Repco Celebrates The Brabham BT19 And 1966 Triumphs
repco brabham bt19 2
27 November 2025, Melbourne – In 2026 Repco will throw a proper celebration for one of Formula 1’s cheekiest and most impressive achievements. The parts and accessories stalwart is marking three 60th anniversaries next year: Jack Brabham’s third Drivers’ World Championship, his team’s first Constructors’ World Championship, and the Repco-powered Brabham BT19 that did the lot in 1966.
A company spokesperson summed it up neatly – the Brabham story is Australia’s automotive swagger personified, a rare mix of driving genius and backyard engineering that still turns heads.
Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham was the sort of driver who made you admire him and then feel mildly insignificant. He was the first Australian to win the Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship and did it three times – 1959, 1960 and 1966. Over a 23-year professional career he notched 14 Grand Prix victories and built a reputation as an intensely competitive racer who could also think like an engineer.
In 1979 he received a knighthood for services to motorsport – the first Formula 1 driver to be so honoured – which seems entirely fitting for a man who could win a world title in a car that carried his name.
Repco Brabham BT19: Conquering F1 From Australia
The BT19 was designed by Ron Tauranac and built by Motor Racing Developments, the company formed by Brabham and his partner. What made the car remarkable was not just the chassis but the heart under the hood – the Repco RB620, a 3.0-litre single overhead cam V8 developed and produced in Melbourne.
When the Italian Grand Prix finished at Monza on 4 September 1966, Brabham had racked up enough points to clinch his third Drivers’ title. The team also secured the Constructors’ crown that year, the first of two back-to-back successes. It remains the only occasion a driver has won the F1 world championship in a car of his own make. Only one BT19 was ever produced and it contested the 1966 and 1967 championships.
Seeing The Repco Brabham BT19 On Display
Repco will celebrate these milestones throughout 2026, which also marks the centenary of Brabham’s birth. The car nicknamed the Old Nail will be shown and driven at a series of events so people can see it up close rather than just on a screen or in a photograph.
The first opportunity to catch the BT19 will be at the F1 Exhibition opening on Saturday 29 November 2025 at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, where it will feature as one of five special Formula 1 cars on display. Tickets are available through the exhibition organisers and the event website.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
