For those who don't know, Penske cars were built on the south coast of England, just outside Poole, Dorset, including the Penske Indy cars until recent years.
Totally coincidentally, my father-in-law gave me a box of old car bits last weekend and it contained *THE* Cosworth DFV piston from John Watson’s 1983 McLaren MP4/1C that let go in the Brazilian GP (in Jacarepagua) and ended his race. It’s definitely a lumpy paperweight now but even so, it’s a beautiful thing - and amazing to know it helped overtake Alain Prost before it failed. I didn’t know much about John Watson before last week, so it was great to hear you talk about him so fondly and drive one of his cars. Great to know he and the cars of the era aren’t fading away into obscurity. ✊
20yrs isnt long tbh now tech has slowed down were just tweaking stuff now..the 2004/2006 f1 cars are STILL the fastest f1 cars..a ktm sx 125 from the 90's can still hang with todays 125cc..
@@TheCraigy83 The DFV won it's first race in 1967 and it's final one in 1983, during the era of turbo cars. Look how the cars developed from 1967 and how Ford managed to update and develop it during that time and you'll see what a remarkable feat it was.
So rare to come across someone this good, this smooth, this personable, this well known and this enthusiastic to articulate magic moments like this. I love that Ben doesn’t seem close to being jaded. Loved the drive…. Smooth af. Fab.
I so loved that time in racing. It was truly man and machine. Now it's all electronics and engineers with a driver to hang on... What an amazing sound from the cockpit...
A beautiful car and nice to see on track. Though it wasn't only Ferrari who tried something other than the DFV, in period we had engines from BRM, Matra, Alfa Romeo, Tecno and Renault
Later yes, but early 70s far less others trying, Alfa weren't in yet, Matra had left, it was only the Ferrari Flat 12 and BRM V12 that provided any competitive alternatives.
I was cycling around Dunsfold that day with my father….. what a noise that was!! Nothing like it hearing you ring that car out around there. Literally scared us to death!! Great memory 😅😅
Did Penske build this car from the ground up? It looks like the March 761's that Ronnie Peterson, Vittorio Brambilla and Hans Stuck raced in 1976. Did Penske buy a 761 and modify it? March would sell you cars. The 761 was designed by Robin Herd.
That sound is so good! I know every F1 fan is like V10 this and V10 that, but these V8s and the V12s sound the best IMO. The V10 is definitely a solid 3rd place, though.
The raw mechanical experience is what is missing from driving today. These days the driver is insulated from what's going on under their tyres. I have a 1955 Chevrolet 150 sedan. It's a replica of the car from the film 'Two Lane Blacktop.' 454ci / 7.5 litre V8. Quite a spicy engine. Over 600bhp. 4 speed manual transmission, no power steering, no brake servo (but vented discs all round). No ABS, no ESC, no traction control, - they didn't have electronic nannies back then. Sliding windows, no heater, no radio, nothing except what you need to get down the road. Non-independant suspension at both ends; - live rear axle & a drop tube front axle. It's a lot of fun to drive.
It’s like a professional violinist picking up a Stradivarius. Yeah it’s old, but it’s a meticulously crafted machine of its era, and besides its considerable raw performance, it has a simplicity and an elegance that a modern car doesn’t. What a SONG from 6:00 🎵
Awesome coverage Ben! Like the in helmet your point of view footage is amazing to have that footage too. Cosworth Fords have always been great. Desire continued Success Ben 👨🏻👍🏻🏎🏎🚩🚩🏁🏁
What a great video! Absolutely epic!!in my favorites now. I love this car. I'm a 75 model myself 😂, to see this alive on the track as intended is a real real treat. Cheers Ben.
not an F1 fan.. i just love a car guy driving a car he enjoys and telling me why.. i dont need to know about the race or the history. Cheers from the US!
And this is also the hallmark of a great racedriver: driving a demanding racecar while still having the capacity to express clear sentences to describe the situation. Just sayin.... 😎🤟
I’ve always wondered what the brake pedals are like in these old F1 cars. You know how modern F1s require a mad ton of force on the brake pedal but not much about these beasts
Another great video. Well done Ben. Also good to see you enjoying what you're driving... those old F1 cars were basic, effective along with the legendary Ford DFV.
Britain used to have it's own F1 competition in the late seventies and early eighties. It would be nice to see what is left of that. Not only the cars, but drivers as well! Can you do a video on that?
I've heard the hardest part of driving an F1 car is thinking quickly enough to keep up with what the car is doing. Even with your experience, I'm still impressed how quickly you adjusted to this car.
