Chevron B16 Cosworth

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2026 Competition Cars on Saturday the 21st of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. , Produced in Lancashire under the ownership and guidance of the gifted selftaught engineer turned racer, Derek Bennett, Chevron Racing Cars remains one of the most remarkable success stories in international motorsport. From modest beginnings and without ever producing a road car, Chevron built machines of uncompromising purpose that consistently challenged and defeated far larger manufacturers. It was a classic 'David and Goliath' story played out on circuits across Europe and beyond, driven by ingenuity, efficiency and an almost obsessive focus on performance.Chevrons first car, the B1 of 1965, set the template. The letter B standing for Bennett would go on to prefix more than 47 models produced before his untimely death in 1978. By the late 1960s Chevron was at the height of its powers and in 1969 unveiled what would become its final closed cockpit sports racing car, the sublime B16. Introduced at the Nrburgring 500 kilometres, the B16 was immediately recognised as something special. It combined breathtaking aesthetics with genuine aerodynamic efficiency and formidable ontrack performance.Visually the B16 represented a clear evolution from the earlier B8, with a far more flowing and cohesive shape. The fibreglass body was originally conceived by Derek Bennett himself and later refined by Jim Clark of Specialised Mouldings, who would go on to manufacture bodies for Chevron. The result was a coup of exceptional balance and presence, widely regarded today as one of the most beautiful sports racing cars of its era. While most B16s were built as closed cars, a single spyder was later constructed in pursuit of lower weight and increased start money in American racing, providing the conceptual bridge to the later B19.Beneath the bodywork sat an advanced spaceframe chassis reinforced with steel and aluminium panels to form a semimonocoque centre section. Tubular subframes at the front and rear carried the suspension and midmounted drivetrain. Power was typically supplied by Cosworth fourcylinder engines, most commonly the FVA and FVC units, though a handful of cars ran alternative powerplants. With a Cosworth FVC of 1,792cc installed, the B16 proved devastatingly effective. On its debut at the Nrburgring in 1969, driven by Brian Redman, it took outright victory, immediately confirming Chevrons engineering brilliance and competitive intent.The car offered here, chassis B16 DBE 27, is one of the most storied examples of the model. Built in 1970, it was delivered new to Chevrons Swiss agent and leading racing driver, Jo Siffert. It's believed that during this period the car was rented to Steve McQueens production company for the filming of the movie Le Mans, at which time it was finished in red. The car was subsequently sold to another highly talented Swiss driver, Arthur Blank, who enjoyed immediate success, winning on its debut and quickly establishing the car as a formidable competitor.During its early career the car suffered an accident and was later rebuilt, being converted into B19 spyder form for the 1971 season, reflecting the widespread shift away from closed cockpit sports cars at the time. In this guise it was campaigned by Arthur Blank and entered for major events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although it did not ultimately take the start. The car continued to race through 1972 in Interseries events, hillclimbs and endurance races, including appearances at Hockenheim and Interlagos, before evolving further into a later Chevron specification the B21 built in 1973. Identified as Chevron Spartan P271 chassis number one, the car was raced during the 1973 season, before sustaining front end damage. Blank sold the car to Gerhard Kobler who repaired the front section and raced the car at various events through 1974 and 1975 using a combination of 1,300cc, 1,600cc, 2,000cc and even turbocharging. The car crashed in 1975 and Kobler kept it until being sold to a Swiss collector who rebuilt it, fitting a Cosworth BDA engine and gained FIA HTP papers in 1991, which remain in the history file. In 2009, noted Chevron specialist and enthusiast Vin Malkie undertook a comprehensive restoration, returning the car to correct B16 specification using a replacement Chevron chassis and period correct bodywork finished in Arthur Blanks 1970 colours, FIA HTP papers were issued which remain on file. Importantly, the original B21 chassis used during the cars evolution is included in the sale and will be available for collection by the successful purchaser. It should be noted that another Chevron displays chassis number 27 and was reportedly constructed in 2012, however, The B16 offered at our Race Retro auction retains its own distinct and well documented identity supported by an extensive