Brabham BT8
Brabham
had built a BT5 sports car in 1963 and the two cars had been quite successful.
The first (SC-1-63) went to Ian Walker for Frank Gardner and Paul Hawkins
to drive and was bought for 1964 by Peter Sachs (see Vintage Motorsport
1/92, 2/92 and 3/92 for more on this car). In 2001, this car was bought
from Buzz Dyer by Bob Lee. The second (SC-2-63) went to Ed Zeller and was
wrecked in an accident at Monza. However, this car appears to have survived.
The BT8 was a development of the 1963 car and nine were built the first year, with another two being built in 1965 and a final car, for Willment, following in 1966. Another sports racing Brabham, the BT17, would follow, but flopped and MRD concentrated on single-seaters thereafter.
This research was conducted between 1993 and 1994 but is still updated as information is provided. Lincoln Small now maintains records of the current owners of each car and would welcome any updates. Thanks already to Lincoln, David McKinney, Ted Walker, Marcus Pye, Robs Lamplough, Darryl Clarke, Barrie Smith, Fred Ashplant, Brendan Roberts and Eli Solomon for updates.
| Chassis | History |
|---|---|
| Brabham
BT8 SC-1-64 |
Built for 1964 season and exhibited at Earls
Court Motor Show. Bill Knight and Arthur Owen (UK) 1964 with 2.0-litre
Climax - Robs Lamplough (UK) 1964 with 2.0-litre Climax - Judy Kondratieff
(US) for Bart Martin with 289ci Ford. Crashed at Candlestick Park
1965 and Martin killed.
Replica built by Philippe de Lespinay (US) 1991. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-2-64 |
 Built
for 1964 season. Hugh Dibley (UK) 1964 with 2.0-litre Climax -
Max Wilson (UK) 1966. Last recorded Autosport advert February
1967.
Malcolm Douglas (Edmonton, Canada) 1968 (and possibly 1967, as yet unproven): First seen on 21 Jul 1968 in a Quebec Regional Championship event at St. Jovite; advertised in Autoweek 11 Oct 1969 ("M. Douglas" of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). To Norbert Ball (Canada) 1969 - Don Armstrong (Canada) 1971 - Darryl Clarke (Canada) 1975 - Mark Reid (Canada) 1976 - via Bill Sainsbury (Canada) 1983 to Rob Grant (UK) 1984 - Rick Hall (UK) 1992 - John Harper (UK) 1993. This car owned by 'A Morrall' 1996, and advertised for sale 2000 by Alasdair Southall (possibly still owned by Morrall). Owned by Peter Mullen in 2005 and being offered for sale by Gregor Fisken. Was raced by Ivan Scotti who ran it at Spa in the 6hrs meeting Sept 2004 but did not start. |
| Brabham
BT8 SC-3-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Roger Nathan (UK) 1964 - Jeremy Morgan (UK) 1965 - Barrie Smith (UK) 1967 (bought with two engines: a 2-litre FPF and a V8 Climax F1 engine stretched to 2 litres); sold to the US ... imported from the UK by William Ashplant (brother of FB racer Fred) 1967 ... Dave Fenton (US) - Kevin Smith (US) - Ed Loveday (US) 1970 or 1971 with Climax V8 and later Hart twincam - Jim Mullen (1978) with Cosworth BDA - Richard Greer (US) early 1980's. Retained 1993. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-4-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Jackie Epstein (UK) 1964 - Tommy Hitchcock (UK) 1964 - Clive Lacey (UK) 1966 - David Capstick (UK) 1969 (and raced by Keith Grant in 1970) - Bib Stillwell (US) 1984. Retained 1993. |
| Brabham
BT8 SC-5-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Tom O'Connor's
Team Rosebud (US) 1964 with 2-litre BRM V8 - Victoria Public School (US)
about 1967 ...