Ben's driven F1 cars before, he was actually offered a drive in the Arrows team but bringing sponsorship was the problem, otherwise he'd have been a Grand Prix driver . The drive went to Max's dad, Jos Verstappen. He also raced Indy cars in the Indy Lights series in America, so fast single seaters are not new to him.
I made the right choice wearing heaphones for this. Love the sound of the DFV ❤ Ps: if ever there's the chance for a video like this but with a touring car of any era, then that would be amazing
Really? I drove an F1 car before you? OK, I'm quite a bit older, but yes, my ex wife got me a drive in an F1 car for my 40th birthday in 2004. An ex Arrows, my mind was blown, morning was spent building up to it via a formula Ford then an F3, nothing before or since has come close to the mind bending acceleration. Looking back its the brakes that I remember the most. My head was flung forward violently every time I hit the left pedal. Insane
Another brilliant video Ben thank you. Purely out of interest, the throttles blips on corner entry, are they related to trying to rotate the rear of the car to neutralise the understeer? If so, did you manage it with those enormous profile rear tyres? Look forward to more of the same please!
what about trying to get a drive in Nikki Lauda ( or reggazoni if u must) 312T... or hunts hesketh that he won a fluky gp win in , or the usual jps lotus 75 , but dario franchetti drove one recently in "three men four wheels " or whatever drew pritchard deamed up... such unbridled Hubris !! anyway what about the fan car that john Watson drove ( brabham) was it dfv too??
What would have been really cool to see how this would stack up (if at all) to modern Formula 3... This old F1 car has more horses but I guess the F3 has much much more modern aerodynamics... It would have been cool to either have a race between this and an F3 or do a fastest lap (10 laps in both cars) and then maybe see the different driving styles between them... Yes ofc the modern F3 is probably a lot easier to drive "hard" with the flappy paddles, but there is 120 HP between these light cars... and maybe they will be on par? ---edit Maybe there are tracks that has not changed at all where this F1 drove and F3 still does and you can compare lap times? does anyone know?
My dream build is a dfv powered ford foxbody mustang. I would mod the engine for more street spec so not as high reving and more street freindly would hope for 350hp even 400hp would be awesome , with euro/cosworth style exterior mods , in either a gray,white , or green,
How did they manage to put the camera inside the helmet😂 I think the stig was a bit nervous, repeat same line a couple of times. Would be fun to hear the engine instead.
Just watching this, in crisp digital video, makes me wonder why the hell we have a World Championship for SUVs with hybrid V6s when we could be more carbon sympathetic running much cheaper cars running E85 or synthetic fuel. Madness really.
You know what sucks I don’t think the 2014 and beyond cars will be able to be driven like these 2013 and below cars.. Because, the Turbo Hybrid cars won’t be able to be maintained
@@BenCollinsDrives LOL, come on now. I can't see why one couldn't get a few parts for it at your local autoparts store right. 😉 " UH I'm looking for a front control arm for a Penske PC3 " " Yes sir , we have 5 of them on the back shelf "
What classic F1 car should I drive next...? 👇
Seb’s Williams Renault V10
Some 80's turbo car, Lotus 98t ??? That would be EPIC.
+1 for one of the V10 screamers, drivers choice 😉
Tyrrell P34
Anything with a V10. If there's a Jordan out there in running shape would love to see one! They were my team
For those who don't know, Penske cars were built on the south coast of England, just outside Poole, Dorset, including the Penske Indy cars until recent years.
Ben is living the dream this year
Workin' on it 😉
You're not wrong to be sure!
Oh, that wonderful, wonderful sound! The sound of Formula One for nearly a generation. Just glorious.......
Love the subtitles during the end when ben finally shuts the fuck up and drops the hammer, they say "music, applause, music, applause" - exactly!
Totally coincidentally, my father-in-law gave me a box of old car bits last weekend and it contained *THE* Cosworth DFV piston from John Watson’s 1983 McLaren MP4/1C that let go in the Brazilian GP (in Jacarepagua) and ended his race. It’s definitely a lumpy paperweight now but even so, it’s a beautiful thing - and amazing to know it helped overtake Alain Prost before it failed. I didn’t know much about John Watson before last week, so it was great to hear you talk about him so fondly and drive one of his cars. Great to know he and the cars of the era aren’t fading away into obscurity. ✊
Heavy paperweight, but a great base for a glass coffee table!
