1971 BMW BBM C1 
High performance Sports-Prototype

Very advanced design for the…
Description

1971 BMW BBM C1

High performance Sports-Prototype Very advanced design for the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours Unique model, exciting story Racing car Chassis n° C1#01 Like many other brands, BBM was born from the unconditional passion of a handful of young people for cars. The story of this brand begins in Amiens in the middle of the 1960s, with an encounter between Pierre Bertin-Boussu and Jean-Michel Mercier. While still students, they designed and assembled a tubular chassis equipped with a Renault 8 drivetrain, the GM1 berlinette. If their first hillclimb is not a success, the BBM will make a name for itself in the hands of a certain Guy Dhotel, recent winner of the Volant Shell. Faced with the successes following one another, the trio decides to fully try the adventure in spite of some family reticence and, in 1971, begins a formidable adventure around this unique model, the chassis C1#01. Totally new, this car was to be entered in the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans thanks to the financial support of Shell and Alfa Romeo who saw in this sport-prototype an excellent base for their famous V6 engine. Even before the car is produced, the Shell racing department will manage to register the BBM-Alfa Romeo at the 24 Hours of Le Mans... but the engine will not arrive and will be finally replaced by a BMW M10 Schnitzer 2,0 l engine associated with a Porsche 915 gearbox, putting in question any hope to line up at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Shell being an official partner of Alfa Romeo). At its wheel Guy Dhotel will take part in several races of dimension of which Neuvyle-Roi (1st of the protos), Robert-le-Diable (1st proto) and Soissons (2nd proto). After an engine failure, it will be resold while a second chassis equipped with a V12 Lamborghini was born! In total, only 42 BBM chassis were produced. Among all French racing car manufacturers of the 1970’s, BBM is probably the least known brand. It is a deep injustice as BBM creations were models of efficiency and aestheticism. As such, we will quote Pierre Bertin Boussu: «What is beautiful always works better than what is ugly!» Bought many years ago by a great BMW collector from Amiens, the whole mechanics are functional, as well as the rolling parts (suspension, shock absorbers, hubs and brakes). Now equipped with a rack and pinion system, the car is fully compliant with the original and is accompanied by a historical file retracing its entire history.

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1971 BMW BBM C1

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