A replica of the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34, one of the most unusual racecars in the entire history of Formula 1, is set to go on sale again in Monaco on May 11, 2024. It is currently in possession of Jody Scheckter, ex-F1 champion who drove such cars in the late 1970s. The auction house expects to get €450,000–650,000 out of the deal (U.S. $492,500–711,300).
Back in 1976, Derek Gardnek decided to use smaller front wheels in order to reduce drag. To keep the tire footprint large enough for traction and braking efficiency, he had to install four wheels instead of two. In reality, however, such a design was quickly discarded as overcomplicated for racing purposes. Among other things, it was much harder to steer around the track. As a result, the car won the Grand Prix of Sweden in 1976, but did not score any other major awards and retired in two years.
The example seen here is not the original one, but an accurate replica built in 2008 based on an unused Tyrrell P34 chassis left over from the ‘70s. It corresponds to the original in all specifications and packs a 3.0-liter Ford-Cosworth DFV V8. Whoever buys it will be admitted to a variety of classic car shows and motorsports events.