Shadow DN1 (1973)
The Shadow DN1 is the first Formula 1 car of Don Nichols' UOP Shadow team, drawn by Tony Southgate for 1973. Six were built around a Cosworth DFV; four survive. It suits owners who want a black high-airbox 1973 car with Grand Prix podiums, period Monaco history and a Masters Racing Legends entry ticket.
History
Shadow came to Formula 1 from Can-Am. Tony Southgate joined Don Nichols' new UK operation in October 1972 with no premises and no staff 6. He drew the DN1 in the garage of his bungalow and hired draughtsman Andy Smallman 6. The team took a spare UOP factory on Weedon Road, Northampton, and built the prototype there 6. Sponsor UOP sold lead-free petrol, so the black cars ran on it as an advertisement 6. Engines were rebuilt by Swindon Race Engines or John Judd, not by Cosworth a mile away 6.
The DN1 was Southgate's first DFV design. After BRM's smooth V12 the V8 shook the car badly. Instruments and radiators had to be rubber-mounted, and he later said the car vibrated until things fell apart 619. The enveloping body came from Imperial College tunnel work and added weight and cooling trouble 6. Two cars went to Kyalami in March 1973 for Jackie Oliver and George Follmer with little testing 61. Oliver retired; Follmer climbed to sixth on his Grand Prix debut 63.
In Spain the crew found cracked steel radius-rod lugs on the rear bulkhead the night before the race. They gas-welded them beside a fuel cell packed in wet rags, and Follmer finished third 6. Graham Hill bought a customer car for his Embassy Racing team. DN1/3A was assembled at John Thompson's workshop in Northampton from Shadow parts, and maintained at Maurice Gomm's in Old Woking 17. Hill's best result was ninth at Zolder 3.
Oliver wrote off DN1/1A at Zolder and Follmer wrote off DN1/2A in Monaco practice 7. DN1/4A, 5A and 6A replaced them. Southgate added a long-wheelbase update late in the year to load the front tyres 6. There was no real development programme, because he was also drawing the DN2 Can-Am car 6. Oliver led the wet Canadian Grand Prix in DN1/6A and was classified third 21. Brian Redman drove a third car at Watkins Glen 4. Jean-Pierre Jarier retired DN1/6A in Argentina and DN1/5A in Brazil in January 1974 before the DN3 arrived 52. Of the survivors, 6A raced in the 1976 ShellSPORT G8 series 2. 4A went to Jarier in lieu of salary, and 5A stayed with Nichols for many years 18.
Palmarès
Follmer scored sixth at Kyalami and third in Spain in DN1/2A 36. Oliver was third in Canada in DN1/6A after leading in the rain 21. Hill's best was ninth at Zolder in DN1/3A 3. Shadow ended 1973 eighth in the constructors' table with 9 points, Follmer on 5 and Oliver on 4 2019. In 1976 Lella Lombardi took DN1/6A to ninth at Brands Hatch in the ShellSPORT G8 series 2.
What to check before you buy
Match the chassis plate against the oldracingcars.com race record and Allen Brown's ownership chain: Plates were reused in 1973 and a replica of 1A exists; only 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A have period races. Ask which tub the car carries and when it was last rebuilt or re-skinned: 4A was rebuilt after Zandvoort 1973 and 5A after a crash; 3A sat as a show car with a dummy engine until a 2008 rebuild. Inspect the steel rear bulkhead frame and radius-rod lugs for cracks and old weld repairs: These lugs cracked in period and were gas-welded in situ next to the fuel cell. Read the HTP, the condition-testing certificate and the fuel-tank certificate dates: Masters wants all three in date; a lapsed HTP means a new application through the ASN before entry. Confirm the DFV has a rev limiter set to 10,000 rpm on an original-style Lucas spark box connection: Masters checks DFV limiters with its own rev-limit checker and only accepts original Lucas spark boxes. Get the engine builder's last rebuild sheet and hours since: DN1/4A was sold with a zero-miles Phil Reilly DFV; period practice was a rebuild every 600 miles. List the spares: enveloping body panels, nose, airbox, uprights and gear ratios: The full-length body is unique to the DN1; 4A came with bodywork, suspension and ratio spares, which is rare. Measure cockpit width against the other survivors: Nichols said the Follmer tub was beaten out wider than Oliver's; it helps tell cars apart.
