1966 Brabham BT18. 1968 New Zealand National Champion.
Ex-Graeme Lawrence
POA
History
1966 Brabham BT18 – Chassis No. F2.FL.66 (AM144)
Brabham chassis F2.Fl.66 (AM144) has an extensive and well documented racing history in New Zealand and Australia. From 1966 through 1969, the Brabham raced in the most significant racing series in the region including the Gold Star / Tasman series where F1 and F2 cars were on the track at the same time. Both Graeme Lawrence (original owner) and Bob Nicholson (2nd owner) raced the car competitively on track at the same time as Jim Clark, Chris Amon, Denny Hulme, Piers Courage, Bruce McLaren, Pedron Rodriguez, Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, Derk Bell and Graham Hill. In 1968, Graeme Lawrence won the NZ 1.5 Litre National Championship in this Brabham.
Graeme Lawrence campaigned the Brabham very successfully in New Zealand and Australia for two and half years, winning the 1968 1.5 Liter Championship and a Gold Star race victory. He then sold the car in 1969 to John Nicholson (McLaren engine builder and F1 Driver). John raced the car for a few years, as well as leased it to Graham McRae, David Oxton, and Dexter Dunlop, before selling the car in 1971.
The Brabham changed hands a few more times, all known, before undergoing a complete restoration in the late 1980s. It was then, in 1988, that the sixth owner of the car, David Curry, restored the car in New Zealand under the guidance of Graeme Lawrence.
In a recorded interview, Graeme talked about buying the BT18 directly from his friend Jack Brabham in England. At the same time he also sourced a twin cam engine directly from Cosworth. In the interview Graeme also discussed the car’s racing history, restoration, and its remarkable originality. Even the president of the Brabham Registry considers this car to be one of the most original BT18 cars in existence. Graeme went on to say in the interview why the car was painted its special blue color, and why it has a Bugs Bunny sticker on it! This 20-minute recorded interview with Graeme will be included with the car.
When the restoration was completed, Graaeme Lawrence got behind the wheel of AM 144 again and raced the car in a special NZ vintage race event. In 1992 the car was sold to Northern California racer Stan Peterson. Stan raced the car competitively with CSRG and HMSA in historic races. After his passing, the car was sold privately from Stan’s collection. The two subsequent owners preserved the car’s authenticity by maintaining the Brabham in its original configuration and running it sparingly in U.S. Historic Formula B races.
OldRacingCars.com has summarized the history of AM-144 as follows:
‘AM144’
(1500cc twin cam)
New to Graeme Lawrence (Hamilton, New Zealand) and shipped to New Zealand where it was registered on 14 October 1966 by local authorities as chassis number “F2.FL.66”. The car’s Brabham chassis number is unknown, but it has frame number ‘AM 144’ and has been known by that number for most of its life. Raced by Lawrence in the 1966/67 and 1967/68 seasons. Sold in February 1968 to John Nicholson and raced by him in the 1968/69 New Zealand 1.5-litre Championship and in the 1969 Tasman series. Nicholson arranged to sell it to Dexter Dunlop later in 1969, in time for the 1970 Tasman series, but the sale fell through. It was sold to Colin Roberts in April 1971, and raced by him as a Formula Ford. Its next owners were Brian Watson in October 1975, then Denis Ganley in May 1981. In November 1984 it was bought by David Curry (Rotorua, NZ) and Ken White, but the partnership was soon dissolved and the car was retained by Curry. In February 1992, Curry sold the car to Stan Peterson (Prundale, CA), who took it to the US in early 1993. The car remained with Peterson until his death, after which it was sold via Mike Pierce to Stephen Hill (Los Gatos, CA) in 2014. He race-prepared the car but didn’t not race it, before selling it to Jim Phillips (Pebble Beach, CA) in September 2021.
Driven by: Graeme Lawrence, John Nicholson and David Oxton. First race: Pukekohe (R1), 5 Nov 1966. Total of 22 recorded races.”
Full Ownership History:
Graeme Lawrence: Purchased directly from Jack Brabham in England. October 14, 1966 – Feb. 1968.
John Nicholson: Hamilton NZ. F1 Driver and McLaren engine builder. Bought from Lawrence in February, 1968. Retained through April 29, 1971.
Colin Roberts: Purchased April 29, 1971. Retained through October 30, 1975.
Brian Watson: Purchased October 30, 1975. Retained through May 11, 1981.
Denis Ganley: Purchased May 11, 1981. Retained through November, 1984.
David Curry: Rotorua NZ. Purchased November, 1984. Retained through February 20, 1992.
Stanley Peterson: Prunedale, CA. Purchased February 20, 1992 and imported to the U.S. April 15, 1993. Retained through 2014.
Stephen Hill: Los Gatos, CA. Purchased 2014. Retained through September 27, 2021.
Jim Phillips: Pebble Beach, CA. Purchased September 27, 2021.
Additional Driver History:
Graham McRae, David Oxton, Dexter Dunlop, and Jos Mahon: on lease from John Nicholson (Feb 1968 – Apr 1971).
