BMW: Celebrating 100 Years Of History In Monterey (Part 3)

Historic racing BMW from the past 75-years.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

BMW: Celebrating 100 Years Of History In Monterey (Part 3)
By: Brandon J. O'Brien
Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise stated

In parts 1 and 2 I dealt mostly with the BMW's that are easily recognized as BMW's.  This article will now cover the sports racers that were manufactured by other manufacturers but powered by a BMW power plant.  This article is not exclusive just to those cars that were seen at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Monterey Car Week.

The history of building a sports or formula car using a BMW power plant goes back to the post World War Two years.  Ex-BMW engineers Alex von Falkenhausen (AFM) and Ernst Loof (Veritas) built a series of cars based on the pre-war 328 roadsters chassis and motor.  They were followed in the early 1950's by others that were no less ambitious but definitely of less means. Holbein and Polensky both built exciting cars.  Unfortunately very few of these post-war racing cars have survived and none were at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The one common feature of all the following cars was their use of the BMW 2.0-liter power plant. Based on the standard BMW M10 engine introduced in 1961 the BMW M12 became one of the most successful engines racing.

Between 1964 and 1968 Elva made a very successful series of Mk 7 and Mk 8 sports racers mostly with 1.8-liter BMW M10 engines.  The Mk 8S was fitted with a rear-mounted 2.0-liter BMW.

1964 Elva-BMW 7S entering the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1965 Elva-BMW Mk 8 entering the front straight at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

In 1969 BMW stopped their factory participation in sports racing to concentrate on Formula 2.  The BMW four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine continued to be popular among private teams.  These teams generally picked the closed Chevron B6 chassis as their primary choice.  After BMW examined the Chevron B6 in their racing department they decided to "officially" supply engines to Chevron.  The caveat was that the units supplied were stock 2002 production units, i.e. M10's that needed to be brought up to racing specs by Chevron.

The B6 was closely followed by thirty-five Chevron B8's with BMW engines that proved highly successful as Group 4 GT cars in England and South Africa.

1968 Chevron-BMW B8 entering the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

In 1972 BMW purchased a Chevron B21 chassis as a test vehicle for the M12/6 2.0-liter engine.  They were only allowed to run in the European Cup events for 2.0-liter sports cars.  With Dieter Quester driving they won a number of events.

1972 Chevron-BMW B21 entering the front straight at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 1972 Chevron-BMW B21 braking for the Corkscrew.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1973 Chevron-BMW B23 in the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca,  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1978 Chevron-BMW B36 on the front straight at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 1978 Chevron-BMW B36 turning into the Corkscrew.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

In 1973 BMW partnered with March to produce the Formula 2 March 732. This partnership was the one to be beat between 1973 and 1982.  Also in 1973 they used one of these engines in the  Group 5 March 73 S.  BMW used Jody Scheckter and Niki Lauda to test the engine and chassis combination in the 1973 South African "Springbok Series".  March built thirty-seven 73 S's over a four-year period.

1973 March-BMW 73 S on the front straight at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

A side view of the 1973 March-BMW 73 S as it enters the Corkscrew.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

From 1974 the 2.0-liter BMW M12/6 racing engine was available to other teams and racing car manufacturers.  Group Racing Developments (GRD) and Team Obermoser Jorg (TOJ) entered cars for the European Cup and Hillclimb Championship events using BMW power to varying degrees of success.

In it's early years Osella Squadra Corse changed from Abarth power to BMW.  From 1974 - 1979 they competed in Formula 2 and sports racing again with varying degrees of success. Today Osella Engineering is still supplying sports cars for a variety of purposes using BMW engines.

1978 Osella-BMW PA8 in the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Saber built a small number of cars using BMW engines and achieved numerous successes in the Interserie.  This series, run between 1970-1985 allowed for a wide variety of racing cars from various eras and series to compete with less limited rules.

Lola Cars produced the T297 in 1978 which was usually fitted with either a 2-liter Ford or BMW motor.

The 1979 LeMans Lola-BMW T297 going down the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit:  2016 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

ENDS




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