I really enjoyed your perspective on this kind of car, and the history lesson! An engine being competitive for 20 years is amazing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
20yrs isnt long tbh now tech has slowed down were just tweaking stuff now..the 2004/2006 f1 cars are STILL the fastest f1 cars..a ktm sx 125 from the 90's can still hang with todays 125cc..
@@TheCraigy83 The DFV won it's first race in 1967 and it's final one in 1983, during the era of turbo cars. Look how the cars developed from 1967 and how Ford managed to update and develop it during that time and you'll see what a remarkable feat it was.
Love the Cosworth DFV, raw sound & raw power, beautiful. One of the best engines of all time 😃
Couldn't agree more!
would be cool if there was a valve spring upgrade so it could run longer
Doesn't it have the most F1 wins of any engine?
So rare to come across someone this good, this smooth, this personable, this well known and this enthusiastic to articulate magic moments like this. I love that Ben doesn’t seem close to being jaded. Loved the drive…. Smooth af. Fab.
Was a lot of fun driving this. You can't elaborate or waffle when driving something like this... no time for messing around! Got to say it how it is.
How on earth do you now have millions of subs?! Keep it up, The Stig will be on top soon
Working on it!
I so loved that time in racing. It was truly man and machine. Now it's all electronics and engineers with a driver to hang on... What an amazing sound from the cockpit...
A beautiful car and nice to see on track. Though it wasn't only Ferrari who tried something other than the DFV, in period we had engines from BRM, Matra, Alfa Romeo, Tecno and Renault
Later yes, but early 70s far less others trying, Alfa weren't in yet, Matra had left, it was only the Ferrari Flat 12 and BRM V12 that provided any competitive alternatives.
Wow hard to believe that this is The Stig's first time in an F1 car! Great video, amazing sound.
First time on this channel! I drove one back in the day on TG.
@@BenCollinsDrives Yeah I thought so
I was cycling around Dunsfold that day with my father….. what a noise that was!! Nothing like it hearing you ring that car out around there. Literally scared us to death!! Great memory 😅😅
@@BenCollinsDrivesdid you drive the Renault F1 on there?
Quite simply, one of the best motoring channels around atm can't get enough 👏🏻
Glad you're enjoying it!
Love the relatable components on this era of cars. What a delight.
Really enjoying the videos Ben. Looking forward to more. Thank you from Western Canada. 👍
More to come! More classic F1...
And I think it's great that you're in Western Canada and I'm in the UK and we're both enjoying this. I've enjoyed Vancouver and Whistler. Great place
small tip. remember to tilt the lens of your cambox fully down 😉
Sounds incredible and looks incredible to drive, it’s amazing to see how fast these old f1 cars really were even compared to todays f1 cars
Did Penske build this car from the ground up? It looks like the March 761's that Ronnie Peterson, Vittorio Brambilla and Hans Stuck raced in 1976. Did Penske buy a 761 and modify it? March would sell you cars. The 761 was designed by Robin Herd.
That sound is so good! I know every F1 fan is like V10 this and V10 that, but these V8s and the V12s sound the best IMO. The V10 is definitely a solid 3rd place, though.
It's always nice to see you paying a visit for these amazing classic cars and giving us the historical background
More to come.
@@BenCollinsDrives awesome! Can't wait!
What a gorgeous sound!!!
This channel just keeps getting better & better!
Thanks guys 💪
The raw mechanical experience is what is missing from driving today. These days the driver is insulated from what's going on under their tyres.
I have a 1955 Chevrolet 150 sedan. It's a replica of the car from the film 'Two Lane Blacktop.'
454ci / 7.5 litre V8. Quite a spicy engine. Over 600bhp. 4 speed manual transmission, no power steering, no brake servo (but vented discs all round). No ABS, no ESC, no traction control, - they didn't have electronic nannies back then. Sliding windows, no heater, no radio, nothing except what you need to get down the road. Non-independant suspension at both ends; - live rear axle & a drop tube front axle.
It's a lot of fun to drive.
It’s like a professional violinist picking up a Stradivarius. Yeah it’s old, but it’s a meticulously crafted machine of its era, and besides its considerable raw performance, it has a simplicity and an elegance that a modern car doesn’t. What a SONG from 6:00 🎵
A cool car, but what impresses me even more, is the minivan - including camera crew - taking a strong lead... 😁 cudos to the van driver!
Awesome coverage Ben! Like the in helmet your point of view footage is amazing to have that footage too. Cosworth Fords have always been great. Desire continued Success Ben 👨🏻👍🏻🏎🏎🚩🚩🏁🏁
Glad you like the footage! Helmet-cam is my favourite.
