Click above for a high-res gallery of the Brabham BT 92

After seeing a rendering of the M3-based BT 92 from Brabham Racing, we were anxiously anticipating the car's debut at the Essen Motor Show this past week. The real thing didn't disappoint - beautiful carbon fiber bodywork, massive brakes, adjustable suspension, and unique wheels wrapped with Dunlop tires. Sound like a winning combination, yet? Well, maybe not. Like many of you, we assumed that the company was directly linked to the Brabham family, well known for its racing success. This is apparently not the case, and according to GoldCoast.com.au, Sir Jack Brabham is upset about the use of his family's name and has stated that legal action will be taken against the German-based company. The names "Brabham" and "Brabham Racing" have been legally registered, but the desired link to the original race team is apparent in the press release after the jump. We're not lawyers, but we can't imagine the use of the Brabham name being allowed for too much longer. Thanks for the tip, Joel.

Gallery: Brabham BT 92

Continue reading Brabham BT 92 debuts at Essen, Sir Jack Brabham not so happy

Brabham BT 92 debuts at Essen, Sir Jack Brabham not so happy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above to view the Brabham BT 92 in high resolution

It's hard to make a BMW M3 any more bad-ass than it already is. Fortunately Brabham Racing is up to the task, as you can see from the image above.

If the name sounds familiar, it could be because it's one of the best known names in racing. Or at least it was. Founded in 1960 by legendary Australian F1 driver Jack Brabham, the racing constructor went bust from financial liabilities in 1992, but not before winning the F1 drivers' title four times and the constructors' crown twice with such noted drivers as Dan Gurney, both Damon and Graham Hill, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet. Brabham's own 1966 title remains the only championship won in a car bearing its driver's name. Now after a nearly 16-year hiatus, Brabham is back, and it's starting out by modifying BMWs.

Brabham will be offering modded Bimmers for road and track, and will be showcasing a trio of street-legal Bavarian monsters at the upcoming Essen Motor Show in Germany. They will include the M5-based BT 60, the X6-based BT 70 and the M3-based BT 92 you see above. Little else is known at this point, but you can bet we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Brabham]

Continue reading Brabham races back into the scene with trio of custom BMWs

Brabham races back into the scene with trio of custom BMWs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.