30 Jan Anniversary Celebration: Tyrrell-Ford
One of the jewels in FMM’s collection is the Tyrrell-Ford 007 that took part in the 1974 Formula 1 Championship driven by South Africa’s Jody Scheckter. It is Chassis No.1, and the following year was raced locally by Jody’s older brother, Ian. Mike Monk reveals the 50-year-old car’s racing record…
The Tyrrell 007 is an F1 racing car designed by Tyrrell‘s Chief Designer, Derek Gardner. It was used in the 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 Formula One seasons. The engine is a naturally-aspirated 2 993 cc 90-deg V8 Ford-Cosworth DFV coupled with a Hewland FG400 five-speed manual gearbox. Front suspension comprised double wishbones, rocker arms and inboard coil-spring-over-damper units. Rear suspension was double wishbones and coil-spring-over-damper units. Front track was 1 590 mm, rear 1 575 mm and the wheelbase 2 591 mm. The monocoque chassis weighed 625 kg
In the first three races of 1974, (Argentina, Brazil and South Africa), Tyrrell used the earlier 005 and 006 chassis. The Elf Team Tyrrell 007 made its debut at the Spanish Grand Prix, while team-mate Patrick Depailler raced the 006. Jody was allocated 007/1 and was immediately highly competitive. Both drivers had an 007 for the next race, the Belgian GP.
Jody’s F1 Grand Prix race record in 1974 with 007/1 is as follows:
April 28 Spain 5th
May 12 Belgium 3rd
May 26 Monaco 2nd
June 9 Sweden 1st
June 23 Dutch 5th
July 7 France 4th
July 20 Great Britain 1st
August 4 Germany 2nd
August 18 Austria retired, 8 laps, engine failure
September 8 Italy 3rd
On September 22 at the Canadian GP, 007/1 was the team’s ‘T’ car. On October 6 at the United States GP, the car was used only in practice. Jody raced another chassis at these events. In 1974, the Elf Team Tyrrell team scored 52 World Championship points – four points were scored by the 005 and the 007 scored 48 points, earning them third place in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Jody finished third in the Driver’s Championship, scoring 45 points.
As a quick aside, an interesting anecdote from Jody’s autobiography. “The Belgian Grand Prix at Nivelles should have seen us on pole position. According to every reliable stopwatch in the stadium, mine was the only car to beat one minute eleven seconds., but the official timekeepers somehow got Clay Regazzoni’s Ferrari over a second quicker than me. Even the Ferrari team were embarrassed, and appealed to the officials to amend their time. The Belgians weren’t buying it though, so I started from the outside of the front row.” Jody finished third, passing Regazzoni on the last lap…
The following year the car was sold to Lexington Racing for Jody’s elder brother, Ian, to race in the SA Championship. Ian’s race record in 1975 with 007/1 is as follows;
February 8 Cape South Easter, Killarney retired lap 13, spin
March 1 South African GP, Kyalami retired lap 55, accident
March 22 Goldfields 100, Welkom 1st
March 29 Mercury 100, Hesketh, PMB 1st
May 3 Winter Trophy, Brandkop 1st
May 31 Republic Trophy, Kyalami 1st
July 5 False Bay 100, Killarney 5th
July 26 Rand Winter Trophy, Kyalami 1st
September 1 Natal Spring Trophy, PMB retired lap 7, driveshaft
October 4 Rand Spring Trophy, Kyalami 1st
Ian finished second in the Driver’s Championship with 63 points, five points behind champion Dave Charlton.
The car was entered for Ian in the 1976 South African GP, but he crashed on the opening lap.
So it is clear to see that Tyrrell 007/1 has a proud history, recording a top five place in all but one of ten races in the 1974 Formula 1 Championship, and a top five place (including six wins) in all but two of nine races in the 1975 South African Championship.
Resplendent in its distinctive blue Elf Team Tyrrell livery carrying Jody’s 1974 season race number 3, 007/1 is on display in Hall D.
