To be perfectly frank, calling the late Ken Tyrrell a man of great vision would be a bit of an overstatement. Personally, I think "singular vision" works a lot better. Sure, he won a Formula 1 constructors' title out of a woodshed, was responsible for putting the likes of Jody Scheckter, John Surtees, and Martin Brundle on the map, and casually discovered Jackie Stewart, but he had his share of missteps, too. His cars weren't always good, but they were always cool. Isn't the fight for our hearts half the battle, anyway? Let's celebrate the 90th birthday of one of Formula 1's greatest personalities with five of his most outlandish and awe-inspiring cars.
1. Matra MS10
Tyyrell's first shot at Formula 1 glory came with the help of Ford, French oil company Elf, and automaker Matra. The result was the MS10, one of the first F1 cars to incorporate downforce. Its signature wing was an exciting and prescient glimpse into the sport's future.
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2. Matra MS80
The FIA scrutineers put the kibosh on the MS10's wing for the 1969 season. It wasn't the downforce, but rather the dangerously flimsy construction that earned their ire. No problem for Tyrrell, who developed the low-profile aerodynamics that brought Jackie Stewart to a World Championship the very same season.
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3. Tyrrell 003
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself," Tyrrell probably muttered to himself at some point during the 1970 season. He had split with Matra the previous season but the March chassis his new car was based on was underperforming. Tyrrell did the only logical thing: pay out of pocket to develop his own. Debuting in 1971, the 003 wasn't a particularly revolutionary design, but it sure was a consistent one. Jackie Stewart raced it exclusively; teammate Francois Cevert used a different design, 002. To this day it remains the single most winning individual chassis in Formula 1 history.
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4. Tyrrell 012
This one needs some explaining. By 1984, every constructor except Tyrrell had moved on to V6 turbo engines. Byzantine weight restrictions resulted in Tyrrell adopting a strategy that involved ballasting his cars with water that would be expelled during the race, enabling the 012 to run significantly underweight. Near the end of the event, the car's water tanks would be topped off with a combination of liquid and lead shot. The high-pressure induction system caused the car to spray the metal all over the pit area, forcing the other teams to sweep up the mess. Tyrrell was eventually disqualified from the season, their results stricken from all Formula 1 records.
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5. Tyrrell P34
You didn't think we'd forget, did you? How could we? In the world of motorsports, outlandish designs are as common as can be. In that massive crowd, the P34 still stands out as one of the most wild, delightful, and instantly recognizable cars.
Those wheels! And those wheels! So many wheels! Sure, Jody Scheckter quit the team in a huff, famously calling the P34 a "piece of junk," but not before he managed to win the Swedish GP with it. Save for his discovery of Jackie Stewart, the P34 will certainly go down in history as Ken Tyrrell's most memorable achievement, and that's just fine.
SEE THIS: Tyrrell's hand-drawn schematic of the famous P34
