4 replies to this topic

[Don Capps]

During the 1,500cc formula, EVERYONE knows that the Ferguson P99-Climax FPF was the last F1/GP car to have the engine where the horse goes, up front.

Well, were there others? So far, I have managed to find the Netuar Mark 1-Peugeot in South Africa; Lotus 7 (Yes!!!), Lotus 15, and Lotus 16 (!). Anybody aware of any others that I might have missed? My criteria is that it appeared in a pukka race run to the F1 specs - such as the SA Championship or a non-Champ race in Europe.

Thanks!

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Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,

Don Capps

Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…

[Ray Bell]

You dare question the abilities of a Lotus 7? The last Sports Car to ever contest the Australian Grand Prix was a Lotus 7... it came last, too, so there is no question about it being the last...
Bet you found all these in South Africa or oddball races like Syracuse or Pau in 1962. A more worthwhile pursuit would be to find the last production-based engine used in a World Championship race... and for the purpose of this quest you can't count the Repco V8 - there has to be at least head and block to count... was it an Alfa?

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[Eric McLoughlin]

My god - someone other than me has mentioned the Lotus 7. The UK Seven Club magazine ran an article a while ago on the Seven entered in the South African Grand Prix (1962?). I'll dig it out of the pile when I'm not feeling so knackered. It came last too, by the way.

On a slightly tangential note, the first time a Seven was raced, it won. It was at the Boxing Day Brands Hatch meeting of 1958 and was driven by Graham Hill, the Lotus works driver. Hill turned the headlamps sideways to aid streamlining!

Incidentally, it was at that meeting that Colin Chapman first met Jim Clark. They were both driving Elites and Chapman was beaten by Clark in the race. Who'd hold a race meeting these days (in the northern hemisphere at least) the day after Christmas Day - and who'd even turn up to watch?

[Don Capps]

Hey, the Seven is one of my favorites! One of my greatest regrets is that I hesitated a second too long about ditching my MG TF and getting the Seven that was for sale: the owner wrecked while I was thinking it over... Never had another opportunity to really get another. I ended up with a '56 Speedster instead.

The Seven in question was raced by Brauch Nieman in the 1962 Rand & Natal GP. The Ford 109E was poked out to 1,500cc and fitted with four Amal carbs, the chassis was shorten 2", an Austin differential fitted, and the drum brakes off a Mercedes were fitted at the front. By all counts, a very fast little machine -- it was clocked at 137mph at Kyalami.

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Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,

Don Capps

Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…

[Ray Bell]

...that would be with the mudguards removedl... still drums in 1962? strange... both the present owners of the 62 AGP car would reckon that strange... and therein lies another tale!

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Life and love are mixed with pain...