Britain’s original Formula 1 team, British Racing Motors (BRM), is celebrating its 70th anniversary with the construction of three ‘new’ 16-cylinder race cars – the iconic and awe-inspiring Type 15 Mk1 BRM V16, which is considered by many fans to be the finest sounding racing car in the history of the sport.

The first car, which is expected to be delivered next year, will go to the Owen family and will fulfill a long-held ambition of one of the family’s oldest surviving members - to see and hear this iconic British racing car in action once again.

John Owen, now 81, was just ten years old when he first heard the unique wail of the V16 engine, which developed 600 horsepower thanks to its ability to spin at an incredible 12,000rpm – far beyond the range of many road and race cars 60 years later.

He was also deeply influenced by its mission – it was a car built by Britain’s finest engineers for an expectant nation, to take on the might of the post-war Italian and German teams. Being raced around the grand prix circuits of Europe by legendary drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Jose Froilan Gonzalez, only added to the attraction.