Versions and evolutions
| Version | Years | What changed | How to identify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works DN1 (DN1/1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, 6A) | 1973-1974 | All-black UOP cars with the tall airbox and enveloping bodywork. A long-wheelbase update arrived late in 1973. 6 | Black UOP livery; chassis plates were reused in period, so the plate alone does not fix identity. Nichols told Allen Brown the Follmer tub was beaten out wider for the driver. |
| Embassy Racing customer car (DN1/3A) | 1973 | Assembled outside the factory from Shadow-supplied parts for Graham Hill; white Embassy livery with red band; retired to show-car use with a dummy engine for 1974. 1 | Only DN1 in white Embassy colours with race number 12; 12 Grand Prix starts, all with Hill. |
| DN1/1A-R replica | built later, date not recorded | A replica of the Zolder-crashed 1A, built later and sold to a UK owner. Oldracingcars records it with no races. 8 | Listed as DN1/1A-R; no period race history. |
Known issues
- DFV vibration through the chassis — Loose or cracked brackets, instruments and radiator mounts; Southgate had to rubber-mount them in period. 6
- Cracked radius-rod lugs on the steel rear bulkhead frame — Cracks around the fixing bolts, found by the works crew before the 1973 Spanish GP; the lugs sit against the fuel-cell panel. 6
- Marginal cooling under the enveloping body — High water and oil temperatures in traffic; Southgate listed cooling among the 1973 weaknesses. 6
- Cosworth DFV life and rebuild cost — Period teams rebuilt after 600 miles and changed pistons every 1,000 miles; a 1975 rebuild cost £800 and a 1978 rebuild £900 with a new engine at £15,910. unknown today; period £800-900 per rebuild 14
- Chassis identity — Shadow reused the 1A and 2A plates later in 1973, 4A and 5A were crashed and rebuilt, and a 1A replica exists; journalists' numbers do not always match plates. 8
- Expired HTP, condition-test and fuel-tank certificates — Masters requires a valid FIA HTP, a condition-testing certificate not older than 2 years and an Appendix K fuel-tank certificate; 3A had an HTP from 2021, 4A to 2025, 6A to 2024. 16
- Transmission and accident damage in period — Southgate listed transmission problems and accidents among 1973 retirements; 4A was rebuilt after Zandvoort and 5A after a crash. 7
Checklist before you buy
- Match the chassis plate against the oldracingcars.com race record and Allen Brown's ownership chain — Plates were reused in 1973 and a replica of 1A exists; only 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A have period races. 1
- Ask which tub the car carries and when it was last rebuilt or re-skinned — 4A was rebuilt after Zandvoort 1973 and 5A after a crash; 3A sat as a show car with a dummy engine until a 2008 rebuild. 7
- Inspect the steel rear bulkhead frame and radius-rod lugs for cracks and old weld repairs — These lugs cracked in period and were gas-welded in situ next to the fuel cell. 6
- Read the HTP, the condition-testing certificate and the fuel-tank certificate dates — Masters wants all three in date; a lapsed HTP means a new application through the ASN before entry. 16
- Confirm the DFV has a rev limiter set to 10,000 rpm on an original-style Lucas spark box connection — Masters checks DFV limiters with its own rev-limit checker and only accepts original Lucas spark boxes. 16
- Get the engine builder's last rebuild sheet and hours since — DN1/4A was sold with a zero-miles Phil Reilly DFV; period practice was a rebuild every 600 miles. 10
- List the spares: enveloping body panels, nose, airbox, uprights and gear ratios — The full-length body is unique to the DN1; 4A came with bodywork, suspension and ratio spares, which is rare. 10
- Measure cockpit width against the other survivors — Nichols said the Follmer tub was beaten out wider than Oliver's; it helps tell cars apart. 8
Running costs 14
