Tag Archives: B6

When Forty Four Equaled Fifty – Chevron B8 #CH-DBE-78

1967 had been a busy year for Chevron with the production of the one off BMW powered B4 GT , one off BRM V8 powered B5 GT, a run of 7 B6 GT’s six with BMW motors and one with a Ford Twin cam and the companies first open wheeler B7 Formula 3 car.

For 1968 Chevron really stepped it up producing six different models and 59 cars in total, by for the most numerous with 44 examples built was the B8 GT which differed only in detail from the B3. B4, B5 and B6 models and were mostly powered by the 2 litre / 122 cui BMW 4 cylinder engine with a few being powered by the Cosworth FVA and FVC motors and a couple with Climax engines of varying sizes.

Chevron B8, Andrew Newall, Silverstone Classic

In order to comply with the Group 4 category in international events series production of the B8 should have run to a minimum of fifty units however in order to make up the short fall Derek Bennett managed to get away with renumbering and counting rebuilt cars as new vehicles, succeeding where Enzo Ferrari failed with the 250LM some years earlier, hence the chassis numbers for the B8 GT’s run way beyond the 44 chassis actually built brand new and tracing their exact histories is far from straight forward.

In October 1945 Joseph Cyril Bamford founded the company with which his initials have become synonymous in a small lock up with a prototype electric welder, some scrap steel and some surplus jeep axles which he fashioned in to a trailer that sold for a handsome profit, 3 years later he introduced the first hydraulic tipping trailer to the European market and in 1951 he painted his products a shade of yellow which has also long since become synonymous with JCB.

Chevron B8, Andrew Newall, Silverstone Classic

With the introduction of JCB’s backhoe trailer and “hydra digga” JCB established themselves with must have equipment for every self respecting farming and building contractor with earth moving requirements, by 1968 JCB were sponsoring an MGB driven by Peter Brown and Tony Fall in continental events as part of their marketing strategy.

For 1969 Peter graduated into the 2 litre GT class using at least one Chevron B8 including today’s featured chassis #CH-DBE-78 which he is believed to have shared with Roger Enever in the Targa Florio where the pair were classified 14th despite not finishing after and accident, at Spa classified 20th, Le Mans where they retired, Zeltweg recording a 13th place finish, before rounding out the season with two retirements in Barcelona and Paris.

Chevron B8, Andrew Newall, Silverstone Classic

Peter drove a B8 in numerous other events during 1969 but at the time of writing it is by no means certain #CH-DBE-78 was the car he drove in all of them. He appears to have taken a bit of a sabatical from racing between April 1970and March 1972 when he reappeared in the JCB sponsored Ferrari 512M chassis #1030.

Andrew Newall is seen at the wheel of #CH-DBE-78 in these photographs earlier this year at Silverstone Classic during qualifying in the rain and racing in the dry.

Thanks for joining me on this “When Forty Four Equaled Fifty” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at possibly my favourate Formula 5000 car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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1967 – Chevron B6

In 1966 hitherto builder of Clubman’s racing cars Chevron guided by founder Derek Bennett diversified into building a series of GT Cars starting with two Ford Twin Cam powered Chevron GT’s that retrospectively became known as B3’s an a similar BMW powered car known as the B4.

Chevron B6, Nick Thompson, Sean McClurg, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Both of these models won first time out as did the one off 2 litre / 122 cui BRM V8 powered B5 built in 1967 which Brian Redman drove to a debut victory at Oulton Park in April 1967.

Chevron B6, Nick Thompson, Sean McClurg, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

1967 also saw the fledgling business build a batch of six similar B6 GT cars similar to the one seen here shared by Nick Thompson and Sean McClurg at Oulton Park in August.

Chevron B6, Nick Thompson, Sean McClurg, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Like the similar B3, B4 and B5 GT models the B6 was also driven to a debut victory, by Digby Martland at Brands Hatch who also claimed the B3 debut victory in 1966.

Chevron B6, Nick Thompson, Sean McClurg, Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Six of the B6’s were powered by 2 litre / 122 cui BMW motors and the other by a 1600 / 97.6 cui Ford Twin Cam, between them the B6’s are credited with at least 14 wins and an additional 4 class wins.

The last documented in period class win being recorded by Martyn Denley at Silvertone in 1970, Simon Hadfield and Michael Schryver were campaigned their Michael Schryver Antiques example in Thundersports from 1985 to 1986.

Thanks for joining me on this “1967” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the last in the current series of Lola T400’s. Don’t forget to come back now !

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In with the new.., ish – Volkswagen Passat TDI B6

VW Passat TDi

Last week my landlady traded in her faithful 1990 B3 Passat in for a 2007 model year B6 Passat TDI. The B6 was in production from 2005 – 2010.

VW Passat TDi

Having driven the car for less than 100 miles my impressions is of an effortlessly smooth ride, aided by light controls and a slick 6 speed gearbox and some remarkable fuel mileage figures.

VW Passat TDi

The TDI comes across like the Starship Enterprise in comparison with its 20 tear old traded in sibling, more knobs and buttons than one can shake a stick at.

VW Passat TDi

Gone is the old fashioned key to be replaced by an electric one which is of absolutely no use unless the driver is strapped in AND has her / his foot on the clutch.

The car all so dispenses with the old hand brake leaver and has in it’s place a hand brake button, which takes a little getting used to even for a driver experienced in driving many vehicles. Once engaged the hand brake is released automatically when puling away.

VW Passat TDi

With her two kids my landlady needs all of this space when she goes camping with a 20 ft bell tent, it also comes in useful for shifting furniture and building materials about.

VW Passat TDi

Other interesting features include exterior lights that come on when locking and unlocking the doors at night, again no conventional keys are required for this operation.

VW Passat TDi

I’m not sure how the car will perform when I come to borrow it and attempt to defend the Cross Trophy Car Trial next year but I am sure I’ll have plenty of fun giving it a go. With thanks to my landlady.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s late model edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil psycho on tyres’, and that you will join me again tomorrow.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter.

Don’t forget to come back now !

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