A$ 225,000

1987 Group A RS500 Sierra - SOLD

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Description:

ARE RSCA 87 005 was the 5th car built by Andy Rouse Engineering in 1987. It was built up from a RHD, Ford motorsport RS500 body shell, as the second car for the Rouse team's assault on the 1987 Group A World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Due to a shortfall in funding, it did not compete in all rounds of the championship. 87 005 had a brilliant race debut at the Spa 24 hour race in

August 1987, driven by Jesus Pareja, Alain Semoulin and Thierry Tassin. It placed 6th overall, out of 61 starters and 21 finishers. Off to a great start, the future looked bright for 87 005.

In late 1987 the great Canadian / Australian Allan Moffat, leased the car from Rouse for rounds 8&9, (Bathurst Hardie Ferodo 1000 and Calder Park) of the WTCC. Looking splendid in ANZ Bank livery, 87 005's drivers were Allan Moffat, Andy Rouse and Thierry Tassin. 87 005's southern hemisphere debut was a cracker, splitting the all-conquering Eggenberger Texaco RS500's at Bathurst, by qualifying the car on the first row of the starting grid. Rouse then took off, leading "the great race" for the first 3 laps. A cracking stoush ensued with nemesis Steve Soper in his menacing black Texaco RS500, with the two swapping the lead repeatedly for over 20 laps. It all went south from there, with mechanical gremlins haunting the car at both Bathurst and Rd. 9 of the WTCC at Victoria's Calder Park.

The car returned to England where Rouse prepared 87 005 for her finest season; the 1988 Group A French Touring car Championship. This is where 87 005 has a very distinct point of difference over every other Group A RS500. It was officially entered by Ford France as a FOMOCO Works racer, in the ultra-iconic FOMOCO Works livery, which is most associated with the Group B RS200 Rally Cars. For this glorious year, 87 005 was raced by F1 driver Alain Ferte, his brother and F1 pilot Michel Ferte and Andy Rouse himself. 87 005's 1988 results speak for themselves;

Rd 1 Nogaro, 1st Overall (Driver

Andy Rouse)

Rd 2 Le Mans, 1st Overall (Alain

Ferte / Andy Rouse)

Rd 3 Montlhery, 1st Overall

(Alain Ferte)

Rd 4 Le Chatre, 2nd Overall

(Alain Ferte / Michel Ferte)

Rd 5 Rouen, Unknown, likely DNF.

Rd 6 Charade, 1st Overall

(Alain Ferte / Andy Rouse)

Rd 7 Croix en Ternois, 2nd

Overall (Alain Ferte / Michel Ferte)

Rd 8 Montlhery, Unknown, likely DNF.

Rd 9 Pau-Arnos, 1st Overall

(Alain Ferte / Andy Rouse)

#87005 easily won its class, but despite 5 outright wins and 2 x second places in 9 rounds, 87 005 only came second overall in the Championship. This would definitely be because of some busted ass French way of counting results. Cest la vie hey? 87 005 was also borrowed by Ford Denmark and did at least one race in Denmark, as an official FOMOCO entry.

For 1989 Pommy Mark Rennison, better known for his pace on the dirt, purchased the well proven 87 005 to compete in the British Touring Car Championship during its halcyon period of Gp A. Rennison was a good driver, but did not have the funds needed to beat the Rouse, Goode's and Harvey's who dominated this awesome period. Mark debuted the RS500 in Rd 3 at Thruxton with a DNF. He managed a 10th at Rd. 6, Silverstone and that was about it for the underfunded rally specialist. 87 005 was then purchased from Rennison by Frenchman Jean Paul Becker.

Its competition history from 1989 is unknown, but its FIA Papers show it with Yacco sponsorship (Can anyone help?). Mr Becker kept 87 005 up until 2005, when it was purchased by UK RS500 expert Martin Johnson. Mr Johnson undertook a mild restoration on the car and had the vehicle authenticated by Andy Rouse, who signed the fuel tank (It was rubbed off by a well-meaning crew member of the

previous owner) it was then on-sold to the current Australian owner.

Since arriving in Australia 87 005 has had a mechanical restoration of the engine, gearbox, diff, suspension and brakes and other miscellaneous things. The rubber fuel bladder was replaced with a modern Jaz fuel cell. The wiring for the ECU was in poor condition so it was replaced. The ECU in place was a faulty upgraded Weber- Marelli that had been chipped. It has subsequently been replaced with a modern Vi-Pec unit. The original Rouse spec Zytec ECU comes with the car and has its unique ID plate intact. 87 005 comes with 2 x sets of 3 piece BBS wheels which have all been recently reconditioned and painted. The interior of the car has been left in its original condition, with some lovely patina from the various owners. But it does look a bit shabby now and might annoy a fussy person.

#87 005 has been restored to the 1987 homologation specifications used during the WTCC Bathurst round in October 1987 (No dodgy fuel or pumped out guards please Ruedi :-).

The car has a CAMS (Aussie branch of the FIA) Certificate of Description (CoD) and CAMS Historic Group A log book. It also has its French FIA Papers from its ownership with Mr Jean Paul Becker.

The current owner has decided on a different path and poor 87 005 is no longer needed. Such a significant car deserves a great owner who will look after her and give her the occasional spirited run, in the growing global Gp A Historic movement. For a small extra fee Ecurie Bowden will change the cars livery to its all conquering 1988 FOMOCO works look. What a great idea!

Please contact Chris Bowden for more information about this special RS500.

(+10 GMT AEST)

Mobile: +61 438 269938

Email: chris@bowdensown.com.au