Cosworth

Following the success of their DFV Formula 1 engine Cosworth decided to manufacture an entire car for 1969. One of the DFV’s best assets was its excellent torque characteristics, but transmitting the engine’s prodigious power to the road could be difficult, particularly in wet conditions. To solve this Cosworth’s Formula 1 car would utilise a four-wheel drive system of the company’s own design, at a time when several other teams were also experimenting with the possible advantages the technology could offer in Grand Prix racing.
The car appeared in two guises, neither attractive. It featured long side-pods and an offset driving position, to allow for the driveshaft. The majority of the testing was undertaken by the experience Formula 1 driver Trevor Taylor. Jackie Stewart also tried the car but found it not to his satisfaction, as it suffered from excessive understeer.
The car was optimistically entered for the 1969 British Grand Prix but, before the event, the project was cancelled. Four other four-wheel drive machines did turn up for the race. Lotus, Matra and McLaren continued to experiment with it but the four-wheel drive route turned into a blind alley.