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Van Diemen RF80

  $29,500  spares and equipment included

 

CHASSIS

Tag No. 458. Original chassis plate present.

Chassis was last inspected by Rick Hiland at RIC Racing when new fuel cell installed in 2014. Checked for any cracks, added bottom chassis gussets and installed new aluminum floor pan with structural adhesive and countersunk structural rivets.

 

MOTOR

Quick Silver 4-cylinder Formula Ford engine with new block, oil pump, rings, etc.  National level aluminum Quick Silver head.  Built and dyno’ed in July of 2019. Approximately 12 to 14 hours on motor. (COVID eliminated a lot of vintage racing in 2020/21.) Spoke to Sandy (owner of QuickSilver) about the last rebuild. Based on the Scat crank, forged rods and best pistons, he feels that the engine is good enough for a minimum of another complete race season before considering rebuild.  He also knows the car and would be willing to talk with and pass on engine info to any potential buyer. (301) 698-9009.

 

GEARBOX

Hewland Mark 8/9 4-speed manual gearbox.  Gearbox side cover removed and ring and pinion checked and selector forks aligned by Rick Hiland of RIC Racing in 2017.

 

SUSPENNSION

Bilstein steel body gas shocks modified for serviceability.  (Top mounted schrader  valves allow for pressurization of shocks) Original shocks built by Rick Hiland of RIC Racing in 2012 and serviced on a seasonal basis. All shocks feature to quality Hyperco springs and Hyperco hydraulic load centering spring perches.  

 

FUEL CELL

FUEL SAFE custom fuel cell manufactured Feb. 2014. FIA Serial No. AK07112. Cell is warrantied for 5 years. Manufacturers suggest that a properly maintained FIA cell and internal foam should last 12 to 15 years. With few exceptions, used Aviation Fuel.  Less than half the cost of race fuel, more long term stability and fewer chemical additives.

BRAKES

Lockheed LD-19 in good condition (including 4 spares).  Complete inspection and re-build by Rick Hiland of RIC Racing in 2015 with stainless steel pistons.  Re-built in 2019 and pressure tested on a regular seasonal basis.

 

WHEELS

All wheels are Panasport aluminum alloy Gold Center Formula Ford wheels in excellent condition. (Set of 4 spares.)

 

BODY

Body is painted in Ferrari “Modena” yellow.  (Paint available at most auto paint supply stores.)  Has a variety of vinyl graphics that can be easily removed.

Original fiber glass body. Paint and body are in very good overall condition with no damage. (Spare painted nose included.)

 

INSTRUMENTATION

AIM electronic dash with data acquisition and lap time display.  Selection of spare AIM sensors.  Also have copy of full AIM Race Studio 2 owner’s manual.

Transponder is AMB unit recognized by all sanctioning bodies and is hard wired unit in excellent operating condition.

 

SPARES

List of spares attached.

 

RACING AND OWNERSHIP HISTORY

Car comes with all original SCCA (#028531) and vintage (#264) VRG (Vintage Racer Group) log books, including SCCA homologation certificate.

 

Technically I’m the 4h owner and the 3rd driver. Original log book issued in 1981. Owner drove it for three (3) seasons before selling it in 1984. Second owner drove it for four (4) seasons before selling it in 1988.  Third owner disassembled the car and never did anything with it for three (3) years.  I purchased all pieces in late 1990. Sand blasted chassis, had ALL rivet holes welded in and sanded smooth.

Upgraded chassis to all latest safety specs and re-painted and re-assembled with fresh motor in early 1992.

 

No one of any fame has ever driven the car.  I’ve won two New England FF Championships and finished top three on regular basis. Finished 2nd in the North East Division twice.  It might be worth noting that Sam Posey loved my car and would visit me often at the Lime Rock Historic race weekends. (Have photos.)

 

 

MISC. NOTES

Belts are FIA and are good through 2024.

LifeLine mechanical fire bottle new in 2019.

A lot of  work as well as engine rebuild were done in late 2018 and early 2019 prior to my attending the Formula Ford 50th Anniversary Celebration at Road America in Sept. 2019.

Car is featured up front in group photo at the 25th, 40th and 50th Formula Ford Celebrations.

I have years of set-up and most work notes for car running on both slicks and treaded vintage tires. (They are very different.)

 

Engine and Chassis Info:

  • RF 80 chassis No. 458 with all legal updates allowed under SCCA Club Ford and Vintage Ford rules. Bilstein gas shocks. ATL/FIA fuel cell. Aim electronic dash. In car Motorola driver to crew radios. All SCCA and vintage log books. Car fits larger drivers. Owner was 6’1” and 200 lbs.
  • Aluminum floor pan mounted with structural adhesive and counter sunk rivets. Chassis was sandblasted and all rivet holes welded in and sanded smooth prior to painting and reassembly.
  • New Quicksilver motor in September of 2019 with new block and side oil pump. Quicksilver aluminum head. Petronics electronic ignition. HyTech headers. Only 6 events since new. (Covid issues canceled racing for the better part of 2020 and 2021.) Dyno sheets available. Last raced in Oct. 2022.
  • All oil and fuel lines Aeroquip. All water lines silicone hose. Aluminum radiator.
  • New mechanical fire system in 2019.
  • FIA belts good through 2024

 

Engine, transaxle and Chassis spares:

  • Spare cast iron Quicksilver head with matching intake and carburetor.
  • 24 gear sets and several dog rings in good to new (unused) condition.
  • Spare used Mark 8/9 magnesium trans case (good condition) with new side covers and adapter ring.
  • New spare nose, nose mount frame and aluminum radiator.
  • Spare Super Starter, Tilton clutch and hydraulic clutch release unit.
  • New front and rear A-arms, trailing links, front uprights and refurbished steering rack.
  • Spare front aluminum GT hubs with bearings and spindles.
  • Set of spare rebuilt LD-19 calipers with stainless pistons and selection of rebuilt master cylinders.
  • Carb kit with body gaskets, springs, jet selection, carb floats and more.
  • Spare new Petronics electronic ignition.
  • Selection of new Aim electronic dash sensors.
  • Spare head gaskets, oil pan and header gaskets.
  • Spare plug wires, silicone hose and Aeroquip oil/fuel fittings.
  • Miscellaneous selection of new pistons, connecting rods, valves, etc.
  • (4) original used rear uprights (one needs finish machining), spare bearings and a set of rear inner and outer upright flanges.
  • (2) un-modified Bilstein shocks

 

 

General Spares

  • Full selection of new high-grade bolts, nylocks, k-nuts, and washers.
  • Selection of cap and button head bolts and screws.
  • Selection of new rod ends. Enough to replace every unit on car.
  • Kit with a variety of pop-rivets (structural and countersunk)
  • Bottles of brake fluid and trans fluid,
  • Container with a selection of spray lubes, cleaners, funnels and more

 

Support equipment

  • Motorola car-to-crew radio set
  • Chassis and suspension welding jigs.
  • Laser alignment gauges
  • Camber gauge
  • Electronic tire temp gauge
  • “Pogo-stick” style corner weight checker
  • Tire evacuation instrument
  • Engine shipping frame
  • Formula car quick lift jack as well as aluminum “SnapOn” floor jack.
  • Bottle jack for trailer work.

 

       All info supplied by car advertiser/owner 2024