RONDEAU M482 LE MANS GTP, CHÂSSIS 001 - 1982 RONDEAU... Lot 22

RONDEAU M482 LE MANS GTP, CHÂSSIS 001 - 1982 RONDEAU M482 LE MANS GTP, CHASSIS 001 1982 Type : M482-001 monocoque with a carrier engine. Competition vehicle 876 kg. Engine: V8 at 90° originally a 3,9 L then a 3,3 L. Engine FORD-COSWORTH. Gearbox / axle : HEWLAND V65/200 set. 5 gears with clutches plus reverse gear. Speed with 540 HP : 355 km/h DFL engine. Braking: Brakes with ventilated discs placed in the wheels with AP-Lockheed calipers in light alloy with 4 pistons. Disc Ø 326 mm. Registration: Without. Condition: Vehicle immobilized for many years in original condition. The last model designed and driven by Jean RONDEAU. The chassis having participated in the greatest number of races: 5 times in the 24h of Le Mans, 3 times at the finish! Starting price : 300 000 €. In 1982, Jean RONDEAU with his team in Le Mans is not at his first try as a manufacturer. The M379s, one of which won brilliantly in 1980 (RONDEAU-JAUSSAUD), were followed by the M382s. Shortly afterwards, an original project was carried out with a bang: the M482. It is a car with a revolutionary silhouette whose bodywork is supposed to generate a lot of ground effect. Effective in World Championship events, less useful in the 24 hours of Le Mans where finesse is preferable to support. Nicknamed the "Catamaran" because of its prominent rear pontoons, the M482 had a more difficult development than expected and only one car (chassis 001 here) took the start of the 6 hours of Silverstone in May 1982 with Jean RONDEAU at the wheel associated with François MIGAULT. The COSWORTH 3,9 L V8 engines vibrate terribly and are in great part the cause of the misfortunes of the RONDEAU team which sees its 3 M482 forced to give up at the 24h 1983. Having learned from its failures Jean RONDEAU makes evolve only one M482-001 for the 24h of Le Mans 1984 with a 3,3 L engine less vibrating will allow for the first time to reach the finish line. Afterwards, other drivers like Jean-Philippe GRAND continued to believe in this model whose chassis 001 will be entered again 3 times in the 24h of Le Mans in 1985, 1986 and 1987. 5 participations, 3 times at the finish! The complete history file (documents and diskettes) is attached.