1950 BRM Type 15: an iconic sports car with 1,5L, V16 and 600 hp!

One of the highlights during Salon Rétromobile in Paris next week will be the 1950 BRM Type 15 at the booth of the Beaulieu National Motor Museum.

British Racing Motors

British Racing Motors was established in the 1940s to build a British Grand Prix car. The result was the iconic Type 15, powered by a 1½-litre 16-cylinder supercharged engine, and the first car to use disc brakes in road racing. Although ultimately unsuccessful, the BRM was a stepping stone on the path to Britain’s dominance of the sport in later years. Even with drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, BRM V16s met with little success, finishing in only one World Championship event, the 1951 British Grand Prix. This car, chassis 1/01, was driven to fifth place in that race by Reg Parnell. 

BRM was founded by Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon, creators of the pre-war ERA car, with backing from the British motor industry. It became part of the Owen Racing Organisation in 1952, gaining 17 Grand Prix victories between 1959 and 1972.

In order to preserve this icon of British motorsport history, the car has undergone a complete restoration, because after more than six decades, its powerful but highly-strung engine was in desperate need of skilled restoration in order to keep it running for many more years and to stop it deteriorating. BRM expert Hall & Hall of Bourne, Lincolnshire – a motor sport specialist with historic links to the original British Racing Motors (BRM) company – was the only choice to tackle the complicated and fastidious restoration of the engine. However, the work involved was far greater than expected. 

Built with racing chassis number one, the 1950 BRM was driven by motorsport aces Juan Manuel Fangio and Reg Parnell during its Formula One heyday. Famous with spectators and enthusiasts due to the incredible sound of its supercharged 1.5-litre V16 engine, only five examples of this pioneering British design were built.

Salon Retromobile 2019