Description:

Volvo 240 Turbo Group A 'Johnny Cecotto' Replica


Following co-operation between former Swedish professional driver Per Gunnar „Peggen“ Andersson and GRC Sport, this faithful copy of Volvo's 'Flying Brick' Group A race-car has been created.

Despite its boxy appearance and non-sporting image, the Volvo 240 competed successfully in touring car racing in the 1980s. In 1983 Volvo produced 505 'homologation specials' equipped with a larger turbocharger and other performance modifications. Almost all of these cars were exported to the USA where they would be stripped of their Group A modifications and sold as standard road models (Group A rules stipulated the minimum number produced, not sold). In Group A specification, the 240 Turbo weighed 1,065kg and its blown 2.1-litre engine produced approximately 340bhp.

Its unpromising appearance notwithstanding, the 240 Turbo would prove to be a successful competitor, winning the Zolder round of the European Touring Car Championship in 1984. A large car lacking the agility of some of its rivals, the brick-like 240 Turbo was fast in a straight line and capable of hitting around 260km/h on faster circuits such as Monza, Hockenheim, and Bathurst. It was also very reliable.

Volvo quit Group A racing at the end of the year. Only two of the original 240T Evo Gr. A survive, one of which is in the Volvo Museum. The second car is owned by Peggen Andersson, who raced the car in period and was one of the technical heads involved in the project.

The car offered here, GRC Sport 004 – the 4th car built, was purchased in the USA as a restoration project of one of the 505 produced 240 Turbo Evo cars (505 build for homologation and sold by Volvo as road cars to US)  who has had it professionally fully restored and prepared to exact Group A specifications with no expense spared. GETRAG was even involved to reproduce parts for the racing gearbox, what was only enabled because of the excellent connections from the initial man behind the project. 

Together with the period knowledge and experience from Peggen Andersson it was even possible to use the Öhlins suspension, because he still had technical sheets from period, that for the group A cars in period they were testing them.

The car is effectively 'new' and built in 2021 and it is obvious that a great deal of effort went into getting the details right. The cost of the build is estimated at around €150,000 and preparation was finished in June 2021 by known specialists GRC Sport in Belgium.

Inside there is no complicated dashboard, only the essential rev-counter and turbo boost-gauge. The gear leaver is in the ideal position for easy shifting, as are the control pedals. We are advised that its relatively long wheelbase makes this an easy car to control, while the turbo gives it sparkling acceleration. Spectators around the racetrack will love the flames coming out of the side-exit exhaust pipe! The fully prepared engine produces 340bhp (and could easily be pushed to 350bhp), making the car very fast, but reportedly its real strength when compared to the opposition is its braking performance. 

For car 004 the 'Kamachi Yasaki-City' livery with BBS-wheels was chosen by the current owner, in this livery Johnny Cecotto won the 1986 Macau Guia race. An identical car coming from the same race stable, the 'Nordica Replica', began its successful competition career recently with Marc Duez achieving 2nd place at Spa Francorchamps in a round of the Belcar championship in 2021. Race-ready with pending FIA passport, this exciting Volvo 240 Turbo is a perfect fit for historic racing enthusiasts wanting to own and enjoy the performance of a unique racing icon.

The car is a potential winner in the class of Group A in Peter Auto Heritage Touring Cup (HTC) and other series like DTM Classic Cup (former Tourenwagen Classics), Tourenwagen Legenden, HTTC and many more series….

For private buyers in EU the local VAT has to be paid. 

Part Exchange is possible! 

For German buyers we offer Leasing for your race car!

ENGINE

Turbo charged 2.127cc B21 ET Volvo engine

Cast iron engine block, 8 valves, 4 cylinders in line with alloy heads

POWER

340 hp

DIFFERENTIAL

Limited slip differential of max 30%, with oil pump and cooler

TRANSMISSION

Getrag M51 5 speed sync gearbox with dogleg shift pattern, single plate AP sinter clutch

SUSPENSION

Öhlins shock absorbers, remanufactured from the original design from 1983 with the latest technology

Front: fully adjustable with uniballs and camber plates

Rear: adjustable upper control arms, a panhard rod with uniballs and aluminium trailing arms

Swaybars: adjustible in lenght and many different diameters available, solid and tubular

BRAKES

Front: Brembo Racing callipers and ventilated discs (330mm)

Rear: AP Racing callipers and ventilated discs (304mm)

STEERING

Original Volvo rack and pinion system without power steering

FUEL

K-jetronic fuel injection system with FIA approved safety tank (80l)

WHEELS

17" BBS  and central locking

BODY

Reinforced bodyshells from 240gt's fitted with FIA approved roll cage

WEIGHT 

appr. 1.050 kg

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