Brabham BT40 (F2/Atlantic)

History

Under Ecclestone's ownership and with Gordon Murray shaping the drawing office, the BT40 (1973) carried Brabham's customer single-seater business into the monocoque age: a neat aluminium-tub design produced in 2-litre Formula 2 spec (BDA/BDG power) and 1.6 twin-cam Formula Atlantic form for the transatlantic market — the same package tuned to two ladders.

Its timing was the story's tragedy and its market's blessing: March's customer machine ruled the volume game and Brabham's focus was swinging wholly to F1, so the BT40 became effectively the marque's customer-car farewell. Results came at national level on both tracks — European F2 points and non-championship placings, Atlantic wins in the UK series and North America — without the works-backed championship push earlier Brabhams enjoyed.

Historic racing values exactly that finality: BT40s run in historic F2's 2-litre classes and vintage Atlantic grids, the Murray-era drawing pedigree adds designer-lineage interest, and the type prices under equivalent March 732s despite comparable usability — the collector's angle being simply stated: the last customer Brabham.

Palmarès

European F2 points and non-championship placings 1973; British and North American Formula Atlantic race wins through the mid-70s as the fleet dispersed; national single-seater titles in second-life campaigns — now a regular in historic F2 2-litre and vintage Atlantic classes.