Remember when Penthouse and Rizla teamed up to run an F1 team?

RasputinLives

No passing through my dirty air please
Contributor
No. Really.

During my last goodbye to the Donington Collection I came across this beauty for the first time.

IMG_20181102_121219.jpg


This is the 1976 Penthouse Rizla Racing car - which is really the Hesketh 308D that has been rebranded for its sponsor. This particular car was driven by Guy Edwards and was apparently involved in the same crash at Monza that injured Niki Lauda. What it was famous for though was it's livery, which was.........

IMG_20181102_112056.jpg


She was meant to be completely in the buff but the censors stepped in and decided covering her over with fag papers made it more acceptable for a family audience. Only in the 70s. This was same season that the BBC refused to show the British Grand Prix live because Surtes were sponsored by Durex and that James Hunt was 'having fun' with a grid girl in the garage whilst waiting for the delayed Japanese GP to get going. F1's libedo was obviously high in 76.

IMG_20181102_121158.jpg


However controversial this livery is now you have to respect F1's risky side back then. Now days all the teams and drivers are clones of each other with drivers being seen as a 'character' if they are slightly off with the media.

Can anyone think of a more unique/controversial livery run by an F1 team?
 
Wow, could you imagine them even trying to run a car with a livery like that these days? There would be so many complaints from so many groups. Interesting to see it though, thanks for sharing RasputinLives

Personally my favourite part of the car is that tea tray on the front which I assume is supposed to be what passed for a front wing then ;)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom