Frank Matich is one of Australia’s great engineers and designers, so when he concocted a plan to take on the Can-Am Series in the United States, it was always going to be interesting.
Matich had already won the Australian GT, Formula Junior Championships, plus two Tourist Trophy events prior to developing his own sports car designated the SR3.
Using learnings gained from driving one of Garrie Cooper’s Elfin 400s powered by an Oldsmobile V8, Matich designed, engineered, developed and drove the SR3 to great success in 1967.
Using the 400 as a base, Matich alongside Rennmax Engineering’s Bob Britton constructed a chassis with improved torsional rigidity and after some solid success locally, one was flown across to the US for customer Marvin Webster of California.
This build was to be joined by its sister chassis in California after Kent Price purchased the second constructed SR3, which Matich raced at Road America and Elkhart before moving into his own from Round 3 onwards.
An engine change was completed from the first build to the second as the Oldsmobile motor was replaced by the 4.4-litre Repco-Brabham V8s in the newer two chassis.
Matich went up against New Zealander Bruce McLaren and the might of German powerhouse Porsche.
Early on, the pace was impressive, but reliability was not until a combination of speed was matched by a stronger endurance engine set-up.
The US trip proved beneficial as Matich returned to Australia and thrashed the opposition led by Chris Amon’s ex-works Ferrari P4/Can-Am 350 run by Scuderia Veloce to win the Tasman Cup support events.
Unfortunately for Matich, delays in constructing the SR4 follow up forced the abandonment of a full-on tilt at the 1968 Can-Am leading to one of the great ifs of Australian motorsport.
Debuting at the opening round of the Australian Sportscar Championship at Warwick Farm, Matich dominated there and at Surfers Paradise before finishing second to West Australian Don O’Sullivan driving his old SR3.
Focus turned to Formula 5000 for Matich as he won the coveted Australian Drivers’ Championship Gold Star in 1971, while the SR4 was tucked away and later restored after coming under the custody of Nigel Tait.
The SR4 continues to be preserved today, while the three SR3s a couple are presumed to be in Australia.