1969 - MIRAGE M3 SPYDER, CHÂSSIS 001

Lot 7
Go to lot
1969 - MIRAGE M3 SPYDER, CHÂSSIS 001
Châssis : Aluminium monocoque Bodywork : Aluminium Weight : 640 kg Dimensions : 2400 mm / 1490 mm Engine : Ford Cosworth V8 DFV 3.0l Gearbox : 5 vitesses Hewland DG 300 (5 speed) Brakes : Ventilated discs Rims : Aluminium Suspensions : Front double wishbones, rear arm & wishbones Second race for the Mirage M3: 1,000 Km of Zeltweg 1969. Jacky Ickx on pole position. A THWARTED DESTINY Born in the middle of a regulatory imbroglio, this spyder powered by a Formula 1 engine didn’t know the trajectory its noble origin intended. In three outings, it has nevertheless revealed a magnificent potential validated by two pole positions and a victory! Everything seems to be going well on the world of endurance racing in this year 1967. The Ford-Ferrari duel was in full swing and the spectators were treated to some dream machines. But, in front of the soaring performances, the sporting power takes fear. In August, it announced that the endurance racing would be based on two new pillars from the 1968 season. On the one hand: the “sport prototypes” (Group 6) whose engine capacity was now limited to 3 liters. On the other hand, the “sports cars” (Group 5) could have a capacity of 5 liters but had to be produced in at least 50 examples (finally only 25 examples were required). With a stroke of the pen, the mythical Ford MK IV 7 liters, Ferrari P4 4 liters and other Chaparral 2F 7 liters are sacrificed on the altar of safety! This diktat raises a general outcry. While Ford and Ferrari slammed the door on endurance racing, John Wyer showed more pragmatism, from his workshops in Slough, in the London suburbs. The English manager quickly saw that this upheaval offered a superb opportunity to bring out his beloved GT40s, now subsidized by Gulf Oil. Aware that the GT40 was at the end of its career, the boss of John Wyer Automotive Engineering decided to play both sides. At the same time as the GT40 was entered in the “Sport” category, he launched the construction, for 1968, of a prototype that he wanted to power with the Ford-Cosworth V8 that had just made a thunderous debut in Formula 1. Unfortunately, Ford refused him this engine! No matter: John Wyer asks the engineer Len Terry, known for his collaborations with Lotus and Eagle, to design this Mirage M2, equipped with a V12 BRM. The development of this prototype is disrupted by an accident that postpones its entry into competition to 1969. Fortunately, the team’s valiant Ford GT 40s won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the world championship! The M2 finally made its racing debut on April 13, 1969 at Brands Hatch in the hands of Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver. During its five outings, the proto with Gulf colors is struggling. After his successes of the previous year, John Wyer finally gets a Cosworth engine, which is installed in the 001 chassis, until then only used for testing. This M2-001 takes part on June 1st in the 1000 Kilometers of the Nürburgring alongside chassis 003, equipped with the new 48-valve BRM V12. Although it did not finish the race, the Cosworth version proved to be more competitive. Encouraged by a new about-face of the sporting power which does not impose any more a broad windshield to the sport prototypes, Len Terry goes back to work and modifies the M2-001 chassis to make it a spyder, baptized M3. The removal of the roof results in better aerodynamics as well as a weight reduction of 36 kilos, which is added to the weight saving offered by the new engine and gearbox (the light Hewland gearbox replaces the ZF). In this configuration, the Mirage is transformed! This spyder made its debut at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen on July 17. The Ickx/Oliver duo qualified in fifth position but had to abandon due to a broken camshaft. His participation in the final of the world championship, held at Zeltweg on 10 August, was much more convincing. The 001 chassis was again modified: new exhausts, lowered front and rear hoods to improve the aerodynamics, reinforced suspensions... Jacky Ickx was the fastest driver in Friday’s practice session and no one was able to beat him on Saturday. The Belgian started from pole position and led for 99 laps until a steering problem forced him to give up victory to the Porsche 917 of Jo Siffert. Eager to confirm this potential, JWAE entered the M3 spyder in the 500 km of Imola on September 14. Once again Jacky Ickx took pole position and dominated the race, which was finally cut short by heavy rain. Ironically, the M3 spyder took its first victory in what turned out to be its last race.
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue