For 1976, Peter Sauber came up with a new chassis : the Sauber C5. It was an evolution of the previous C4 model. It kept the same aluminium monocoque of the C4, built by Sauber itself, but modified in the rear frame to support the most powerful 2 litres BMW M12 4-cylinder engine. The suspensions were also evolved and the body was completely redesigned with a more streamlined design and so much suitable for fast tracks.
This is the first Sauber C5 built. In 1976, the car was fielded by the Sauber works team for Harry Blumer, green colour with Artos sponsoring. With backing and support from the Francy Racing Team in 1977, It was entered in the 1000 km Monza with Loris Kessel – Camathias. After that it was entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans the following year for Eugen Strahl and Peter Bernhard. They led their class before being forced to retire with a mechanical failure. After that, the car was sold to Max welti for the Swiss championship. The chassis was subsequently damaged and for carnet reasons, a new car was built with the same number in 1978. Alfred Guldi had 76-C 05-001 (BMW) at the Thruxton Interserie race in 1986.
The original chassis 001 has since been restored and returned to Le Mans in 2012 for the Le Mans Classic.
Sold in Swiss in its original Arthos livery
Chassis 002 was used most extensively by the works team. This Sauber C5 was again bought new in 1976 by Philippe Burckhardt, owner of the successful Swiss Francy Racing Team. His family was very rich and he had created this team to give Herbert Müller the chance to go on in the Interseries. Peter Sauber had all his works cars entered under the Francy banner. It was fielded in a wide variety of events in 1976 and 1977 for Herbert Müller and Eugen Strahl respectively. They both scored victories with the car and in 1976, it helped Müller to secure the Interserie Championship.
The Francy racing team achieved a second place in the Interseries European Championship in 1977. It was Burkhardt wish to participate in the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1977. In the driver’s seat for the #21 car were Strahl and Peter Bernhard. An oil leak in the engine was the reason for the DNF in the 15th hour of the race.
In 1978, 76-C 05-002 was sold to Peter Hoffmann in Germany who in turn sold the Sauber in 1980 to Norbert Drombowski, also from Germany. He had a Chevy V8 installed and entered the car in some of the Interseries races until 1984.
In 1980, the chassis 002 was sold to German Norbert Dombrowski, who continued to campaign the car with a variety of engines including a Chevrolet V8 and Ford/Zakspeed turbo until 1984.
In 1989 the car was bought by German Dieter Riegel, who re-installed an original BMW M12/6 engine.
In 2004, chassis 002 was finally bought back by its first owner Philippe Burckhardt and subsequently entered in the Orwell Super Cup, the Arosa hill climb and the 2004 and 2006 edition of the Le Mans classic, driven by Christoph Burckhardt and Edy Schorno.
In 2011 the C5 changed ownership again to a Mr. “N.N.” in Germany. He decided to have the racer restored in 2020 and return it to its 1976 livery.
In 2021 finally, this important piece of Swiss racing history was returned to Switzerland. This Sauber is still active in historic events.
This chassis was also finished in 1976. It was raced by Kurt Roth for the works team. He kept the car in his possession ? 003 roule sur la route avec carte grise et plaques suisses.
Completed early in 1977, chassis 004 was campaigned by the Francy- Sauber team for Harry Blumer with considerable success in the Swiss Championship. He won at Zeltweg and Dijon.
In 1978 also added a victory to the car's tally at the Hockenheim round.
In 1979 Sauber fielded the car for another Swiss, Louis Bartsch, in the Interserie championship.
The car came then into the possession of the Scemama brothers. Together with Sigi Brun, they raced the car in the Classic Endurance Racing events in 2009- 2012. At Nogaro 2012, it was involved in an accident.
Chassis 005 did only one race. The light blue car was entered in the 24h Le Mans. Eugen Straehl, Harry Blumer and Marc Surer were the drivers in the #23 ‘Pooh’ car. During the race they had engine troubles. They finished but were not classified.
The car is now in the museum ‘Autobau’ in Romanshorn, Switserland.
Chassis 006 was a reserve chassis.
It is possible that it was used for the reconstruction of a car for the Scemama brothers when they had an accident in 2012. They entered a LM Classic race with it.
