10 replies to this topic

[P34]

Has there ever been a book about the Tyrrell P34 six-wheeler? As far as I am aware, there has never been a book specifically about the car. A couple of books have had small and informative sections about one of the most iconic and recognizable F1 cars of all time but I am amazed that we have not seen a book that covered this wonderful car in detail. I have two books about Ken Tyrrell that have some good stories and anecdotal information about the car but not that many photos or drawings of it. I also just got ahold of a copy of Barrie Gill's very nice but fairly short book about Elf Team Tyrrell that was published just after the team's first season with the car. I just find the car to be fascinating on so many levels and it would be wonderful if somebody finally did this car justice by documenting its history in a manner that it deserves. The P34's performance in the historic F1 racing series has gone a long way to vindicating the design concept - not that it did not have admirable success during its proper racing career. Sadly, two of the three drivers who drove it during the 1976 and 1977 campaigns are no longer with us but the sole driver who won a Grand Prix with a car with more than four wheels is - Jody Scheckter. Does anybody know if the car's designer Derek Gardner is still with us? I heard he was in ill health recently but I hope he is okay. Time is running short to get more stories and information from the people who were intimately involved with this car. Ken Tyrrell and his wife Norah passed away some time ago but I suspect some of the team's mechanics are still around and it would be interesting to get their perspective on the car. A book that showed the design and development of the car from the first prototype all the way to the end of the 1977 when we saw the wide track P34s would be quite a volume to have on one's bookshelf. In looking a photos of the car taken during those two seasons it seems like the car was always evolving with different nose sections, engine cowlings, ducts and bodywork that it would be fun and informative to see it all documented in a complete volume. The story of how the construction of the car was kept a secret all the way to the unveiling at an airport hotel in 1975 in itself is an amazing story when you consider the fact that many outside suppliers had a role in making vital parts for the car. It is a testament to the loyalty Ken Tyrrell inspired not only from his team but to those on the outside who worked to help him.

Can anybody point me in the direction on where one might find more information about this car - specifically books or magazine articles? I know there is a specific P34 website but it has been stagnant for awhile although there is a lot of good information as well as photos there. The internet is great resource for photos and videos as well. There is a book coming soon called the "Art of the Formula 1 Race Car" which will have a section about the car so it will be interesting to see how it gets covered in the book. Thanks in advance for any help and stories f your own that you may have about this innovative vehicle.

[gm914]

One of my all time favorite F1 cars. Unfortunately I also am starved for information. No books exist as far as I know either.
For the time being, enjoy Sir Jackie's in car commentary as he tests the P34...

Edited by gm914, 06 February 2010 - 23:27.

[JB Miltonian]

Classic & Sportscar, December 1999, has a track test of the P34 as driven by Marcus Pye.

I have Jackie Stewart's track test of the P34 from Autoweek, April 14, 1978.

My index list another track test in Motor Trend, August 1977, but I don't have this magazine.

[P34]

JB Miltonian:

Thanks for the reply. I think I may have (or had) the Motor Trend article you are referring to. IIRC, the Tyrrell team gave a journalist working for the magazine a test drive of the car after the conclusion of the 1976 season. I need to see if I can find the article - I think I clipped it out and saved it somewhere. At the time I think he said only Jody Scheckter, Patrick Depailler, Ronnie Peterson and Jackie Stewart had ever driven the P34 and he was honored to be given the opportunity. Ken Tyrrell's only orders to him were not to shunt it! As always, the hard part is getting copies of these older magazines - hence my dream of seeing a complete book about the P34 and its history from development to the success the car has had on the Historic F1 circuit. Maybe it could include excerpts or reprints of these articles! I would have loved to have seen Stewart's complete take on the car. In the YouTube video of him driving the original prototype he was his usual cheerful self and seemed pleased with the car although he had by no means given it a full workout.

[cooper997]

P34,

I'm not specifically aware of particular articles or books, but I would think that Autocourse and/or Automobile Year books from 1976, 77 & 78 would carry something. Failing that your magazine search should begin in late Sept 1975. The experimental press release is embargoed until Monday, Sept 22nd. So you can pretty well guarantee that Autosport would have something in their following edition.

Stephen

[Jonathan]

I *think* it is pretty much accepted that the 1977 P34 Tyrrell was something of a 'failure' in large part do to Good Year being involved in a "Tyre war" with a certain French tyre company that only supplied tyres for Ferrari and Renault. Good Year on the other hand was suppling rubber to the rest of the field and was putting their primary development effort in to Lotus, McLaren, Williams and one other team ? At that time they just didn't have the resources to properly assist Tyrrell with their tiny little front tyres, and as a result the teams results were for the most part pathetic. I think Ronnie managed a 3rd place in the rain at Belgium and maybe a 5th in Austria (also in the rain), and 6th at Monza (where he straight lined a chicane on the last lap). Patrick, IIRC, brought the car home in second place in Canada. Both drivers were capable of much more than these rather pathetic performances.

The final nail in the coffin, so to speak, was the FIA that changed the rules to not allow six wheeled cars from competing. Although Williams and March did show six wheeled cars (double rear axles) more as press events, than as serious development efforts.

Edited by Jonathan, 07 February 2010 - 06:06.

[P34]

Jonathan:

I would definitely agree with your assessment about the tyres - and the fact that Ronnie and Patrick were capable of delivering much more if the total package had been up to the task. Goodyear I think did let Tyrrell down in 1977 by not continuing development of the small front tyres. While it is somewhat understandable from the standpoint of the sheer workload Goodyear had on their plate in supplying pretty much all the teams but Michelin was hardly a serious threat to their dominance at that time because they only were supplying the brand new Renault team (Ferrari did not use the French company's tyres until 1978). It might have been interesting if Tyrrell could have switched to Michelin for the following year - I remember reading an article somewhere that Michelin had been interested in developing a radial version of the small front tyre although this may have also been dependent on Tyrrell using the new Renault turbo engine and that was not something Ken Tyrrell was ready to do. In hindsight, it could have eventually vaulted Tyrrell back into a better position a few short years down the road if they had taken the gamble to run the Renault engine. I truly wonder how committed Renault was to doing the complete package on their own if they could have had one of the better teams in the paddock using their engine instead? It might have eventually prevented the defection following the 1978 campaign of Elf as the team's major sponsor when Renault as a team began coming into their own. Just another what if I suppose...

Of course, the Lotus 79 was so dominant the following year it is very hard to imagine a revamped P34 on Michelins could have overcome that juggernaut. The opportunity for success pretty much closed after that season for the P34. I also seem to recall an inordinate amount of engine failures on the part of the Ford Cosworth DFV teams in 1977 and pretty much all the teams from Lotus to McLaren to Tyrrell to Wolf were all afflicted at some point. Sheer mechanical reliability and consistency won the title for Niki Lauda and Ferrari that year.

[Tuboscocca]

P34

two small sources:

DCN 'History of the GP car 1966-85' (Autocourse) has one page with drawing.

Christopher Hilton's 'Ken Tyrrell' has a whole chapter (17 pages) on the six-wheeler.

Best regards Michael

Edited by Tuboscocca, 07 February 2010 - 16:19.

[jj2728]

Watkins Glen 1976.

[Arjan de Roos]

There is a good site on the P34:

http://www.project34.co.uk/

[Marc Sproule]

A couple of P34 related snaps. I have more and when I get them uploaded...don't hold your breath, it may be a while...I will post the links here.

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4342997688
http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4430720771