8W - What? - Vanwall

A year-by-year look at the Vandervell racing machines,
including the Thinwall Specials

Vanwall - The Green Comet: a brief history of the Vanwall, by Don Capps

1949 -- Thinwall Special No. 1 / Ferrari 125 GPC, 1.5 litre supercharged V-12 engine in a short wheelbase chassis with swing axle rear suspension. It was returned to Ferrari (after being examined by BRM). No chassis number has surfaced so far as to the identity of this car.

1950 -- Thinwall Special No. 2 / Ferrari 125 with a 1.5 litre supercharged, twin-plug V-12 in a long wheelbase chassis with swing axle rear suspension. Chassis number 125-C-02. It was returned to Ferrari to be rebuilt as the Thinwall Special No. 3.

1951 -- Thinwall Special No. 3 / Ferrari 375 with 4.5 litre normally aspired single-plug V-12 using a long wheelbase chassis with de Dion rear axle. Used the same chassis as Thinwall Special No. 2, 125-C-02. This car was retained by the team and broken up in 1952.

1952 -- Thinwall Special No. 4 / Ferrari 375 with 4.5 litre normally aspirated, twin-plug engine and de Dion rear axle using "Indianapolis" long wheelbase chassis. Chassis: 010-375. This car was retained by the team.

1954 -- Vanwall Special / Cooper-built chassis (Type 30) with Vandervell engine developed with Norton (upper) and Rolls-Royce (lower). The engine was developed in 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 litre versions. After being crashed at Barcelona in 1954, it was not rebuilt.

1955 -- Vanwall / The team built four chassis to its own design. Chassis numbers were:

All were broken up at the end of the season and used as the basis for the 1956 cars.

1956 -- Vanwall / The team built four cars using the chassis as re-designed by Colin Chapman and the bodywork designed by Frank Costin. The cars had transverse leaf spring rear suspension. The cars were retained for 1957. Chassis numbers were:

VW1/56
VW2/56 -- won the International Trophy at Silverstone
VW3/56
VW4/56

1957 -- Vanwall / A total of 10 chassis planned. but no more than four fully assembled at any one time (well sort of - see below). The cars now had coil spring rear suspension. The first four chassis were those retained from 1956 with the remainder being built-up during the season. The chassis numbers were:

VW1
VW2 -- never completed
VW3
VW4 -- won the British GP at Aintree
VW5 -- won the Pescara GP and Italian GP
VW6 -- the Streamliner, converted to normal bodywork
VW7
VW8 -- Lightweight chassis
VW9 -- Lightweight chassis, not assembled during the season
VW10

1958 -- Vanwall / The 1957 cars were retained with detail modifications to the suspension and bodywork. The chassis numbers:

VW1 -- not assembled, used for spares
VW2 -- not assembled, used for spares
VW3 -- not assembled, used for spares
VW4 -- won the German GP, destroyed at Casablanca
VW5 -- won the Belgian, Italian & Moroccan GP
VW6
VW7
VW8 -- not assembled, used for spares
VW9
VW10 -- won the Dutch & Portuguese GP

1959 -- Vanwall / Three chassis were retained, the rest broken up. Chassis retained:

VW5 -- rebuilt with smaller, modified bodywork and lighter components. Later fitted with an experimental rear suspension developed by Colotti, but never raced in this configuration
VW9 -- retained as a show car by Vandervell Products
VW10 -- retained for testing purposes, but rebuilt in 1960 in 1958 form for "demonstrations"

1960 -- Vanwall / In addition to the chassis retained for show (VW9) and demonstration (VW10) purposes only two chassis used in 1960:

VW11 -- a new chassis built from VW5 components with "low-line" bodywork. Used Colotti transmission and suspension. Driven by Tony Brooks at Reims, then dismantled and retained by the team
VWL12 -- used for testing; actually Lotus 18 chassis 901 mounted with a Vanwall engine. Sold, less engine, by the team as a rolling chassis

1961 -- Vanwall / A rear-engine chassis was built for the Inter-Continental Formula series using a 2.6 litre Vanwall engine. Engines V4, V6 and V9 converted to rear-engined specification. Driven by John Surtees in its only race at Silverstone:

VW14 -- later rebuilt into a Mk.2 version, but never raced in that form.

Note: There were only nine Vanwall engines used by the team, V1 through V9, the latter not being used during competition in a front-engined car.

Note from 1957:

For a fleeting few days - almost literally hours, in fact - in July 1957 there actually were FIVE Vanwalls in full kit. Here's how it happened:

As noted, the team had only one week between the GP de l'ACF at Rouen and the Reims race. Since it would have been quite out of the question to bring the transporter back to Acton, unload the Rouen cars (VW1 and VW4), load up the Reims cars (VW6, VW7, VW8), and return to the Continent, it was decided to send out both transporters to France.

