The Tyrrell P34/2 sits in a category entirely its own. Designed by Derek Gardner, it remains the only six-wheeled car ever to have raced in a Formula 1 Grand Prix, with its sole victory coming at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix — before the P34/2 specification raced in 1977. GP Replicas renders Peterson's No. 3 entry from the 1977 World Championship season as a 1:18 scale model, capturing a machine that divided paddock opinion while turning every grandstand head.
Derek Gardner's Six-Wheel Experiment
Gardner's reasoning was aerodynamic: four front wheels of just 10 inches in diameter sat within a narrower frontal area than a pair of conventional 13-inch tyres, theoretically reducing drag and improving braking. The P34 was powered by the Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8, the dominant customer engine of the period. For 1977 the car received revised rear suspension and updated bodywork in P34/2 specification, but the programme's Achilles heel was tyre supply — Goodyear found it increasingly difficult to develop the unique 10-inch front rubber, eroding the performance margins Gardner had originally calculated.
Ronnie Peterson and the Final Season of the Six-Wheeler
Peterson joined Tyrrell for 1977 and drove car No. 3 throughout the season, paired with Patrick Depailler in No. 4. Despite Peterson's well-documented natural pace — universally regarded as one of the fastest drivers of the decade — the tyre development impasse left the P34/2 unable to match rivals running standard-diameter fronts. The season produced points finishes but not the competitiveness the concept had briefly shown in 1976. At the close of 1977, Tyrrell shelved the six-wheel layout entirely, returning to a conventional four-wheeled car for 1978. Peterson himself moved on to Lotus. The 1977 campaign thus stands as the definitive final chapter of the P34 story.
The GP Replicas 1:18 Scale Model
GP Replicas is a specialist producer of high-detail Formula 1 replicas, working at 1:18 for the collector market. This release represents the P34/2 in the full 1977 Elf livery: blue and white bodywork with prominent Elf branding on the engine cover and sidepods, race number 3 on the nose. The distinctive six-wheel silhouette — four small-diameter fronts, two rears — gives this model an instantly recognisable profile that no conventional single-seater can replicate on the shelf.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What makes the Tyrrell P34 unique in Formula 1 history?
The P34 is the only six-wheeled car ever to compete in Formula 1. It used four 10-inch-diameter front wheels, a configuration designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. The concept ran from 1976 through the end of 1977, after which Tyrrell returned to a conventional layout.
Who drove car No. 3 in the 1977 season?
Ronnie Peterson drove the No. 3 Tyrrell P34/2 for the full 1977 Formula 1 World Championship season. Patrick Depailler ran alongside him in car No. 4.
Why did Tyrrell abandon the six-wheel concept after 1977?
Goodyear was unable to continue developing the unique 10-inch front tyres the P34 required. Without tyre progression, the car fell behind rivals on conventional 13-inch fronts, and Tyrrell reverted to a four-wheeled design for 1978.
Who manufactures this 1:18 model?
The model is produced by GP Replicas, a specialist manufacturer focused on highly detailed Formula 1 replicas at 1:18 scale.
