Vanwalls

bitzman · #1 03-02-2012, 10:35 AM

First time I ever read about Vanwall was today, I didn't realize they were a competitive F1 make or that Chapman was involved.
Here's what I found on a model car site:

"The Vanwall was a British race car that got it's name from the combination of the team-owner Anthony (Tony) Vandervell’s name and that of his company's patented “Thinwall” bearings.

The first cars raced in 1954 with Peter Collins at the wheel, but without much success. By the end of 1955, Vandervell hired young Colin Chapman to redesign the chassis, with Frank Costin redesigning the body. The racer showed more potential through 1956, with a win at Silverstone in the hands of Sir Stirling Moss.

Frank Cooper Ltd. marmalade pot, England, 1959

Moss decided to join the team for 1957, along with Tony Brooks and Stewart Lewis-Evans, and as the season unfolded, the Vanwalls became faster and more reliable with wins at the British, Italian and Pescara Grand Prix.

In 1958, Vanwall won Grand Prix's in Holland, Portugal and Morocco (Moss) and in Belgium, Germany and Italy (Brooks), thus winning the Constructor's Championship.

After the death of Lewis-Evans in Morocco in 1958, the team continued half-heartedly until 1961 when it closed all together."

I read in an old Competition Press that Shelby ordered ten of the chassis in '58 --maybe to sell out of his store in Dallas--but never heard them mentioned with his name again. I wonder what he was going to use for engines?

Papa G · #2 03-02-2012, 06:55 PM

They even produced a V-16 that sounds unbelievable!

johnei · #3 03-03-2012, 11:05 AM

If you can find a copy May 2003 MotorSport issue, it features the Vanwall story.

TooTall · #4 03-03-2012, 10:47 PM

Papa G,

Vanwall only ever used 4-cylinder cars. The v16 you are probably thing of is the BRM 1.5 litre supercharged engine. A finicky thing that rarely ran right but when it did, it was glorious!

Cheer,
Kurt O.

Papa G · #5 03-04-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooTall

Papa G,

Vanwall only ever used 4-cylinder cars. The v16 you are probably thing of is the BRM 1.5 litre supercharged engine. A finicky thing that rarely ran right but when it did, it was glorious!

Cheer,
Kurt O.

You are correct!!

Those BRG cars all look the same

yvesolution · #6 03-06-2012, 02:21 AM

Top Gear did a nice footage on a (new) roadregistred! Vanwall, I can't find it at the moment... but here is a similar one :

enjoy:

You Tube