Building on a remarkable 70-year racing pedigree, David Brabham has announced Brabham Automotive’s return to manufacturing with the launch of its first product, the BT62 race car.
The BT62 continues the legendary BT naming convention established by founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac in the 1960s and honors the legacy of the Anglo-Australian marque’s most memorable cars, according to a company news release.
The new Brabham is pure bred for the track and capable of setting blistering lap times. The BT62 boasts a dry weight of just 2,138 pounds with power provided by a naturally-aspirated 5.4-liter V8 engine capable of 700 horsepower.
The launch took place Wednesday at Australia House in London, home to the Australian High Commission, set among a group of historic Brabham racing cars.
Heralding the start of a new chapter for the iconic motorsports marque, the BT62 has been specifically designed, developed and tested from the ground up with unique engineering details, and crafted from lightweight carbon fiber so that the BT62’s exterior surface and aggressive aerodynamic package combine to strike the optimal balance between function and form, the news release says.
“It’s with great pride that I honor and continue my father’s legacy in revealing the next chapter in the evolving Brabham story,” managing director David Brabham said at the unveiling. “The team we have in place, and the vision it shares, provides a solid platform for Brabham Automotive to execute its long-term business strategy. Our first step to deliver on that strategy is the Brabham BT62, a car truly worthy of carrying the iconic Brabham name.”
Those fortunate enough to acquire a BT62 will join the automaker’s driver-development program, where physical ability and determination will be raised to a place where the performance potential of both driver and vehicle can be fully exploited together as one, the company said.
The BT62’s base price is £1 million ($1.36 million) plus taxes and fees, and before options, with production limited to 70 cars in recognition of the 70-year heritages since Jack Brabham’s Australian competition debut in 1948.
The first 35 cars will celebrate the 35 Grand Prix victories won by Brabham over its 30-year reign in Formula 1. First deliveries of the BT62 are expected later this year.
The BT62 unveiled was liveried to celebrate Jack Brabham’s green-and-gold BT19 and his historic victory at the 1966 French Formula 1 Grand Prix at Reims, the year in which he made history in becoming the first (and to date only) driver to win a World Championship in a car of his own construction.
The ’56 Bel Air Chev. is sure sweet!