What better way to add some character to your car collection than with a recreation of one of the stranger Formula 1 competitors of all time?
RM Sotheby’s will auction off a period-correct race car based on the Tyrrell P34 at its upcoming Monaco event. The six-wheeled vehicle was built to the exact same specs as the original and is even competition-ready.
People who picked up the sport after watching Drive to Survive may not realize this, but there was a brief period during the 1970s when six-wheeled F1 cars were a thing on grid. The first and most successul of these cars was the P34, which featured a set of four smaller 10-inch wheels up front and bigger wheels in the back.
2008 Tyrrell P34
Simon Clay/RM Sotheby’s
The design was dreamt up by the team’s technical Derek Gardner. The idea was that the smaller front wheels would reduce drag without sacrificing traction. The idea worked too, at least during its first season on the grid. During the 1976 campaign, P34s driven by Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler routinely finished on the podium, with Scheckter even winning a race, and got Tyrrell to third place in the constructor’s standings. Design changes ensured the car couldn’t repeat its strong performance the next season, before F1 enacted rules that limited the number of wheels on a car to four.
This P34 comes from Scheckter’s personal collection. It was built in 2008 using one of the remaining original chassis, according to Motor1.com. “Chassis 8,” as it’s called, comes with a 3.0-liter Ford-Cosworth DFV V-8 engine, as well as brake-cooling ducts on the front wing. It’s not an exact replica of the car Schekter drove in 1977, but it does feature a rather attractive blue and yellow race livery and clear body panels that allow the driver to see the tires. It’s also been built to be driven in historic racing events and even took a checkered flag at Monterey in 2008. There’s no mention of how many miles are on the car, but it looks to be in great shape.
Tyrrell P34
Simon Clay/RM Sotheby’s
It’s scheduled to go up for auction on May 11 as part of an auction that will be held in Monaco. RM Sotheby’s has high hopes for the faithful recreation and expects it to sell for between $490,000 and $700,000.
