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Ex-Ayrton Senna: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16

Two examples of the Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth were supplied to Team Lotus in 1986, a multiple-championship winning Formula 1 team, for use by Ayrton Senna and other team members.

The car you see here is believed to be the one used by Senna, with documentation to back this up, and it’s now being offered for sale by Bonhams on the 17th of July with a price guide of £25,000 – £30,000 or $34,600 – $41,500 USD.

Fast Facts – The 190E Cosworth

✱ The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 was originally developed for rally, however the dominance of the Audis with their all-wheel drive systems made this form of motorsport less appealing to Mercedes.

✱ The engine in the 190E 2.3-16 was developed by British engineering firm Cosworth using the standard Mercedes block with a new DOHC head and a slew of new parts.

✱ The car would race in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM or the German Touring Car Championship) against the best saloon cars of its day.

The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth

Mercedes originally began the project to develop the car that would become the 190E 2.3-16 in the early 1980s with a view to taking the car rallying.

Above Image: The interior of the 2.3-16 was kept very similar to the standard road car.

This was around the same time that Audi appeared with their soon-to-be dominant all-wheel drive Group B rally cars, and it was clear that the 2.3-16 with its rear-wheel drive wasn’t going to be a match for them.

Mercedes executive didn’t have to look far to find a new series for the 2.3-16 to join, it was modified for touring car duties and sent to fight for wins in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft or the German Touring Car Championship).

Rather than developing the car in Germany, Mercedes had contracted British engineering firm Cosworth to create a motorsport version of the standard Mercedes-Benz W201 190E. This was perhaps a slightly controversial decision as there was no shortage of homegrown German talent capable of doing the work, however Cosworth was one of the most respected motor sport engineering firms in the world, a title they retain to this day.

190E 2.3-16 – Specifications

Cosworth engineers took the standard inline-four cylinder engine in the 190E and created a new DOHC head for it, with the largest valves they could fit and aggressive cam profiles.

Above Image: Cosworth badging was kept off the engine, possibly to avoid advertising that it had been hopped up by the Brits.

Lightweight pistons were added however the connecting rods, bearings, and bearing caps were tested and found to be strong enough for the application.

A slew of additional changes were made to the engine, resulting in power output figures of over 350 bhp in race trim. The road cars developed for homologation purposes produced a slightly more reasonable 183 hp at 6,200 rpm and 174 lb ft at 4,500 rpm.

Power was sent back through a Getrag 5-speed manual dog-leg gearbox into a limited slip differential (LSD) to the rear wheels, with later cars receiving driver adjustable LSDs.

The Cosworth 190E was sold in two major iterations, the 2.3-16 and the 2.5-16, with the latter car also being offered in both Evolution I and Evolution II forms in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Today these cars are highly collectible, along with their period arch rival, the BMW E30 M3.

Above Video: The 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, featuring Ayrton Senna announcing his arrival to the Formula One world in no uncertain terms.

Ayrton Senna And The 190E 2.3-16

The story of the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 and Ayrton Senna will be forever intertwined thanks to the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions.

This was an exhibition race organised by Mercedes-Benz and held at the Nürburgring, with a grid made up of 20 of the world’s top drivers including nine of the fourteen Formula One World Champions.

This grid contained the most F1 World Champions of any major motor race in history, a title it retains to this day. The new and little-known Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was included in the race, all drivers were piloting identical 190E 2.3-16s making it a true test of skill, with the equal speed of all cars offering level playing field.

Senna famously won the event, nearly driving the wheels off his Mercedes in the process. As a result of this win it’s likely that the 190E 2.3-16 always occupied a special place in his heart.

Above Image: A subtle bodykit was added to the 2.3-16, it would get more outlandish as the model series continued.

The 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Shown Here

The car you see here is one of two supplied new to Team Lotus International in 1986, it’s not explained why these two cars were given to the team, however we do know that they were intended for use by Senna, and other team members including Lotus F1 Management.

In December of 2020, the car has had quite a bit of work done, including having its floors, sills, and wheel arches repaired professionally. It is reported to be running and driving well, and it has a full service history that includes old bills, MOTs, and tax discs.

The car is now being offered for sale by Bonhams, the seller explains that they have research and documentation on hand to prove that this was the car used by Senna, however it would be critical that any prospective buyer investigate this thoroughly before bidding.

If you would like to read more about this car or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of Bonhams

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For Sale: A Ferrari 642 F1-91 F1 Car Front Wing – Ex-Alain Prost 1991

This is a front wing used by Alain Prost on his Ferrari 642 F1 car during the controversial 1991 season. The four time F1 World Champion could manage only five podium finishes and no wins in 1991, and was fired before the end of the season due to conflict between himself and the team.

The Ferrari 642, known as the F1-91, was an evolution on the previous 641 chassis. It was slightly longer and wider, but kept many of the same parts as its predecessor. The car was powered by the Ferrari Tipo 291 engine, a 3,499cc 65° V12 capable of 725 hp at 14,500 rpm, producing 207 hp per liter.

Formula One cars like the Ferrari 642 were fitted with quickly removable front wings, like the one you see here, as front wings are often damaged during close quarters racing. Cars were able to pull into the pits and get a new set of rubber, a splash of fuel, and a new front wing and be back out on track without losing too much time.

