1961 Lynx Type 2 Formula Junior

Chassis no. 105

Footnotes

The Lynx story begins with two young men from Sydney, Australia - John Bruderlin and Leon Thomas - who raced a pair of MGs before diversifying into breaking cars and selling spare parts to fellow racers. They fitted a Marshall supercharger to one of their TCs, which proved very competitive, taking the New South Wales under-1,500cc quarter-mile record and the record for under 1,500cc sports cars at Foley's hill climb in 1958.

Two years later Messrs Bruderlin and Thomas teamed up with Peter Wilkins to form Lynx Engineering. Wilkins had bought all of Ron Tauranac's Ralt equipment and parts when the celebrated Australian designer left for England to work with Jack Brabham. Included in the deal was a nearly completed Vincent HRD-engined sprint car, which the partners proceeded to finish off. The car bettered the time set by their MGs on its first outing. Encouraged by the success of that first Lynx, the trio proceeded to develop three different Formula Junior models: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.

Type 2 chassis number '105' is one of only 15 racing cars constructed by Lynx. It was originally powered by a 1,100cc BMC engine driving via a Renault Dauphine four-speed gearbox, and was fitted with drum brakes. Built in mid-1961 and completed in time for that year's Sydney Motor Show, the car was raced as a works entry, driven by well-known local racer, Kevin Bartlett. Bartlett raced '105' competed from the end of 1961 until late 1963, securing several podium finishes. Kevin's Lynx was featured on the front cover of Sports Car World magazine (February 1962 edition, copy available).

'105' remained in Australia after its sale by Lynx in October 1963 and was raced by various owners until June 1972 when it was crashed at Oran Park. Don Black of New South Wales bought the Lynx in 1982 and set about rebuilding it. He kept the car until 1991 when it was sold to Herbert Neal who completed the rebuild. The current owner brought the Lynx to the UK in 2012.

Rebuilt with a 'zero hours' engine, '105' has not been used for a few years and will require gentle recommissioning of parts such as the brakes, seat belts and fire extinguishing system before returning to the racetrack.

With a Lynx winning the Formula Junior race at the 73rd Goodwood Members' Meeting in 2015, this very rare example would be a popular addition to Formula Junior grids around the world. Offered with FIA papers along with a history book which contains competition history for the car, including period photos.