@@BenCollinsDrives It's an Epic life
👦👍🏎🏁🚩
Excellent loved it, thanks for the ride felt we were there with you.
Exactly what we were aiming for. Thanks!
it was called the DFV because it was developed from the four cyclinder FVA (Four Valve Type A) hence being Double Four Valve.
Was awesome to see you at the event and driving the Penske!
I remember the Benettons and when the Brauns had a great year to everyone’s surprise.
I would watch soo much more from you my Collins. You are a legend
More on the way! More classic F1...
I've been a fan for a long, long time. With this series, I have become a full on air conditioner!
Superb, thank you for the ride Ben! ❤
Glad you enjoyed it! More soon...
What a great video! Absolutely epic!!in my favorites now. I love this car. I'm a 75 model myself 😂, to see this alive on the track as intended is a real real treat. Cheers Ben.
you can just feel how excited this monster is at being given another chance to stretch its legs
It loves it!
John Watson is a legend. He is still alive.
not an F1 fan..
i just love a car guy driving a car he enjoys and telling me why..
i dont need to know about the race or the history.
Cheers from the US!
Great video Ben remember watching John Watson driving this car in 1976.
And this is also the hallmark of a great racedriver: driving a demanding racecar while still having the capacity to express clear sentences to describe the situation. Just sayin.... 😎🤟
Fun video. Thank you for putting an entire lap on-board, no talking. So many videos never have that.
No problem! More on the way...
Brilliant, thanks for the insight Ben. I can relate to your descriptors! Whether right or not, for me, I’ll probably never know 😂
Make sure you turn your volume ALLLL the way up to 11?
Cosworth DFV EPIC!
I enjoy Ben's videos now more than I enjoyed top gear back when he was the stig!
Thank you!! Good stuff 🎉
Wow that was epic . That Cosworth sound is immense . Did the camera man actually shit himself? 😂
Racecar drivers age so gracefully
"Some said he is the master of breaking records on top gear."
All I could do was smile and listen😮😊
Awesome piece ben, downshifts were silky smooth 👌
What Great fun I drove a single seater at the Silverstone inner circuit.
I wish I could drive one❤Love it
What a treat, cosworth sounding epic. 😎🙏👊👍✌
Gorgeous machine. I could stare at this for hours through my Engineer's eyes
That engine sound gave me an eargasm 🏎🔊😫
Awesome sounding machine and congratulation to this opportunity. How many Nm you would set up in a sim to simulate the steering forces?
What a gnarly sound!
The sound!!! ❤❤❤
I’ve always wondered what the brake pedals are like in these old F1 cars. You know how modern F1s require a mad ton of force on the brake pedal but not much about these beasts
wow first time seeing your channel. I wasnt expecting you to actually push the car a bit, that was awesome!
Welcome along! Track battle just gone live on the channel, and then more classic F1 on the way soon.
Another great video.
Well done Ben.
Also good to see you enjoying what you're driving... those old F1 cars were basic, effective along with the legendary Ford DFV.
Britain used to have it's own F1 competition in the late seventies and early eighties. It would be nice to see what is left of that. Not only the cars, but drivers as well! Can you do a video on that?
Aurora AFX F1 series, mainly F1 cars that were a couple of years old.
Ben “The Stig” gives such an inthralling description of his impressions and the how it feels
Inthralling. Good word.
I've heard the hardest part of driving an F1 car is thinking quickly enough to keep up with what the car is doing. Even with your experience, I'm still impressed how quickly you adjusted to this car.
Ben's driven F1 cars before, he was actually offered a drive in the Arrows team but bringing sponsorship was the problem, otherwise he'd have been a Grand Prix driver . The drive went to Max's dad, Jos Verstappen. He also raced Indy cars in the Indy Lights series in America, so fast single seaters are not new to him.
@@andyelliott8027 Great background knowledge, thanks. I didn't think this was his first time.
Ben Collins = Rockstar !
I made the right choice wearing heaphones for this. Love the sound of the DFV ❤
Ps: if ever there's the chance for a video like this but with a touring car of any era, then that would be amazing
Would love to drive a touring car. Noted!
Do you have any friends ?
Really? I drove an F1 car before you? OK, I'm quite a bit older, but yes, my ex wife got me a drive in an F1 car for my 40th birthday in 2004. An ex Arrows, my mind was blown, morning was spent building up to it via a formula Ford then an F3, nothing before or since has come close to the mind bending acceleration. Looking back its the brakes that I remember the most. My head was flung forward violently every time I hit the left pedal. Insane
Another brilliant video Ben thank you.
