1971 Tyrrell 004

The Tyrrell racing team was founded by Ken Tyrrell and competed in Formula One competition (and other Formula events) from 1958 through 1998. When it was first formed in 1958, it raced in Formula Three competition. Ken drove during the 1958 season but resigned those duties to others more qualified for the following seasons.

By 1960, the Tyrrell Racing Organisation began building cars. During the early and mid-1960s, Tyrrell cars were racing in the lower formulas. In 1963, a partnership was formed with Jackie Stewart (Sir John Young Stewart). He was nicknamed The Flying Scot, who competed in Formula One from 1965 through 1973 winning three world titles during that time. His racing career included other series such as CanAm.

Ken Tyrrell had been running the Formula Junior team for Cooper when he heard of Jackie Stewart. Stewart was invited for a tryout and given a car that was being driven by Formula One driver Bruce McLaren. It was not long before Stewart was beating McLaren's time. Stewart was offered a spot on the team.

Tyrrell remained in the lower formula's from 1958 through 1967. From 1965 through 1967, Tyrrell ran the Formula 2 operation for BRM.

In 1968, Tyrrell moved to Formula One as team principal for Matra International. Stewart drove the Tyrrell/Matra MS10 to several victories. The car had many unique features such as lightweight fuel tanks that were still structurally rigid. The technology was banned by the FIA in 1970, claiming the technology was unsafe. Instead, they promoted the use of rubber bag-tanks.

For 1969, the team had Jackie Stewart and Ken Tyrrell as the drivers. The power was from a Cosworth and the chassis was a Matra unit. The following season, Matra merged with Simca and was actively promoting their V12 program by insisting that Tyrrell abandon the Cosworth DFV engine. Tyrrell tested the twelve-cylinder unit, but was unsatisfied with its performance.

Tyrrell found an alternative with Max Mosley's March, which had just released a customer Formula 1 car. Tyrrell purchased the March 701 chassis and prepared it for Stewart, all the while clandestinely working on his own car. The cars were painted in French racing blue livery, in honor of their French-sponsored Fuel company, Elf.

The March/Tyrrell cars with Stewart at the wheel had mild success throughout the 1970 season.

For 1971, Tyrrell introduced the Tyrrell 001, which had been created with the help of Derek Gardner. The car borrowed much of its design from the MS80. During its introductory year, it won both the drivers' and constructors' championship. Stewart was the team's primary driver, and was joined by teammate Francois Cevert. During the 1972 season, Stewart was plagued with a stomach ulcer but returned in full-force the following year. He and Cevert finished 1st and 2nd in the Championship.

Tyrrell 004 was constructed for Jackie Stewart and used during the 1971 and 1972 season as a Works F1 car. It had been introduced to the public at the Earls Court London Motor Show in England.

It was later sold to Alex Blignaut of South Africa. Eddie Keizan used it in competition from 1973 through 1974 where he contested the South African national Formula 1 Championship.

In 1977, the car was sold to Stephen Griswold of Berkeley, California. It remained in is possession until 1978, when it was sold to Robert D. Sutherland of Englewood, Colorado. The car was used in historic competition until his death on November 13th of 1999.

The car was offered for sale at the Christie's International Motor Cars for auction at Pebble Beach, California, in 2000. The car was purchased by John B. Dimmer who has continued its racing career in historic competition.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007