Lot # : 104 - 1965 Brabham BT-15 Historic Race Car

1965 Brabham BT-15 Chassis Number: F3 - 3 - 65 A Brabham, the byword for racing cars in Australia and the world! Motor Racing Development Ltd, commonly known as Brabham is a British racing car manufacturer and former Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by Australia's own Sir Jack Brabham and British-Australian designer Ron Tauranac, the team won four Drivers' and two Constructors' World Championships in its 30-year Formula One history. Sir Jack Brabham's 1966 FIA Drivers' Championship remains the only such achievement using a car bearing the driver's own name. In the 1960s, Brabham was the world's largest manufacturer of open-wheel racing cars for sale to customer teams and by 1970 it had built more than 500 cars. During this period, teams using Brabham cars won championships in Formula Two and Formula Three. Brabham cars also competed in the Indianapolis 500 and in Formula 5000 racing The Brabham BT15 is a mid-engined open-wheel Formula 3 racing car, designed, developed, and built by Brabham between 1965 and 1966. 26 cars were built. It was powered by a naturally aspirated, 997 cc (60.8 cu in), Ford straight-four engine (the same type of engine used in the Ford Anglia). There is a very active Brabham Register where you can track the owners of the various chassis that were built. OUR CAR This is the third car built by Motor Racing Development Ltd for a UK based race team called Promecon. Its driver for the 1965 season was Jim Sullivan, an Australian, that had won the Driver to Europe competition in 1964. Jim raced the car successfully throughout the UK and Europe in 1965. In 1970 Promecon sold the car and it was purchased by Jim Opert, an American that purchased every Brabham he could buy and then sold them into the USA. In late 1970 the car was purchased by Joe Bosworth, an American that had previously raced in Australia in the 1960's. Joe raced the Brabham BT-15 as a Formula Ford for approximately 10 years. Also, to note the car does come with bodywork to convert it back to the Formula Ford configuration. Joe's logbook also is provided in the sale. Joe returned to Australia with the car in pieces with the intention to rebuild it. The present owner in approx. 2010, purchased the "bits" and commenced a full restoration. The car was taking back to the bare chassis which was sandblasted, and modified to suit the correct rollover protection, and painted in the correct machinery grey colour. The engine was fully rebuilt to race specification, and the gearbox was rebuilt as well. The bodywork was starting to show its age, so the present owner had a new body made. The original bodywork will come with the car, with the original engine cover autographed by Sir Jack Brabham! The car has not been driven since the engine rebuild so it will need some running in and checking before it is raced. The car comes with a box of spare parts, magnesium wheels for use as wets, and various bodywork items as mentioned. The car does not have Motorsport Australia COD but the present owner has started the paperwork. This car will be a superb car to race in next year's Historic Race series. We are extremely proud to offer this car at our Auction. We estimate that this car will sell in the range of $110,000 - $120,000. Please contact us to arrange an inspection - you will not be disappointed! Car is sold unregistered.