Chevron B16

[allenbrown]

This thread is for the very brave indeed. The following list appeared in HSCC Newsletter Jan 1985 p7 accompanying a letter from Peter Grant that was complaining about replica B16s even then. The first list, he said, "can be confirmed by Paul Owen, Graham Gould and Roger Anderson [sic]". He meant Andreason.

Chevron B16 Manufactured 1969-1971

01 Works Car
02 Works Car
03 D. Mortland
04 Robins
05 Baker USA (written off 1970)
06 J. Burton
07 Red Rose Racing - J. Bridges
08 I. Skailes
09 Koepchen Tuning (BMW Questor Car)
10 Works Car (Written off in Germany 1970)
11 Not manufactured
12 Skelen (Crashed in Germany; still about)
13 Not manufactured
14 Yves Deprez (Belgium fitted Mazda engine)
15 Cowdley
16 T.A.P.
17 Baker USA
18 Not manufactured
19 Not manufactured
20 J. Siffert Switzerland
21 Baker USA
22 Not manufactured
23 Not manufactured
24 Not manufactured
25 Not manufactured
26 Not manufactured
27 J. Siffert Switzerland
28 J. Siffert Switzerland
29 Dobby
30 Not manufactured
31 Not manufactured
32 Not manufactured
33 Not manufactured
34 Sevart 1971
35 R. Hevans
36 J. Siffert (Burnt out Goodwood 1983)

From 1969 - 1970, 20 B16 were built
1971 3 B16 were built
A total of 23 cars

Present history of B16 cars and owners
01 Phoenix Arizona USA
04 Richard Budge
06 Tony Griffiths
07 Peter Grant
08 Andrew Fletcher - rebuilt after bad crash
09 Ex Simon Phillips - driven by B. Bell (Sold to Sweden 1984)
12 Claus Petz Beckhauser (in bits in Germany)
20 Brian Taylor

So, how much can we add to this?

Allen

[allenbrown]

I've rescued this snippet from another thread:

Originally Posted by zapparacing quoting classiscars.com who subsequently gave permission for this to be used

B16-DBE01 1969 Gr.5/6 Ken Walker
B16-DBE02 Ford Gr.5/6 John Bridges
B16-DBE04 Ford Gr.5/6 Chevron Cars => Brian Robinson
B16-DBE06 Ford Gr.5/6 Worcestershire Racing Asocciation (Burton)
B16-DBE07 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Red Rose Racing (J. Bridges)
B16-DBE08 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Willie Tuckett
B16-DBE09 BMW 1970 Gr.5/6 Koepchen Tuning
B16-DBE10 1970 Gr.5/6
B16-DBE14 Mazda 1970 Gr.5/6 Levis Int. Racing
B16-DBE19 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Eris Tondelli
B16-DBE26 BMW 1970 Gr.5/6 Chevron Racing Team
B16-DBE34 1970 Gr.5/6 Tilmant
B16S-70-01 Ford FVC 1970 Gr.6 Chevron Cars (Redman) => Team Gunston ...=> Jo Siffert Automobiles Racing Ltd....=> Don Shead

[allenbrown]

And also this:

Originally Posted by stein johnsen

A few more cars from my research on Roger Heavens B 16

1970 B 16 /17 T.A.P
1970 B 16/027 J Siffert
1970 B 16/028 J Siffert BMW
1970 B 16/029 Dennis Dobie (Dart)
1971 B 16/035 Roger Heavens FVA
1971 B 16/036 J. Siffert


I hope this will be of help

[John Turner]

I can add these amalgamated posts of yours from an earlier thread, Allen, and may be able to add some others, later, too

Originally Posted by allenbrown

I'll add this, found in Sport Auto's report on the 1971 300 km d'Auvergne (August 1971 p63-65).

The Chevron B16s listed are:

Robinson B16/4
Tilmant/Dubos B16/34
Ken Walker B16/1

The Chevron book says 23 built in 1969 and 1970 plus a B16-Spyder built in 1970. Debut race Nurburgring 7 Sep 1969.

Mathews Collection have B16 DBE21 here. http://www.mathewscollection.com/for...er_Chevron.htm No history given.

