1987 March

This March 85B is a historic single-seat race car, originally driven by Michel Ferté for Oreca Motorsport in the inaugural 1985 Formula 3000 season. Power comes from a 3.0-litre Cosworth DFV V8, producing around 480bhp, paired with a five-speed Hewland manual transmission. One of five March 85Bs entered in Formula 3000's inaugural 1985 season by Oreca Motorsport, it was driven by Michel Ferté, who finished 5th in the championship, securing two pole positions, a 2nd place finish at Estoril in Portugal, and two 3rd place finishes at Silverstone and Thruxton. The CAMS Certificate of Description confirms that it was subsequently owned by French hill climb champion, Marcel Tarrés, between 1986 and 1987. It lists four further owners between 1988 and 2015, the latest being in Australia. Following receipt of its Confederation of Australian Motorsport (FIA) Historic Car Certification, the March was campaigned by Stephen Borness against period Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3000 cars. Designed by Ralph Bellamy for F3000, which was launched in 1985 to replace Formula 2 as the ‘feeder’ series below Formula 1, the 85B was based on March’s existing Formula 2 design, with a similar aluminium/carbon-fibre monocoque, double wishbone suspension, and the 3.0-litre Cosworth DFV V8 used in Formula 1 prior to the introduction of new 1.5-litre turbocharged engines. This storied example is now finished in a period-correct Marlboro livery, with sponsorship decals from Elf, Avon, and Devil, as well as the driver names M. Ferté and S. Borness. It rides on black 13-inch Gotti wheels, wrapped with slick Avon tyres. Non-original equipment includes MCA two-way adjustable shock absorbers (replacing the original Koni 8211 series units which are still with the car), 7000 Series billet alloy front uprights (replacing the original uprights where one was damaged), a custom air cleaner (as the engine originally had no air filter), Burns lightweight race mufflers (to meet noise restrictions), and an engine coolant pre-heater. Original chassis drawings are retained in the March archives and all historic paperwork is included in the sale, including its engine manual, logbook, and various certificates. A set of spare wheels will also be included, which are wrapped in wet-weather tyres. The seller notes that the vehicle received a major rebuild between 2018 and 2021. The chassis is reported to have been completely dismantled, and a thorough inspection was carried out of the tub, which all proved to be good. The suspension, steering, and brake sub-assemblies were dismantled, inspected & crack tested. Items found to be okay were serviced & reassembled, and major fasteners were replaced along with the spherical joints where necessary. New 7000 Series alloy billet front uprights have been installed, while the rear uprights have been tested. The suspension geometry has been reviewed & adjusted in association with former McLaren F1 engineer, Barry Lock, which was due to current tyre height variations. The seller also states that the hubs and spindles have been crack-tested, all the wheel bearings have been replaced, the fuel bladder was replaced, the dry sump system was serviced, and the radiators were serviced and pressure tested. Other work carried out includes all of the wiring being inspected and repaired where necessary, and all of the flexible plumbing for the cooling, some fuel, brake, and clutch hydraulic systems being replaced. It is also reported that the engine and transaxle were rebuilt prior to 2019, and the electronic ignition and fuel metering units were overhauled. After the completion of the rebuild the car was run on a chassis dyno, then was last raced in June 2021, before being run at a test day in mid-2023. The vehicle has since received a full race check and has been regularly run. The bodywork has been restored, painted, and fitted with new fasteners. The seller reports that since the engine was rebuilt, the car has been driven for three trouble-free outings, equating to approximately three hours of running time. Please refer to the photo gallery to assess the exterior and interior condition.  This March 85B is a historic single-seat race car, which marks one of five examples entered by Oreca Motorsport in Formula 3000’s inaugural 1985 season. It has since enjoyed a competitive stint in Australia, and now benefits from some restorative maintenance. This 85B would make a fine addition to a private racing enthusiast’s collection, and a competitive entrant for historic race events and track days worldwide. The description of this consignment is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must independently satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description. Potential buyers should view or arrange inspections as well as conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy. Please note that it is not uncommon for classic or collectible vehicles to have received cosmetic repairs in the past, either to rectify damage or refresh appearance, and this work may be undetectable even upon visual inspection. Unless there is an explicit statement by the seller to the contrary, please assume that any vehicle could have had bodywork or paintwork during its life. Furthermore, photographs may not reflect the true colour or full condition of the vehicle. It is a bidder’s responsibility to satisfy themselves of the colour and condition of a vehicle, including its interior and the existence of any remedial bodywork or paintwork, before committing to bid or buy. This includes by raising enquiries with the seller in the comments section. For vehicles, unless otherwise stated, potential buyers should also assume that any cherished registration may be retained by the seller. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.