1961 Emeryson Formula 1 Climax FPF
- Engine
- Climax FPF engine
Chassis 1004 is the sole surviving Emeryson Formula 1 car, built to the 1.5-litre formula and originally campaigned by Écurie Nationale Belge in 1961 before being re-engined with a Coventry Climax FPF unit. It gave Mike Spence his Formula 1 debut at the 1961 Solitude Grand Prix and claimed a podium finish at Brands Hatch that same year. In 1962 it was driven in World Championship rounds by Tony Settember and John Campbell-Jones. Restored in the 1990s and extensively rebuilt in 2017, it has since competed at the Goodwood Revival and multiple Monaco Grand Prix Historique events.
Ownership
- 2017-02-24Auction saleSold £155,000 (≈ $194K)
- 2020-03-29Auction saleEstimate £150,000 – £200,000
- 1961 → 1961Factory deliveryÉcurie National Belgepartial documentation
Belgian racing team ran Maserati-engined Emerysons during the 1961 season before switching to Lotus 18s; early results were poor.
- 1961 → 1963Private saleHugh Powellpartial documentation
Wealthy young American who acquired a controlling stake in the Emeryson company and re-engined the former ENB cars with Coventry Climax units; ran the works effort through 1962 before transitioning to the Scirocco project.
- 1963 →Private saleEric Liddellpartial documentation
Purchased the car from Tony Settember in 1963; credited with preserving the sole surviving Emeryson F1 car.
- 1992 → 1999Acquisition unknownPeter Morleypartial documentation
Restored the car to the specification used by Settember and Campbell-Jones; entered it at the inaugural Goodwood Revival in 1998 before selling it the following year.
- 1999 → 2017Private salePre-2017 ownerpartial documentation
Raced the car extensively over roughly 16 seasons with the HSCC and HGPCA at multiple UK and European venues, including six further Monaco Grand Prix Historique appearances.
- 2017-02-01 →AuctionCurrent vendorfull documentation
Bought at a UK auction and promptly commissioned a comprehensive rebuild by Cars International Service Ltd costing nearly £90,000; invoices and a dynamometer record are held on file.
Competition
- 1961-04-09Brussels Grand PrixDriver: Lucien Bianchi4th
One of the few notable results achieved while the car was still in ENB trim with Maserati power.
- 1961-04-25Syracuse Grand PrixDriver: Willy Mairesse11th
Achieved while the car was entered by Écurie National Belge.
- 1961-07-01Solitude Grand PrixDriver: Mike SpenceDNF
Non-championship event that marked Spence's Formula 1 debut; car ran with Coventry Climax engine following the ENB period.
- 1961-09-01Oulton Park Gold CupDriver: Jack FairmanDNF
- 1961-10-01Lewis-Evans TrophyDriver: Mike Spence2nd
Only podium finish recorded by this chassis in period competition.
- 1962Formula 1 World ChampionshipBritish Grand PrixDriver: Tony Settember11th
Held at Aintree; one of the season's two notable championship results for this chassis.
- 1962-04-23Lavant CupDriver: Tony SettemberDNF
Held at Goodwood.
- 1962-04-23Glover TrophyDriver: Tony Settember8th
Also held at Goodwood on the same day as the Lavant Cup.
- 1962-04-28Aintree 200Driver: Tony Settember8th
- 1962-05-12Silverstone International TrophyDriver: Tony Settember14th
- 1962-05-20Grand Prix di NapoliDriver: Tony Settember9th
Held at the Posillipo circuit.
- 1962-06-01Brussels Grand PrixDriver: John Campbell-Jones5th
One of two championship-season highlights for the chassis; exact date not stated in the prose.
- 1962-06-11Crystal Palace TrophyDriver: Tony Settember4th
- 1962-09-01Oulton Park Gold CupDriver: Tony SettemberDNF
- 1962-09-16Formula 1 World ChampionshipItalian Grand PrixDriver: Tony SettemberDNF
Held at Monza.
- 19981998 Goodwood RevivalDriver: Paul Osborn
Entered at the inaugural Revival meeting following the 1990s restoration by Peter Morley.
- 20002000 Monaco Grand Prix Historique4th behind Sir Stirling Moss
Car carried race number 31, the same number used by Fairman in 1961; driver finished four positions after Moss.
- 20182018 Monaco Grand Prix Historique
Rebuild by Cars International Service was specifically targeted at this event; car ran without issues, fulfilling the current vendor's ambition.
- —Monaco Grand Prix Historique
Competed at this event on six additional occasions beyond the 2000 running, spread across the pre-2017 ownership period.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1992Restoration
Full restoration carried out after Peter Morley's acquisition, returning the car to the configuration used by Settember and Campbell-Jones during the 1962 season.
- 2017RestorationCars International Service
Comprehensive rebuild encompassing chassis strengthening and crack-testing, fabrication of new suspension components, engine overhaul, full rewiring, and a repaint of both chassis and bodywork in Belgian national racing yellow. Total expenditure was close to £90,000.
Rebuild invoices and a dynamometer printout are retained on file. A spares package including two tyre sets and assorted gear ratios is included with the car.
- —Inspection
FIA/MSA Historic Technical Passport issued, valid through the end of 2025.
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