Hi All,
This is a new thread which had its beginning in ‘Back again! The desert is too lonely’. This new subject is no longer appropriate to that thread.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Ford RS200 Group B Rally Car Denys will post some pics – three of the original cars, one of the complex 4x4 drive train and a pic of three replicas.
If Class B of the World Rally Championship had not been cancelled in 1987 because of some serious accidents there’s no doubt that the RS200 would have claimed many victories and would today have been an icon in the rally world as is the GT40 for its successes on the race track. Even so, it won 19 international events backed up by 13 top three placings.
The Ghia designed RS200 was a high tech car and quite complex. Cockpit was basically three-door Ford Sierra with Sierra windscreen being used and moulds taken off cut down doors. Some specifications are as follows:
Chassis was platform type in combination of aluminium honeycomb sandwich, carbon fibre composite and steel; bolt-on integral steel roll cage and tubular front and rear subframes; body panels in advanced composite and GRP materials.
Transmission was selectable four wheel drive operating via a five-speed front mounted magnesium gearbox with front, centre and rear Ferguson viscous controlled limited slip differentials. Weight split was 37F/63R.
Planning started in 1983 under Stuart Turner’s management and in 1985 production began in the Reliant factory near Coventry. For homologation purposes 200 cars were built hence the name. A bit like the GT40 named after its height. Once homologated 46 cars were stripped for spares . In 1986 a run of 20 high spec ‘Evolution’ models was built and main feature was the BDT-E engine which was a 2137cc unit as opposed to the original 1800cc power plant. This engine was developed by Brian Hart and standard ‘E’ engines developed about 500bhp. By 1987 they produced up to 600bhp and by 1990 about 700bhp , which is serious power for a four cylinder two litre engine.
After Group B was stopped Ford sold road going cars with last sales in 1990. The road versions sold at the time for about 50,000 pounds and even today the top-spec Evolution model fetches up to 65,000 pounds.
With regard to replicas I use the word ‘authentic’ but the RS Automotive RS200 replica is by no means authentic in that, as mentioned in the previous thread, it has a space frame chassis, the wheelbase is longer and all the body panels are slightly different. However, the car is visually correct with Cosworth turbo engine in the right place, in-line in the rear, etc. However, I really draw the line at the Banham kit version which goes with a cheap MG Maestro as donor and with engine up front!
Fran Hall, you mentioned the Lancia Stratos rally car. Due to its unique styling the car certainly stands out from the crowd. Two, possibly three companies in the UK produced some excellent replicas of the Stratos but they all seem to be out of business. As part of the Fiat empire the Stratos had a wide range of engines options, Alfa, Fiat, Lancia and even the smaller Ferrari engines, to keep it in the family.
Bob (Snakeyes) you suggest that I write a book on Class B rallying. After ‘Kyalami’ no ways! Need a long rest! Here’s some advice to would-be book writers. Writing a book particularly one that requires historical research can be a most rewarding experience. Scratching out information from dusty store rooms, interviewing people, hunting for photographs, travelling to other countries, etc, all adds up to a lot of fun. The motor industry and motor sport provide on-going opportunities for authors and no matter what the subject there will be buyers.
When I started ‘Kyalami’ I intended it to be a long term project and all along I had the feeling that nostalgia would grow as the years went by. Fortunately this has been the case. To see 19 years in perspective, that adds up to 988 weeks and at about four hours per week that equals 3952 hours or based on a typical working month of 180 hours 21.9 months. If there’s anyone out there who wants to write a book on the history of any of the American circuits, be warned, it’ll take an effective two years. Janos L Wimpffen wrote a book on sports car racing. We corresponded and spoke on the phone a few times and one day I’ll ask him how long his book took.
Here’s a thought. How about an RS200 replica and a GT40 replica parked side by side in the same double garage. Wouldn’t that be a great combination to own. The RS200 would make a great and practical every day road car and the GT40 would be on stand by for week-end fun!
Thought for today – Mix with doers. Negativity is catching!
