Race Team Mechanics.

[khyndart in CA]

2009. H&H Auction information.
Sale Date: 14th March 2009

1972 Lyncar Formula Atlantic

Ex-John Nicholson

Sold For £11,550

Chassis Number: 003
Cc: 1598
Body Colour: White/Green

A talented designer whose career progressed from the building and racing of his own Formula Junior cars to working for Lola, Brabham and March, Martin Slater decided to create a chassis with which to contest the 1971 British Formula Atlantic Championship. Aided by Graham Coaker, one of the original March directors, the resultant machine was named after Slater's wife Lyn and Coaker's spouse Carol (hence Lyncar). Impressed by the results Mike Endean (later of XTrac) achieved with Lyncar 001, New Zealander John Nicholson (of Nicholson-McLaren engine fame) decided to become the fledgling marque's second customer and later collaborated with Slater on a Formula 1 project (Lyncar 006) which debuted at the 1974 British Grand Prix. Still going today, albeit no longer manufacturing cars, Lyncar can apparently help with spare parts.

H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following description: "John Nicholson began the 1972 British Formula Atlantic Championship with Lyncar 002 but replaced it with this particular example, Lyncar 003, after a heavy crash at Brands Hatch (though, he still finished third in that year's Yellow Pages sponsored standings). For 1973 the New Zealander acquired sponsorship from Bruno Drury of Pitch Plant and 003 was reconfigured with a full-width nose, wider front track and larger rear wing. Despite taking victories aboard 003 at May's Silverstone event (where he also set the fastest lap of 1min 25.9sec) and July's British Grand Prix meeting, Nicholson switched to the narrow track 005 thereafter. The results he achieved between the two chassis were enough to secure him the 1973 BP Formula Atlantic Championship. The car's second owner, Martin Steele, bought it from Bruno Drury / John Nicholson in July 1974 and fitted a Lotus Twin-Cam engine that he already owned. Between 1974 and 1982 Steele ran 003 in forty-five sprints and hillclimbs. While, his substitution of a Ford BDA engine for the Lotus `Twin-Cam' during 1977 saw the Lyncar returned to its `Atlantic' specification. Overhauled by Swindon Racing Engines in 1985, the BDA unit failed on its debut post-refresh outing at Silverstone. Returned to Swindon Racing Engines for another overhaul in 1987-1988, it has not been used since. The car is extremely original and comes with a spare top cover. It has never been damaged in any way. The colour scheme is Jaguar British Racing Green and White which is the same as when it raced in 1973. The car has had only three owners and has been carefully stored over the last twenty-one years".
(One can see the fine workmanship that went into the Lyncars in these two auction photos.)
It would have been a good purchase at that price I would think. This car has some pedigree.




(Ken Hyndman )