1973 Chevron

This 1973 Chevron is among 26 examples of the B23 variant built as part of a series of open sports racing cars by Derek Bennett Engineering in the UK. Chassis 10A was originally owned by Swiss driver Michel Dupont, who campaigned it at three FIA World Championship of Makes races in 1973. The car was piloted by Dupont and Paul Blancpain for 229 laps at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as to a class victory at the Zeltweg 1,000 Kilometers at Osterreichring. It then spent several years in the UK, where it was fitted with a Skoda body before being purchased by then-Chevron managing director Roger Andreason in 1986 and returned to its factory-style configuration in 1990. Imported to the US in 1999, the car was acquired in 2008 by its current owner François Castaing, a former executive at Renault, American Motors, and Chrysler. Mr. Castaing’s accolades include co-designing the Alpine A442B which won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1978, and overseeing the development of the Dodge Viper. The owner was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2010 and has raced this B23 at numerous historic events including Thunderhill, Circuit of the Americas, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, and Laguna Seca. Power is from an aluminum-block 1,975cc Cosworth BDG inline-four that features mechanical fuel injection and is said to have last been rebuilt in March 2020. Additional features include an aluminum-skinned space frame, a Hewland five-speed manual transaxle, adjustable coilover suspension, and updated safety equipment. This Chevron B23 is offered on behalf of its current owner by his daughter with historical documentation, service records, a 1991 FIA historic certification, an HSR logbook, spare parts and gear sets, and an Arizona bill of sale. The Chevron marque was founded by Manchester engineer Derek Bennett, who had designed and built several successful formula and GT race cars beginning in the mid-1960s. The B19 model was introduced in 1971 to compete in Group 6 sports prototype racing, and five further evolutions of the 2.0-liter sports racing design culminated with the B36 in 1976. The B23 variant was offered in 1973, and featured fiberglass bodywork over a steel tubular space frame with steel sheet metal and stressed aluminum skins forming the bulkheads and cockpit. According to notes in its FIA historic paperwork, chassis 10A was fitted with a Skoda body in the late 1970s that was replaced with period-style Chevron panels during a 1990 refurbishment. The nose is described as being from a later B26, and aerodynamic aids include a red front splitter and adjustable rear spoiler. The body is said to have been repainted several times since installation including in its current yellow, white, and red Shell livery. A video tour can be viewed above. Magnesium alloy 13” wheels are secured by hexagonal center-lock nuts, and measure 10” and 14” in width with 9.0/20.0 and 13.0/23.0 Avon racing tires, respectively. Ventilated disc brakes feature Alcon four-piston calipers, dual Girling master cylinders, and cooling hoses routed from intakes on the nose and behind the driver’s door. The right-hand-drive cockpit features a molded seat with a Willans harness as well as an updated roll bar. A fiberglass panel covers the left side, which was required to be open by period FIA Group 5 rules. Additional safety equipment includes a SPA Firefighter fire suppression system and an electrical kill switch. A quick-release Personal steering wheel sits ahead of a Stack 10k-rpm tachometer flanked by Racetech gauges monitoring fuel pressure, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and oil temperature. The gearshift is situated to the driver’s right. The mid-mounted 1,975cc Cosworth BDG inline-four incorporates an aluminum block, dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and mechanical fuel injection. Additional features include Lucas electronic ignition, dry-sump lubrication, an oil cooler, a Facet electric fuel pump, and a four-into-one exhaust header. The engine was rebuilt in early 2020, and additional repairs and maintenance from current ownership are reportedly documented in an included binder. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a Hewland FT200 five-speed manual transaxle. The front suspension features double wishbones, the rear setup uses lower wishbones with radius arms, and adjustable coilovers are featured along with anti-sway bars at both ends. The 1991 FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form shows the car in all-yellow paintwork and lists its ownership history up to that year. Its class victory and 10th-place overall finish at Österreichring in 1973 are noted along with 229 laps completed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before retirement due to gearbox failure. An updated list showing seven previous owners is included in the gallery below. The car has participated in a number of vintage races under current ownership, including events at Thunderhill, Coronado, Circuit of the Americas, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, and Laguna Seca. Onboard video from the latter is provided below.