1977 Chevron B38 (38-77-01)

After an absence of three years, Chevron returned to F3 in 1976 with a B20 Formula Atlantic car converted to F3-spec with the addition of a Novamotor Toyota engine and designated B34. Derek Bennett and Paul Owens carried out a systematic development programme on this wide-tracked car and all this work paid off when the Works-backed Trivellato run team soon showed the car was a winner with their new star, Riccardo Patrese, at the wheel. As soon as the car started winning, other orders followed and Geoff Lees in a semi-works car as well as Rupert Keegan soon showed the B34’s pace in UK races.

The B38 was a refinement of the B34 and was to prove very successful indeed, with some 20 race wins with only rivals, Ralt, winning more. Due to the success of the 1976 car, a lot of top drivers were tempted over to the B38 and they were to be successful all over Europe. Derek Daly won one of the British titles and Elio de Angelis took the Italian championship. The chassis was a bathtub-style monocoque with detachable subframes, front suspension by double wishbones with transverse links and wishbones and radius rods at the rear. It had excellent braking capabilities and its wide track inspired driver confidence, especially in the rain. 28 B38s were built in total.

This exceptionally pretty and original Chevron F3 (B38-77-01) is the Elio de Angelis championship-winning car from the 1977 Italian Formula 3 Championship and his 1978 Monaco Formula 3 race winner. The F3 race that supported the Grand Prix was always incredibly competitive and Elio’s win that year in this car was undoubtedly the springboard to his stellar career in Formula 1 with Shadow, Lotus and Brabham.

B38-77-01 still retains its original tub which is a testament to the care and maintenance enjoyed by this lovely F3 that was originally set up by multiple Grand Prix winner, Carlos Reutemann, at Ferrari’s Fiorano track before its 1978 Monaco Grand Prix win. Although nothing to do with the car, the interest provenance is further enhanced by the infamous kidnapping in Sardinia of Elio’s father and his subsequent release brokered by Don Sergio Mantovani, the parish priest of Modena, all of which is documented in the history file.

Our vendor has participated in the Monaco Historique Grand Prix weekend on three occasions with 38-77-01 and undoubtedly this fittingly historied Chevron F3 would gain an entry should Formula 3s be invited to support the Grand Prix in the future.

The engine was rebuilt by Craig Beck and the gearbox by Mark Bailey in 2022 and the car’s only outing since was the Goodwood Spring Sprint in 2023, meaning that the rebuilt engine and gearbox have covered less than ten miles. A fresh FIA HTP has just been issued and is valid until 31st December 2034. There is a spares package with the car that includes two sets of rims with used slicks, a fully painted and decalled nose cone, two front splitters, a nose support frame, set-up jigs, spare radiator and some Hewland gear ratios.

All in all, this is a delightful Formula 3 with a lovely history, on the button with new FIA papers and a ticket for Monaco when F3 returns to the program.