Vintage formula cars?

A friend is currently restoring an earlier Formula Ford. When he's done, he'll have maybe new minivan money in it. So, cheap way to go fast, or would you rather be surrounded by fenders?

I love the aesthetics of those cars but am a little apprehensive of open wheels...I've been on the track with Formula Fords (while driving a Spec Racer Ford) and while I could bang up against other SRFs as if we were in a chariot race, I wouldn't have wanted to try that in an FF.

I've always wanted one for autocross, but for track days, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the track at the same time as something huge like a Miata.

In reply to Woody:

Wuss.

I just remember the FF wreck 'em races back in the day. At the time I was racing a Triumph Spitfire and sharing garage space with a guy who was racing a Titan FF. Seemed he used to take a corner off it almost every race weekend.

I tend to agree. If going open-wheel, I think I'd rather run in regular Club Racing where open wheel groups seem to run together, rather than in vintage where the slower cars run with door-slammer classes. I Spitfire or MG must look like a Mack truck when sitting down inside a FF or FV.

Sorry... what is new mini van money?

If you remember you guys sent me a shirt because I posted the first car in the open classifieds... and it was a vintage formula car ready to run for less then $20k.....

With that said... I've got about $20k into my Corolla.... I'd rather have the Corolla

I raced a little in Formula 440 in the '80s. I never could get past the sore neck from trying to look over my chest to see the track. And worse yet, the fact I had almost no side vision as the tires were so tall.

I always thought FF cars were huge compared to mine. I can't imagine being on the track with any competition running fenders!

Im going to be rocking a Formula V this coming spring. Then if every thing works out right, Ill be buying a Cooper Formula 3. Ill let you know how it works out...Or Ill have my wife post. Cause I got the fever!

I have a bit of single seater experience; Beach, Autodynamics & Formcar Vees. Mondial, Royale & Swift FF, also a Novacar F500 and our own D-Sports racer.
One thing I will say is that in most chassis especially the vintage ones, you do not want to be crashing into anything be it sedan or tire wall. It doesn't bother me but keep in mind I came from Motorcycle road racing. As for track days, most track day events will not allow open wheel cars but they will allow sports racers. Now for the original question; single seaters are in a different league than road cars for sure. While many of them can be bought pretty cheap they do need more care and feeding. Also if like me, you pound over kerbing in the finest touring car style not every car will put up with this. I have seen more than one FF spin off into the dirt and break suspension parts or knock a corner off. Some FV chassis are built like tanks and will tolerate a fair bit of off road racing. Our D-Sports was about 50lbs overweight but we put more value in stiffness than ultra light components and setting a lap record with it proved the extra weight wasn't an issue. If you want an eye opener take a look at lap times at various tracks. FF lap times are around ALMS GT cars. The DSR lap record at our local track was the same as the Trans AM lap record. Finally for anyone considering a single seater I recommend you drive one first as the driving style is different than road cars, mostly down to the mid engine layout, skating the car around like you would in a Spec Miata or Datsun will likely have an adverse effect on lap times. My Datsun is 30 seconds a lap slower than the D-Sports Racer but it is more "fun" to drive than the DSR. The DSR was a total rush but at 1000lbs and 180 hp, pulling 2G in corners and 3 G on the brakes it just crossed the threshold between fun and serious. Formula Fords are low powered enough that they still stay in the fun side of the equation. Now Leo, that F3 Cooper depending on what motor is in it may be seriously quick, could be quite the rush.

    Tom

Tom,

The deal is not closed, but close, on the Cooper yet...but with that said Im sure I will race it as a Junior car. Maybe keep it in F3 trim a few seasons just to get the hand of it. Right now there is a 109E sitting in it with that funky head mod. At least one of the sleeves is messed up due to a head gasket leak and no attention to it while it sat.

Im looking forward to the restoration as much as driving it. Im sure it will be Cooper green with the white stripes.

Leo

Leo

I have a soft spot (beside the one between my ears) for F3 cars. My preference is late 70's version but Coppers are very pretty cars and very solid............hope you seal the deal.

     Tom

I raced a Zink FV in the mid nineties. Statistically, they are very safe and also a lot of fun. That said, with little kids at home, I switched to my TR3. Pretty crazy to switch to a TR3 for safety, but I did. I always thought a Lotus 51 was one of the prettiest shapes ever and I am still looking for a deal on an another early FV, as I think they are really cool cars.