Gilles Ferrari

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

talking this evening to an ex ferrari engenners seems that Ferrari car no longer exist neither in museum.
The model was a 126 C2, and was pioneristic winning vehicle (still in fiberglass, with only minor body parts done in carbon fiber, huge Turbo ferrari flat 12).
One of the most terrific fast and impressive Ferrari ever build.
Nobody knows where the chassis can be gone (at least 3 completely destroyed, including tragedy one and Pironi car)

Is for me incredible we dont have the car of the most loved pilot we ever had.
That little "fliying" canadian is still considered the greatest pilot ever drove a red, and for kids as me....it is still a true strong remind see his adventures.
He didnt win anything serious,numbers are against Gilles.
But he is THE legend.

From the few I know..only an ugly replica (done using a later model) is owned by Bernie Ecclestone, but I have no way to confirm it.

If someone from the circus can maybe friendly ask for it, will be very interesting for me.

Paolo

 

[Keith]

Paulo I'm not 100% certain, but I have a feeling that one of these appeared at the Goodwood Festival last year or year before, and it may even have been GV's. Somebody on here will know for definite though....

By the way, it wasn't a flat 12 but a V6 Turbo....

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

YouTube - Jacques Villeneuve driving Gilles' 1978 Ferrari

Hum..I remeber they showed a T3 Ferrari (maybe very first one he drove) and asked jacques to dress with Gilles helmet to recreate the feeling.
But the car I am referring to is the last one, the 1982 model of wich i've never seen on "actual" pictures around.

The car owned by Ecclestone (even according from the few I know)was originally bought and restored from Tambay,and should be in Paris (but again..its just a rumor),and the restore was not at the level it needs.
No pictures of it,and neither Ferrari never told anything about.
In Turin Fiat museum they also have a Gilles ferrari, a 312t4, but that incredible last one is missing.

Another origin says the remained chassis survived to 1982 season were converted into the 126 c3 (following year Turbo),really different in shape.

Surely they did at least 10 chassis of the 126 C2 many of whom where crashed during the season.

I know its more a discussion for ferrari chat, but I know too many of u knows a LOT about this matters

Paolo

P.s. Keith, u are always right..it was a v6turbo Ferrari 126 C2 126C2 F1 (Gilles Villeneuve) 1:8 scale model kit

 

[Keith]

Thinking about it it probably wasn't a 126C at Goodwood but the 312t. I think they must have crashed all the 126's - I don't think it was a very good car at all, not one of Harvey Postlethwaites best efforts anyway....

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I thought the 126 was a V6 turbo?

Rick

 

[Howard Jones]

Didn't it have that 1.5L V6 comprex engine/induction system in it? Does anyone have any information of that system? I don't think they ever raced it but it did appear at a few race weekends and was run mostly on thursday and friday. It was some sort of turbo supercharger combo that gave loads of low end torque and even more top end HP. I never really understood it.

 

[Keith]

By the way, it wasn't a flat 12 but a V6 Turbo....

Yes, it was...

 

[Jac Mac]

Howard, check out Bell Intercoolers

There is a Gerhard Shruf that worked with ferrari/Gilles on that project. Also I have a Diesel tech book that has a very good explanation of the Comprex Charger. Just another piece of tech that I would like to play with one day. I found a German site that had a schematic up but no translation.Drop me a pm if you want that website.

Jac Mac

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

yes, also I think now no 126 C2 survived (confirmed all crashed or updated to c3s), and is anyway a shame, for the importance that had.
I think anyway was a winning car (If I am not wrong Ferrari was even able to win costructor championship in 1982,also if they changed 5 pilots in one season..but maybe I am wrong, the pilot champ was for Rosberg in Bin Laden's Williams).
That engine was the first one of a long Fiat/ferrarri/lancia biturbo tradition evolved to final steps into furious "Delta s4 Gruppo B" biturbo engine, with Volumex at lows and KKK for high, that always allow the car to be pushed without the turbo lag.
In the 1986 rally season the performance were simply incredible, but once again, as in formula 1..all stopped by tragedy ("Hekke" Toivonen lost..)

If I am not wrong also today mass production factory use this biturbo performance combination (have a look at the new BMWs 3.0 units)

Back on ferrari...read this as a prey for me and (think whole) canadian fans of gilles.
Hope one day someone will be able to finish a replica of theme (looking at the stunning works of Fran...) but I know is a mess, for the itself difficulty of such formula one car.

Its just my hope. incredible we miss his car.

Paolo