Brabham BT46B
Gordon Murray's 'fan car', which won the only Grand Prix it entered before Brabham withdrew it.
- Power
- 520 bhp
About the Brabham BT46B
With Alfa Romeo's wide flat-12 leaving no room for Lotus-style venturi tunnels, Gordon Murray, working from a layout by David Cox, converted two BT46s, chassis BT46/4 and BT46/6, to use a large engine-driven fan at the back that drew air through a horizontal radiator and from under the car. Brabham argued that cooling was the fan's primary purpose, keeping it clear of the ban on moveable aerodynamic devices, while sliding skirts sealed the low-pressure area underneath so that downforce grew with engine speed. At the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix the cars qualified second and third, and after John Watson spun off, Niki Lauda passed Mario Andretti around the outside of a corner and won by over half a minute. Facing an uproar from rival teams, Brabham withdrew the car after that one race, and both chassis were returned to standard BT46 form.
Brabham BT46B specs
The Brabham BT46B produces 520 bhp (388 kW) and 439 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque.
| Make | Brabham |
|---|---|
| Model | BT46B |
| Years | 1978 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | About 2 built |
| Engine | 3.0L naturally aspirated flat-12 (Alfa Romeo) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,995 cc (3.0 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 520 bhp (388 kW) at 12,000 rpm |
| Torque | 439 Nm (324 lb-ft) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (Brabham-designed casing, Hewland gears) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Brabham BT46B rarity in CarSpot
The Brabham BT46B is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 100 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Brabham BT46B fun facts
- When it was not running, the fan was hidden under a dustbin lid.
- Mario Andretti likened it to 'a bloody great vacuum cleaner'; Gordon Murray countered that the fan's exit speed was only 55 mph.
- A BT46 ran in B specification once more at the 1979 Gunnar Nilsson Trophy at Donington Park, where Nelson Piquet was fourth of five in a time trial.