1967-Brabham-BT21B

Description

1967 Brabham BT21B
s/n BT21B-3, Arch Motors frame no. 238
Dark Green with Black Interior

The Brabham Company, founded by two-time World Driving Champion Jack Brabham and genius racecar designer Ron Tauranac, built cars to compete in Formula I, Formula II and formula III between 1960 and 1970. By 1960, Brabham was the world’s largest supplier of customer open wheel racecars. Jack Brabham’s 1966 World Driver’s Championship remains the only such achievement using a car bearing the driver’s own name. Racing under their firm name, “Motor Racing Developments”, in Formula II, one model won eleven consecutive races, while in Formula III their BT15 won 42 Races in the hands of future F1 stars. In the United States, in races sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, Brabhams ran in Formula C with 1100cc single cam engines, and even more successfully in Formula B (later known as Formula Atlantic) with 1600cc twin cam engines, a set of parameters nearly identical to Europe’s Formula II category.

Introduced in 1966, the Brabham BT21 was intended for use in Formula III events and was developed from the BT18. Compared to that of the BT18, the BT21’s spaceframe was shallower but stiffer, and the new car’s track was wider as well. Most were equipped with Ford engines and Hewland Mark 6 gearboxes although some cars were higher specification examples. This particular car is currently equipped with a twin cam dual carburetor Lotus engine and Hewland Mark 8 gearbox. It is one of 31 BT21Bs built, which were distinguished by wider wheels.

This particular car was originally finished in pale blue and was delivered to Frank Williams and driven by Piers Courage at Brands Hatch on 29 October 1967. It was then used by Jose Juncadella at Jarama on 12 November and then sold to P&M Racing Preparations for John Epton. Epton crashed the car at Oulton Park on 11 May and it was rebuilt by P&M Office manager Keith Jupp. It was simultaneously run alongside another BT21B by P&M, although that car was owned by Jim Hardman. The two cars appeared together at Brands Hatch on 19 January 1969. By the end of January, this car had been sold to Fred Opert in the United States because Jupp had a BT28 on order.

Opert sold the car to Wayne Ricciardi in the spring of 1969, who raced it successfully as an FC car in Northeast Division SCCA races in the 1970 season. After the 1970 season, the car was owned briefly by Mike Rand, although he had successfully raced and owned another BT21 earlier. He became the first signatory in the car’s SCCA log book, and sold it to Joe Grimaldi before the end of 1970, who retained the car until May, selling it to Tom Speed, who resold it in June to a long term keeper Ira de Vaugn, who owned the car from June of 197 until August of 1986. G.C Marsh was the car’s next keeper, owning it from August 1986 until December of 1987, when the car was sold to its previous owner.

The car’s history is carefully and exhaustively documented in a report from oldracingcars.com, and the race results are included in the report. An SCCA log book dating back to 1970 substantiates the remaining history of the car, particularly in the United States.

In recent years, the car has been comprehensively restored, a process that was overseen by Steve Froines with work performed by several well-known specialists in the vintage racing world. The frame was restored by Dennis Echeverry of Norman Racing, and was found to need very few repairs. The head was prepared by Dan Marvin, while the engine machine work was done by Carl Sturz. Ralph Madison assembled the engine and Jim Groom performed the chassis set up. Taylor Engineering rebuilt the Hewland Mark 8 gearbox while the wheels were done by Gary Arnst. The bodywork and paint were done by Frank Zucchi. The restoration included all systems and was completed in 2005. The car ran five CSRG events in 2005 and 2006, prior to being sold by Fantasy Junction to the current owner in 2014.

Very recently the car received considerable mechanical and cosmetic restoration work by master mechanic Steve Fielding, who had previously worked on the BRM Formula 1 Team. In total, approximately $20,00 was spent on the following detailed items to insure track readiness and excellence in preparation:

• Replace brake master cylinders
• Replace clutch master cylinder
• Service throttle cable
• Disassemble and re-build carbs
• Install battery jump terminal
• Repair and flush cooling system
• Replace shifter bushing
• Inspect and replace clutch throw-out bearing
• Replace fuel lines and filter
• Wheel alignment
• Dyno jet tuning
• New Avon tires
• Order new windscreen (in box)
• Overhaul and inspect gearbox
• Install new fire suppression system
• Re-upholstered seat and leather steering wheel

The car displays very nice racer cosmetics with some minor cracks and wear to the paintwork but very nice overall presentation. The chassis and suspension are nicely restored and present very well, as to be expected for a well-restored car with five weekends on it. The engine and transmission are in similarly nice condition, with a crisp presentation. The frame still has the AM number stamped on it in the correct location and in the correct style. The wheels appear freshly restored and are excellent. The new leather interior is functional and Spartan, and in excellent shape. The seat is in excellent shape and the car has period Smiths instrumentation throughout. The leather steering wheel presents as-new.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an excellent BT21B that has exhaustively researched and interesting period race history. Capably restored by some of the best in the business, the car has low time since being restored and should prove to be an excellent vintage racer with no major needs. It comes with detailed history report and SCCA logbook dating back to 1970, and all invoices for recent work.