Denny Hulme: Driven at NZ historic event while owned by David Curry (Nov 1984 – Feb 1992).
Documented Racing History:
Tasman Series Individual Race Results, 1967 – 1969 (F1 & F2)
Date – Track – Driver Finish Notes:
Jan 7 1967 Pukeohe, Graeme Lawrence, 5th / 1st in class
Jan 14 1967 Levin, Graeme Lawrence, 5th
Jan 21 1967 Wigram, Graeme Lawrence, 12th
Jan 28 1967 Teretunga Park, Graeme Lawrence, Retired
Jan 6 1968 Pukeohe, Graeme Lawrence, 6th
Jan 13 1968 Levin, Graeme Lawrence, 9th
Jan 20 1968 Wigram, Graeme Lawrence, Retired Spun
Jan 27 1968 Teretunga Park, Graeme Lawrence, 9th
Jan 4 1969 Pukeohe, John Nicholson, Retired Transmission
Jan 11 1969 Levin, John Nicholson, Did Not Start
Jan 18 1969 Wigram, John Nicholson, 11th
Jan 25 1969 Teretunga Park, John Nicholson, 12th
Tasman Series Championship Results, 1967 – 1968 (F2)
Graeme Lawrence (https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/graeme-lawrence) 1967 Gold Star Championship, 3rd
1967 NZ 1.5 litre National Championship, 2nd
1968 Tasman Series, 16th
1968 NZ 1.5 litre National Championship, 1st
Tasman Series Championships 1969 (F2)
John Nicholson (https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/john-nicholson) 1969 NZ 1.5 litre National Championship, 5th
Links to Racing History Featuring AM144:
Graeme Lawrence:
Nov 12 1966 at Renwick (retired) https://sergent.com.au/motor/other1967.html
1967 NZ Grand Prix Season https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas67s.html
Jan 7 1967 at Pukekohe (5th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas67p.html
Jan 14 1967 at Levin (5th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas67l.html
Jan 21 1967 at Wigram (12th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas67w.html
Jan 28 1967 at Teretonga (retired) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas67t.html
Feb 4 1967 at Timaru (3rd) https://sergent.com.au/motor/other1967.html
Jan 6 1968 at Pukekoho (6th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas68p.html
Jan 13 1968 at Levin (9th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas68l.html
Jan 20 1968 at Wigram (retired) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas68w.html
Jan 27 1968 at Teretonga (9th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas68t.html
John Nicholson:
Jan 4 1969 at Pukekohe (retired) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas69p.html
Jan 18 1969 at Wigram (11th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas69w.html
Jan 25 1969 at Teretonga (12th Overall) https://sergent.com.au/motor/tas69t.html
Chassis AM144 was also featured in a book “Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand” by Graham Vercoe. The section featuring this car documents some interesting facts about the car, its racing success, ownership, and track event participation, as well as period photos. A copy of this book will be included with the car.
Description
From the records and recollections of past owners, it appears this BT18, chassis number AM-144, has never been in an accident. That is truly remarkable for a race-winning, and championship-winning car that still survives, and thrives, nearly 60 years later. According to the president of the Brabham registry, this car (AM144) is considered one of the most original Brabham BT18 cars in existence.
The original Ford/Lotus twin cam was sourced in 1966 from Cosworth. The most recent rebuild was performed by Hasselgren Engineering in Berkeley, California, and has very low hours since. The engine is 1600 c.c. with dyno results showing a dependable 186 h.p. The Hewland MK5 5-speed gearbox was rebuilt by Taylor Race Engineering. It has approximately 3 hours of track time since the rebuild.
The Brabham is very nice. It needs nothing except fuel and air in the new Avon tires before heading to the track. The fire extinguisher was recently recertified. The six point belts are also new. There are over $30,000 in receipts for work performed on the car during the past 10 years to maintain it in its current condition.
Included with the car will be a binder of current and period photographs, receipts, ownership correspondence, and images. Terry Marshall, a well-known New Zealand race photographer, has advised that he has additional period photos of Graeme Lawrence, John Nicolson and others racing AM144 in New Zealand in the 1960s. Mr. Marshall’s correspondence and contact information will be provided.
This may well be the most successful of all of the Brabham BT18’s ever built. It is a period championship winning car. It is highly original. It is highly documented. It is a shining member of that iconic, romantic, late 1960’s period of formula car racing. It is a great car for a Brabham collector, and a great car for anyone who appreciates this period in motorsports. This car rubbed elbows on the track with the greats of that time; Clark, Amon, McLaren, Stewart, Hill, Rindt, and even Jack Brabham himself. Denny Hulme even drove this Brabham. Its pedigree is rare and impressive.
So if you want to collect and/or race a storied and highly documented championship winning 1960’s formula car, this is a car for you. These cars have traded at mid-six figures before, and will again, especially ones like this highly original Brabham with documented, championship winning history at the hands famous drivers. It will be welcome, and celebrated, at historic racing events the world over.
All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.
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