March 76A
March were still willing to produce a F5000 car if an order came in but hadn't laid down a production line since the disappointing 73A. Only one customer in 1974 and only one in 1975 but their 75A, equipped with a 3.4-litre Cosworth V6 and driven by Alan Jones, had proved highly competitive in the UK. For 1976, two orders arrived, one from US importer Doug Shierson and one from UK hill climb specialist Chris Cramer. Cramer's car would use the V6 again but Shierson went for a traditional Bartz-built Chevy.
Cramer's car looked fantastic in its Grünhalle livery but only picked up a single win, at Barbon Manor in May. Substantially revised by Mike Pilbeam for 1977 and later by Brian Martin for 1978, the car continued to be competitive with Cramer picking up three second places in 1977 and five more in 1978. The car continued in sprints and then libre for many seasons. The US car meanwhile, also picked up a single when Alan Jones won at Watkins Glen but the car was little used thereafter. It was last seen in 1979 in Can-Am.
If anyone can fill gaps or has news of the long-lost US 76A/2, please email Allen.
| Car | History | Current owner |
|---|---|---|
| March 76A/1 |  For Chris Cramer and fitted with 3.4-litre
Cosworth-Ford GA V6 engine for British hill climbs. Cramer British Hill
Climb Championship 1976, 1977, 1978 - Paul Edwards: British Sprint Championship 1979
(6 Run-Offs); updated to 78A specification: British Sprint Championship
1980 (5 Run-Offs) - Nigel Bigwood: British Sprint Championship
1981 (6 Run-Offs), 1982 (7 Run-Offs and one win at Lydden Hill in May 1982) - Tim and Tony Barry 1983: raced by Alan Kayes at
 Mallory Park libre
19 Jun 1983 (retired); Brands Hatch libre
14 Aug 1983 (2nd); run by Tony Barry at Brighton Speed Trials 10 Sep 1983
(3rd). Later run by Tony Barry at Mallory Park Sprint round 28 Jun 1986
(8th). Retained by the Barry brothers 2005 and raced by Tim in the HSCC Derek Bell Trophy. |
Tim and Tony Barry (UK) 2005 |
| March 76A/2 | For Doug Shierson using monocoque 'M76A:01' and gearbox DG300-445 and fitted with 5-litre Bartz-Chevrolet for US F5000 series. Run by Sid Taylor and driven by Alan Jones. First run at Silverstone 9 Jun 1976. Jones won on his debut at Watkins Glen on 11 Jul but drove a Lola T332C at the next race and the March was handed over to Bruce Allison, who failed to start. The car reappeared back in Shierson's possession at Riverside on 17 Oct, driven by Maurizio Flammini. The Italian qualified 13th but retired early from both his heat and the final with mechanical problems. To Dean Dietrich: raced in Can-Am 1978 (4 races); Can-Am 1979 (4 races). Subsequent history unknown. | Unknown |
Sources include "Uphill Racers" by Chris Mason and "A Record of the RAC British Hill Climb Championship by Paul Sheldon and Duncan Rabagliati. Adam Ferrington kindly provided details from March records. Alan Cox and Jeremy Jackson supplied the pictures. These histories last updated on 28 February, 2006 .