The Matich name was applied to a series of sports racing cars and open wheel racing cars produced between 1967 and 1974 under the direction of Australian racing driver Frank Matich.[1]
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The Matich SR3 was a Group A Sports Car built for Matich by Bob Britton in 1967. It was powered by an Oldsmobile V8 engine and was driven to victory by Matich in the 1967 Australian Tourist Trophy, Australia’s premier sports car race of that year. Later in the year, Matich raced in both the US Can-Am series and in Australia, with two SR3s fitted with 4.4 litre Repco V8 engines. Matich won the 1968 Australian Tourist Trophy with a Repco powered SR3.[1]
A completely new design, the Matich SR4, was produced with designer-frabricator Henry Nehrybecki for 1969 utilising a quad cam Repco 740 V8. Matich dominated the inaugural Australian Sports Car Championship in that year, winning all three heats with the SR4.[1]
The SR4B was a sports racing car of circa 1969 which was powered by a Ford Twin Cam engine.[2] In 1970 it was revised, renamed as the Matich SR5 and fitted with a Waggott 2.0 litre powerplant.[3]
Matich A50 at the Speed on Tweed in 2007. |
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| Category | Formula 5000 |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer(s) | Frank Matich Henry Nehrybecki |
| Technical specifications[4][5][6][7] | |
| Chassis | Aluminium and Titanium monocoque |
| Suspension (front) | Independent with upper and lower wishbones and inclined coil spring/shock units |
| Suspension (rear) | Independent with single upper link and radius rod, twin tower links and radius rod, inclined coil spring/shock units |
| Axle track | Front: 1,549 mm (61.0 in) Rear: 1,625 mm (64.0 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,610 mm (103 in) |
| Engine | Repco-Holden, 4,998 cc (305.0 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted |
| Transmission | Hewland DG300 5-Speed manual |
| Weight | 625 kg (1,380 lb) |
| Competition history | |
| Notable drivers | Frank Matich John Goss Jim Richards |
| Debut | 1971 Australian Grand Prix (A50) |
Following the adoption of Formula 5000 regulations into Australian Formula 1 in 1971, Matich and Nehrybecki produced the Matich A50, the first single seater to wear the Matich name. Designed on a modular basis with separate front suspension, cockpit and rear end, the car was powered by a Repco Holden V8 engine. Matich drove an A50 to victory in the car’s first race, the 1971 Australian Grand Prix and he also won the 1972 Australian Drivers' Championship at the wheel of an A50. A total of four A50s were built during this period.[1]
The Matich A51 was constructed for Matich to contest the 1973 US Formula 5000 season. The car was later sold to John Goss who rebuilt it as an A53 and used it to win the 1976 Australian Grand Prix. A second A51 monocoque was built but not raced.
Matich built a revised car, the Matich A52, utilizing the second, unraced, A51 monocoque for the 1973 Australian Drivers' Championship. The A52 had side radiators, a shorter wheelbase, shorter nose and updated suspension. After just a single race, Matich withdrew from the championship and put his cars up for sale. It was later wrecked in a testing accident.[8]
The Matich A53 was raced by Matich in the 1974 Tasman Series after which he retired from racing.[8] The car was later sold to John Goss who replaced the Repco Holden engine with a Ford unit.[8] This proved uncompetitive and, after Goss sold the car to Mel McEwin, the Ford engine was replaced by a Repco-Holden.[8]
During its competition life the Matich A50-53's Repco-Holden power output was around 500 bhp (370 kW).