Purely out of interest, the throttles blips on corner entry, are they related to trying to rotate the rear of the car to neutralise the understeer? If so, did you manage it with those enormous profile rear tyres? Look forward to more of the same please!
Gutted RedGate pub is gone.. had a few cheekies in there with Keith Flint ... RIP dude
Well that’s an Epic drive Ben!
I’m pretty sure his first F1 car was on that one top gear episode was that lotus back in like 2011?
The DFV is legendary
This was brilliant!
Glad you enjoyed it!!
That machine looks and sounds fantastic
She's a beauty.
The engine sounds incredible,
The Penske F1 car, often described as 'a March put together properly'
What a thrill that must have been!
That was going later on the brakes than I would have expected for such a test ride of an old F1 car.
such an amazing video keep up the good work!
Donnington is still a great circuit. Thanks for sharing. 🤙🏻
It sure is!
Awesome video Ben. Could you please a drive the 1976 Tyrrell P34?
Or 006
The blue one? With 6 wheels? ELF sponsor? 👀
@@BenCollinsDrives Yes , the 6 wheeled F1 car
what about trying to get a drive in Nikki Lauda ( or reggazoni if u must) 312T... or hunts hesketh that he won a fluky gp win in , or the usual jps lotus 75 , but dario franchetti drove one recently in "three men four wheels " or whatever drew pritchard deamed up... such unbridled Hubris !!
anyway what about the fan car that john Watson drove ( brabham) was it dfv too??
What would have been really cool to see how this would stack up (if at all) to modern Formula 3... This old F1 car has more horses but I guess the F3 has much much more modern aerodynamics... It would have been cool to either have a race between this and an F3 or do a fastest lap (10 laps in both cars) and then maybe see the different driving styles between them... Yes ofc the modern F3 is probably a lot easier to drive "hard" with the flappy paddles, but there is 120 HP between these light cars... and maybe they will be on par?
---edit
Maybe there are tracks that has not changed at all where this F1 drove and F3 still does and you can compare lap times? does anyone know?
Hi Ben, was it you driving the Lotus F1 car in Spain on Top Gear? Against the RS4, C63 & M3
A proper F1 car AND engine. 🎉
I've seen this car racing in anger with John Watson at the wheel at Zandvoort, it still had the high air box at that time.
Looks so cool with the taller airbox.
How long did the grin last after you stepped out of the car?
Nice. Can you see if you can have a go at the Penske PC23 next....
Got something cool coming up next...
My dream build is a dfv powered ford foxbody mustang. I would mod the engine for more street spec so not as high reving and more street freindly would hope for 350hp even 400hp would be awesome , with euro/cosworth style exterior mods , in either a gray,white , or green,
When cars were cars is a Cossie Baby !
Brilliant brilliant
Didnt you drive that Lotus F1 car in Top Gear as Stig in C63vsM3vsRS4?
First F1 car on this channel!
How did they manage to put the camera inside the helmet😂
I think the stig was a bit nervous, repeat same line a couple of times. Would be fun to hear the engine instead.
I've got a helmet cam! Super cool.
Great video and awesome shots. Can you tell me what sort of camera was used at the front of the car - i.e the one that rotated?
360 cam!
Many thanks! @@BenCollinsDrives
Hope you enjoyed the TMAX engine!! :)
Jim Clark's Lotus 49, if not the 25 would do nicely.
Just watching this, in crisp digital video, makes me wonder why the hell we have a World Championship for SUVs with hybrid V6s when we could be more carbon sympathetic running much cheaper cars running E85 or synthetic fuel. Madness really.
I just came back from the Le Mans 24 classic and to hear those engines at full chat is something F1 of today has ruined!!!!
You know what sucks I don’t think the 2014 and beyond cars will be able to be driven like these 2013 and below cars.. Because, the Turbo Hybrid cars won’t be able to be maintained
Well, looks like we'll have to keep driving these older beasts then. 😉
When they say they don't make them like that any more they meant that car haha. I could tell Ben wanted more but held back due to its rarity. 😁
Got to be careful in cars like these! Won't get rebuilt ready for next weekend 😉
@@BenCollinsDrives LOL, come on now. I can't see why one couldn't get a few parts for it at your local autoparts store right. 😉
" UH I'm looking for a front control arm for a Penske PC3 "
" Yes sir , we have 5 of them on the back shelf "
That was badass!