"Boyd Grice" (US) - Paul Scott (US) early 1970s - Darryl Johnson (US) 1973 - Dee Johnson (US) 1974 - Steve Pike (Australia) 1989 - Steve Tillack (US) 1993: retained June 1995. To Duncan Dayton (US) 2000: being restored by Sid Hoole (Kimbolton, UK) 2001. Retained 2004 but crashed at the Goodwood Revival meeting. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-6-64 |
Built for 1964 season. 'Team Elite' for Denny Hulme
and Syd Taylor (UK) 1964 and 1965 with 2.0-litre Climax - Geoff Breakell
(UK) 1966 - Anthony Ward (UK) 1967...
"Robert Harvey" ... Bill Broome (US) - Bill Warner (US) 1976 - Mike Taradash (US) 1988 - Ben Murillo (US) 1988 - Julio Palmaz (San Antonio, TX) 1999: retained 2002. |
| Brabham
BT8 SC-7-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Brabham Racing Organisation (UK) 1964 with 2.75-litre Climax - Dave Morris 1964 with 2.0-litre Climax for Cliff Hayworth to drive (driven by Brabham at Laguna Seca GP and by Robs Lamplough at Candlestick; crashed at Nassau GP; rebuilt on new frame and later raced by Alan Johnson) - Dr Tom Tobin 1966: fitted with Traco-Oldsmobile V8 - Chuck McConnell - David Koehn - Jim Herlinger - Hank Fallek - David Larson - Roland Davies - Robin Depry - Kerry Morse - Phillippe de Lesinay by 1987: retained 1993. Believed to be the car entered at Monterey Historics by Paul Shea 1996 and 1999. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-8-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Jack Hinkle (US) with 2.75-litre
Climax but crashed badly in 1966. Remains to Bunny Ribbs (US) and
destroyed in garage fire. Some remains said to have gone via Don Orosco
to Milt Janzen.
Replica built by Jack Smith and Joe Cavaglieri (US) 1989. Milt Janzen (US) - David Smith (US): retained 1993. Believed to be the car entered by Tom Byrnes at Monterey Historics 1999. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-9-64 |
Built for 1964 season. Prince Motor Company (Japan) 1964. Retained 1993. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-1-65 |
Built for 1965 season. Harvey Timken (US) 1965 with 2.0-litre Climax for Lew Kerr (1965 SCCA E Sports/Racers national champion) - Skip Barber (US) 1966 - George Barber - Mack Flannigan - Howard Terpak - Stan Vigil - Steve Griswold - Robs Lamplough (UK) by 1986 - John Casado (US) 1987 - Steve Griswold (US) 1988 or 1989 - Mike Harrison (UK) 1994 ... from Rick Hall to Lincoln Small (UK) 1999: restored and retained 2001. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-2-65 |
Built for 1965 season. Bill Kay 1965 with 2.0-litre Climax for Peter Revson - Skip Barber (US) 1966 - Peter Helfrick (US) 1967 - Fred Opert (US) - Bill Mitchell (US) 1968 (second in 1968 SCCA B Sports/Racers runoffs) - Dave Headley (US) 1975 or 1976 - Rob Lamplough (UK) 1978 - Oliver Harris (UK) - Roger Baites (UK) about 1984 - Mike Harrison (UK) 1987 - Bruce McCaw (US) 1993. Sold by John Beasley at H & H Auction (Olympia 7 May 2003) to Graham Horder: blew engine in testing at Silverstone 2003 and car stored - Brendan Roberts early 2005. |
| Brabham BT8 SC-1-66 |
Built for 1966 season. Willment (UK) 1966 for Tony Dean - Peter Crossley (UK) 1967 - Richard Thwaites (UK) 1974 - Don Orosco (US) mid-1980's - Robert McClanagan (Knoxville, TN) around 1996-98: retained 2002. |
The one previous mystery car, Arthur Owen's, has now been resolved. See SC-1-64.
These histories last updated on 29 April, 2005 .