Tyrrell P34/2 Elf No. 3 Ronnie Peterson 1977 Kyosho 1:64

The Tyrrell P34/2 occupies a singular position in Formula 1 history: it remains the only six-wheeled car ever to have competed at World Championship level. Designed by Derek Gardner, the P34 ran across the 1976 and 1977 seasons before Tyrrell abandoned the concept entirely and returned to a conventional four-wheel layout for 1978. This Kyosho 1:64 die-cast captures the updated /2-specification chassis — the revised suspension and bodywork package introduced for 1977 — carrying car number 3 driven by Ronnie Peterson.

The engineering gamble that put six wheels on an F1 grid

Derek Gardner's core idea with the P34 was to replace the two conventional front tyres with four smaller 10-inch units. The logic was twofold: a narrower frontal area would cut aerodynamic drag, while four contact patches rather than two promised greater cornering grip. The Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8 — the same unit powering most front-running teams of that era — sat at the rear. The /2 designation marks the second-generation specification, with refined front suspension geometry and revised bodywork introduced at the start of the 1977 season.

Ronnie Peterson, car number 3, and the Elf partnership

For 1977, Tyrrell paired Ronnie Peterson in car number 3 with Patrick Depailler in car number 4. Peterson was among the most naturally gifted drivers on the grid — renowned for his commitment under braking and his ability to extract pace from difficult machinery. The P34 had raced in 1976 with Scheckter and Depailler before Peterson joined the team for 1977. The 1977 season proved less rewarding for the six-wheeler, and after the campaign ended Tyrrell shelved the project permanently. The car's livery throughout both seasons was defined by the Elf sponsorship: a deep blue body with white detailing, one of the most recognisable colour schemes of the mid-1970s F1 era.

Kyosho's Mini Car series: precision at 1:64

This model is part of Kyosho's established Mini Car series, a die-cast range at 1:64 scale that has long been appreciated by collectors for combining accurate livery reproduction with a compact, highly displayable footprint. The six-wheel layout of the P34 presents an obvious visual reference point at any scale, and the Elf blue-and-white colour scheme translates clearly even at this smaller format. Die-cast construction provides solidity and paint adhesion consistent with Kyosho's output across the Mini Car line.