17 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

Following the discovery of a picture of John Surtees in his McLaren at Monaco in 1970 on Facebook, Peter Connew and I were discussing the side tanks that were his first design job when he started work in Edenbridge.

Initially he asked me where the car is now. Thanks to Allen Brown's superb website, 'OldRacingCars.com' we learned very quickly that the car is back where it started, at McLaren's. (Yes, I know, it wasn't built in Woking.....)

So the next question was, does it still have those side tanks that Peter designed and if not, where might they be? He wants them..... lol

[Charlieman]

Photos of the car in its current spec can be found on the internet. There is even a video at:

https://www.mclaren....c-thursday-car/

 

It is in high wing spec, presumably Monaco GP 1969, so no side tanks.

[Barry Boor]

So, that's one question answered. I suspect the second may be somewhat more difficult......

[Charlieman]

This photo, Watkins Glen 1971, suggest that the side tanks were removed during M7C's first line career:

https://library.revs.../0/default.jpg?

[Tim Murray]

Here’s another:

[Stephen W]

1970 Race of Champions @ Brands Hatch - Big John heads towards Druids in the M7C

[MCS]

Good side view here:  https://lastflag.com...africa-1970-f1/

[Barry Boor]

I wonder if there are any photos that show whether or not Jo Bonnier had the side tanks on the car when he first ran it after purchasing it from Surtees?

[MCS]

US Grand Prix on Pinterest:  https://www.pinteres...49144774970827/

[Tim Murray]

... and Kyalami 1971:

[Michael Ferner]

So, Peter's best bet appears to be a tour of Scandinavian art museums...

[Tim Murray]

Here’s Carlos Reutemann making his F1 debut in the Bonnier M7C in the 1971 Argentine GP:

[Charlieman]

Could you ask Peter Connew how much he remembers about the logic behind the design chosen for the side tanks, please. They are too large to account solely for a fuel capacity increase. Meanwhile I'll look at the F1 reg changes to see if I'm asking a silly question...

[Roger Clark]

Between its 1971 appearances in South Africa and Germany, the M7C was rebuilt with new monocoque by John Thompson’s TC Prototypes. From picture posted above, it seems that the fuel tanks were removed during that process.  As well as the fuel tanks, Surtees had modified the car’s suspension, including fitting TS5 uprights. I  don’t know whether those parts remained on the car. 
 

I always thought that the purpose of the Surtees tanks was to get the fuel as low and as close to the centre of the car as possible, following the trend started by the Matra MS80 and various experiment by Bruce McLaren in 68 and 69. The original M7 had a fuel tank over the driver’s knees which is not ideal. It may be that Jo Bonnier did not go fast enough to need the extra capacity. 

[Roger Clark]

Since posting the above, I have read MGDoodlings in Motoring News, August 5th 1971:

”Jo Bonnier caused much speculation when he turned up in his ex-Surtees McLaren M7C minus its pannier tanks which John had put on the car because the fuel consumption of Cosworth’s V8 increased dramatically when the rev limit went up to 10,000 rpm at the beginning of last year Hopes that Bonnier would establish a couple of minutes’ lead before coming in for a lightning fuel stop were rudely shattered when he failed to qualify for the race”.

[Michael Ferner]

Ouch!

 

Then again, you may be right about good ole Jo speculating that, since he always seemed to be lapped umpteen times during a GP, he didn't need all that extra capacity...

[Ray Bell]

You don't think the winner of the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix could have been slow, do you?

[Michael Ferner]

No, it was his job as the GPDA president to strengthen the back of the membership...