Tyrrell Ford elf P34  1976 Formula 1 six wheel Grand Prix Car              

Designed by Derek Gardner of the Terrell Ford Formula 1 Racing Team for the 1976 Grand Prix season, the Tyrrell elf P34 was the first, and only, of its kind.  Gardner reasoned that four tiny front wheels, rather that two large ones, would achieve a significantly smaller frontal area, would reduce rolling resistance and give the car improved cornering ability.

And that apparently proved true, when on its first outing in the Scandinavian Grand Prix at Anderstrop, both team “six-wheelers” driven by Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler finished in 1st and 2nd place.  But the rest of the season was lackluster and the P34s were not to win another race.  The car was redesigned in 1977 and was finally retired in 1978.

Interestingly, the P34 was not the only experiment with six wheels on a Grand Prix car; both March and Williams tried four rear wheels for added acceleration, but neither car ever saw a starting grid.

Tyrrell Ford elf p34 1976

This is the 6th in a Series of Historic Vehicles                                              edition size - 500        print size  22" x 10 1/2"      $ 55.00

            back to the Automobiles page