1967 Brabham BT21, FB

History

Future BRM Formula One driver, Howden Ganley, spent 1966 as crew chief for Peter Revson in the U.S. Can-Am series to earn money to purchase a brand new Brabham BT21 F3 car for the 1967 season.

At the end of 1966, Ganley returned to England with his Can Am earnings and purchased his BT21 directly from Ron Taurnac at MRD. Money in hand, Taurnac generated the order for the car, which would become BT21, chassis number 20.

Ganley raced BT21/20 in F3 thru the 1967 and 1968 seasons, contesting some 17-18 races. He raced at Oulton Park, Silverstone, Djursland, Brands Hatch (3rd) Castle Combe (4th) Barcelona, Hockenheim, and the Roskilde Ring. His best finish was 2nd.

By the end of 1968, Ganley was racing BT21/20 with front wings, and the tall rear wing. These were being used by the quickest F1, F2, and F3 car of the period until they were banned. The wings can be seen on the car during the race at Roskilde, in Denmark, in 1968. At the conclusion of the 1968 racing season. Howden sold the Brabham.

For more on Howden, his days racing with the BT21, his rise to Formula One, Le Mans, and starting the TIGA car company with Tim Schenken, you can purchase and read his very entertaining autobiography, The Road to Monaco.

When Howden sold the BT21/20 at the end of 1968, it was to a gentleman from New York. From there the car went to Canada. Approximately 20 years later Californian Gunnar Wetanson, purchased  BT21/20 from Canada.

When Wetanson purchased BT21/20 it needed a full restoration. Wetanson began the restoration, but did not finish it, not even close. The next owner, Rob Forbes, discovered the Brabham in its project condition, and purchased it in 2012.

Description

In 2013 Forbes commissioned a full restoration by well known California race car restorer and prep shop owner, Jim Groom, in Berkeley, California. The original frame was in very poor condition, so restoration began around a new frame. The original frame was retained, and comes with the car.

The entire car was rebuilt, using new parts where needed, yet keeping many original bits, including the seat, instruments, (chronometric tach), uprights, radius areas, calipers, radiator/oil cooler combination, etc. Even the original steering wheel comes with the car.

Rob directed that the car be restored to a period correct look. No tie wraps were used. Braided brake lines were wrapped to look like black rubber lines. Period electrical connectors were used. Even the Aeroquip fittings were media blasted to bare aluminum to avoid the more modern red or blue appearance. The Brabham was then fitted with its correct, original size, 8″ and 9″ wheels. Rob went on to race the car for several years before it was sold to the current owner in 2020.

Since the Brabham’s most recent purchase, the car has continued to be professionally maintained. It is powered by a 1600 c.c. Lotus twin cam with 45 DCOE Webers mated to a Hewland Mk. gearbox. The shocks are Koni double adjustables dyno tuned by PSI. The brakes are Girling. The Brabham is equipped with period correct Smiths gauges with a Momo steering wheel and Willans belts.

The Brabham can currently be raced throughout the entire U.S. in Historic Formula B. It also qualifies for two categories in the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) Historic Formula 2 Championship in the U.K. See below.

Class A Jochen Rindt Trophy: Cars built with engines conforming to original Formula 2 specification with either fuel injection or carburettors manufactured and raced before 1st January1972 with a maximum capacity of 1600cc and with aerodynamic devices.

Class E Jim Clark Trophy: Cars built to conform to either Formula 2 or Formula Atlantic or Formula B regulations but without aerodynamic devices manufactured and raced after 1st January 1967.

HSCC Historic Formula 2 Championship

Because of Ganley’s early successful F3 history, BT21/20 can also be raced as a 1000 “Screamer” in historic Formula 3 with  F3 Historic. The current twin cam engine could be removed and used in trade for the 1000 cc Screamer. So this car presents many options on many continents.

The late 1960’s formula cars are the end of an iconic styling era in auto racing. These are beautiful, timeless, pieces of racing machinery. They were driven by future F1 heroes as they came up through the ranks. As such they have a secured place in automotive racing history. These are wonderful cars to drive, and beautiful cars to show off at the track, at your home, and at other social and business events. All wins.

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