1970 Chevron B17 F3
A 1970 Chevron B17 Formula 3 chassis, one of nine built that year, originally constructed for Ken Sedgely to contest the UK Forward Trust F3 Championship using a 1-litre engine. It subsequently passed through Chevron dealer Fred Opert in New Jersey and a Florida owner before being acquired by the current vendor while employed at Lola. The car has been comprehensively rebuilt around a new chassis by specialist John Bright; the original shortened chassis, stamped F3/70/8, is included in the sale.
Ownership
- 2019-02-23Auction saleEstimate £30,000 – £35,000
- 1970-06-01 → 1971-07-01Factory deliveryKen Sedgelypartial documentation
Used the car in the UK Forward Trust F3 Championship on 1-litre regulations and also entered a small number of races in France. Sold when engine rules changed from 1-litre to 1.6.
- 1971 →Private saleFred Opertpartial documentation
Chevron dealer based in New Jersey; had the bodywork repainted from blue to his characteristic yellow livery.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDavid Woodpartial documentation
Florida-based owner who acquired the car for $3,400. During this period the original chassis was shortened to create a short-circuit parking-lot racer.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Purchased the car while employed in the USA by Lola race cars, raced it in the States, then brought it back to the UK and commissioned a full rebuild.
Competition
- 1970Forward Trust F3 ChampionshipUK Forward Trust F3 ChampionshipDriver: Ken Sedgely
Car ran in 1-litre format throughout the season and also contested a small number of races in France.
- 1971Forward Trust F3 ChampionshipUK Forward Trust F3 ChampionshipDriver: Ken Sedgely
Continued racing with a restricted Lotus Twin Cam engine until July 1971 when the regulations moved to 1.6-litre.
- —Post-rebuild races (four events)Driver: Current vendor
The newly rebuilt car had started only four races at the time of cataloguing.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The original chassis was cut down by approximately 10 inches to convert the car into a short-circuit parking-lot racer; this modified original chassis is retained and included in the sale.
Occurred during prior ownership, believed to be the David Wood period.
- —RestorationJohn Bright
Complete rebuild around an entirely new chassis by specialist John Bright; correct Hewland MK8 gearbox fitted with a new 7/31 crown-wheel-and-pinion, and a new exhaust system installed. The engine-fitting kit was also fully prepared.
Provenance of the original chassis verified by Kevin Hodgkinson, a Chevron employee from 1968 to 1971. Car sold as a rolling chassis without the MAE engine, which was on loan.
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