castings and light blue cover identical to the 1961 6HP, Model “Q”.
• 18HP White castings and Light blue cover identical to the 1961 16HP, Model “R”.
• 30HP White castings and blue cover identical to the 1961 35HP, except it had a 16HP carburetor and a belt driven magneto. Manual start version only, Model “T”.
• 40HP White castings and top cover, blue lower shroud and propeller. New style – single glass fiber top cover with “door” in the front to access carburetor. Electric start models only in short and long shaft versions, Model “N”

1963 / 1964

• All models as 1962 in color and appearance, but the 40HP had a blue top cover and white lower shroud to match the rest of the range. There were a few minor changes to magneto and carburetor linkages and timing settings on 40HP model.
• The 30HP included an electric start version with the same styling as the 40HP, but it was all white in color. The 1963 manual start 30HP was also offered in “Commercial” form with stronger bronze castings for the tiller arm. This feature was first produced as a 35 HP military motor for the Dutch Navy in 1961, wooden boxed with spare parts etc. There were about 100 built for this order.

Perkins Outboard Model Names

4.5hp de-luxe, 6.5hp popular, 18hp versatile, 30hp dashing, 30hp luxury, 30hp commercial, 40hp manual, 40hp de-luxe electric

Perkins Outboard Boat Motor Resources

• Chris Craft/Oliver/Perkins/Rootes Outboard Parts - on ebay
• Chris Craft/Oliver/Perkins Outboard History
• Perkins Long Service Club "Outboards"
• Perkins Outboard Group on Facebook
• Perkins Outboard History

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