1962 Brabham BT3 Formula 1
- Engine
- 1.5L Coventry Climax V8
- Colour
- Turquoise blue with gold
The Brabham BT3 (chassis F1-1-62) holds a unique place in motorsport history as the first Formula 1 car to bear the Brabham name, designed by Ron Tauranac and raced personally by three-time World Champion Jack Brabham from mid-1962. It was the first Brabham chassis to score a World Championship point (USA GP, 1962), the first to win a Formula 1 race (Solitude GP, 1963), and the first car ever constructed by its own driver to take a Formula 1 victory. Subsequently raced by Denny Hulme, the BT3 has been prepared to a high standard for historic competition.
Ownership
- 2022-05-13Auction saleSold €335,000 (≈ $369K)
- 1962 →Factory deliveryJack Brabhamfull documentation
Brabham was both constructor and driver of this car, having it built by his own company Motor Racing Developments. He raced it throughout the 1962 and 1963 seasons before handing it to other drivers within the team.
Competition
- 1962Formula 1 World Championship1962 German Grand PrixDriver: Jack BrabhamRtd — throttle linkage failure
Car started from the rear of the grid following overnight engine swap due to practice trouble; showed competitive pace before mechanical retirement.
- 19621962 Oulton Park Gold CupDriver: Jack Brabham3rd
- 1962Formula 1 World Championship1962 United States Grand PrixDriver: Jack Brabham4th
First World Championship constructor points scored by the Brabham marque; closely fought with Bruce McLaren's Cooper throughout the race.
- 19621962 Mexican Grand PrixDriver: Jack Brabham2nd
Non-championship event; Brabham briefly led before rising engine temperatures prompted him to ease the pace.
- 19631963 Goodwood Easter MondayDriver: Jack Brabham6th
Car had been lightened and lowered for the new season; retirement threatened by an ignition wire failure but still classified finisher.
- 19631963 Solitude Grand PrixDriver: Jack Brabham1st
Non-championship German event; Brabham qualified second behind Jim Clark, inherited lead after successive Lotus retirements and took the marque's first Formula 1 race victory.
- 19631963 Karlskoga Formula 1 raceDriver: Denny Hulme4th
Hulme, at the time a Brabham Formula Junior driver, was given a Formula 1 outing in this car.
- 19631963 Austrian Grand PrixDriver: Jack Brabham1st
Non-championship race at Zeltweg aerodrome; Clark retired with broken oil pipe, leaving Brabham to win by a five-lap margin over Innes Ireland.
- 1963Formula 1 World Championship1963 Italian Grand PrixDriver: Jack Brabham
Monza combined banked and road circuit originally specified; Brabham chose the sturdier BT3 for that circuit but the catalogue text is incomplete regarding the final outcome.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963ModificationBrabham works
The BT3 was substantially lightened and lowered ahead of the 1963 season, with approximately 25 kg removed from the car's total weight.
Work carried out over the winter of 1962–63 in preparation for Jack Brabham's 1963 campaign alongside new team-mate Dan Gurney.
- —Restoration
The car was comprehensively prepared to a high standard for historic Formula 1 racing, with no expense spared.
The catalogue describes the car as 'prepared regardless of cost' for historic competition, though specific dates and workshop details are not given.
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