Images: Bonhams
This 1972 Chevron-Ford B20 has plenty of pace with looks and history to match. It’s also estimated at a very reasonable £25,000 – 30,000 for when it goes to auction at Bonhams‘ Collectors’ Automobilia and Motor Cars Sale this December.
The car, B20-72-9, was the last B20 to be sold from Chevron’s Bolton factory. John Green bought it in early 1973 and sold it on to the Schollum brothers in New Zealand, who brought Steve Millen on board to take on driving duties for 1974 and 1975.
“Whenever there was a twisty bit, we could out-handle and out-brake the F5000 cars.” - Steve Millen
It was in Steve’s hands that it established the Chevron name in open-wheeled racing in Asia as well as in the Tasman Series. He took a shine to harassing the Formula 5000 cars in the 1975 New Zealand Tasman Series, consistently competing above the B20’s pay grade. The pair claimed 5th at Bay Park and secured an F2 class record at Teretonga.
In Asia Steve and B20-72-9 raised their game again, climbing onto the podium steps three times.
Steve Millen would go on to race in IMSA Camel GT and to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, his career kickstarted in this car.
After Steve’s time Ian Grey acquired the Chevron and continued to race it up to 1977. He sold it on to Dick Ward in 1979 and it went to its current owner in 1990.
B20-72-9 was fully restored by Garry Simkin in Sydney, Australia in the early ’00s. The motor is a fully blue-printed 1790cc Chevron factory Cosworth-Ford FVC four-cylinder racing engine and that has been rebuilt by Rodney Gibbs of Superior Automotive with the support of Peter Molloy.
With its nut-and-bolt restoration complete, the Chevron returned to racing at Eastern Creek International Raceway in 2007. From there it was campaigned extensively in Australia, returning to New Zealand in 2010 to compete at Hampton Downs and on the New Zealand Grand Prix course at Pukekohe.
The car itself has only completed 11 race meetings since its restoration, with the rebuilt engine only re-installed in 2010, and having just six events on it since then. To the best of its owner’s knowledge it has never been crashed in its entire career.
It’s in wonderful ready-to-race condition, with a CAMS logbook and extensive spares package, and looks like a stunning entry into the historic racing scene.
It will be auctioned at Bonhams’ Collectors’ Automobilia and Motor Cars Sale on December the 7th, 2014. Head to Bonhams’ official website here for more information.
Images via Bonhams.
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