1969 Chevron B8 DBE 70/023

The hugely-successful Chevron B8 first appeared in 1968, usually with BMW 2-litre engines but also with the Ford FVA, FVC and even the Lotus Climax engine. It was homologated into Group 4 from 1 March 1968 on the basis that 50 were built. To help the numbers every rebuild counted as a new car - a habit that would continue into the B16, B19 and even the B21.

The chassis plate on this B8 indicates that this car is chassis number DBE 70/023. In addition, on the right hand side of the chassis, (adjacent to the gearbox cross member) it is stamped 'AM23'. It was customary for Arch Motors, the engineers responsible for building the B8 chassis, to stamp the chassis in this way.

In the document file is the French FIA Historic Identity document from 1998 which states that the car was built in 1968. The 1998 document also lists Chevron Racing Cars/Roger Andreason, Jean Blaton, Willy Mairesse , Laurent Dutoya, Christian and Michael Quiniou and in 2001 Rene Caron as previous owners - but no dates are shown on the papers to confirm this. The similar 2006 papers show the car with Red bodywork, a BMW 2 litre engine and Hewland FT 200 gearbox. At that time the papers state the owner as the well known French Driver, Ludovic Caron.

The current owner of Chassis DBE 023, now in Blue livery, has owned the car since May 2007 purchasing it from Paul Ingram. Since 2007 the current owner has campaigned the car in various European and UK Historic events. He has replaced the bodywork, keeping the earlier body work in his possession, refurbished the chassis, suspension and Hewland transmission. Other components including the Lester Owen built and maintained engine have been kept in race ready condition. The car has recently obtained a new FIA 2015 Historic Technical Passport.This is a very attractively presented B8. With the usual "spanner check' and with the car set up to the drivers tastes - chassis number 023 would be ready to embark on an exciting 2015 racing season.