Should you check out the Formula 1 grid of 2017, all of the vehicles look strikingly related. Strict aerodynamic guidelines give designers little freedom. A Williams could be exhausting to tell apart from a McLaren if their liveries have been the identical.

This wasn’t all the time the case. In previous many years the aero guidelines have been far much less particular, and weird designs have been much more frequent. A few of them labored brilliantly, seemed nice, and altered the DNA of Formula 1 for good. Others stood out primarily as a result of they have been decidedly unusual and, in lots of circumstances, extremely ugly.

The next 5 odd ones out are notably distinctive vehicles that make you want F1 groups have been free to take extra dangers these days.

Ensign N179 — Ford

You’ve most likely by no means heard of Ensign. The small British crew scored solely 19 factors in ten years, having first entered F1 in 1973 with Rikky von Opel as its driver. Sure, the person’s very a lot associated to the founding father of the auto marque. He’s additionally the one F1 driver from Liechtenstein to this point.

For six years Ensign battled in the back of the grid. Then in 1979 the crew had the sensible thought of integrating radiators into its new automotive’s nostril. Nostril-mounted radiators had made sense within the Nineteen Fifties, when racing vehicles had nonetheless been entrance engined, however the characteristic seemed downright ridiculous on the N179.

The automotive’s design impressed unflattering comparisons with cheese graters and wash boards and assured it a spot on each “ugliest F1 vehicles” checklist. Had the N179 been quick the looks wouldn’t have mattered a lot, however the automotive usually did not qualify. In actual fact, it suffered from — you guessed it — overheating.

A minimum of Ensign’s lack of success prevented the wash board radiators from ever showing once more.

Brabham BT46B — Alfa Romeo

Let’s transfer from the again of the grid to the entrance. The Brabham BT46B, powered by an Alfa Romeo engine, solely raced as soon as: within the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. Niki Lauda and John Watson certified third and 2nd respectively. Lauda ended up successful the race, making the BT46B essentially the most profitable automotive on this checklist.

What was so particular about it? Properly, it was a vacuum cleaner — of kinds. The unique BT46 variant was a regular F1 automotive of the period. The B configuration that was entered in Sweden featured one distinctly novel characteristic: a fan (as seen within the image above).

Rival crew Lotus had lately launched the primary “floor impact” automotive, which had upturned aeroplane wings built-in into its sidepods. In response Brabham got here up with their very own technique to extend downforce. The fan behind the BT46B was formally a cooling system, however it additionally occurred to extract air from beneath the automotive, thereby urgent it onto the observe.

After Lauda’s win at Anderstop, different drivers complained concerning the automotive spitting out grime, with Lotus driver Mario Andretti calling it a “vacuum cleaner”. The automotive was ultimately deemed authorized, however Brabham reverted to the unique BT46 nonetheless. Hearsay has it that Brabham’s proprietor Bernie Ecclestone needed to appease the opposite groups, whose help he wanted to turn out to be president of the Formula One Constructors Affiliation (FOCA) later in 1978.

Tyrrell P34 — Ford

Ken Tyrrell’s crew launched its justifiable share of bizarre design options over the course of its lengthy historical past. Amongst them are the raised nostril that’s been F1 normal for the reason that mid 90s and the hideous x-wings of the late 90s (google them). However the one automotive that Tyrrell will all the time be remembered for is the P34. It’s the one successful Formula 1 automotive that doesn’t have 4 wheels.

Tyrrell’s thought was easy: two small entrance wheels as an alternative of 1 massive entrance wheel would match utterly behind the entrance wing and consequently create a transparent airflow in the direction of the rear wing, whereas nonetheless providing a big sufficient contact patch for top cornering speeds.

The P34 was launched for the 1976 Formula 1 season and was initially thought-about a publicity stunt by many. However then Patrick Depailler and Jody Scheckter certified 4th and seventh in Belgium, and shortly afterwards Scheckter gained in Sweden. Tyrrell completed the season third within the constructors’ championship. The P34 was up to date for 1977 and scored extra podium finishes. In the meantime, different groups like Williams, Ferrari, and March began to experiment with six wheelers, too.

After two surprisingly profitable seasons, Tyrrell reverted to a 4 wheel automotive for 1978, primarily as a result of Goodyear didn’t need to preserve growing the uniquely small entrance tires. The P34 will ceaselessly stay one of the radical F1 winners of all time.

Lotus 56B — Pratt & Whitney

The Lotus 56B appears like an honest racing automotive. With its aerodynamic wedge form it actually isn’t ugly. What makes it particular is hidden beneath the graceful bodywork: as an alternative of an everyday F1 engine, the 56B is powered by a Pratt & Whitney gasoline turbine.

Sure, you learn that accurately. This Formula 1 automotive is powered by an aeroplane engine.

The historical past of the Lotus 56 begins in 1967 with one other turbine-engined racing automotive, the STP-Praxton. Designed by Ken Wallis, it had dominated the Indy 500 earlier than its retirement, prompting Lotus to attempt its fingers on a turbine automotive. Three four-wheel drive 56s have been entered within the 1968 version of the Indy 500. They have been front-runners however didn’t finish the race.

Turbine vehicles have been subsequently banned from the occasion, and Lotus determined to enter a B variant of the 56 in chosen races of the 1971 Formula 1 season. Enlarged fuel tanks, nevertheless, made the 56B too heavy to be aggressive. Whereas it was quick within the rain, it lacked tempo within the dry. Emerson Fittipaldi’s eighth place within the Italian Grand Prix was the automotive’s finest end result earlier than it — and generators usually — disappeared from Formula 1.

Ferguson P99 — Coventry Climax

The Ferguson P99 might solely have began one official World Championship race, however the automotive is outstanding for 2 causes. Firstly, it was the primary four-wheel drive automobile to be entered in a Formula 1 occasion. Secondly, it was the final ever entrance engined Formula 1 automotive.

Within the late 50s the small British Cooper firm had revolutionised F1 with its mid engined vehicles. By 1961 even Ferrari — who had initially clung to entrance engine layouts — had switched to the brand new configuration. Then alongside got here Ferguson with the P99. It had a entrance mounted Climax engine as a result of weight distribution, as dictated by the 4WD system, required it.

The automotive was financed by tractor agency Ferguson and initially pushed by Jack Fairman. He certified twentieth for the British Grand Prix at Aintree. Within the race, Stirling Moss took over from Fairman (again then drivers might share a automotive), solely to be disqualified for outdoor help.

The Ferguson’s second of glory got here on the Worldwide Gold Cup held on the Oulton Park circuit — an F1 race that didn’t depend in the direction of the World Championship. Moss gained the race, making the P99 the primary 4WD automotive and the final entrance engined automotive to be victorious in F1. The Ferguson would later be entered in hill climbs as much as 1966.