Lot 311: 1970 March 703 Formula 3

March Engineering began operations in 1969. Its four founders were Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker and Robin Herd. They each had a specific area of expertise: Mosley looked after the commercial side, Herd was the designer, Rees managed the racing team and Coaker oversaw production at the factory. Their audacious aim was to build a complete range of racing cars from scratch, including a Formula One machine. The history of March, however, would be dominated by the conflict between the need for constant development and testing to remain at the peak of competitiveness in Formula One, and the need to build simple, reliable cars for customers to make a profit. A Formula Three prototype, the 693 of 1969, was the company's first ever model. Using a square tube chassis and components obtained from Brabham and Lotus it was something of a 'bitsa' but, nevertheless, in it Ronnie Petersen late that season finished in third place on the car's debut at Cadwell Park followed by a 10th place for James Hunt at Brands Hatch. The 693 evolved into the production 703 in time for the 1970 season. Its now tubular steel chassis employed all round wishbone/coil spring suspension with telescopic dampers and Girling disc brakes at each corner and, as F3 rules then stipulated a one litre maximum capacity using a homologated road car engine, the 703 was powered by the ubiquitous 997cc, Ford-Cosworth MAE (for Modified Anglia Engine) four cylinder unit mated to a Hewland DG300 transaxle. Producing an impressive 100bhp per litre via a single Weber 46IDA downdraught carburettor, the MAE was known as a 'real screamer' thanks to its ability to rev well beyond 10,000rpm and it ensured the March 703 was a potent and competitive machine. Chassis 703-10 was first driven by Ronnie Petersen at Silverstone in February or March 1970 to check that all was in order prior to delivery to fellow Swede and friend Leif Hallgren; Hallgren then raced the car during the 1970 and '71 seasons, the best result being second place at Nurburgring, before selling the March in 1972. Recently the subject of a comprehensive restoration - including rebuilding the all steel engine to the highest specification with new Cosworth liners and Mahle pistons, and which has since covered zero mileage - chassis 703-10 is one of just 16 703s produced. Finished in blue with yellow rear wing/front nose wing plates, it comes with a photographic record of the engine rebuild, FIA papers and a recent letter from Hallgren confirming his original ownership. Pretty and effective and with undisputed provenance, this rare March would be highly competitive in numerous historic events.Chassis Nr. 703-10 wurde zuerst von keinem geringeren als Ronnie Peterson in Silverstone gefahren, der den March fr seinen Landsmann und Freund Lief Hallgren testete. Hallgren fuhr den March dann in der 1970er und 1971er Saison und erreichte einen eindrucksvollen 2. Platz am Nrburgring, bevor er den March im Mrz 1972 weiterverkaufte. Erst krzlich wurde der Wagen umfassend restauriert; bei diesen Arbeiten wurde auch der nur 1 Liter gro?e "Screamer" Motor aufwndigst berholt mit neuen Mahle-Kolben. Seit der Restaurierung wurde der March noch nicht bewegt. Chassis-Nr. 703-10 ist einer von nur 16 gebauten March 703. Eine fotografische Dokumentation der Motorrevision ist ebenso vorhanden wie die FIA-Papiere und ein Brief von Lief Hallgren, der die Herkunft des Fahrzeugs besttigt. Ein starker Wettbewerber in zahllosen historischen Rennen.