Above Image: Onboard footage of the Ferrari 641 F1-91, there is some Japanese commentary however there’s plenty of engine sound and it gives you a good idea of just how brutal these cars were to drive.

This front wing is made from carbon fiber and it still carries its original livery and sponsor’s logos including Goodyear, Magneti Marelli, Weber, and Digital.

The wing was acquired by its current owner from a former Ferrari Formula One mechanic, and it measures in at 140cm wide and 108cm long. The weight isn’t listed however it’s safe to say that it’ll be surprisingly light due to the fact that it’s made from carbon fiber.

If you’d like to read more about this front wing or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Artcurial. It’s due to cross the auction block on the 19th of July in Monte Carlo with a price guide of $7,070 to $9,430 USD.

Images courtesy of Artcurial

Ferrari 642 F1-91 Formula One Car Front Wing

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Curious Contraptions: The Pulse Autocycle (And It’s For Sale)

This is one of just 326 examples of the Pulse Autocycle that was made, this example was used by Coca-Cola as a marketing vehicle and as you can see it’s still carrying the Coca-Cola livery today.

This Autocycle is powered by a 400cc Yamaha motorcycle engine with a 6-speed manual transmission, and it has a sliding jet fighter–inspired canopy for getting in and out.

Relatively few original Pulse Autocycles remain today though there is a faithful group of enthusiasts in the United States who work hard to keep them on the road. We see Autocycles come up for sale only rarely, perhaps once every three years or so, and they always attract a lot of attention.

Fast Facts – The Pulse Autocycle

✱ The Pulse Autocycle is legally recognized as a motorcycle, as just three wheels are touching the ground at any one time.

✱ The vehicle is powered by a rear-mounted motorcycle engine, gearbox, and rear wheel. Engine sizes ranged from 400cc up to over 1,100cc.

✱ The Autocycle can accommodate two people in tandem seating, it also has 6 sqft of luggage space in the aft trunk area.

✱ Due to its aircraft inspired design the Autocycle has excellent aerodynamics, with some owners reporting over 80 mpg.

The Pulse Autocycle

The Pulse Autocycle was developed by aircraft designer James Bede, a man who is perhaps better known for his work designing a range of kit planes. One of his kit plane designs was the Bede BD-5 Micro, the smallest jet plane in the world, you may have seen it before as one was used on screen in the James Bond film Octopussy.

Above Video: This clip from Octopussy shows the the Bede BD-5 Micro in action, with Roger Moore at the controls as 007.

The BD-5J and the Pulse Autocycle share more than a passing resemblance, in fact the most obvious difference between the two vehicles is the size of the wings, with the Pulse Autocycle having much shorter winglets that have 8 inch wheels at the tip for increased stability, and no horizontal stabilizer.

The Pulse Autocycle was originally called the BD-200, this name was then changed to Litestar, which was changed to Pulse, which then became Pulse Autocycle. As you’ve likely realized, it was called an “auto cycle” as it combines design elements of both the automobile and the motorcycle.

Manufacturing of the Autocycle was undertaken by the Owosso Motor Car Company of Michigan between 1985 and 1990. The vehicles had a 123″ wheelbase, an overall length of 192″, with a width of 76″, a height of 54″, and they weighed in at approximately 1,000 lbs depending on final specification and engine used.

The company described their vehicle as a Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicle (GCRV) though this concept never really caught on. The purpose of combining the car and the motorcycle into a single vehicle with aerodynamics borrowed from the world of aircraft was fuel efficiency, 80+mpg was reported by some owners.

The fun factor was also a big motivator behind the design, with the vehicle offering motorcycle-like acceleration and an altogether new driving experience described as being like flying a plane, riding a motorcycle, and driving a car all at the same time.

Under the skin the construction is relatively straightforward, a tubular steel chassis is used with a fiberglass body, the majority of the motorcycle was typically retained including the engine, clutch/transmission, swing arm, chain drive, and suspension.

Above Video: This short film shows the process of restoring an original Pulse Autocycle, it gives a detailed look into all aspects of the vehicle from the chassis on up.

Upon seeing the Autocycle for the first time many people want to know how it corners. The reason for those winglets on each side of the fuselage is that that contain wheels in their tips that hold the vehicle upright as it corners and when it’s parked.

Some owners installed what look like rear-mounted jet engines on their Autocycles but they’re actually radiator housings for liquid-cooled motorcycle engines, as you can see in the video above.

The Pulse Autocycle Shown Here

The Pulse Autocycle you see here is a 1986 model that has been fitted with a JVC audio system with jet engine sound loop, so that when you’re arriving somewhere you can turn it on and make it sound like a jet is coming in to land.

As mentioned above this Autocycle was owned and used by Coca-Cola as a marketing vehicle, the company kept it from 1987 until 1990, and it’s safe to assume it was wildly popular back in the 1980s given its futuristic appearance.

This Autocycle has a 400cc Yamaha motorcycle engine and transmission mounted in the rear, it also has a reverse gear which is sue to come in handy. The gear shifter is mounted to the right of the driver, there’s a centrally mounted steering wheel with instrumentation behind it and the stereo just below.

If you’d like to read more about the unusual Pulse Autocycle or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Mecum. It’s due to cross the auction block in late July and at the time of writing there’s no price guide listed.