4 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

I heard the other day that Gordon Murry stuck pull rod suspension on one of his early 80s Brabhams and that he was the first. Is that true?

[Roger Clark]

Without distinguishing between pull- and push rods, I beleive the BT44 in 1974 was the first F1 car. lola used the priciple on the Mk5 Formula Junior of 1962.

[Timekeeper]

From my knowledge Roger is correct about the BT44. Gordon Murray didn't care much for rocker arms at all (too heavy and too much flex). Roger's point that pull rod and push rod are essentially the same system is also correct but Murray was also the joint first designer (with John Barnard) to actually fit push rod suspensions to an F1 car. That was Brazil 1983 with the BT52 and McLaren MP4/1C.

[carlos.maza]

Megatron:

The oldest car I remember with push rod suspension was the 1975 Tyrrell 007.

[Roger Clark]

As nobody has restricted this discussioon to the front suspension I should say that BRM (1963) and Honda (1964) were the first in F1.