Ferrari 312 B3 Spazzaneve, 1972-3
Ferrari were going through one of their regular crises in 1972, struggling to compete with Tyrrell and Lotus in Formula 1. While those teams embraced new technology Ferrari seemed terminally reluctant to change their ideas. Their V12 engine was fantastic but, unfortunately, housed in a chassis which was several years out of date.
Mauro Forghieri’s answer came in the shape of the 312 B3. It was not a good looking car and its shovel nose quickly earned it the nickname “spazzaneve”, Italian for snow plough. By late summer in 1972 the prototype was ready to be unveiled. Testing was later carried out by Jacky Ickx and Arturo Merzario. They tried the car on a variety of circuits, taking it to Monza, Paul Ricard and Ferrari’s new Fiorano test track.
Neither driver was impressed by the car, in which Forghieri had made major design changes, trying to lower the centre of gravity. The experiment was viewed as a failure and Forghieri found himself relocated to another department within the company.
Forghieri’s place was taken by Sandro Colombo, who redesigned the B3. This included sub-contracting work to an English chassis manufacturer. The result was a hopelessly uncompetitive car which Ferrari were stuck with for the 1973 Formula 1 season. The team even withdrew from the championship at one point to try and find some more speed. Eventually, Forghieri was recalled and went some way to proving his doubters wrong. In his revised B3, and the very successful 312T which followed, he used much of the design principles incorporated into the unloved “spazzaneve.”
March 2-4-0, 1976-77
If money had not been so tight at March this car may well have proved successful. Designer Robin Herd felt he could improve on Tyrrell’s P34 six-wheeler, which featured four wheels at the front. By using six wheels of the same size, the rear four being driven, the design could, in theory, offer lower drag and better traction.
Financial restrictions meant that the radical new car had to be constructed from an existing chassis and spare parts. A March 761 was duly modified and a strengthened gearbox installed. Howden Ganley drove the car for the first time at Silverstone in 1976, but gearbox problems reduced the 2-4-0 from four-wheel drive to two.
After further strengthening of the gearbox the car appeared in practice for the 1977 Brazilian Grand Prix, but did not race. Ian Scheckter tried the car at a Silverstone test and was impressed, but funding any further development was beyond the means of the company.
One person who did believe in the principal was the British hillclimb legend Roy Lane. After purchasing a March chassis he persuaded the company to sell him the gearbox used for the 2-4-0. Using the same layout he won several events in the car during 1979.
More weird Formula 1 machinery.
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