The 006 was a lightly revised development of the Tyrrell 005. Unlike its predecessors, which had been unique one-off constructions, the 006 became a model number rather than a single chassis designation — Tyrrell built three distinct 006 chassis: 006, 006/2, and 006/3. This represented a change in how the team managed its car programme, moving toward multiple examples of a single design rather than individual builds.
The car made its debut at the 1972 Canadian Grand Prix, driven by Stewart's teammate and protégé François Cevert. Stewart himself continued using the 005 for the final races of 1972 and the opening two rounds of 1973 while chassis 006/2 was under construction. Stewart's first outing in a 006-model car came at the 1973 South African Grand Prix, which he won.
Once 006/2 was completed, Stewart retained that chassis for the majority of the 1973 season while Cevert drove 006. Stewart scored five victories during the year on his way to the Drivers' title, which he clinched at the penultimate round, the 1973 United States Grand Prix weekend. Cevert accumulated several podium finishes and was widely regarded as the team's future lead driver. Tyrrell finished the Constructors' Championship second to Lotus with 82 points against 92, denied the title largely by reliability and the consistency of Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus.
Cevert damaged chassis 006 in a collision at the Canadian Grand Prix, prompting the construction of a third chassis, 006/3. That car made its sole race appearance at the 1973 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, where Cevert was fatally injured during qualifying. A devastated Stewart drove 006/2 around the circuit to try to understand what had happened, then parked the car and announced his retirement from Formula One, ending a distinguished career that had included three World Championships.
The surviving 006/2 was used into the early 1974 season. Jody Scheckter drove it in Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa, while Patrick Depailler used it as a spare after qualifying incidents at Spain, Monaco, and France. The 006 model was retired after the 1974 French Grand Prix in favour of the new Tyrrell 007.
Chassis 006/3 was written off and scrapped following Cevert's fatal accident. The original 006 chassis was sold by Tyrrell in 1985 and subsequently passed through several private collections, appearing regularly in historic racing during the late 2000s. Chassis 006/2 was purchased by Tom Wheatcroft and displayed at his Donington Grand Prix Exhibition for many years. Jackie Stewart later acquired 006/2 from the Wheatcroft estate and drove it on several occasions, including at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend and the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Tyrrell 006 is remembered not only as a championship-winning machine but as one of the cars most directly associated with the tragic end of François Cevert's life and Stewart's immediate retirement. The 1973 United States Grand Prix weekend encapsulates the dual nature of the car's story: triumph — Stewart had already secured the title — alongside personal loss that brought an era of Tyrrell dominance to an abrupt and melancholy close.