Brabham BT 4 (Tasman 1962)

[Denis Lupton]

The BT4,s were a strengthened,updated version of the BT3 F1 car,
fitted with 2.5 litre Coventry Climax FPF engine and Colotti Type 32 5 speed gearboxes.using Lola rear uprights,with the rear 'A' arm(wishbone) fitted to the top of the upright.The body fitted right to the rear of the car ,with a small aperture at the rear to assist in airflow over the gearbox.The bodywork made this car easily identifiable from the later Tasman Brabham's -BT7A and BT11A- as the bodywork on these car's finished at the rear crossmember,exposing the , by then, Hewland gearbox, and driveshafts.
The BT4's first appearance was a works entry for Jack Brabham, in
IC-1-62 for the Australian Grand Prix at Caversham,W A, on November 18,
1962.Jack had a DNF being involved in an accident with Arnold Glass,
which resulted in a split radiator.
The next appearance of BT4's were enmasse,3 cars appearing at the next major meeting,again the Australian Grand Prix, this time at Warwick Farm
on February 10 1963, only 3 odd month's separating the two events.
IC-1-62 with new owner,David McKay in his Scuderia Veloce colours and finishing a good Fourth
IC-2-62 Work's entry for Jack Brabham,no mistakes fininishing First
IC-3-62 New car for Bib Stillwell, finishing Fifth. Bib went on to win the
1963 and 1964 Gold Star,Australian Champion Driver, with this car.
Histories are as follows E&OE
IC-1-62 Works entry for Jack Brabham, to Scuderia Veloce(David McKay
Spencer Martin, Kerry Grant, and Graham Hill)
to John McCormack
to Ken Messenger
displayed at Hahndorf Museum
to Art Valdez USA
IC-2-62 Works Jack Brabham,Denny Hulme
to Lex Davison
to Wally Mitchell ,here the plot thicken,s as two chassis appears?,
to David Sternberg
to Bill Marchiori
to Fred Wheelhouse,chassis rebuilt by Bob Brittan, engine
rebuilt and dynoed.
to John Fitzpatrick
to Austen Miller
to John Coombes
IC-3-62 Bib Stillwell ( Chassis number always confused with FJ-11-62,
a BT2 number reportedly used for carnet purposes)
to John Reilly NZ then
Bill Thomasen
Ian Green
Syd Jensen
Jim Boyd
Bryan Falloon
David Manton ( 19/9/85)
Richard Hookes ( 1986)
Ivan Glasby Australia
John Harper U.K
To see these cars, in this period,was exciting stuff, as they were a lot quicker than the then current F1 cars, 2.5 litre against 1.5 litre was no contest.
Cheers Denis