The Chevron B38 was an open-wheel formula racing car designed, developed and built by Chevron Cars in 1977. It was intended for both Formula Atlantic and Formula 3, the two categories in which a small British constructor could sell cars to private teams, and it weighed only 450 kg.
Chevron B38 at a glance
| Maker | Chevron Cars, England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1977 |
| Class | open-wheel formula car |
| Categories | Formula Atlantic, Formula 3 |
| Engine | Toyota/Novamotor PFT 2T-G, 2.0 L inline-four |
| Power | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 bhp) |
| Transmission | Hewland five-speed manual |
| Drive | rear wheels |
| Chassis | aluminium monocoque |
| Weight | 992 lb (450 kg) |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the B38, which is short; the article is therefore built only on the technical facts it gives.
History of the Chevron B38
One car for two formulae
The B38 was conceived for 1977, when Formula Atlantic and Formula 3 still shared much of their technical ground: both were single-seater categories for two-litre, four-cylinder engines, and a constructor could offer one design to customers in either series. Chevron built the car for exactly that market, as a machine for private teams rather than a works entry.
Engine and chassis
Power came from the Toyota/Novamotor PFT 2T-G, a two-litre inline-four prepared by Novamotor and rated at 170 PS (125 kW; 168 bhp). It drove the rear wheels through a Hewland five-speed manual gearbox, the standard choice in formula racing of the period because ratios could be changed quickly to suit each circuit. The chassis was a lightweight aluminium monocoque, which kept the complete car down to 992 lb, or 450 kg.
Place in the range
The B38 sat alongside Chevron’s sports racing cars, which had made the firm’s name with privateer customers. The same philosophy carried over: a light, simple car that a small team could run and repair itself, with a reliable production-based engine rather than an exotic works unit.
Design and features
- Aluminium monocoque: a light stressed-skin chassis in place of a tubular frame.
- Low weight: 450 kg complete, which suited the small-capacity formulae it was built for.
- Toyota-based power: the Novamotor-prepared 2T-G two-litre four, rated at 170 PS.
- Hewland gearbox: a five-speed manual with changeable ratios for different circuits.
Chevron B38 versions
- Formula Atlantic cars: the version raced in the Atlantic category.
- Formula 3 cars: the same design campaigned in Formula 3.
Chevron built the B38 alongside its sports racing cars, among them the Chevron B8 of 1968. More cars from the marque are in the Chevron collection.
Sources
- Chevron B38, English Wikipedia: engine, gearbox, chassis, weight, categories
