This listing has been archived.
1966 Brabham BT18 Buick V8
£54,950
Summary
This period championship contender has fabulous provenance and is immaculate throughout
Technical info
Full description
The Brabham BT18 was a successful F2 and F3 car and was built in large numbers. However chassis number F2.42.66 is a unique example which has a successful, long term and well documented history on the hills.
Having competed in only a handful of circuit races chassis 42 was sold to well-known hillclimb contender Bryan Eccles and fitted with a 3.5 litre Buick V8 and Hewland HD4 gearbox over the winter of 1966/7.
From the start of the season the new car proved to be almost unbeatable. Eccles scored four FTDs in five non-championship events and then started the championship trail with maximum points and a new hill record at Loton Park. The remainder of the season saw fierce battles with Tony Marsh but Bryan’s hopes looked to be dashed when he had a big accident at the September Prescott. A superhuman effort saw the car fully rebuilt in time for the final round at Harewood the following weekend, but Eccles missed out on the championship by only four points, in a season which saw him claim several hill records.
Eccles sold the car at the end of the season and it continued to be hillclimbed by such notables as Richard Thwaites, Jim Johnstone and Peter Speakman before he bought it back in the early 2000s. The car was subsequently purchased by Simon Durling, who commissioned a chassis rebuild by Peter Denty and Ian Dayson, an engine rebuild by John Eales, and a gearbox rebuild with new main case by PDS. The suspension was set up by Martin Stretton. Simon went on to claim numerous wins and class records in the pre-1971 racing car class.
Having then decided to sell the Brabham Simon unfortunately had an accident at Shelsley. John Green subsequently bought the car as a project and it was extensively rebuilt by Peter Denty and George Laycock. In pristine condition throughout and powered by a V8 engine producing 280 bhp and 237 lbs/ft torque it represents a very competitive and historic proposition for the classic class.
Offered for sale with a detailed history file and a useful spares package. Your chance to own a piece of speed event history!
Having competed in only a handful of circuit races chassis 42 was sold to well-known hillclimb contender Bryan Eccles and fitted with a 3.5 litre Buick V8 and Hewland HD4 gearbox over the winter of 1966/7.
From the start of the season the new car proved to be almost unbeatable. Eccles scored four FTDs in five non-championship events and then started the championship trail with maximum points and a new hill record at Loton Park. The remainder of the season saw fierce battles with Tony Marsh but Bryan’s hopes looked to be dashed when he had a big accident at the September Prescott. A superhuman effort saw the car fully rebuilt in time for the final round at Harewood the following weekend, but Eccles missed out on the championship by only four points, in a season which saw him claim several hill records.
Eccles sold the car at the end of the season and it continued to be hillclimbed by such notables as Richard Thwaites, Jim Johnstone and Peter Speakman before he bought it back in the early 2000s. The car was subsequently purchased by Simon Durling, who commissioned a chassis rebuild by Peter Denty and Ian Dayson, an engine rebuild by John Eales, and a gearbox rebuild with new main case by PDS. The suspension was set up by Martin Stretton. Simon went on to claim numerous wins and class records in the pre-1971 racing car class.
Having then decided to sell the Brabham Simon unfortunately had an accident at Shelsley. John Green subsequently bought the car as a project and it was extensively rebuilt by Peter Denty and George Laycock. In pristine condition throughout and powered by a V8 engine producing 280 bhp and 237 lbs/ft torque it represents a very competitive and historic proposition for the classic class.
Offered for sale with a detailed history file and a useful spares package. Your chance to own a piece of speed event history!
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