A Minardi Formula 1 car is currently up for sale in the UK and while it’s not the most remarkable F1 car to hit the market in recent months, any F1 car is cool enough in our books.
This car is chassis M198-01 and was the first M198 model built for the 1998 Formula 1 season. It made its competitive debut at the Australian Grand Prix with Shinji Nakano behind the wheel. The Japanese driver qualified in 22nd position for the race but had to retire on lap 8 following a driveshaft failure.
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Minardi M198-01 was next used at the Brazilian Grand Prix where Nakano qualified 18th but retired yet again after spinning out into turn one after just three laps. The car made its final appearance during the 1998 season at the Argentine Grand Prix. It started 19th on the grid and Nakano finished in a respectable 13th place.
After the 1998 season, the RM Sotheby’s listing reveals the car was used as a show car by Fondmetal Minardi and the livery was updated to match the 1999 Minardi F1 car. The team kept the car until 2001 when it was sold to a production company and used as a film prop.
Fast forward to 2011 and M198-01 was purchased by Graham North who sent it to Tour-De-Force-Engineering (TDF) to be restored. TDF got in contact with the Minardi team and was able to purchase many spare parts from the racing outfit. Over a period of 18 months, the racer was re-built from the ground up and has subsequently been driven at a number famed tracks, including Brands Hatch, Blyton, and the Spa-Francorchamps F1 track.
Power is provided by a Ford V10 engine and the car has an asking price of £425,000 ($580,000).
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