1967 Brabham BT23B Intercontinental Single Seater Racing Car

Description

Founded by World Champion racing driver (Sir) Jack Brabham and chief designer Ron Tauranac in 1960, Motor Racing Developments rapidly became one of the major players in all forms of motorsport for the next decade, competing at every level from Formula One to Indianapolis.  Brabham’s BT23 was the mainstay of the 1967 season, a single-seater chassis that primarily raced in Formula 2 that year followed by the updated BT23C in 1968.  In typical fashion Brabham released numerous BT23 variants for other categories, including the Tasman series (the Repco-powered BT23A and BT23Es raced by Jack Brabham himself in 1967-1968, along with the Alfa-powered BT23D for Alec Mildren’s team) and SCCA Formula B events in North America (the BT23F/BT23G), plus Formula Libre and hill climbing in Europe (the BT23B offered here).  Only three BT23B chassis were completed, two of them sold to hillclimbers and the third destined for Formula Libre events.  The frame was widened to accommodate either 2-litre or 2.5-litre Climax engines and larger Hewland gearbox, a combination ultimately outclassed by the latest generation of Cosworth FVA-powered cars.  Mike Hawley and Swiss driver Charles Vogele acquired the two cars destined for the mountains while George Pitt took delivery of the third car intended for circuit racing.  The BT23s have proven highly competitive in historic racing for many years and are eligible for just about any event on the calendar, both here in Australia and around the world.