Few drivers can rival the record of Aryton Senna. 65 pole starts, 39 podium finishes, 41 Grand Prix victories, and three Drivers Championships to boot—all in a career tragically cut short when he died at the age of 34. It wasn’t just the numbers that made Senna an anomaly, however; the way in which the Brazilian superstar navigated a racetrack was both unique and enthralling to watch. Now, hanks to the folks at RM Sotheby’s, one lucky F1 fan has the chance to take home the very car that started that legacy: a particularly special Toleman TG183B.
This particular car, TG183B Chassis #05, was constructed over the winter of 1983 while the team worked on completing its successor, the TG184. The latter wouldn’t arrive until after the fourth round of the championship, leaving Senna to use some leftover tech for his debut. The TG183B was designed by none other than Rory Byrn and John Gentry, and features rather distinctive front intercoolers and a twin rear wing setup. Under the decklid sits a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder Hart engine, which could deliver up to around 800 horsepower in qualifying trim.
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Senna wasn’t quite the qualifying phenom he’d become later in his career during his first-ever start in his native Brazil, landing 16th on the starting grid. And his initial entry to the sport would come to a rather quick end, as the Hart engine lost a turbocharger on the eighth lap of the Grand Prix. Senna would bounce back during the next race in South Africa, securing 13th in qualifying and a points-scoring 6th place during the race itself. He scored a 6th place finish at Zolder too, after rival Tyrrell was disqualified for the entire season.
Chassis #05 has made some appearances in media in recent years, but the car has remained relatively unused since its retirement. The car is in good working order, however, with a correct Hart engine and a recently rebuilt gearbox and turbocharger waiting for some break-in miles. Taking home an absolutely iconic piece of motorsport history isn’t going to be a cheap task, however. When this machine crosses the block at RM’s upcoming Monaco auction, it’s expected to fetch between $3.2 and $4.3 million. Here’s hoping the next owner is ready to give the car the (safe) life it deserves.
Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.