1968 Howmet TX

Xavier Micheron driving the Howmet TX at Paul Ricard in the Dix Mille Tours meeting 2017

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Howmet / McKee, USA.  The Howmet TX was the brainchild of racing driver Ray Heppenstall.  TX stood for Turbine Experimental as the car was powered by a helicopter's gas turbine jet engine. Heppenstall convinced Howmet Corporation, who produced aluminium parts for gas turbines, that the car  could be a winner and a good marketing tool. The chassis was made by McKee Engineering who previously had made some Can-Am cars.  Thus the car was in effect a McKee Mk9.   The original engine was a Continental TS525-1 gas turbine that had been designed for a helicopter program but never used.  The engines were leased from Continental Aviation and Engineering and returned after the racing program ended.  Thus restored Howmet TX tend to use Allison helicopter engines although one still has a Continental engine.  The original Continental engine were classified by the FIA as equivalent to just under 3 litres and thus the Howmet ran in the Group 6 under 3 litre prototype class. The car raced in the major World Championship endurance races of 1968 including the Daytona 24 hours, 12 hours of Sebring, BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch, Watkins Glen 6 hours and finally the Le Mans 24 hours.   In many of these races it did not finish but it did finish third at Watkins Glen in the hands of Dick Thompson and Ray Heppenstall.  It also raced in shorter sprint races at Oulton Park and in the SCCA series in the USA.  In June 1968 Ray Heppenstall took the Howmet's first win at an SCCA race at Huntsville.  Thompson also took a SCCA win at Marlboro. The Howmet is the only Gas Turbine powered car to have won races.  Another driver in period was British airline pilot Hugh Dibley.   In 1970 the Howmet took a few FIA speed records and then the program ended. Two cars were built in period and a third car built in 2000 using a spare chassis.  In recent years the cars have appeared at the major Historic events in the US and Europe.

Leading a Chevron B16 at Paul Ricard.

The rear three-quarter view of the Howmet TX in the Paul Ricard paddock.

1968 Chevron B8-BMW

1968 Chevron-BMW B8, Le Mans Classic 2016

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Chevron, Bolton, England. Chevron was the name given to the cars produced by Derek Bennett, an amateur racing driver.   The B8 followed on from the B6 and was a 2 litre Group 4 sports/GT car. Although 50 examples were required to homologate it into Group 4, there were probably only 44 built between 1968 and 1970. Since 2006 more have been produced by Chevron as New Factory Continuation Cars and are eligible for historic racing.  Most B8s had a mid-mounted 4 cylinder 2 litre 195 bhp BMW engine powering the rear wheels.  Some cars were powered by Ford Cosworth engines such as the FVA. One car was delivered  with a 2.7 litre Climax engine.  Chassis was an aluminium semi-monocoque steel space frame and the body was glass fibre.  John Bridges debuted the car at Cadwell Park in March 1968 and John Lepp scored the first win at Mallory park the same month.  Other drivers to win with the car included Chris Skeaping, Barrie Smith, John Blades, John Burton, Nigel Morrison and David Purley.  Best International result was a class win and sixth overall in the 1969 Daytona 24 hours.  The B8 also finished first in class and seventh overall in the 1969 BOAC 500.  They were good looking, fast and reliable cars and it is good to see them still compete in historic racing today.

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1968 Alpine Renault A220

Besson & Dougnac, 1968 Alpine Renaault A220, Le Mans Classic 2016.

Alpine Renault, Dieppe, France.  The A220 was the biggest capacity car that Alpine had produced to date.  It was built for the new 3 litre prototype regulations that came into place in 1968.  Alpine got Gordini to join two of their 1.5 litre 4 cylinder engines together to produce a 3 litre V8.  However, it proved less powerful than the competition at only 310bhp.  The A220 chassis was a modified A210 chassis but it didn't handle as well with the bigger engine.  It was, however, reliable and it finished 8th at Le Mans in 1968.

1968 Saab 96 V4

Jean-Claude Rouffet, Saab 96 V4, Montée Historique de Beaune-Saint Romain

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For more photos of the 2016 Montée Historique de Beaune Saint Romain, click on he link above.

