VIN: the works Alan Mann Racing Ford P68 chassis 01
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History of chassis 01
Chassis 01 was the first Ford P68 completed. It was built by Alan Mann Racing with a shorter wheelbase than subsequent examples which meant the P68’s naturally nervous handling characteristics were amplified.
During shakedown tests at Goodwood, the team’s number one driver, Frank Gardner, found 01 too cramped, hence the move to a longer wheelbase. John Surtees and Jack Brabham also took the wheel pre-season, but subsequently refused to race the unstable machine.
Alan Mann had hoped Lotus drivers Jim Clark and Graham Hill would pilot 01 for its debut race at the Brands Hatch 6 Hours on April 7th. However, Lotus kept their drivers to an already agreed Formula 2 date at Hockenheim; an event that would claim Jim Clark’s life.
Mike Spence and Jochen Rindt were therefore asked to drive at Brands instead.
The two P68s arrived late. In chassis 02, Bruce McLaren qualified second. Meanwhile, Spence set a time good enough for fifth in 01.
During the session, a problem had arisen though; 01’s engine ran very hot (one of several key problems with the design). Upon inspection, the Cosworth DFV proved not to be in a raceable state. As a result, 01 was withdrawn from the event.
Alan Mann partnered his fastest drivers in 02 (Spence and McLaren) while Hulme and Rindt were sent home.
Before the P68’s next race, Mike Spence was killed testing a Lotus at Indianapolis.
Pedro Rodriguez and Chris Irwin were brought in to drive 01 at the Nurburgring 1000km on May 19th. Frank Gardner and Richard Attwood shared the long wheelbase car (02).
Friday was the first day of practice. With the track still damp, Irwin went out and set a blistering time on his second lap. However, on his third, the P68 got airborne going over the bump at Flugplatz. It rolled end-over-end at high speed and finished upside down in a ditch with the engine still running.
The marshals were afraid to go near the fuel-soaked car in case it caught fire. It was left to fellow drivers, Jean Guichet and Rico Steinemann, to extract Irwin who had been critically injured. They bravely turned the ignition off and got the semi-conscious driver out.
Irwin was sent to hospital and while he did eventually recover, his racing career was over.
What then happened to 01 is open to conjecture. Some reports claim that Alan Mann felt its links to Clark, Spence and Irwin meant the car was cursed; Mann reputedly oversaw that it was scrapped once any salvageable parts were removed.
Another account claims Mann told the car’s designer, Len Bailey, to scrap 01 and that Bailey stored the severely damaged car instead. Bailey is said to have later sold the car to David Piper, who reconstructed 01 with some major modifications. The chassis supposedly had its wheelbase extended and the engine made a stressed member. Considerable suspension, brake and aerodynamic changes were also implemented.
Notable History
Alan Mann Racing
07/04/1968 WSC Brands Hatch 6 Hours (J. Rindt / M. Spence) DNS (#33)
19/05/1968 WSC Nurburgring 1000km (C. Irwin / P. Rodriguez) DNS (#8)
Severely damaged in Irwin’s Nurburgring crash
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
