Van Diemen RF88 Formula Ford

[Mark Sirota]

For Sale: Van Diemen RF88.
$14,000 including lightweight open trailer.
SOLD! The trailer is still available.

• Updated 1989 wide-track front suspension
• New floorpan
• New paint
• Zero-hour MWE engine
• Koni 3011 aluminum-body doubles in back, original (rebuilt) Bilsteins from Van Diemen in front
• Three sets of wheels
• 16 extra gearsets including a 12-38 fixed layshaft first gear and many others in the autocross speed range
• Exhaust and all suspension components are coated by Jet-Hot
• Lots of pieces and parts included: an extra 9-31 R&P, 7 additional sets of springs, an extra Kent crankshaft, spare nose, mufflers, and lots of other less exciting parts.

I have owned and driven this car since 1994. It has been sitting in my garage since being disassembled and rebuilt (to replace the floorpan and freshen the engine) at the end of the 2003 season. I was taking a break for a season or two after my kids were born, which now seems to have turned into far too long. The engine has not been started since the car was reassembled.

Set up for Solo:

• Cooling fans
• 100% Ackermann
• Narrow steering rack for tighter turning circle
• Narrow rear track (as narrow as possible without the tires hitting the uprights)
• No mirrors or fire system on the car (originals are included)
• Jumper battery connector on back of gearbox
• Currently set up with short close-ratio gears (45/55/66/78 mph)
• Currently set up with soft springs (wheel rate is 30% of corner weight)
• I am fanatical about keeping everything 100% squeaky-clean legal.

Best finish 3rd at Nationals (2nd one day), many Divisional and Tour wins. Definitely championship-capable, IMHO.

Please reply here by private message or by e-mail, <firstname> at <lastname> dot org.
I'm located near Philadelphia, PA.

Fresh photos taken 2011-10-23:












And the trailer, taken 2011-10-25:




The trailer has a tongue jack, but it's not attached at the moment while I source new mounting bolts.

[cliff]

Great looking car!

[cah]

Is the vehicle still for sale

[R Firman]

How come everyone in Oz suddenly wants a pre 90 Van Diemen ?

[Mark Sirota]

Is the vehicle still for sale

Yes it is.

[Aussie]

F/F in Australia now has a third historic level now 83 to 1990.

[R Firman]

[quote=Aussie;341546]F/F in Australia now has a third historic level now 83 to 1990.[/quote


Indeed, and RF88's are the thing to beat!

[dfrazer]

I like the idea of a third level from 83-90!

[R Firman]

I like the idea of a third level from 83-90!

It caused a lot of drama down here last year when this new class was introduced. The considered opinion was that if you didn't have an 89 Van Diemen or Reynard you would have no hope, and all the early cars would become out classed. Truth is a bloke in a 1978 Lola usually gets to the finish first.

[old 59]

Truth is a bloke in a 1978 Lola usually gets to the finish first.

Nice.

Having owned and raced a Lola 540E and an RF88, they are both great cars.