1979 Van Diemen RF79 Formula Ford

[onemark]

Greetings all, With a heavy heart I'm listing my '79 Van Diemen FF for sale. SCCA and MC log books back to 91. Known driver history: Keith Sylvester, Scott Hutchison, Art and Jim Jaworski, Michael Weyna (my brother), and Bruce Weatherston. Michael ran and developed this car with Lindstrand Motorsports from 2001-2003. He was 2003 SCCA Cen Div regional champion, and always a strong runner in the East/West challenge series. The car was sold to Lynn Serra and Bruce Weatherston in 2005 and Bruce took the car to 2009 and 2011 MC CF championships. I bought the car from Bruce in 2023, and despite my best intentions have yet to get to the track. I'm going to miss drivers school again this year and my garage is overflowing... so time for me to pass it along. MWE/Andresen engine, trick exhaust, Stack timer/tach, 2 sets of Revolutions, 1 set of trailer wheels/tires, good set of Hoosier VFF tires, spare nose and center section, New Sabelts (not installed), New battery, new quick jack, a few other spares. Car is located in the Chicagoland area. Offered at 12,500. PM me with any questions. Thanks, Mark.

[IDSRacing]

What more can you share? When was it last run? Any idea how many hours on the motor?

[Messenger Racing]

The 79 VD are good cars. What can you tell us about the parts in the motor and it's history?

Thanks

Jay

[onemark]

The history that I have on the motor as follows: Rebuilt in 2000 by Marcovicci-Wenz (MWE). Have accompanying receipts for the build plus the usual... pistons/valves/sprokets/bearings/rings/water pump,etc. Dyno sheets from 2000 thru 2003 from Andresen who looked after the motor when my brother had the car. I don't have any documentation after that. The last logbook entry is 9/2012, the car was teched in 2013 but apparently didn't run that season. I bought the car spring 2023, did a careful nut/bolt check, changed fluids and it fired right up and ran well. I assumed it was going to be fine for driver school and to get me up to speed. Thanks, Mark

[IDSRacing]

Thanks, thats helpful.

How would you describe the general condition? Is there anything you know needs replacing or will soon? If you had the time some close up photos would be helpful.

[onemark]

The car seems to be in good "as last raced" condition. Not a fresh restoration, but also not priced like a restored car. When I got the car it was all together but had been sitting in storage for years, I cleaned it up a little, blead the brakes and clutch, turned the motor by hand, pulled the fuel cell, gave everything a nut/bolt check and fired it up. We ran it around the neighborhood a couple times on a little remote fuel tank that I use for my Lotus 7 neighborhood laps :-). The fuel cell looks fine, I just didn't want to put pump gas in it for a little test. I drained the coolant for winter and that is where it stands now. This car would be perfect for this years new EWC races!!! If I had more space I'd 100% keep the car, but with a couple Lotus' needing my attention and another project that caught my eye... something has to go. PM me with questions, or offers. Thanks, Mark

[onemark]

Bump and lower price... 12500.
Thanks, Mark

[onemark]

I'm a little surprised this is still sitting in my garage... Great history and Club Ford is a cool vintage sweet spot that can run with several different groups, and that class seems to growing... The 79/80 Van Diemen are good cars with decent spares support still. I'm half tempted to just keep it and get a Gordy body for it, but time and space are against me at the moment. Tons of views... let me know if anyone needs more info. I'm trying to avoid listing it on FB or someplace else, I'd rather it go to someone here, as I think some of you probably know the car.
Thanks, Mark

[Lotus7]

Not a buyer I’m afraid, but curious what a “Gordy body” is? Thx

[TimH]

Not a buyer I’m afraid, but curious what a “Gordy body” is? Thx

AFAIK Gordy pulled three of them from the mold he made of his own build. I bought one and Charlie Daniels of NM bought the other two that now live with Richard, who did a lovely job with mine:

https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/sho...-Rf81-and-RF82

I especially like the seat fabric. Anybody thinking of doing one should talk Richard into making a mold of his one-off engine cover.

FWIW, the low frontal area of vintage bodywork combined with tweener suspension can be pretty fast.

[jrh3]

Not a buyer I’m afraid, but curious what a “Gordy body” is? Thx

Guess I need to post a few more pictures.
Thank you Tim for the kind words