Pete05
Premium
- 7,080
- Melbourne, Australia
In 1961, Jack Brabham convinced his longtime friend, Ron Tauranac, to come to Europe to build racing cars together. They established MRD (Motor Racing Developments), and set about creating a new Formula Junior racer. After a single example was built, the manufacturer name was changed to Brabham as MRD sounded to similar to a French swearword.
Based in the unique MRD Formula Junior, Brabham and Tauranac introduced the BT2 for the 1962 season. The first Brabham was a wholly conventional car built around a steel tubular spaceframe chassis. Usually powered by the readily available Cosworth-modified Ford Anglia engine, it was clothed in a straightforward fibreglass body. A respectable 11 examples were builtin 1962, including a works car for Frank Gardner. Jo Schlesser scored the marque's first victory in a French Blue BT2.
ENGINE
Configuration
Ford Cosworth 109E Straight 4
Location
Mid, longitudinally mounted
Displacement
1098cc / 67 cu in
Valvetrain
2 valves per cylinder, OHV
Fuel feed
2 Weber Carburettors
Aspiration
Naturally Aspirated
Power
103 BHP / 77 kW
DRIVETRAIN
Chassis
Steel tubular spaceframe
Front suspension
Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension
Lower links, reversed top wishbones, twin trailing arms, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Steering
Rack and pinion
Brakes
Discs, all-round
Gearbox
4 speed manual
No problem. I've learnt so much from you about cars I had no idea existed. You're like the Minister for Information on rare cars. 
