SALE - Scalextric C4392A 1978 Swedish Grand Prix Twin Pack

The 1978 Swedish Grand Prix was the only race that featured the Brabham BT 46B 'Fan Car,' one of the most unconventional ideas in Formula One history. The car was a modified version of the BT 46, which was powered by a standard Alfa Romeo flat 12 engine. The 'Fan Car' was equipped with a large fan at the rear of the car that drew air through the water radiator before using ground effect to create a partial vacuum under the car. This generated a significant amount of downforce, allowing Niki Lauda to take an early lead in the race.

The Lotus 79 was the dominant car for the rest of the season, and its skirts along the side of the bodywork helped generate high levels of downforce, which immediately raised the bar for performance among the other teams. The 'Fan Car' generated controversy upon its unveiling, with Brabham insisting that it was for cooling the engine rather than for downforce purposes. Although the Brabham's did not qualify on pole (they deliberately sandbagged to avoid controversy), Lauda lined up second behind Andretti. At the start, the two fought for the lead, before a problem removed the Lotus, and Lauda cruised to a 34.6-second victory.

The form car for the rest of the season, the Lotus 79, was also a ground-breaking car, its skirts along the side of the bodywork helped generate high levels of downforce, sucking the car to the track and immediately moving the goal posts of performance for the other teams. The Fan car generated tremendous controversy upon its unveiling, with Brabham insisting that it was for cooling the engine, not downforce purposes. While the Brabham’s did not qualify on pole (they deliberately sand bagged to avoid controversy) Lauda lined up second behind Andretti. At the start the two fought for the lead, before a problem removed the Lotus and Lauda cruised to a 34.6 second victory. 

After the race, the car was confirmed as legal, but was removed by Brabham, in order for the owner Bernie Ecclestone to avoid a confrontation with other team owners. The designer, Gordon Murray went on to design numerous race and championship winning cars. The fan car is today an important legacy of one of the most innovative periods of F1 history and makes a perfect pair with the otherwise dominant Lotus 79.