1989 Aston Martin AMR1 Coupe

In August 1987 before the Ford buy-in, Aston Martin announced they were joining forces with Ecurie Ecosse to produce a new successor to the Nimrod Aston Martin that could run at Le Mans and in the World Sports-prototype Championship. Draft proposals by FISA for the new Group C regulations to come into effect in 1989 encouraged this decision as stock block engines would be allowed, and while fuel consumption would remain limited it was intended that turbochargers would be phased out. AML directors Victor Gauntlett and Peter Livanos persuaded Richard Williams to give up his own Aston Martin business in South London and join them as a partner in Proteus Technology Ltd set up specifically to design, build, test and (if found competitive) race an all-new Aston Martin to comply with the new Group C rules. Design of the chassis known as AMR1 was entrusted to Canadian Max Boxstrom whose contract began on 22nd July 1987 and the first quarter scale model was completed by September for wind tunnel testing. The advanced design comprised a carbon/Kevlar tub of coke-bottle shape behind which the engine and transaxle would be tilted up towards the rear leaving the driveshafts to run at a 3-degree angle.

Source - Owner