DB4 "roller" chassis #00888

[Dan Lipperini Jr]

Not mine, it's my brother's so if anyone wants/needs additional information on it please call him directly at:

Joel Lipperini
(570)262-1018

Swift DB4 - Serial #00888
Complete roller with gearbox
No engine (formerly Toyota), radiator or clutch master cylinder.

Believed to be one of the team Kool cars.

Otherwise a complete car. Vintage eligible.
Buy it now before the value of this car quadruples!

Too many racecars at our shop - an absolute steal! $15,000 Call Joel at 570-262-1018

[cliff]

still available?

[JByers]

Cliff,
Are you thinking about coming to play in an FA?

Jason

[cliff]

with this car no, I was just looking to put a cool car in the lobby of my office....just kicking around some ideas. Great job at the runoffs by the way....

[John Robinson II]

Ciff,
Buy a db-6 and put a Honda in it. It will be like an old girl friend with a boob job.
John

[cliff]

John,
don't you have a door to hang, or a honda to tweak.....or a citation to stare at waiting on parts....have a good holiday

[bill gillespie]

I have a short stroke alloy block Cosworth BDSS that would be a rocket in this car....sorry for the half hi-jack.

Regards,
Bill

[rusty718]

Bill,
I would like to hear more about the BDSS.
Thanks,
Rusty

[bill gillespie]

Email sent

[Rick Ross]

Rusty,

I am pretty sure that the DB4 was originally designed around a Cosworth motor, so as far as conversions go this one should be relatively straightforward. And there are still a few DB4's out there running with Cosworths......

[Stan Clayton]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but if this chassis originally had a Toyota in it, call Ted James in SFR before plunking down cash money and attempting a conversion to a Cossie.

[DB4 Tim]

Ross....when David B designed it was Toyota based.....

Rusty,

I am pretty sure that the DB4 was originally designed around a Cosworth motor, so as far as conversions go this one should be relatively straightforward. And there are still a few DB4's out there running with Cosworths......

[Rick Ross]

Stan,

According to the Post #1 in this thread, this car was last powered by a Toyota, so the original powerplant from 1988 is probably irrelevant. I would absolutely agree with you that anyone wishing to install anything other than a Toyota in this car should do plenty of research before diving in. But I do suspect that installing a Cosworth might be a little easier than most other engine choices (other than Toyota).

Tim,

It is my understanding that the first DB4 was chassis number 017-87 and that it was originally powered by a Cosworth BDA. I do not think that the Toyota became the spec engine for the pro series until a year or two later......but perhaps I am mistaken. I have a feeling that someone here on Apexspeed will gladly set me straight if I am wrong.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[bill gillespie]

Rick,

You are 100% correct, the DB4 was designed for the Cosworth BD series engine, and ran that way until Toyota bought the pro series sometime later.

In fact , R.K. Smith won the first , and only, WCAR/ECAR championship shootout in Memphis in his Swift DB4/ Cosworth......around 60 entries.....even had to run heat races for the main.

Not a Toyota in sight.

Regards,
Bill

[FWSchroeder]

Dan, Do you think your Brother could post some additional detailed photos, without the bodywork. Also was this car listed on the Swift Registry "as a former show car" finally, does it have any logbooks ?
Thanks

[Rick Ross]

Fred,

The link to the Swift Registry does not seem to be valid. Who is maintaining the site these days?

[bill gillespie]

Checck your email

[DB4 Tim]

Cool...I stand corrected and am learning more about the history of the DB...thanks

Rick,

You are 100% correct, the DB4 was designed for the Cosworth BD series engine, and ran that way until Toyota bought the pro series sometime later.

In fact , R.K. Smith won the first , and only, WCAR/ECAR championship shootout in Memphis in his Swift DB4/ Cosworth......around 60 entries.....even had to run heat races for the main.

Not a Toyota in sight.

Regards,
Bill

[DB4 Tim]

Ok what is up with this link

http://www.swiftformulacar.com/


and this one works

http://www.apexspeed.com/swift/registry.php

Does APEX host this now...kind of reads that way

[FWSchroeder]

Yes, i handed it off.

[Rick Ross]

Here is a link to some great info about the initial testing and races of the DB4.......

http://www.apexspeed.com/swift/docum...ears%20Ago.pdf

There is a pic of the first chassis in the Swift shop with a BDA installed.

[bill gillespie]

I broke my foot in a shunt at Blackhawk Farms just prior to the Memphis Shootout, and got Johnny O'connel to drive in my place. He was 4th in this very special FA race.

