When the French-made Anaconda failed to race at the 24-Hours of Le Mans

Forgotten ONES - Even though the Circuit de la Sarthe of the 24-Hours of Le Mans is located in France, not many industry players from that country have succeeded there. For an example is BBM Automobiles, a French automotive company founded by Pierre Bertin-Boussu and Jean-Michel Meunier in 1965  (the company name was the acronym originated to the initial letters of their family names) to make their dream come true.

The BBM Sports Berlinetta GM-01 was the first racing car built by Pierre Bertin-Boussu, Jean-Michel Meunier and Guy Dôthel starting from 1967, and finished in 1969. (Picture from: Flickr of Chrispit1955)

For such reason, in 1966 they decided to start a project to build a prototype racing car which was projected to compete in world-renowned racing events such as the 24-Hours of Le Mans and others. On their way, they encounter many daunting obstacles, but when desire takes over reason, everything seems simpler.

The first BBM Sports Berlinetta GM-01 protototype was built based on the mechanics of an R-8 Gordini. (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

As quoted from GTFrance, the biggest technical difficulty they faced at that time was the mold for the bodywork, because working in an open hangar with the humidity, the plaster did not hold. There was also a reaction problem between the paints and the finishing gelcoat. Initially, the windshield had to be glued, but the mold had to be replaced to put rubber seals.

The first BBM Sports Berlinetta GM-01 has a lightweight polyester scissor-door bodywork, and weighing only 55 kg anchored to a self-manufactured tubular chassis. (Picture from: GTFrance)

Later, another young man named Guy Dôthel joined them in the development of their first racing car creation based on the mechanics of an R-8 Gordini, to which they coupled their lightweight polyester scissor-door bodywork, and weighing only 55 kg anchored to a Self-manufactured tubular chassis. In short, by utilizing its 110 hp, this beautiful Berlinetta is able to run up to 220 kph.

On the dashboard there is a three-spoke racing steering wheel, which is accompanied by a row of instrument panels according to racing requirements consisting of temperature of water and oil, oil pressure, ammeter and tachometer.. (Picture from: GTFrance)

After completion, the BBM's first racing car called Berlinetta GM-01 and made its first rally debut in May 1969, and at the same time J.C. Builles attracted to buy it. He had equipped the car with a 1108 Gordini at the Rallye de Picardie, then at the Rallye du Touquet. However, seeing the unsatisfactory results of the races, he discouraged himself by giving reasons of financial problems.

The first BBM Sports Berlinetta GM-01 made its first rally debut in May 1969 at the the Rallye de Picardie, then at the Rallye du Touquet. (Picture from: Flickr of Chrispit1955)

Apparently this does not necessarily discourage automakers, Dhôtel can then finally pilot the BBM and put its Berlinetta sports car to engage in national hill climbs. The car then began to cover itself with glory by winning many places of honor in the scratch and an absolute victory in the Licques Hill Climb ahead of a Porsche Carrera 6. As a reward, the car was even invited to the Racing Car Show in Brussels in December 1969.

This BBM Spider type R racing cars was produced further by BBM with even more powerful (2 liter) engine and lower weight (420 kg). (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

Encouraged by their aferomentioned good result, this French company formed the small team to produce the better trays suited to competition coupled with even more powerful (2 liter) engine and lower weight (420 kg). As the result, these were the Spider type R, R2, RS2, RS3.

The 2nd car of BBM Anaconda

After the first BBM racing car above, came the BBM Anaconda. This berlinetta named after a big-snake species in South America or a city in the USA (anything as you wish) is the result of the brainwork and magical touches of Francis Diter, craftsman in metal framework, and Bernard Lanseman, stylist at the Peugeot's design studio, headed at the time by Paul Bouvot. This car would have been studied at the time to participate in the 24-Hours of Le Mans 1969.

This BBM Anaconda sports car is the result of the brainwork and magical touches of Francis Diter, Bernard Lanseman, Jean Michel Mercier, and Pierre Bertin-Boussu. (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

The preparation of the original Peugeot 204 engine was entrusted to Jean Michel Mercier (not Michel Meunier, the company's founder). And Pierre Bertin-Boussu took part in the adventure, mainly studying the chassis and the suspensions, including handled the model and the polyester bodywork, the paint and the interior fittings. In appearance this sports car looks like a mixture of the the Ferrari 288 GTO in the front and the rear of the Lotus Europa.

The BBM Anaconda sports car looks like a mixture of the the Ferrari 288 GTO in the front and the rear of the Lotus Europa. (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

The frame weighs only 70kg, it is made of folded and spot-welded sheets, taking the form of a box. This welding method has the advantage of reducing the weight, but it also avoids the use of crosspieces. The front part supports the rack, the master cylinders, the adjustable spring-shock absorbers, as at the rear with a suspension of the same type as the first BBM. At the front, the suspension benefits from a double triangulation, unfortunately from a simple one at the rear. Braking is provided by four Peugeot 304 disc brakes.

Inside, safety has not been forgotten with in particular a hoop around the windscreen which joins the rear hoop, and a deformable structure in front of the BBM Anaconda's chassis. (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

As its drivetrain is utilized a four-cylinder 1,130 cc engine of the Peugeot 204 is mounted rear central position. This mechanical heart originally offered power of 53 hp, and can be doubled in power of 110 hp. To be precise, the block used is an XK type, it retains the same inclination as on the model from which it is derived and allows the Anaconda to happily exceed 200 kph. 

At the front of the BBM Anaconda, the suspension benefits from a double triangulation, but using a simple one at the rear. (Picture from: Zona-Rapida)

Its two double-barrel Weber carburettors are much more generous than the single single-barrel Solex fitted as standard. The cylinder head is also reworked to allow this power gain. The gearbox installed under the block (particularity of the transverse engine of the 204), does not change its layout.

The Anaconda BBM is powered by a four-cylinder 1,130 cc engine of the Peugeot 204 and prepared by Jean Michel Mercier. (Picture from: Artcurial)

Inside, safety has not been forgotten with in particular a hoop around the windscreen which joins the rear hoop, and a deformable structure in front of the chassis. The tank is in the center of the car and is isolated by a firewall structure. The steering is broken column by two gimbals and only 1¾ turn from stop to stop.

The BBM Anaconda frame weighs only 70kg, it is made of folded and spot-welded sheets, taking the form of a box. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

Unfortunately, the homologation requirement caused some problems in terms of anti-pollution standards which subsequently thwarted Anaconda's attempt to race at the Circuit de la Sarthe of the 24-Hours of Le Mans 1969. Despite it failed to run on the racing circuit, this project has given more confidence to the BBM Anaconda to be a road-legal sports car under a striking exterior appearance of a bright yellow color. After this, the French manufacturer stopped to produce another models to this day.

Then this French-made sports car had acquired by Peugeot and exhibited at the Sochaux Museum. And in 2009 reportedly, the BBM Anaconda was auctioned by Artcurial and has sold with a price tag of around €16,679 (approx $23,357). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBM-ANG | BBMAUTOMOBILES | ZONA-RAPIDA | ARTCURIAL | RARECOMPONENTCARS | GTFRANCE.FREE.FR ]

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