Also, there's B16 DBE32, said to have been built in 1981, here. (this link lost -JT)


And finally B16 DBE24 in the Boxenstop Museum here. http://www.barchetta.cc/all.ferraris...ery/index.html

Allen

[allenbrown]

Thanks John. The links in that last post have gone, presumably because it's quoted. Could we get them back? (Two out of three recovered - JT)

Interesting that three cars that Peter said weren't built, 19, 24 and 26, are showing up already plus 32 which was acknowledged as a 1981 build. I think you may be able to find a post on 18 as well.

Allen

[John Turner]

The last of the salvageable posts:-

Originally Posted by Alan Brown

What about the two adverts on page 101 of the present issue of Classic & Sports Car [May 2006]? One by Martin Chisholm Collectors Cars Ltd shows a red B16 "built by Chevron in 1983 using original components.... accepted and raced in the World Sportscar Master series.... recently restored by Peter Denty and fitted with a new Richardson FVC". The other advert by Taylor and Crawley shows a 'Gulf blue/orange' B16 said to be ex -Ecurie Francorchamps and fitted with a fresh Richardson FVC.

Originally Posted by Bryan Miller

Alan,
The red B16 is in the archive section of www.race-cars.com and is listed a being built 1983 for the then new director of Chevron. Lawrence Jacobson used the chassis number DBE018 for the car as that was a number not used in period according to the script on the site.
Bryan.

Originally Posted by John Turner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Brown
The other advert by Taylor and Crawley shows a 'Gulf blue/orange' B16 said to be ex -Ecurie Francorchamps and fitted with a fresh Richardson FVC.


This car is still being advertised by Taylor & Crawley (page 167 of the August issue od C&CS) who are now saying this is Chassis no.15.

[Simon Hadfield]

I cant wait to see how this thread develops-I reckon I have seen just five real, proper,unambiguous B16s!

[allenbrown]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Also, there's B16 DBE32, said to have been built in 1981, here. (this link lost -JT)

Nothing's ever lost on the Internet. The Classic Car Collection website no longer shows this car (I know, but it takes less time to say 'link lost!' - JT) but I can tell you that it used to say:

FIA papers, mint condition, but no history, build in 1981, for the purpose of the former Formuna 1 racer Reine Wisell. This is one of the most competitive B 16’s available on the market. Currently fitted with a DBG 2000cc engine but includes another ...

[allenbrown]

One thing I should point out about Peter Grant's letter which started this thread is that Tim Colman of Chevron Cars Ltd (the new company that had acquired Chevron's assets from Robin Smith) wrote into the next edition of the newsletter saying that it wasn't quite that simple. Firstly, although gaps appear in Chevron's records, that doesn't necessarily mean that the car wasn't built. Some cars were sold without all the paperwork being completed and that may explain a few of the gaps. Secondly, B16s were converted to B19 and even B21 or B23 spec and may have been given new chassis plates at that time. When B16 values increased, these cars may have been converted back to B16 spec in some way.

The problem at the time seems to be that B19s and B21s were being converted 'back' to B16 spec.

There were five B16s entered in the HSCC series for 1985. More of them later.

Allen

[driftwood]

A few B16 cars were sent to the factory in 72 and converted to B21 cars (same as B19 but with a different cockpit section), as many key components, such as engines, g/box, wheels and uprights were the same as B21.

The B16S car was the forerunner the B19, so it's highly likely that the B16 chassis was similar to the B19/21 chassis making it economical for the owner of a 1967/8 car to upgrade his 'old' car to a modern race car.

A similar thing happened to the B8 cars converted to make the Gropa 2 Litre GP5/6 race cars with the historic racing scene of the 1980`s when the cars were converted back to more "valuable" B6/8 race cars.

So, Allen, you now have a list of cars that you can create the then and now database.

[allenbrown]

Known 'continuation cars'

Race-cars.com have had three B16s and all are acknowledged as continuation cars.

DBE 18 Built 1983 by Chevron race cars for Lawrence Jacobson. To Roger Pitts (California) 1990 - Ed Swart (Rolling Hills, California) - Robert Manschot (Arizona) by 1996 - vendor late 1996. Sold by Race-cars.com.

B16 32 Built by Vin Malkie. Raced extensively in US.

B16-47 "B16 replica" "Purchased new in the UK from Chevron Cars UK built from original jigs with Carbon Kevlar bodywork". In South Africa.

Once again, I am so grateful to race-cars.com for that archive and for the diligent way they document all know history of the cars they offer.

Allen

[driftwood]

Allen are u being facitous here??Once again, I am so grateful to race-cars.com for that archive and for the diligent way they document all know history of the cars they offer.


