After some fifty years of automobile racing, the Grand Prix Formula, or Formula One, was created by the FIA (Federation Internationale de L’Automobile) in 1950 with its first race the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This was to be the World Drivers Championship, in the world’s most technically advanced single-seater racing cars. In 1958 the World Constructors Championship was added. Now one would at last know who the best driver in the world was, as well as which manufacturer had constructed the best racing car. FISA was Formula One’s administrative body, which ensured that everyone played by the ever-changing rules. In this guide I am going to cover the period 1966-1983 for cars built to a 500kg to 585kg weight minimum, and powered by 3.0-liter normally aspirated engines.
Formula One started from very humble beginnings. Teams were comprised of groups of talented people working out of small garages, trying to find the money to go racing. During this time frame the miracle of the racing sponsor was created, and teams grew in size. Great inventions were designed, such as the 3.0-liter Cosworth DFV engine, the slick racing tire and aerodynamic aids such as simple wings and full ground-effects.
This was the beginning of the English racing car industry with manufacturers who relied heavily on Cosworth engines and Hewland gearboxes, as well as the racing comeback of Alfa Romeo. World Champion drivers of this era included Andretti, Brabham, Fittipaldi, Hill, Hulme, Hunt, Jones, Lauda, Piquet, Rindt, Rosberg, Scheckter and Stewart.
Historic Formula One races are presently run by the U.S.-based HGP (Historic Grand Prix), which allows cars run from 1966-1983 with 3.0-liter normally aspirated, non-turbo engines and no sliding skirts. In Europe there is the HFO (Historic Formula One), which allows cars run from 1966-1985, but also non-turbo and with no sliding skirts. The GPM (GP Masters) allows cars from 1968-1985 that are non-turbo, non-ground effect cars. The Monaco Historic Grand Prix is for cars 1977 and older.
For more information on racing a Historic Grand Prix car, go to:
HGP – www.historicgrandprix.com
HFO – www.historicformulaone.com
GPM – www.themastersseries.com
1972 BRM P180
BRM, British Racing Motors, based in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England, competed in its first Grand Prix in 1951. BRM was World Constructors Champion in 1962 with World Drivers Champion Graham Hill. BRM went on to finish second in the Constructors Championship four times. In 1971 BRM was second in the Constructors Championship with its P160 design. After losing its Yardly sponsorship to McLaren, BRM team principal Louis Stanley fortunately acquired sponsorship from Formula One newcomer Marlboro, and for the 1972 season BRM mounted an ambitious multi-car effort with two new BRM P180 racecars alongside several older P160s. The P180 was a completely new Tony Southgate design with a very low, wedge-shaped aluminum monocoque which featured rear-mounted radiators that aided the aerodynamics. BRM continued on with its 3.0-liter V12 engine along with the BRM P161 5-speed gearbox. The BRM team was a rarity in 1970s Formula 1 racing in that they produced their entire racing car and all of its components in house. This was not the typical Cosworth-Hewland effort. Drivers were Howden Ganley, Peter Gethin and Jean-Pierre Beltoise. Beltoise won the 1972 Monaco Grand Prix in the rain in the P160 and went on to win the non-championship John Player Challenge Trophy at Brands Hatch in the P180. This was a victory not only for BRM but also for sponsor Marlboro, as the race was sponsored by rival cigarette company, John Player. The P180 was developing into a very competitive car, but unfortunately a falling out between designer Southgate and team principal Stanley caused Stanley to let Southgate go. Stanley chose to stop development on the P180 in favor of a new design. Unfortunately BRM was never to ejoy race-winning success again. The last of a magnificent era.
1977 McLaren M26
‘McLaren Cars of Woking, Surrey, England, was founded in 1966 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren. The team’s first Grand Prix car, the M2B, was raced that year. By 1974 the M23, designed by Gordon Coppuck, was an F1 front-runner and the car to beat from 1973 to 1976. The M23 won the World Championship in 1974 with Emerson Fittipaldi, and in 1976 with James Hunt. What masterpiece would Coppuck design to replace the successful M23? Coppuck designed the M26. It featured aluminum honeycomb monocoque construction, a low airbox, inboard rear brakes and suspension. It was still Cosworth DFV-powered, mated to a Hewland FG 6-speed gearbox. It was lower, more aerodynamic and looked striking in its red and white Marlboro livery, plus Hunt carried the number one plate on his M26 for the 1977 season. With development it soon became a Grand Prix winner and proved quicker than the M23, but it did not happen overnight. Hunt won three Grand Prix races in 1977 and looked set to win two more when reliability issues caused him to drop out of the lead. The M26 was developing into a true championship contender. For 1978 the Lotus 79 with its ground-effects design proved to be the quickest car, and all teams scrambled to design a ground-effects car. This ended an era. The M26 is the last “non” ground-effects McLaren, and the ideal car for running today in the Historic Grand Prix series. It is also eligible for the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, which accepts only pre-ground effects cars. The mid-1970s was a winning era for McLaren, and an M26 is one of the best cars of that time.
Criteria Used For Assessing Valuations for this Guide:
- Degree of Originality
- Overall Condition, Restoration
- Technology, Design, Coachbuilder
- Production Numbers/Rarity
- Competition History
- Ownership History, Documentation
- Modern Event Eligibility
Regional Variances
The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT. Most of the time, we are able to document known sales or closed escrows, as they say in real estate. When this is not possible, a logical estimate of the car’s value is given, based on its sales history and relationship to cars of its type.
The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT.
LEVEL | VALUATION CATEGORIES |
|---|---|
I | The best combination of all criteria. |
II | Satisfies mid-range of criteria. |
III | In need of restoration. Meets only a few points of criteria |
