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1950 to 1960 (start of World Championship through 2.5 litre period)

The Brabham T53 Climax, bought by Honda as a "template" for their own entry into F1 in 1964. This image is copyright Joe Rudynski and is reproduced with permission.

Two Formula Junior cars shown on the Monza banking, 1960. Italian GP. 1960. Phil Hill, 2.5 Litre Dino Ferrari. Last front-engined car to win a GP. Monza, 1960. The cars started on the left-side of the main straight.  Monza, 1960. A Cooper heads for the oval whilst a GP Ferrari tows an F2 Ferrari after leaving the banking. Monza, 1960. Monza, 1960. A Dino Ferrari is moved to the grid. View is looking towards the Curva Grande and, to the right, the start of the oval. An amazing sight! Indy roadsters race on the Monza oval...in the opposite direction to that used normally. Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari, Monza 1960...in an F2 Ferrari (I think!)
Stirling Moss (Vanwall) chases Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari). Is it 1956?  A few laps later and Moss has taken the lead. British cars run 1st. and 2nd. Note the banked oval crossing the track.
I am indebted to John Nelson for providing the photographs immediately above.
These provide a beautiful portrayal of Monza as at the start of the 1960's.

1.5 litre period, 1961 to 1965.

Honda cars featured at the GENEVA AUTO SALON, Switzerland.

RA272. V12 1.5 Litres. Won Mexico, 1965 (Ginther). RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1. RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1. RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1.
RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1. That's a V12, folks...in a transverse position! RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1. RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1. Note the alternative locating points for the upper and lower suspension arms.. RA272 of 1965. 1.5 litre F1.

All images above are copyright Jacques Faure and are reproduced with permission.

Lotus 25 cockpit. Lotus 25 "stern". Spa, 1961. The view from La Source to Eau Rouge and beyond.Spa, 1961. The view from La Source to Eau Rouge and beyond. Ferrari 156 on the Monza banking in 1961, the last year that F1 cars raced on the banked section.
Bandini, Karussel (Nurburgring) 1961. Lotus 25, 1961. Jim Clark. Richie Ginther and Ronnie Bucknum, 1965. Last year of the 1.5 litre formula.
John Nelson also provided the three photographs immediately above.

The photographs immediately below come from MotorSport.
They were taken at Solitude, the magnificent 12 Km road course in Germany.
Captions for each photo are taken from the magazine and if you click on a thumbnail a larger image is available.
Dan Gurney drops downhill after Solitude's long, engine-breaking straight. Hotel in previous photo remains, now hidden by trees. Race control and finish line a welcome sight after tortuous section before. Old race control tower remains in perfect condition on start-finish straight. Above: Ireland chases McLaren into Glemseck corner in 1961. Below: Road junction now breaks flow. Surtess extits hairpin in '64. Virtuoso drive to victory halted by drying track. Clark leads the field through atrocious rain at the start of the '64 F1 race. Few would survive lap 1. 

NEW 15th. July 2000
The shot below comes from MotorSport and was supplied by Tony Whitley (England) and  is from the 1963 German GP at the Nurburgring.
Nurburgring, 1963.
It "shows the true character of the Nurburgring, with Surtees (Ferrari) leading Clark (Lotus-Climax V8) up the hill at Quiddlerbacher-Hohe. It was on this hump that Mairesse (Ferrari) became airborne and crashed heavily. The corner in the far distance is Hocheichen, where the circuit leaves the twisty section through the trees at Hatzenbach. Vantage points such as our photographer used are available to spectators round a great part of the 22.8 kilometre circuit."

3.0 litre period, 1966 and 1967 (pre-wings, pre-advertising)

Cars featured in the HONDA COLLECTION, Japan.

RA273 of 1966 foreground, RA272 (1965) backgraound. RA273 of 1966. V12 3.0 Litres. (Not a success in this form.) RA300 "Hondola". Won at Monza, 1967 (Surtees). RA300 of 1967. developed from Lola "Indycar" chassis. Engine lighter than original. RA300 of 1967. Front suspension detail. RA300 of 1967. Exhaust a work of scuplture!
RA300 of 1967. Detail of rear suspension. RA300 of 1967. The "nest of snakes" exhaust system. Beautiful! RA300 of 1967. Lovely lines. RA300 of 1967. More rear suspension detail. RA300 of 1967. Wheel and instrument panel. RA300 of 1967. Cockpit.
RA300 of 1967. Cockpit. RA300 of 1967, Joe of 2000, drooling, no doubt! RA300 of 1967, Joe of 2000. RA300 of 1967. V12 3.0 Litres, driven by John Surtees. RA300 of 1967 in background. RA301 missing from foreground was in Geneva (See collection below!) Formula 2 Brabham Hondas of 1966. World Champions.

All images above are copyright Joe Rudynski and are reproduced with permission.

Colin Chapman in the new Lotus 49 powered by the Ford Cosworth DFV, 1967. Jim Clark ready to debut the Lotus 49, Zandvoort, 1967. Repco V8, as used by the Brabham tteam in 1966. Repco V8, as used by the Brabham team in 1967. Jack Brabham drifting the BT24, 1967. Jim Clark and Lotus 49, Zandvoort, 1967. Ford Cosworth DFV in the Lotus 49, 1967.
 RA273, 1966, Watkins Glen. RA273, 1966, Watkins Glen.
Wow!! John Surtees, Honda RA300, Goodwood Festival of Speed 1999. Compare this to the pic taken in 1967 (right). John Surtees, Monza, 1967. Thirty-two years prior to the pic on the left. RA273, 1966.  RA273, 1966 or early 1967. Jack Brabham (BT24) chases John Surtees (RA300), Monza 1967. Surtees scored Honda's only 3-litre win.  Driver briefing, Monza, 1966. How many can you recognise?
John Nelson also provided the six photographs immediately above. The two shots of John Surtees and the RA300, taken over 30 years apart, are wonderful.

3.0 litre period, 1968 to 1970 (introduction of wings and advertising)

Honda cars featured at the GENEVA AUTO SALON, Switzerland.

RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968, with rear wing and front "bib" winglets. RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Driven by John Surtees. RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Driven by John Surtees. RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. A roomy cockpit for "Big John".
RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Obviously intended that the mirrors would stay on no matter what! RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Gorgeous V12! RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Note the innovative way in which the exhausts extensions are secured. RA301, (V12, water-cooled) of 1968. Thats the oil catch-tank over the gearbox.

All images above are copyright Jacques Faure and are reproduced with permission.

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