Andre 40
This is a new thread which had its beginning in ‘Back again! The desert is too lonely’. This new subject is no longer appropriate to that thread.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Ford RS200 Group B Rally Car Denys will post some pics – three of the original cars, one of the complex 4x4 drive train and a pic of three replicas.
If Class B of the World Rally Championship had not been cancelled in 1987 because of some serious accidents there’s no doubt that the RS200 would have claimed many victories and would today have been an icon in the rally world as is the GT40 for its successes on the race track. Even so, it won 19 international events backed up by 13 top three placings.
The Ghia designed RS200 was a high tech car and quite complex. Cockpit was basically three-door Ford Sierra with Sierra windscreen being used and moulds taken off cut down doors. Some specifications are as follows:
Chassis was platform type in combination of aluminium honeycomb sandwich, carbon fibre composite and steel; bolt-on integral steel roll cage and tubular front and rear subframes; body panels in advanced composite and GRP materials.
Transmission was selectable four wheel drive operating via a five-speed front mounted magnesium gearbox with front, centre and rear Ferguson viscous controlled limited slip differentials. Weight split was 37F/63R.
Planning started in 1983 under Stuart Turner’s management and in 1985 production began in the Reliant factory near Coventry. For homologation purposes 200 cars were built hence the name. A bit like the GT40 named after its height. Once homologated 46 cars were stripped for spares . In 1986 a run of 20 high spec ‘Evolution’ models was built and main feature was the BDT-E engine which was a 2137cc unit as opposed to the original 1800cc power plant. This engine was developed by Brian Hart and standard ‘E’ engines developed about 500bhp. By 1987 they produced up to 600bhp and by 1990 about 700bhp , which is serious power for a four cylinder two litre engine.
After Group B was stopped Ford sold road going cars with last sales in 1990. The road versions sold at the time for about 50,000 pounds and even today the top-spec Evolution model fetches up to 65,000 pounds.
With regard to replicas I use the word ‘authentic’ but the RS Automotive RS200 replica is by no means authentic in that, as mentioned in the previous thread, it has a space frame chassis, the wheelbase is longer and all the body panels are slightly different. However, the car is visually correct with Cosworth turbo engine in the right place, in-line in the rear, etc. However, I really draw the line at the Banham kit version which goes with a cheap MG Maestro as donor and with engine up front!
Fran Hall, you mentioned the Lancia Stratos rally car. Due to its unique styling the car certainly stands out from the crowd. Two, possibly three companies in the UK produced some excellent replicas of the Stratos but they all seem to be out of business. As part of the Fiat empire the Stratos had a wide range of engines options, Alfa, Fiat, Lancia and even the smaller Ferrari engines, to keep it in the family.
Bob (Snakeyes) you suggest that I write a book on Class B rallying. After ‘Kyalami’ no ways! Need a long rest! Here’s some advice to would-be book writers. Writing a book particularly one that requires historical research can be a most rewarding experience. Scratching out information from dusty store rooms, interviewing people, hunting for photographs, travelling to other countries, etc, all adds up to a lot of fun. The motor industry and motor sport provide on-going opportunities for authors and no matter what the subject there will be buyers.
When I started ‘Kyalami’ I intended it to be a long term project and all along I had the feeling that nostalgia would grow as the years went by. Fortunately this has been the case. To see 19 years in perspective, that adds up to 988 weeks and at about four hours per week that equals 3952 hours or based on a typical working month of 180 hours 21.9 months. If there’s anyone out there who wants to write a book on the history of any of the American circuits, be warned, it’ll take an effective two years. Janos L Wimpffen wrote a book on sports car racing. We corresponded and spoke on the phone a few times and one day I’ll ask him how long his book took.
Here’s a thought. How about an RS200 replica and a GT40 replica parked side by side in the same double garage. Wouldn’t that be a great combination to own. The RS200 would make a great and practical every day road car and the GT40 would be on stand by for week-end fun!
Thought for today – Mix with doers. Negativity is catching!
Andre 40
