07 May Tyrrell-Ford 007-1

The Tyrrell 007 was designed by the team’s Chief Designer, Derek Gardner. It was used in the 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 Formula One seasons. Ken Tyrrell needed two new drivers for 1974 because Jackie Stewart retired from driving at the end of 1973 and François Cevert was killed at the 1973 season finale in the United States. The team had originally planned to have Cevert and South African Jody Scheckter as their driver line up for 1974, but following Cevert’s death, Tyrrell signed Frenchman Patrick Depailler as replacement.

Ford provided the necessary finances for Cosworth to develop the engine, which is why, for marketing purposes, the engine is listed as a Ford.  The motor is a 2 987 cc Cosworth DFV – the initials standing for ‘Double Four-Valve’ in reference to the V8’s 32-valve, double overhead-cam cylinder heads. Indirect mechanical fuel injection helped deliver an initial 304 kW (408 hp) at 9 000 r/min and 370 N.m of torque at 7 000. The engine was progressively developed to deliver 358 kW at 10 500 r/min. The gearbox is a Hewland five-speed.  Depending on the gearing, top speed is around 275 km/h. The car weighs 625 kg.

The 007 missed the first three Grands Prix of the 1974 season, including the SA GP, and made its debut at the following Spanish GP. Scheckter drove the 007-1 and finished fifth. For the next GP in Belgium, Depailler raced chassis number 2. Jody won in Sweden and in Great Britain, and finished in the top five at each of his first eight races. Jody set the fastest race laps in France and Germany. He ended the season third in the Driver’s Championship with 45 points. Depailler finished ninth. Tyrrell was third in the Constructor’s Championship with 52 points.

The following year, Jody’s brother Ian raced the car in Lexington livery in the 1975 SA Formula 1 Championship. He won six of the nine races and finished second in the Driver’s Championship. Ian also took part in the 1975 SA GP but crashed during the race.

The Tyrrell 007-1 – now back in its Tyrrell livery – is part of FMM’s collection and is on permanent display in Hall D.