Video: 1965 Honda F1 RA272 V12 at Full Noise

Ginther in Holland, 1965, thanks to the Cahier Archive

Go and find the best audio equipment you can, turn it way up and spend some quality time immersed in the magic V12 engine note of this 1965 Honda F1 RA272 at home at Twin Ring Motegi.

Built by Honda for the 1965 Formula 1 season, the Honda RA272 followed the Honda RA271 and featured some pretty trick new features, especially when it came to its 48-valve 1495cc V12.

The unit is water cooled and transversely mounted, can rev to 14,000 and puts out somewhere in the realm of 230bhp at a soaring 13,000 RPM. This quick-revving beast became known for its impressive acceleration, which was handy for picking up spots off the grid.

Although the 1965 Formula 1 season was dominated by Jim Clark in his Lotus 33, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart managed to pinch a few races over the season. The only other car to do so was the Honda RA272.

Honda had struggled through the year as they developed the advanced RA272 and worked through its quirks, but it would all pay off in the final race of the season. Richie Ginther won the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix in his Honda RA272, capping off the 1965 World Championship and farewelling the 1500cc era nicely. In doing so, he helped the car become the first Japanese car to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

This video is all about the song of that V12. Turn it up, and rock it.

Image thanks to the Cahier Archive

For more Honda F1 Engines, try: Honda F1 engines of the past – FW11 unleashed

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