First ZF Gearboxes

[Mark Clapp]

I was just wondering which car(s) first used ZF gearboxes, or in other words, for what car(s) were they developed for?

[jimbo]

GT40s were among the first cars to use these ZF transaxles, according to the new edition of TFTBF. Other vehicles that used versions of this unit were the DeTomaso Mangusta and Pantera, and possibly the Maserati Bora. Also the BMW M1 used a later version of the ZF 5DS25 transaxle.

[BenL]

If you go to http://www.zf.com/, and click on "Facts & Figures", and then "Chronicle". You can get a year by year history of the company and their technology.

For 1961's technology, it says:

"ZF dares to enter the world of Formula-one racing together with Lotus Cars Ltd. and the legendary racing driver Jim Clark. The racing cars are equipped with the ZF transmission 5 DS 10, a five-speed transmission with ZF lock-synchronizer mechanism.

Beginning in 1967, Jim Clark drives the Lotus with the Ford V8 engine and the ZF 5 DS 12 transmission"

The page also has a picture of a "Hanomag-Henschel light-duty transporter equipped with ZF 4 DS 10 Synchroma transmission and ZF Gemmer steering type 7328".

So the first vehicle to use the "ZF x DS xx" type transaxle was probably a truck, the first race car to use it was probably the Lotus 21.

The page also has a cut-away drawing of the 4 DS 10.

The site doesn't even mention the GT40.

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According to their "Early History" page, ZF was a spin-off from the early efforts to build a lighter-than-airship.

"In 1915 the ”Zahnradfabrik” is called into being. The precision gearwheels and transmissions produced on the basis of a new patent promise optimal power transmission between the engines and propellers of the Zeppelin airships. Today ZF Friedrichshafen AG is the largest of the companies that emerged from the Zeppelin legacy"

http://babelfish.altavista.com translates ”Zahnradfabrik” to "Gear wheel factory"

[Canuk40]

Can anyone clarify this one? I was told the Maserati Ghibli used a ZF transxale even though the engine was up front.

Cheers

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I know the Bora used a ZF, I don't see how a Ghibli could as it has a solid rear axle? The Merak (the "baby" Bora) used a Citroen transaxle behind the Citroen engine.

I presume the Bora used a ZF gearbox, not a transaxle.
Rick [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[John Fitzpatrick]

The Lotus 30/40 cars used the same transaxle as the early GT40s until about '65 at Brands Hatch when "the case cracked, the oil fell out, and the box siezed". Lotus went with Hewland after that one.
John

[Doc Watson]

Ben,

In 1969 (technology) the sites states...

"The Formula-one racing cars of the English designer Cooper and the legendary Ford GT 40, (4.7L eight-cylinder 400 HP engine) transmit engine power with the ZF five-speed transmission
5 DS 25 or the 5 DS 25/1. This Synchroma transmission with five forward speeds and one reverse gear has been specifically designed for racing. Racing car designers and drivers enjoying world fame have decided in favor of ZF technology. The Mercedes-Benz sports car C 111 is also fitted with the 5 DS 25/1."


What a great read that site is though..... thanks for that...

Also is this a ZF as we know it?

"Lotus 30, 1964, Hipo 289 Ford block and heads. Correct period ZF gearbox......."

[Doc Watson]

I also found this.... about the history of Lotus cars

http://8w.forix.com/lotus.html

"The new Lotus "queerbox" caused enormous grief. During 1957 a London University graduate named Keith Duckworth joined Lotus, working at first under a character called Graham Hill who was in charge of gearbox preparation. Duckworth became the company's gearbox development engineer, devising a positive-stop gearchange mechanism which replaced the previous quadrant change. For the 1958 season, a spiral-bevel final-drive would be adopted without the offset of the hypoid original, and a German ZF limited slip differential was fitted, the gearboxes being manufactured for Lotus by ZF in Germany."

Which ZF was this?

[jimbo]

The Bora is a mid-engine car; from what I can recall (I haven't seen one opened up for a year or two) it does have the 5DS series ZF in it....ZF sold these boxes to whoever needed them, revising them on the way. The last production car that I know of to have them fitted as OEM was the BMW M1. BMW parts catalogs still show the ZF transaxle as an active part number- at 15K list price! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cussing.gif[/img]

[Pantera1889]

Bora's also had 3.77:1 ring and pinions in them instead of the 4.22:1 that a Pantera uses!
Panteras used the ZF well into the 90's!