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The Argo Chev V8 – The tale of a Grand Prix racer turned into an Aussie sports car

By Auto Action

Date posted: November 5, 2023

Tony Osborne’s way too slow conversion of his ex-Jack Brabham/Lex Davison Grand Prix Cooper T53 Climax into the Argo Chev V8 sportscar nobbled its chances, what took three years should have taken three months.

Despite that, Ian Cook and Peter Macrow showed its true potential in 1967-68 before it was ‘benched’ in favour of a new car.

After many years it was ‘rescued and restored’ by the Argos’ current owner Peter Brennan.

AUTO ACTION’s historic’s editor Mark Bisset tells the tale of its transmogrification from a single GP car to sportscar and back again…

Another great AUTO ACTION feature that looks at Australia’s motorsport history and its available in the latest issue of the magazine on sale now in news agents or available in digital form.

The four page AUTO ACTION feature outlines the technical aspects of the car and has detail images of many of the components of the Argo Chev.

Argo Chev Feature Auto Action 1873 opening spread

The four page AUTO ACTION feature outlines the technical aspects of the car and has detail images of many of the components of the Argo Chev.

Argo Chev Feature Auto Action 1873 second spread

The Melbourne built Argo Chev V8 finally made the grids successfully in 1967-68 even going head to head with Chris Amon’s Can-Am Ferrari at 172mph at Longford. Unsold, it was put aside before being finally restored and raced again a half century later.

Grand Prix Cooper Types 45, 51 and 53 were built in large numbers. As his Cooper slid down the timesheets, Roger Penske created the Zerex Special, a marriage of T51 Climax and a sportscar body. He beat everything with it, eventually selling it to Bruce McLaren where it formed a critical step in Bruce’s journey to Can-Am domination.

Osborne, born in 1938, raced a GP Bugatti Type 37, Cisitalia D46, Cooper Bristol and Lotus Elite before jumping into the big league when he bought an ex-Jack Brabham 1960 Cooper T53 chassis from Lex Davison. Many will recall Davo’s lucky escape from a high speed assault upon the Longford pub in 1962, this is the replacement car and the story that follows its change to the Argo Chev sports car is amazing…

The handsome Argo is a tribute to Murray Carter; period typical but distinctively so.

Peter Brennan and the Argo Chev at speed during the Phillip Island Classic event. Image: Peter Brennan collection.

Peter Brennan recalls, “I had known Ray forever, as his health rapidly declined his family asked me to get two Coopers running and the Argo for sale. In the process I fell completely for a car I admired in my youth and bought it, pulled it apart, crack tested all the critical bits and then reassembled it carefully to race.

”For all the hard work which went into Argo it had a ‘shelf-life’ of only twelve months or so, during which it was reliable and lucky, not to forget the two driver’s careers it enhanced.The car is a popular sight on historic grids as one of the few big-banger sportscars of the mid-1960s running. Brennan Said.

Proud current day owner Peter Brennan and the Argo Chev as it is today.

Proud current day owner Peter Brennan and the Argo Chev as it is today.Image: Peter Brennan collection.

 

ARGO Chev Engine and chassis Installation - right Side

Argo Chev small block engine, complete with Webbers and the chassis installation – right Side.Image: Peter Brennan collection.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

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