Photos of Ken Wharton (Maserati 250F)

Originally posted by Mischa Bijenhof
You'll find one, albeit in B/W, on this wonderful website

Chassis Number 2509

Jenkinson, 1966 – New 1954 car for Rubery Owen.

Jenkinson, 1967 – New July 1954 for A.G. Owen for B.R.M. team. Driven by Ken Wharton, Peter Collins. Sold to Jack Brabham and then in New Zealand.

Jenkinson, 1975 – Completed July 1954 for A.G. Owen for BRM team. Driven by Ken Wharton, Peter Collins. Sold to Jack Brabham and then went to New Zealand. Now in collection in New Zealand.

Pritchard, 1976 – Delivered to the Owen Organisation in time for Ken Wharton to drive it in the French Grand Prix in July 1954. In 1955 it was driven for Owen by Peter Collins (who won the Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone) and in early 1956 by Mike Hawthorn (who finished in the Argentine Grand Prix). It was then sold to Jack Brabham who raced it in a few British events before taking it to Australia where he sold it. Chris Amon gained his early racing experience in New Zealand with this car. It is now in a private collection in New Zealand. This car was extensively modified by the Owen Organisation and featured Dunlop magnesium-alloy wheels and disc brakes.

Nye, 1981 – New 250F completed July 1954 for Owen Organisation (BRM) team. Reputedly took frame from ‘Bira’s’ first true 250F ‘2504’ after British GP and before its own race debut. Extensively modified by Tony Rudd to enhance torsional rigidity and power, fitted Dunlop disc brakes, driven by Ken Wharton and Peter Collins. Owen Org. very unhappy with parts supplied by Maserati. Sold to Jack Brabham, who hated it, then to New Zealand where Chris Amon drove it, among others. Today still in New Zealand, owned by Len Southwood.

Pritchard 1985 – Delivered to the Owen Organisation in time for Ken Wharton to drive it in the 1954 French Grand Prix. Modified by the Owen Organisation with Dunlop magnesium-alloy wheels and disc brakes. Driven by Peter Collins in 1955, sold to Jack Brabham in 1956 and then to Chris Amon, who raced it in New Zealand.

Jenkinson, 1986 – This car was built to the order of the Owen Racing Organisation, the owners of BRM. The idea was to allow the BRM team drives and race organisation to get some practical experience in the Grand Prix races of 1954, while the new BRM was being built. Not content with a standard 250F the BRM team first of all replaced any part that they knew had failed, or broken on other 250F cars, and also made many modifications from their own racing experience, as well as trying out mechanical tings that would be appearing on the new BRM. It was acting as a sort of mobile test-bed. Ken Wharton, Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn drove it. After the BRM team had finished with it, it passed to Jack Brabham, and when it went out to New Zealand it was acquitted by Chris Amon. It was still in its BRM-modified form, and raced until no longer competitive, when it went into retirement in a museum. It still resides in Sir Len Southwood’s museum in New Zealand and is in totally unrestored and original (BRM original) condition.

Nye, 1989 – Completed July 1954, for Owen Racing Organisation (BRM), original frame swopped with ‘Bira’s’ ‘2504’, extensively modified for Wharton, Collins, Hawthorn, to Jack Brabham 1955, to New Zealand, now in NZ collection. Won 1955 BRDC International Trophy (Collins).

Nye, 1993 – Owen Organisation (BRM team) customer car – Ken Wharton, French GP, July 1954 – Swapped owners to become ‘2504’ – ‘B. Bira’ customer car – from Caen GP, July 1954. NOTES – BRM swapped its original ‘2509’ car with ‘Bira’ because their driver Ron Flockhart has crashed his original ‘2504’ during the 1954 British GP, causing extensive damage. His original damaged ‘2504’ became ‘2509’ – the Owen Maserati – thereafter. What had become ‘2504’ was later re-chassised at the factory, then sold ex=’Bira’ to Bruce Halford, to Horace Gould, to Ross Jensen, New Zealand – 1960, in complicated body/chassis swap involving ‘2523©’, this car became the Tec-Mec Chevrolet – more recently to UK, restored as original ‘2504’, to German collection. Won 1955 New Zealand GP (‘Bira’).

McKinney, 1995 – New to Owen Organisation 1954 and driven by Wharton. Renumbered ‘2504’ and used by Bira until early 1955. Leased to Gould, then sold to Bruce Halford for 1956/57/58. Rebodied before 1957 season, and again (in Piccolo style) 1958 for Ross Jensen in NZ. Returned to Italy and fitted 1960 with V8 Chevrolet engine and bodywork from ‘2501/2523’ and sold via Jensen to Mansel NZ, possibly as ‘2523’. Raced by him 1961, Rod Coppins (including as central-seat sports car) 1962-63. Dave O’Connor and Leon Witte NZ un-raced. To UK for Cameron Millar 1973 and renumbered ‘2504’ during rebuild which included fitting of 1954-type bodywork for Chris Mann. Sold to Count Hubertus von Dönhoff in Germany 1981 and to Peter Gläsel 1995. See also 2504.

Pritchard, 2003 – Built for Owen Racing Organisation and raced by them until the new BRM P25 was ready. It was extensively modified, including the fitting of Dunlop disc brakes and magnesium-alloy wheels. It was sold to Jack Brabham in 1956 and then to New Zealand where Chris Amon raced it. Later it was in a New Zealand museum. The Schlumpf Collection has a car numbered ‘2511’ built up with chassis frame ‘2509’. BRM (Ron Flockhart at the wheel) crashed ‘2504’ while on loan from Bira and chassis frames were swapped.

McKinney, 2003 – New to the Owen Organisation in 1954 and driven by Ken Wharton. Renumbered as ‘2504’ and used by Bira until early 1955. Leased to Gould, then sold to Bruce Halford for 1956-58. Rebodied before the 1957 season, and then again (using the Piccolo style) in 1958 for Ross Jensen in New Zealand. Returned to Italy and fitted in 1960 with Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine and the bodywork from ‘2501/2523’ and sold via Jensen to Mansel in New Zealand, possibly as ‘2523’. Raced by him in 1961, then Rod Coppins (including as single-seat sports car) in 1962-63. Dave O’Connor and Leon Witte, New Zealand, not raced. To the UK in 1973 and renumbered as ‘2504’ during rebuild, including fitting of 1954-type bodywork for Chris Mann. Sold to Count Hubertus von Dönhoff in Germany in 1981 and to Peter Gläsel in 1995. Won 1955 New Zealand GP (Bira). 2002 location: Germany (Peter Gläsel). Note: Number also used on ‘2504’.

Originally posted by Rob G
Was the Owen Racing Organization green as dark back then as it was in the 1960s? If so, might it have a green tail and red main body? When did they purchase the car?

Originally posted by BRM MICK
I have built the Renaissance 1/43rd scale kit of this car.

They claim the car was dark blue!!! Cant see that being correct? so i have done it in the usual dark green. All the photos i have seen are in Dougs BRM Vol 1 there is no nose band or multi colours evident in any photo there.

Again i have never seen a multicolour BRM yet!!!!!!!!!!

Mick

Originally posted by Rob29
The 'Bira' car was dark blue.

Originally posted by kaydee
By the way, I am also unable to open Gerard's photo.

Originally posted by kaydee

By the way, I am also unable to open Gerard's photo.