News

The original body buck for the BRM P15 V16, the first British Formula 1 car, has been discovered and will help create the second of three continuation cars.

A search for the body buck had been ongoing, but it was tracked down to the roof store of George Gray’s boat house. Gray was charged with turning Peter Berthon’s design into a fully formed body. The buck remained hidden in Gray’s loft for 70 years.

Paul Owen, grandson of Sir Alfred Owen of BRM, said: ‘With the discovery of the original body buck, we now have the opportunity to produce a car to the original shape and specification of Britain’s very first Formula 1 car. This car has not been seen in this form for over 70 years, and it is a privilege for the Owen family to be in a position to bring it to life once again.’

Rick Hall, the former BRM F1 team engineer who will oversee the construction of this ‘new’ BRM V16, said: ‘It is extremely satisfying to have finally tracked down the original Type 15 jig, which will enable us to craft the car in the form that it was presented to the world in 1949.
‘I believe that the simplicity and beautiful lines of this car will only really be appreciated in the flesh. Very few people alive today will have had the opportunity to see this car before. Looking back at the original drawings, we were surprised at the amount of technical changes that were made to the car in period. We are relishing the challenge to bring it back to life once again.