I don't think any FA race since has come close to matching the electricity of that race. Johnny O has gone on to many hi-level podiums, but he, Steve Shelton, Calvin Fish Scott Goodyear, etc define FA racing in the 80's.

Regards,
Bill

[Stan Clayton]

Here is a link to some great info about the initial testing and races of the DB4.......

http://www.apexspeed.com/swift/docum...ears%20Ago.pdf

There is a pic of the first chassis in the Swift shop with a BDA installed.

Ah, very cool document...thanks for posting it!

My only quibble is that by '87 that engine was almost certainly a BDD and not a BDA...

[Mark_Silverberg]

1988 was the last year of Formula Atlantic pre Toyota.

1989 was a phase in year with incentives given to phase in Toyotas but Ford still allowed

I think by 1990 Only Toyota engines were allowed.

I suspect that only the -87 DB4's were defintely set up for the Fords.

The Toyota engine change was announced early in 1988 so I suspect most of the cars built in 1988 were set up for a Toyota.

[jlipper]

At the following link I posted some more photos of the car.
I also was in touch with Steve Sandstrom from Swift Eng. & another team that ran against this car in the Pro Series. This car always had a Toyota in it. It was the car used on the poster for one of the Grand Prix races (i can get copies). Here is what Steve sent me - I removed the names from this post:
Since I am the old timer here at Swift, Kana forwarded your message about
your DB-4. Unfortunately we do not have a complete record of cars sold
before 1991. However the car you describe sounds like the car XXXXXXXX drove from 1990 - 1992, he switched to a Reynard in 1993. The car was
sponsored by Newport Cigarettes with a menthol green color. The picture of
your car has the same aftermarket wing as shown in the Mid-Ohio
1992 Picture, the 1990 Road America picture has the same Speedsport wheels
. XXXXXXX was from XXXXXXX New York, the car may have been
stickered with KOOL and used as a display / show car after 1992 when the
Swift was no longer the car to have in the Pro Series. Hope this is of some
help, if I come across some more of your car's history I'll let you know.




Here is a link to numerous other photos
Please note that the front wing is off the car because of moving it around the shop.
http://www.racelabz.com/swift/

I hope it goes to somebody that will enjoy it.
My plans were to restore it back to its original colors and play with it at some SCCA Nationals and both SVRA & HSR vintage races.

With it being one of the original team cars, it definitely will increase in value as these cars are raced more with SVRA & HSR.

Feel free to give me a call - 570-262-1018

Best Regards,
Joel Lipperini
www.RaceLabz.com

[quartzracer]

7 Peter Faucetta Jr (USA) Swift DB-4

[DB4 Tim]

Thanks for all you did....

Yes, i handed it off.

[FWSchroeder]

Tim, Thank You but the real thanks goes to Mr. McLaren and all the Ole Swift guys who supplied the Historic Info. The site is full of wild stuff including pictures of David Bruns "Motor Cycle powered car", ALSO Way Ahead of it's time.

Still wondering if the car in the original post is available, would like to see the requested pictures and consider for a Mazda Transplant ??

[DB4 Tim]

Email me at lamkint@comcast.net...and lets talk on the phone...if you would like...

Tim, Thank You but the real thanks goes to Mr. McLaren and all the Ole Swift guys who supplied the Historic Info. The site is full of wild stuff including pictures of David Bruns "Motor Cycle powered car", ALSO Way Ahead of it's time.

Still wondering if the car in the original post is available, would like to see the requested pictures and consider for a Mazda Transplant ??

[jlipper]

The DB4 is still available.
Email: info@joellipperini.com
Phone: 570-262-1018

[jlipper]

I am relisting the Swift on Ebay....the high bidder that won the car didn't pay for it.....It has a low reserve price!!!!

Ebay Item #190384528986

[Jack Crone]

If the winning bidder on this DB-4 needs parts to complete the project I have several cars worth of DB-4 parts that I would like to sell. Jack Crone (951) 283-2146 or JCronejr@aol.com

[DB4 Tim]

Did this find a home.

I am relisting the Swift on Ebay....the high bidder that won the car didn't pay for it.....It has a low reserve price!!!!

Ebay Item #190384528986

[Dan Lipperini Jr]

No, it's still here at the shop. Quite a few phone calls and bids while it was on eBay, but no real cash shown yet.

If anyone is interested and has any questions, feel free to call Joel at (570)262-1018.

Thanks for looking,

RaceLabz.com