Saab, Trollhätten, Sweden.  The Saab 96 was a four seater two door saloon car produced for nearly twenty years between 1960 and 1980.  Initially it had a three cylinder two stroke 850cc Saab engine but in 1967 the 1,500cc Ford Taunus V4 option was offered as well. The V4 was later enlarged to 1,700cc.   The 2 stroke was discontinued in 1968. The body was functional and aerodynamic.  From 1965 the cars featured a longer nose as seen above.  The Saab 96 was a very successful rally car, due to its front wheel drive and reliability, particularly in the hands of Erik Carlsson who won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963 and the RAC Rally in 1960, 61 and 62.   He also won the San Remo, Acropolis and Czech rallies in a Saab 96.  The V4 achieved success by winning the Swedish Rally in 1973 driven Stig Blomqvist and in 1976 driven by Per Eklund.

1968 Sunbeam Stiletto

Bruno Illanoi, 1968 Sunbeam Stiletto, Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain 2016.

Pour plus photos de la Montée Historique de Beaune-St Romain, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the first Montée Historique (untimed hillclimb) at St Romain in Burgundy, click on the link above.

Rootes, Linwood, Scotland.   The Stiletto was the better looking fastback coupé version of the Imp with the uprated sport engine and four headlamps .  It was produced from 1967 to 1972. The orginal version of the Stiletto had a top speed of about 90mph and apparently was no more aerodynamically efficient than the Imp despite its appearance.  Nearly 9,000 Stilettos were made.  I note the one in the photo has the 998cc engine which was a fairly common replacement from the Rallye version of the Imp.I certainly remember special saloon versions of the Stiletto in British club racing.  They also took part in many other forms of racing and rallying but had no really famous successes.

1968 Lamborghini Muira P400

1968 Lamboghini Muira P400, Retromobile 2016

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For more photos from the 2016 Salon Retromobile follow the link above.

Lamborghini, Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy.   The famous bodywork of the Muira was created by Bertone.  It had a 4 litre V12 Lamborghini engine mounted behind the driver.  This was the first Lamborghini to rival if not beat the Ferraris of the time in terms of desirability.  It had an over 170 mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of under 6.5 seconds, making it outstandingly quick for its day.

Ford P68 3L

Ford 3L P68, Retromobile, Paris, 2016 

A link to more photos from Retromobile coming soon.

Ford 3L P68.  Constructor- Alan Mann Racing, Byfleet, England.  Powered by a 3 litre Cosworth Ford DFV engine.  it was a Group 6 prototype.  It made a competitive debut at the 1968 BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch driven by Bruce McLaren and Mike Spence.  Although it was very fast, inherent aerodynamic stability led to accidents and a lack of finishes.  Nevertheless, a beautiful car and one those who saw the 1968 BOAC 500 will never forget.

1968 Alfa T33/2 "Le Mans" Coupe1968

1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 in its Giunti/Galli Le Mans livery at Retromobile 2015. 

I am looking forward to this year's Retromobile in a few weeks time.  Follow this link for more info.

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For more photos of Retromobile in 2015, follow this link.

Autodelta SpA, Alfa Romeo, Italy.  This 2 litre V8 car achieved some success in endurance racing in 1968.  It started with a class win at Daytona in the 24 hours that gave the car its name of Daytona.   Class wins were also achieved at the Targa Florio and Nurburgring.   At Le Mans the 2 litre cars finished 4th, 5th and 6th and won the 2 litre class with the long tails configuration seen here.   The car picture is in the livery of the Ignazio Giunti/Nanni Galli car that came fourth.  The long tail cars are not strictly to be called Daytonas.   Overall victories were won in non-championship races at Mugello and Imola. Over 25 cars were built.  Later in the year a 2.5 litre car appeared.

1968 Matra MS10 V12 F1

Classic Days à Magny Cours 2014 - 1968 Matra MS10 V12 F1

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For more photos of the 2014 Classic Days at Magny Cours, follow the link above.

Matra, Romorantin-Lanthenay, France.  The MS10 was the first Matra powered F1 car.

Mon astuce pour faire des belles photos
Pour un débutant, il est plus facile de prendre des photos d'action sur la partie la plus lente du cours comme une chicane ou virage en épingle.

Top photo tip
For a beginner it is easiest to take action shots on the slowest part of the course such as a chicane or hairpin bend.