Just a blur... This March 701, one of Sir Jackie Stewart's winning Formula 1, cars is racing onto display at Glasgow's Museum of Transport. © Ford Motor Company Limited.
A Formula 1 car driven to victory by Sir Jackie Stewart is joining the cast of historic vehicles on show at the Museum of Transport in Glasgow.
The car, a March 701, will be on display at the institution from April 19 2005 having been offered on loan by the Ford Heritage Vehicle Collection.
For museum curator Alex Robertson, it was an offer she simply couldn’t refuse: "It’s a Formula 1 car for goodness sake!" she told the 24 Hour Museum.
"Who could resist it, with all the romance, glamour and sheer power. Apart from all that it’s just a beautiful thing."
The race-winning car will join the Museum of Transport's already well-stocked displays from April 19 2005. © Glasgow City Council.
The car was driven to victory by Sir Jackie Stewart in the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix and, as part of the successful Team Tyrrell years of 1965-1973, it holds a significant place in the history of Formula 1.
Born and raised near Dumbarton, Sir Jackie won three world championships and 27 Grand Prix - the latter a record only equalled in 1987 by Alain Prost – during his eight-year career. He last sat in the March at the 2003 Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of Ford’s centenary celebrations.
Coupled with the glitz that rubs off everything Formula 1, Alex feels this connection with a local hero makes it an even more significant addition to the museum’s collection.
"It’s a car that he drove to victory and it’s such a beautiful, powerful car, together, it was irresistible for us," she said.
Sir Jackie Stewart driving his March 701 to victory in the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix. © Ford Motor Company Limited.
"We had one of Sir Jackie Stewart’s cars in the quite distant past and we still have members of the public mentioning it. This is going to delight and surprise and satisfy many of them."
On short term loan from the Ford Motor Company Limited, the car will stay on display at the museum for one year after which it will be decided whether it stays or goes back.
The Essex-based Ford Heritage Vehicle Collection has 85 vehicles in its collection and made the initial approach to the Museum of Transport because it was felt the Glasgow-based institution was an appropriate place for the car to be on display.
It joins an already impressive selection, which features one of the world’s greatest collections of Scottish built cars including such lesser-known makes as Argyll, Arrol-Johnson and Albion.