What was the Mazda b16 chassis numberB16-DBE14 Mazda 1970 Gr.5/6 Levis Int. Racingok ive found it maybe my question should be what happened to it!!
Stephen Minoprio is racing a car now with mazda 12a in it but its not the original car
im sure of the original 23 cars built all 27 are now running
no doubt the b16 cars turned into b21 will suddenly re appear !!

[allenbrown]

No I'm not being facetious. How many race car dealers bother to go to that effort and then go to the trouble of making those details available for posterity? Not many.

More likely is "Chevron B16. POA. Phone for details."

Allen

[driftwood]

The list of cars as posted here merged for ease and any comments !!
Chevron B16 Manufactured 1969-1971 Present history of B16 cars and owners
01 Works Car B16-DBE01 1969 Gr.5/6 Ken Walker 01 Phoenix Arizona USA
02 Works Car B16-DBE02 Ford Gr.5/6 John Bridges
03 D. Mortland
04 Robins B16-DBE04 Ford Gr.5/6 Chevron Cars => Brian Robinson 04 Richard Budge

05 Baker USA (written off 1970)
06 J. Burton B16-DBE06 Ford Gr.5/6 Worcestershire Racing Asocciation (Burton) 06 Tony Griffiths
07 Red Rose Racing - J. Bridges B16-DBE07 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Red Rose Racing (J. Bridges) 07 Peter Grant
08 I. Skailes B16-DBE08 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Willie Tuckett 08 Andrew Fletcher - rebuilt after bad crash

09 Koepchen Tuning (BMW Questor Car) B16-DBE09 BMW 1970 Gr.5/6 Koepchen Tuning 09 Ex Simon Phillips - driven by B. Bell (Sold to Sweden 1984)
10 Works Car (Written off in Germany 1970) B16-DBE10 1970 Gr.5/6

11 Not manufactured
12 Skelen (Crashed in Germany; still about) 12 Claus Petz Beckhauser (in bits in Germany)
13 Not manufactured
14 Yves Deprez (Belgium fitted Mazda engine) B16-DBE14 Mazda 1970 Gr.5/6 Levis Int. Racing
15 Cowdley
16 T.A.P.
17 Baker USA
18 Not manufactured
19 Not manufactured B16-DBE19 Ford 1970 Gr.5/6 Eris Tondelli
20 J. Siffert Switzerland 20 Brian Taylor

21 Baker USA
22 Not manufactured
23 Not manufactured
24 Not manufactured
25 Not manufactured
26 Not manufactured B16-DBE26 BMW 1970 Gr.5/6 Chevron Racing Team

27 J. Siffert Switzerland
28 J. Siffert Switzerland
29 Dobby
30 Not manufactured
31 Not manufactured
32 Not manufactured
33 Not manufactured
34 Sevart 1971 B16-DBE34 1970 Gr.5/6 Tilmant

35 R. Heavans
36 J. Siffert (Burnt out Goodwood 1983)
B16S-70-01 Ford FVC 1970 Gr.6 Chevron Cars (Redman) => Team Gunston ...=> Jo Siffert Automobiles Racing Ltd....=> Don Shead From 1969 - 1970, 20 B16 were built
1971 3 B16 were built
A total of 23 cars

[Simon Hadfield]

The original Mazda car exists in a private collection and when found still had the period tyres fitted. Lord Laidlaws is one other of the "famous five"- any guesses for the other three? The best story I have heard so far is of the original owner of one of the updated B16/21/23s (long since sold) decides to "rebuild" his identity, to find on completion that 3 B16s already exist with his number!

[Simon Hadfield]

The Minoprio car is that built by Plygrange for Jim Crawford and Barrie Williams to use in Thundersports in the mid-eighties. Note the chassis number-22

[driftwood]

[BMore likely is "Chevron B16. POA. Phone for details."
][/B]allows the vendor to build the car to your specs & colour and decide what history he can pull out of the hat to make you swoon!