One transporter was sent to Rouen with VW1 and VW4. The other to Reims with VW7 and VW8. After Rouen, on that Tuesday as a matter of fact, VW6 was flown to Calais. It was off-loaded and VW1 and VW4 loaded on the aircraft and returned to Southend. On Wednesday, these were back at the race shop in Acton undergoing the usual post-race disassembly.

Meanwhile, the transporter with VW7 and VW8 was in Reims where it was joined by the transporter carrying VW6 from Calais.

So, from roughly Monday through Wednesday of that week there were five fully-assembled Vanwalls lurking about. Scanning the rest of the 1957 season and the 1958 season, I haven't found a similar situation where there were more than four fully-assembled Vanwalls. I am certain that at some point during the 1958 season there might have been a fifth chassis missing only an engine but otherwise ready for use.

Vanwall Racing Logbook

Note: This racing log covers only the appearances of the Vanwall Special or the Vanwall machines.
1954
05/15	BRDC International Trophy, Silverstone Vanwall Special No.1 (2.0 litres), #17, Alan Brown, heat 1: 6th, final: retired, broken oil pipe
07/17	British GP, Silverstone Vanwall Special No.1 (2.3 litres), #20, Peter Collins, retired, leaking cylinder head joint
09/05	Italian GP, Monza Vanwall Special No.1 (2.3 litres), #10, Peter Collins, 7th place
09/25	Goodwood Trophy, Goodwood Vanwall Special No.1 (2.5 litres), #8, Peter Collins, 2nd place Woodcote Cup, Goodwood (Formula Libre) Vanwall Special No.1, #8, Mike Hawthorn, 4th place
10/02	Daily Telegraph Trophy, Aintree Vanwall Special No.1, #8, Mike Hawthorn, 2nd place Formula Libre Race, Aintree Vanwall Special No.1, #8, Mike Hawthorn, retired, accident - left road
10/24	Spanish GP, Pedralbes/Barcelona Vanwall Special No.1. #42, Peter Collins, non-starter, accident during practice
1955
05/07	BRDC International Trophy, Silverstone VW1, #1, Mike Hawthorn; retired - oil leak VW2, #2, Ken Wharton; accident - crashed
05/22	Monaco GP, Monte Carlo VW1, #18, Mike Hawthorn; retired - throttle VW2, #20, Ken Wharton; entry withdrawn
06/05	Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps VW1, #41, Mike Hawthorn; retired-oil leak
07/16	British GP, Aintree VW3, #28, Ken Wharton; 9th place, relieved by Harry Schell VW2, #30, Harry Schell; retired - broken throttle pedal
07/30	BARC International Trophy, Crystal Palace VW2, #2, Harry Schell; heat 2, 1st place (1st victory); final, 2nd place
08/13	Redex Trophy, Snetterton VW2, #142, Harry Schell; 1st place VW3, #149, Ken Wharton; 2nd place Formula Libre Race, Snetterton VW2, #142, Harry Schell; retired
09/11	Italian GP, Monza VW2, #42, Harry Schell; retired - broken de Dion tube VW4, #44, Ken Wharton; retired - broken injection pump mounting
09/24	International Gold Cup, Oulton Park VW2, #7, Harry Schell; retired - broken driveshaft bolts VW4, #8, Ken Wharton; entry withdrawn VW3, #9, Desmond Titterington; 3rd place
10/01	Avon Trophy, Castle Combe VW2, #26, Harry Schell; 1st place Empire News Trophy (Formula Libre), Castle Combe VW4, #26, Harry Schell; 1st place
1956
05/05	BRDC International Trophy, Silverstone VW2, #3, Stirling Moss; 1st place VW1, #4, Harry Schell; retired - broken injection pipe
05/13	Monaco GP, Monte Carlo VW2, #14, Maurice Trintignant; retired - overheating VW1, #16, Harry Schell; retired - accident
06/03	Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps VW1, #10, Harry Schell; 4th place VW2, #12, Maurice Trintignant; retired - engine
07/01	GP de l'ACF, Reims VW1, #22, Harry Schell; retired - engine, piston VW2, #24, Mike Hawthorn; 10th, relieved by Harry Schell VW3, #26, Colin Chapman; did not start - accident during practice
07/14	British GP, Silverstone VW2, #16, Harry Schell; retired - blocked fuel system VW4, #17, Maurice Trintignant; retired - blocked fuel system VW1, #18, Jos� Froilan Gonzalez; retired - broken drive shaft
09/02	Italian GP, Monza VW1, #16, Piero Taruffi; retired - gearbox oil leak VW2, #18, Harry Schell; retired - transmission VW4, #20; Maurice Trintignant; retired - coil spring mounting
1957
04/07	Syracuse GP, Siracusa VW1/engine V6, #20, Stirling Moss; 3rd place VW3/V4, #4, Tony Brooks; retired - split water pipe
