1966 Pearce-Ferrari 250 GTO

According to Doug's Cooper bible it was a Type 73, chassis FI-2-64.

 

ETA: See also this page on ORC:

 

http://www.oldracing...?CarID=T73/2-64

Edited by Tim Murray, 30 January 2014 - 12:57.

Thanks Tim

Cooper-Martin? They were certainly known and regarded as the Pearce-Martins...if they really used F2 Cooper frames this was covered up pretty thoroughly at the time, though the additional fuel tankage required for Formula 1 would certainly have made the finished assembly that much more bulky. I remember them testing at Brands Hatch when I was working there on 'Motor Racing' magazine. From the outset they looked like also-rans, and were regarded as such. No more, but no less.

DCN

 

The phrase I heard used was "starting money specials". Certainly the Cooper-Ferrari could have been a reasonable car in both 1966 and 1967 with some more development but I guess money was a problem. Looking at the results it could have scored points in several GPs if the suspension problem could have been overcome. The choice of engine meant it was reliable and I suspect it could have been on a par with the T81 Coopers.

I realise it's 7 years since the last post but I just stumbled on this thread and thought the attached photos might be of interest. They were taken by a friend of mine in the Brands paddock at the GP in '66. The first two show the Cooper-Ferrari; 'love the fag hanging out of the mouth while welding! Could this be a clue to why the transporter burned down - twice!? (I choose cock-up over conspiracy any day).

 

The third is just for interest: it's John Frankenheimer's GT40 film car, present that day for shooting Grand Prix scenes.

 

 

Edited by omobob, 17 February 2021 - 16:54.

You need to have a "fag in your mouth" to relight the welding touch when it goes out.

Edited by DUFFY, 18 February 2021 - 09:54.

Is that Jack Brabham in the yellow jacket covering his face?,he did wear a baseball cap for a while in the 1960's.

Possibly - 'hard to say. But I think it's Frankenheimer himself. See:

 

 

If anybody can identify for definite, or indeed any of the others in the shot, that would be great.

Not Brabham nor Frankenheimer I think.

That is the Bernard White/Vic Wilson/Bob Bondurant Team Chamaco Collect transporter in the background.  The gentleman in the yellow jacket is definitely not Jack Brabham - as Gary would agree, above. The Ford I think was 'GT40P/1027'.

 

DCN

In the first photo the welder is John Pearce and the chap in the lighter overalls appears to be Chris Lawrence. The VW pickup TFL 932 is Bob Anderson’s famous ‘transporter’.

The second photo with the J.A.Pearce light green converted bus must have been taken before the flash fuel fire which left a huge scorch mark on the side

In the third photo the chap on the right could be Frankenheimer who was 36 in 1966, and the one next to him could be one of the MGM film crew, as they wore those yellow jackets in wet weather.

Paul M

 

(photo posted with permission of Andy Talbot Media)

 

Here is another photo from 1966, of the Cooper in the paddock at Oulton Park.

 

 

Paul M