| Rebuild interval | Period teams rebuilt a DFV after about 600 miles (one weekend) and replaced pistons every 1,000 miles; historic owners run far fewer miles per year 14 |
|---|---|
| Typical rebuild cost | £800 in 1975 and £900 in 1978 for a standard 120-hour rebuild; current specialist quotes not found in sources 1415 |
| Consumables | Avon/Goodyear A11 dry and A15 wet tyres under Masters rules, limited to eight tyres at a first event; Masters entry fee £2,250 per weekend 1617 |
| Spares availability | Cosworth remanufactures DFV blocks, heads, sumps and front covers; Shadow-specific body and suspension parts depend on what comes with the car 2210 |
Where it races today
- Masters Racing Legends (1966-1985 F1) · Emerson Fittipaldi (post-1972, non-ground effect) — Needs a valid FIA HTP, Appendix K compliance, DFV limiter at 10,000 rpm, nominated Avon/Goodyear tyres; two 25-minute races per weekend. 16
- Monaco Historic Grand Prix · 3-litre F1 of the DN1's era — DN1/4A ran three editions before 2020 and DN1/3A was accepted in 2021; a DN1 raced Monaco in period. 10
- Brno Grand Prix Revival / F1 Masters demonstrations · Historic F1 — Oliver's DN1 appears at Brno run by the Swiss Moser-Autos team of Toni Seiler. 18
Market prices
- DN1/3A ex-Graham Hill Embassy car, HTP 2021, Monaco Historic and Goodwood history, dealer asking then marked sold: 475,000 GBP (2021-11) 9
- DN1/4A ex-Oliver/Redman works car, fresh Phil Reilly DFV, HTP to 2025, spares package, dealer POA then sold: POA GBP (2019-12) 10
- DN1/6A ex-Oliver Canadian GP podium car, restored, HTP to 2024, Hall & Hall, price not shown, sold: not disclosed GBP (2023-06) 11
- racingcarnetwork.com search: no DN1 listed; only a 1980 Shadow DN12 at POA: POA EUR (2026-11) 23
With four survivors and no auction result found, the only public figure is the £475,000 asked for the Hill car in 2021. All three survivors offered since 2019 are shown as sold, so cars rarely come to market (checked November 2026).
Reference prices are dated and sourced; live asking prices are in the listings above.
Frequently asked questions
How many Shadow DN1s exist today?
Six were built in 1973. DN1/1A and DN1/2A were written off at Zolder and Monaco. DN1/3A, 4A, 5A and 6A survive, plus a later replica of 1A recorded as DN1/1A-R. Oldracingcars placed 3A and 4A in Switzerland in 2023, 5A in the United States and 6A in the UK.
Which DN1 did Graham Hill race?
DN1/3A, bought for his Embassy Racing team and assembled at John Thompson's workshop from Shadow parts. Hill started 12 Grands Prix in it with a best of ninth at Zolder. It became an Embassy show car, sat unraced until 2008, then raced in Masters, Monaco Historic 2021 and ran at Goodwood with Damon Hill.
Can a DN1 race in Masters Racing Legends?
Yes. It falls in the Emerson Fittipaldi class for post-1972 non-ground-effect cars. You need a valid FIA HTP, an in-date condition-test and fuel-tank certificate, a DFV rev limiter at 10,000 rpm and the nominated Avon/Goodyear tyres. Each weekend has practice, qualifying and two 25-minute races.
What did the DN1 achieve in 1973?
Two podiums: Follmer third in Spain and Oliver third in Canada after leading in the wet. Follmer was also sixth on debut at Kyalami. Shadow finished eighth in the constructors' championship with 9 points. The car's last Grand Prix start was Jarier's retirement at Interlagos in January 1974.
What is the weak point of the car?
Vibration from the DFV. Southgate came from BRM V12s and under-damped the V8 shake, so mounts, instruments and radiators suffered. The rear bulkhead radius-rod lugs cracked in Spain 1973 and were welded on the spot. Cooling was marginal under the full-length body. Check all three areas.
Which gearbox does it use?
The 1973 Autocourse specification gives a modified Hewland FG400 five-speed. Wikipedia lists a Hewland TL200. Ask the seller which casing is fitted and whether it matches the HTP, because ratio and spares sourcing differ between the two.
