Description:

• 1986 Van Diemen RF86, Subject to complete rebuild and featuring strong Neil Bold Engine 

• Consistent history of winning, with 118 wins, 35 2nd place and 25 3rd place finishes from 185 UK events

• Prepared to an extremely high standard and perhaps one of the best examples in existence

Van Diemen was  founded in 1973 by Ross Ambrose and Ralph Firman Sr. The company's name derives from the island of Tasmania, Australia, which was formerly known as Van Diemen's Land and is where Ambrose was born and lived before moving to the UK to co-found the company.

For over five decades, Van Diemen has stood as one of the most, if not the most, successful constructors in the history of Formula Ford with household names like Ayrton Senna, Johnny Herbert and Mark Weber having kick started their careers in a Van Diemen. The inception of the company and its debut vehicle, the FA73, marked a pivotal shift from Lotus in 1972, with Ralph Firman, Dave Baldwin, and Ross Ambrose at the helm. The FA73, a direct evolution of the Lotus 69 which was designed by Baldwin, clinched victory at the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival on its inaugural outing, paving the way for Van Diemen's remarkable 21 Festival victories.

Having become the largest volume manufacturer of race cars in the world, Van Diemen drivers have gone on to win the Formula One World Championship, Le Mans 24 Hours and Indy 500. The original Van Diemen brand was raced by Ayrton Senna, Eddie Irvine, Mark Webber, Mark Blundell, Jonathan Palmer and David Coulthard to name a few.

On offer here at Klasiko is perhaps one of the best examples of a Van Diemen RF86 in existence. Chassis 1123 has a consistent history of winning. Starting its life in Portugal, the car returned to the UK, residing in Norfolk for a short time before being purchased by Alistair Lane and a colleague in c.1988. Alistair would go on to win the Star of Mallory Formula Ford 1600 Championship in 1991 against newer and more advanced cars followed by reaching the semi-final in the FF1600 Festival that same year; an impressive feat.

Chassis 1123 was purchased by its current owner at the end of the 1991 season directly from the duo, and over the following 30 years was subsequently campaigned successfully. Its competition history is as follows:

• 5 times Class Winner CCC/BARC Speed Championship 

• 5 times Class Winner Sprint Leaders Championship

• 6 times Winner Curborough FF1600 Festival

• CCC/BARC Speed Championship Overall Winner

• Curborough FF1600 Short Course class record holder 2003 to date

• Curborough FF1600 Long Course second quickest (to record holder Matt Rivett) 2002 to date

• From 185 events at all UK circuits and hillclimbs 118 -1st, 35 - 2nd  and 25 - 3rd place finishes.

• One mechanical retirement (driveshaft failure)

Following a full floor-up rebuild, including a complete rebuild by Neil Bold, the specification is as follows:

Chassis

Sixteen shakedown and competion miles since total floor-up rebuild.

Spaceframe rejigged and re powder coated by URS

New stainless floor by URS

Alloy radiators by Docking

Koni 8211 double adjustable dampers rebuilt and dynoed by Koni Agent

New Red Top battery (C/Tec charger conditioned)

All body panels newly repainted

New camera mount fitted

Lifeline electric extinguisher

Engine Spec (Neil Bold)

New AX block skimmed, line bored and cylinders squared

New crank.

New Pistons and rods balanced ,weighed and matched

New head, skimmed, new valves in hard seats, “special” springs, porting within FF1600 regs

New big end bolts and small end bushes

Flywheel and cover plate lightened and balanced

New oil pump rotor

New water pump

Lumenition ignition

All new parts originally supplied by and rebuild and refreshes done by Neil Bold

4 into 1 sand-bent exhaust manifold by Tony Law

Mileage since last Bold refresh including new pistons and rings and crack testing 250

Engine turned over manually monthly whilst inactive

Mobil 1 used continuously from new

Bold dyno 114 bhp at 5990. Torque 117 ft/lbs at 4040

Drivetrain

Hewland Mk. 9 box and final drive

Complete original overhaul by Tony Wilson, all parts renewed as required, (rejected parts available)

Apex joints on all gearods

Alloy disc bells on lightened discs (BG Dev.)

Lightened CV joints

Driveshafts (URS)

23 sets of ratios vetted by Tony Wilson + spare dog rings, spare selector fork and 3 layshafts with and without integral 1st gear

Spares Package

Tailored quality car cover. Quick-jack. 2 side panels (unfinished), 2 nose cones (1 unfinished). 2 bottom rear panels. Van Diemen shell seat. 2 Clutch plates. 1 driveshaft. 4 Tierods. 1 trackrod. 2 original mirror shells with safety mirrors. 2 Distributor caps. Rotor arms. Oil filters. Touch-up paint

Now offered for sale due to the owner’s retirement from racing, this presents a rare opportunity to acquire a multiple championship-winning RF86, fully rebuilt, with such a proven competitive history against even newer cars. 

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