1961 Emeryson Formula 1 Climax FPF (FIA)

It's a glorious, late July afternoon in 1962 and the massed crowds in the stands at Aintree chatter excitedly in anticipation just prior to the start of the British Grand Prix. You are sat in the new 'works' Emeryson F1 (Chassis 1004) and in qualifying the car has gone well with the 1500cc Climax FPF running sweetly. The four-cylinder was never going to be a match for the V8 cars, however, Innes has qualified a remarkable third and a top ten finish might just be on. The man with the '5-Minute' board strides self-consciously back and forth across the front row with the board high above his head, and not for the first time in the last few minutes, you tighten your shoulder straps just a tad. The early afternoon sun glints off the first few rows of cars and you can clearly see Jim Clark's distinctive helmet in the Lotus 25 on pole with Surtees' Lola not far away in second. Innes Ireland makes up the front row in his four-cylinder Lotus 24, well aware that the fast-starting Bruce McClaren in his Cooper and Graham Hill in the powerful BRM P57 are only a few feet behind. At the 3-Minute board, Dan Gurney and Jo Bonnier start their Porsches almost in unison and Richie Ginther's BRM immediately follows suit. Just in front of you the wily Jack Brabham buttons his Lotus into life and gives a 'thumbs up' to Roy Salvadori in the Lola whilst Phil Hill's pretty 156 Ferrari seems reluctant to cooperate but eventually concedes with a calico-tearing rasp and a waft of fragrant Castrol 'R'.

Fast forward 55 years to Goodwood next September and it really could be 'You' sat in 1004 on the Glover Trophy grid at this year's Revival, and, amazingly, surrounded by a number of other cars which shared the '62 season. The Emeryson qualifies for the Glover Trophy (1.5litre Formula 1 cars raced between 1961 and 1965) and, as a result of its rarity (it's the last surviving example), its standard of preparation and its crowd-pleasing, sunshine yellow paint finish, has regularly been invited by Lord March to take part in this prestigious race for Grand Prix cars.

Paul Emery was a racing driver and creator of a number of front-wheel drive Formula 2 and 3 cars in the early fifties, all campaigned under the name of “Emeryson” and latterly with lots of help and some necessary funding from former Cooper Works driver, Alan Mann, the Emeryson marque went on to become an established constructor of F2 cars. The 1961 season saw the latest development by Paul as the all new Emeryson-Climax F1 car was introduced to the world of Formula 1 and the car was much admired for its styling and engineering standards. The Belgian race team, 'Ecurie Nationale Belge', were particularly interested and ordered three Maserati-engined cars for the 1961 season to be piloted by Lucien Bianchi, André Pilette, and Willy Mairesse and all were painted in the national racing colour of bright yellow. Sadly a combination of bad luck and some high-speed accidents meant that it wasn't long before all three cars were 'hors de combat' however Bianchi managed a 4th. at the Brussels Grand Prix and Mairesse an 11th in Syracuse in April. Subsequently, they changed to Lotus 18s and the Emeryson cars were offered for sale.

The persuasive Tony Settember talked his American compatriot, Hugh Powell into funding a 'works' Emeryson team with the cars restored to original, running Coventry-Climax engines. This duly happened and Chassis 1004 was to enjoy some success in late 1961 and '62.

Results; Chassis 1004.

23/7/61 GP der Solitude Mike Spence Rtd

23/9/61 Oulton Park Gold Cup Jack Fairman Rtd.

1/10/61 Brands Hatch Lewis-Evans Trophy Mike Spence 2nd.

1/04/62 Heysel Brussels GP John Campbell-Jones 5th.

23/4/62 Goodwood Lavant Cup Tony Settember Rtd.

23/4/62 Goodwood Glover Trophy “ 8th

28/4/62 Aintree Aintree 200 “ 8th.

12/5/62 Silverstone International Trophy “ 14th.

20/5/62 Posillipo GP di Napoli “ 9th.

11/6/62 Crystal Palace CP Trophy “ 4th.

21/7/62 Aintree British GP “ 11th.

1/9/62 Oulton Park Gold Cup “ Rtd

16/9/62 Monza Italian GP “ Rtd.

Although the Emeryson Team were well-experienced with some talented and knowledgeable individuals, their Achilles' Heel was a lack of adequate finance, often meaning that the cars never got to show their true potential and they eventually dropped out of Formula 1.

We understand that the car offered here (Chassis number 1004) is the only surviving F1 Emeryson and even this car might not have made it, had it not been for the efforts of car restorer and showroom owner, Peter Morley who bought it in 1992 and returned it to the way it would have been when driven by Settember and Campbell-Jones in its heyday. When fully finished it was entered at the first Goodwood Circuit Revival in 1998 driven by Paul Osborn.

Our vendor purchased 1004 in 1999 and fettled it to his taste. In his first outing after purchasing the car, and carrying the number 31 as used by Jack Fairman in 1961, he was delighted to finish four places behind Sir Stirling Moss' Maserati at the 2000 Monaco Grand Prix Historique. Over the following 16 seasons, he has raced the car extensively with the HSCC, enjoying a number of class wins, and the HGPCA at Goodwood, Donnington, Silverstone and on the Continent and has been lucky enough to take part in seven of the last eight Monaco Historique. Now in his Eighty-first year, he has decided to hang up his helmet and pursue his other great passion, skiing! (I kid you not).

As can be seen from the photographs the car is in excellent condition and has a current FIA Historic Technical Passport and Vehicle Identity (21877). The engine is a 1500cc, 4-cylinder, Coventry-Climax FPF mated to a Hewland Mk.6 and we understand that both were performing perfectly on the car's last outing. The cockpit appears a bit more commodious than other cars from the same period which is a distinct advantage if you are no longer the size of a National Hunt jockey. Our vendor is naturally keen to meet the new owner and run through the spares package, gear ratios, safety equipment dates etc.

This lovely little car is a piece of Grand Prix History and presumably will continue to be invited to all the best places, presenting the lucky new owner with a couple of super options. Either to drive the car themselves and live the dream of racing a Grand Prix car from such an exciting era at Monaco and Goodwood, or to enter the car for one of today's talented young Historic Racers and fully enjoy the glitz and glamour on offer to entrants at the world's most prestigious motor racing venues.

With Lotus 24s and 25s, Lolas and BRMs changing hands at between 3 and £400,000, this competitive 1962 Grand Prix car seems an attractive way into a very exclusive club.