Types 78 & 79...Game changers

[Lou Drozdowski]

From whiskers to skirts...

Every now and then you may happen across that 18 wheeler trailer on your local road and notice Chapman's influence to the trucking industry. Adding stability and fuel economy to the long haul truckers rigs...the small underside brushes on the type 78 was the first step to capture and seal the low pressure air.

Sliding skirts followed on the legendary 79... A great shot of Mario, showing the transition period which was not without issues. Changing track surfaces led them to stick at times resulting loss of adhesion. 

[BDA]

A red 78!! It just seems wrong! I think there are few F1 cars that were as beautiful as the 79 and none of them came after the 79.

The Chaparral 2J had articulated skirts that moved with suspension deflection. Probably a better system but also probably not very transferable to the 79. Were the skirts on the 79 spring loaded?

More interesting pictures and history, Lou! You seem to have an endless supply!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Where art meets function...or is it the other way round?

[BDA]

Nice cutaway!

[surfguitar58]

I came across this entertaining history of the Cosworth DFV on YouTube. Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CPUnSdhYpU
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[Certified Lotus]

Great cut-away of the 79 Lou!

[Bainford]

Cool cut-away. Nice array of win stickers on the rear wing. Well earned and proudly displayed.

[Lou Drozdowski]

We remember Ronnie on his Birthday...

His last race at Monza was to end at the wheel of the spare 78, after having shunted the 79 during the Sunday morning warm up.

[BDA]

A very bad weekend... I remember reading that Mario wasn't too worried for him because he thought the 78 was possibly better in the race because there were fewer problems with the brakes.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Friday's photo...

Has any one been watching the opening tests in Barcelona? It's a shame none of this year's cars can hold a candle to the beauty of years past.

[BDA]

Black Beauty was maybe the last beautiful F1 car!

[Bainford]

Agreed, Lou. I have a hard time getting into modern F1. It feels much more like watching a field a computers race rather than race cars. Being the luddite that I am, not much since the early 80s piques my interest.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Happy Birthday !  Mario Andretti...2/28/40

[BDA]

  Mario!!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Leave nothing to chance, it's Monte Carlo and the type 79 with the 78 style air box. The team was still chasing that magic balance of underside airflow versus rear cooling. As a result the team reverted to the early intake system. Used only once, a final revision was made as seen at Long Beach.
 A special one time Park Palace sponsor sticker for Monaco. Free hotel stay and gambling privileges provided no doubt. Chapman, always dealing and looking for an edge.