Seven unmissable cars at Monaco Historic Grand Prix

Ferrari 312B3

Unfortunate or awesome, are words to describe the looks of the Ferrari 312B3, depending on how you feel about it. There are no inbetweeners when it comes to Ferrari’s infamous F1 snowplough. A regular racer at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, this howling flat-12 machine from 1972 is almost an essential inclusion. Catch the Jackie Stewart race for 1966 to 1972 F1 cars and you won’t miss Franco Meiners battling it out with Lotus 72s, Marches, McLarens, Brabhams and more, unless of course, the car is having a bad day…

De Tomaso F1-70

Also joining the oddball Ferrari on that grid is another curiosity: The De Tomaso F1-70. Yes, the very same De Tomaso we know and love, of Pantera fame. After dabbling in Formula 1 during the early 1960s, the De Tomaso name returned in 1970 when its 505/38 chassis was picked up by the Frank Williams Racing Cars team – yes, that Frank Williams. It wasn’t particularly competitive, even in the hands of Piers Courage and Brian Redman. Yet, in spite of never actually being classified in a World Championship race, the F1-70 is a formative element of the F1 landscape, even as we know it today.

Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider

Occasionally, there’s a bit of respite from F1 at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, with a couple of races for sportscars, one of which will feature a Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider taking part. The Vittorio Marzotto race for sports racing cars from 1952 to 1957 will see this stunning machine battle a hoard of Maserati A6GCSs, Frazer Nashes, Connoughts, Jaguars and more. One of Ferrari’s original sportscars, it doesn’t run a singing V12 as you might expect. Instead, there’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, hence the 500 in the name, for 500CC per cylinder. This beautiful machine will look right at home in the shadow of the Casino.

Hill GH1

The Hill GH1 proved to be a slightly stronger performer in Formula 1 than the De Tomaso. It was named after the founder of the team it raced for – two-time F1 world champion Graham Hill – and when we say stronger performance, we mean it scored two points finishes, with Tony Brise and Alan Jones getting fifth and sixth respectively. Hill himself entered the car at the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix, but failed to qualify. The Embassy Hill outfit produced two cars in partnership with Lola, and raced for just three years before the operation came to a close after the death of Hill, Brise and a number of core team members in a light aircraft accident in the Autumn of 1975. A rare example of a champion’s team endeavour that never got a chance to get up to speed.

Shadow DN11

The last days of Shadow, the cult favourite F1 outfit, were fielded by the DN11, of which just three examples were made. Racing in the 3.0-litre grand prix class at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, the DN11 was hardly a glorious final flourish for the ailing team, qualifying for only a single race in 1980 and then not finishing. The Shadow team was decimated in 1978 when lead driver Alan Jones moved to Williams, and a number of its staff jumped ship and founded the new Arrows team. It was a sad moment for F1 fans, but we’re fortunate that we get to revel in the beauty of what was Shadow’s first (and last) effort at creating a ground effect.

Alfa Romeo 182

Alfa’s position as title marque for the Sauber team in modern F1 is the first time it’s been seen in the sport since its stint in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Autodelta convinced the company to give their blessing to an Alfa Romeo F1 project following its separation from Brabham. The 182 came as the team began to reach the – admittedly low – height of its powers, with but a single pole position to its credit and a podium finish at Monaco, both with Andrea de Cesaris at the wheel. You’ll be able to see two examples of this Alfa during the Ayrton Senna 1981-1985 F1 race at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, distinctive in their Marlboro livery and with that incredible Alfa Romeo V12 sound.

Veritas RS2000

A marque largely lost to history; you don’t hear much about Veritas anymore. But at the Monaco Historic you’ll be able to see one of these elegant little sportscars. An RS2000 Veritas will be exercising its BMW powerplant, racing around Monaco in the Vittorio Marzotto race for 1952-1957 sportscars. Recognisable by its distinctive grille and alloy coachwork, it’ll surely be unique in a grid of Maseratis, Jaguars, Aston Martins and Coopers.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.