04/22	Glover Trophy, Goodwood VW3/V4, #7, Stirling Moss; retired - broken throttle linkage VW7/V1, #6, Tony Brooks; 6th place
05/19	Monaco GP, Monte Carlo VW3/V4, #18, Stirling Moss; accident - crashed at chicane VW7/V1, #20, Tony Brooks; 2nd place
07/07	GP de l'ACF, Rouen-les-Essarts VW4/V4, #18, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired - overheating VW1/V2, #20, Roy Salvadori; retired - engine, broken valve springs
07/14	Reims GP, Reims VW8/V6, #26, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 3rd place VW7/V5, #28, Roy Salvadori; 5th place
07/20	British GP, Aintree VW1/V3, #18, Stirling Moss; retired - magneto, while driven by Tony Brooks VW4/V4, #20, Tony Brooks; 1st place, relieved by Stirling Moss VW5/V2, #22, Stuart Lewis-Evans; disqualified, incomplete bodywork (no bonnet)
08/04	German GP, N�rburgring VW5/V3, #10, Stirling Moss; 5th place VW1/V2, #11, Tony Brooks; 9th place VW4/V4, #12, Stuart Lewis-Evans; accident - crashed
08/18	Pescara GP, Pescara VW5/V4, #26, Stirling Moss; 1st place, fastest lap VW7/V5, #28, Tony Brooks; retired - engine, seized piston VW1/V6, #30, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 5th place
09/08	Italian GP, Monza VW5/V4, #18, Stirling Moss; 1st place VW7/V1, #20, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired - cracked cylinder head VW6/V6, #22, Tony Brooks; 8th place, fastest lap
09/28	Demonstration Run, Goodwood VW5/V4, Stirling Moss; retired - broken valve
10/27	Moroccan GP, Casablanca VW5, #20, Stirling Moss; did not start - driver ill VW10/V5, #22, Tony Brooks; retired - magneto VW1/V7, #24, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 2nd place
1958
05/18	Monaco GP, Monte Carlo VW7/V2, #28, Stirling Moss; retired - ignition VW10/V5, #30, Tony Brooks; retired - plug thread stripped VW5/V1, #32, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired - overheating
05/26	Dutch GP, Zandvoort VW10/V7, #1, Stirling Moss; 1st place, fastest lap VW7/V2, #2, Tony Brooks; retired - handling VW5/V1, #3, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired - broken valve spring holder
06/15	Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps VW10/V7, #2, Stirling Moss; retired - engine, bent valves VW5/V5, #4, Tony Brooks; 1st place VW4/v1, #6, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 3rd place
07/06	GP de l'ACF, Reims VW10/V1, #8, Stirling Moss; 2nd place VW5/V5, #10, Tony Brooks; retired - gearbox VW9/V2, #12, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired - engine
07/19	British GP, Silverstone VW10/V6, #7, Stirling Moss; retired - engine VW5/V4, #8, Tony Brooks; 7th place VW6/V1, #9, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 4th place
08/03	German GP, N�rburgring VW10/V7, #7, Stirling Moss; retired - magneto, fastest lap VW4/V4, #8, Tony Brooks; 1st place
08/24	Portuguese GP, Oporto VW10/V1, #2, Stirling Moss; 1st place VW5/V4, #4, Tony Brooks; retired - spun, stalled engine VW6/V2, #6, Stuart Lewis-Evans; 3rd place
09/07	Italian GP, Monza VW10/V2, #26, Stirling Moss; retired-gearbox VW5/V1, #28, Tony Brooks; 1st place VW6/V4, #30, Stuart Lewis-Evans; retired-overheating
10/19	Moroccan GP, Casablanca VW5/V1, #8, Stirling Moss; 1st place, fastest lap VW10/V7, #10, Tony Brooks; retired - engine, valve failure VW4/V5, #12, Stuart Lewis-Evans; accident - crashed, driver injured (burns)
1959
07/18	British GP, Aintree VW5/V6, #20, Tony Brooks; retired - misfiring
1960
04/18	Glover Trophy, Goodwood VW5/V6, #6, Tony Brooks; 7th place
07/03	GP de l'ACF, Reims VW11/V8, #14, Tony Brooks; retired - transmission
1961
05/06	BRDC International Trophy (Intercontinental Formula), Silverstone VW14, #28, John Surtees; 5th place
The racing record for chassis VW6: 8 September 1957/ Italian GP - Monza; engine no. V6; #22, Tony Brooks, 8th place and fastest lap. 19 July 1958/ British GP - Silverstone; engine no. V1; #9, Stuart Lewis-Evans, 4th place. 24 August 1958/ Portuguese GP - Oporto; engine no. V2; #6, Stuart Lewis-Evans, 3rd place. 7 September 1958/ Italian GP - Monza; engine no. V4; #30, Stuart Lewis-Evans, retired on lap 31.