Sources
- Shadow DN1 car-by-car histories, OldRacingCars.com (Allen Brown) (2023-07) — chassis list, survivors and locations, Embassy Hill build, fates of works cars
- Shadow DN1/6A race history, OldRacingCars.com (2023-07) — 6A races, Canadian GP third, Jarier Argentina, 1976 ShellSPORT G8 results
- Shadow DN1/3A race history, OldRacingCars.com (2023-07) — Hill's 12 starts and results; also 2A results via the DN1/2A page on the same site
- Shadow DN1/4A race history, OldRacingCars.com (2023-07) — 4A races, Redman at Watkins Glen
- Shadow DN1/5A race history, OldRacingCars.com (2023-07) — 5A races, Jarier Brazilian GP January 1974
- Paint it black: How Tony Southgate created Shadow's first F1 car, Motor Sport Magazine (2010-04) — design story, vibration, bulkhead crack, cooling, long-wheelbase update, DN2, engine builders
- Before We Lose Track, Motor Sport Magazine (1975-05) — period chassis-by-chassis fates, DN2/DN4 Can-Am relatives
- Where are the remaining Shadow DN1 chassis?, Autosport Nostalgia Forum (2016) — Autocourse 1973/74 specification, chassis-plate reuse, Allen Brown's ownership list, Follmer tub width, 1A replica
- 1973 Shadow Embassy Hill Formula One car Chassis DN1/3A, Racecarsdirect.com (Simon Drabble Cars) (2021) — £475,000 price, HTP 2021, show car with dummy engine, Monaco Historic and Goodwood
- Shadow DN1 F1 Car (chassis 4A), Racecarsdirect.com (2019) — 4A ownership chain, Shefchik restoration, Phil Reilly DFV, HTP to 2025, Monaco Historic entries, spares
- 1973 Shadow DN1#6A, Hall & Hall (2023) — 6A restored, HTP to 2024, sold
- Ex-Hill Shadow returns in Grand Prix Masters, Racecar.com (2008-08) — Daryl Taylor's 2008 return of 3A at Silverstone Classic after 35 years unraced
- Hill's Shadow back on track, Motor Sport Magazine (2008-10) — confirms 3A stored in the USA and rebuilt by Taylor
- Throwback Thursday: Servicing Cosworth DFV Formula 1 engines, 1975, Autocar (2019) — 600-mile rebuilds, pistons every 1,000 miles, £800 rebuild and £10,000 engine in 1975
- The Supertuners, Motor Sport Magazine (1978-08) — 296 DFVs built by July 1978, £15,910 new price, 120-hour rebuild at £900
- Masters Racing Legends for 1966/1985 F1 cars, 2025 Technical and Sporting Regulations, Masters Historic Racing (2025-04) — classes, HTP and certificate rules, 10,000 rpm DFV limiter, Lucas spark box, Avon/Goodyear A11/A15 tyres
- Masters Racing Legends series page, Masters Historic Racing (2026) — 1966-85 scope, £2,250 entry fee, two 25-minute races
- Shadow-Ford DN1 at Brno Grand Prix Revival, Brno Grand Prix Revival (2024) — Oliver's DN1 run by Moser-Autos / Toni Seiler; Jarier's Interlagos brake failure
- Video: Heaven is a Shadow DN1 at Road Atlanta, Goodwood Road & Racing (2017) — Follmer 5 points, Oliver 4 points, eighth in constructors, tyre situation
- Shadow DN1, Wikipedia (2026) — 9 constructors' points, eighth place; the TL200 gearbox claim that conflicts with Autocourse
- File:Jackie Oliver Shadow Ford 1973 Monza.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (2026) — image
- Cosworth to Remanufacture DFV, Sports Car Digest (2011) — DFV block, head, sump and front cover remanufacture; demand pushing prices
- racingcarnetwork.com search 'shadow dn1', Racing Car Network (2026-11) — no DN1 listed; one Shadow DN12 at POA
- Shadow DN1-3A 1973 walkaround, AS Monza Racing (2015) — 3A at Coppa Intereuropa, Monza 2015
Did you know
- Southgate drew the DN1 at a drawing board in his own garage in Bourne before Shadow had any premises 6.
- John Barnard first turned up at Shadow as a friend tagging along to Andy Smallman's draughtsman interview 6.
- The works cars ran UOP lead-free petrol as an advertisement for the sponsor; octane was the same as leaded fuel 6.
In the marketplace now
View all →No exact Shadow DN1 (1973) listed right now — here is closely related machinery on the market.