The best story I have heard so far is of the original owner of one of the updated B16/21/23s (long since sold) decides to "rebuild" his identity, to find on completion that 3 B16s already exist with his number! See above comment!!!
Hypafetical question
" I own a car that was once B16 & now a Bsomefink or other- can i go and get new VM built B16 chassis kit and create the old original B16 tag number or would i need to add in the gearbox ( engine? ) uprights to make the car more original?"
what would constitute the "continuous" car
how close is the b16 tube frame to the later B19 21 23 frames?
could i turn the b 19 21 23 car back into the B16 car and claim the prized chassis plate# and the extra £50k on the windscreen price

Note the chassis number-22
now how "dumb" was that everyone knows ( after reading the derek bennet story) cars dont have multiples of 11 in the build number sequence

[allenbrown]

Simon, which one does Lord Laidlaw have?

I think I was once told (can't remember who by) that there were 44 Chevron B16s registered for racing around the world at one point.

[Simon Hadfield]

Lord Laidlaws is 04,repatriated from the US by Ian Giles then to -briefly- Reg Skeels, to Richard Budge, Michael Schryver and now Lord Laidlaw. The Brian Taylor car mentioned above (and if it is number 20 is one of five!) is very real, he got the car from Alan Eisner, sold it to John Lloyd who in turn sold it to Japan. The reputation was that this had been Jo Sifferts road car and it had very neatly fitted proper door handles etc.

[driftwood]

what about the ex watson now aba kogan car?

[allenbrown]

Does anyone know who is meant by "Skelen", "Cowdley", "T.A.P.", "Dobby" and "Sevart" in Peter Grant's letter. I've made sense of the others but not these five.

As well as the cars in the list, Archie Phillips also had a car in Ireland from August onwards. It went to Adrian Wilkins for 1971.

All the B16s vanish abruptly at the end of 1971 so I guess they all became B21s. Chevron list 28 B21s (to add to the 35 B19s) so this isn't going to be simple. However, if Chris can sort out 134 Ralt RT4s, anything is possible.

Allen

[driftwood]

So far the Chevron "people" both north and south have so far stepped around the B16 B21 chassis swap thing when ive raised the matter

however if you have nowt to do and you read the 1972 European 2litre sports car race write ups you will see some b16 cars mentioned as "so n so" appeared with his B21 ( formally his B16) at a race meeting

You must be keen and dilligent to find them i would suggest the 1st 4 races will be the place to find the comments

I believe the B16 upgrades to B21 cars are included in the 28 car build sequence and not extra cars

[Bryan Miller]

Allen,

From this distance , with nary a B16 ever racing here , I believe '' Dobby'' will be Denys Dobbie [ spelling ] whose cars all ran under D.A.R.T. , Dobbie Automobile Racing Team.
Dark blue with a long forward facing arrow down each side.

We did have a B16 here for a short while , it was black and had Willhire stickers on it , would have been poss. mid 1980's , car was up for auction along with the owners other car a McLaren M8? , from memory both cars had been imported to race , however the owner then had to return to the U.K. ?? and cars went to auction at Sydney showgrouds , I wanted the B16 badly , but it got to $ 32000.00 Aust. and that was very serious money then , both were passed in and presumably returned to your shores.

This now neatly returns me to a question I have posed twice re a ''Chevron B23 ''that has been here since 1979/1980 , it was not a B23 however had been sold as such by Lodge Corner Agencies in the U.K. and had a set of old B21/B23 body panels on outriggers over an unknown sports racing car , Max Brunninghausen [ owner of our only B8 ] and I went over this car 3 times and we could not for the life of us figure out what it was , the spare panels on the car had old BOAC 1000 kms stickers extant.
Car was fitted with an FT200 and what was purported to be a BDG [ iron block ] on carbs. Also had Chevron 10'' fronts and Minilite 12'' rears , two sets.
The gearchange had been converted from centre of cockpit to near driver's r.h.s. on top chassis rail.

If maybe Simon Hadfield or someone had some photo's of an uncovered B16 I may be able to identify some points , the car had been something very well made in a lot of respects especially the fuel tanks , this was no backyarder.

Bryan.

[Bryan Miller]

Further to the above , Steve McQueen's Solar Productions hired some B16's for the Le Mans film , and his biography says they wrote off a few cars during filming , but these may have been Porsche or Ferrari just as easily.
However I always question the word '' Written off'' .

Bryan.

[driftwood]

Solar had written off 2 Lola T70 cars so its possible they shunted some B16 cars but where are the records to say they had them on the company books?

the unknown car have your tried Gropa that was Chevron b8 based car

can you host photos of what you where looking at so we can inspect?

re BOAC 1000 stickers perhaps a quick look down the entry /results sheet could throw up "1 off" type cars that we can consider