This is Frank Gardner's incredible Chev Corvair Sports Sedan, as it appeared in its first season, 1976. The car was only painted these colours this first season, before it went black in 1977.

Gardner missed the opening four rounds of the 1976 Australian Sports Sedan Championship, and the 1976 Marlboro $100,000 Series. However, the three races he contested in the ASSC he won, and the three races he contested in the Marlboro Series, he won. As a result, he placed 2nd in the ASSC, and 3rd in the Marlboro Series. Essentially, this car dominated Sports Sedan racing from the outset, and easily won the 1977 ASSC.

In a way, the Corvairs domination had a negative impact on Sports Sedan racing in Australia, which, at the time, enjoyed a stronger following than touring car racing. It was just that much more superior, and it wasn't until Jim Richards' debuted his newly constructed Falcon XC Sports Sedan in 1978, that the Corvair (by now driven by Allan Grice) finally had some genuine competition.

Name: 7.jpg Views: 5970 Size: 140.7 KB