Group 5 Zakspeed Escort

[jd yort]

Originally Posted by htcmotorsport

Gary zakspeed 65, while trying to uncover the history of my car , i have found some interesting info and pics of a genuine Zakspeed Escort (im not really up on what stage gr 2 grp 5 etc.) car racing here in Australia. I have come across a Zakspeed Escort imported here 1981 in Western Australia by Ian Grey sold to Mike Mettam then on to John De Haan before being sold on to a Queensland buyer in 1989. Through this period the car raced in Malaysia and at apoint around 1986 the car had its original engine replaced with a Rotary. The car is still in Queensland.

This is really starting to get confusing. It would make sense that the Ian Grey car that first raced her in Western Australia (WA) actually never leaved as there is now a lot of evidence pointing to a claimed Zakspeed Escort running in WA right through the 80's. I have found a mention of Joe Ricciardo running a Zakspeed Escort in the late 80's in an old Auto Action magazine. If Ian Grey was based in Asia it may be possible that he raced two difference Escorts and that your car never did race in Aus Gary?

1) The Ian Grey car that raced here in 81 was not a genuine Zakspeed Escort but one of these mentioned Replica's built to Grp 2 specs. This car then passed through various hands including Mike Meetam?.
2) It was a genuine Zakspeed car and is quite possibly still in Australia and was completely different to Gary's car?
3) Something different?

This is the WA car for sale in 1989


Another claimed Zakspeed car for sale in 2000


which is the same car as below (from 2000)

[driftwood]

its simple call every owner ask who did they buy car from sell car to?
do they have any fotos of when the collected car sold car
what mods did they make?
it aint that difficult to nail down a ford escort

[htcmotorsport]

Ian Grey apparently lives in the US now, one of the other owners has passed away which makes the tracking of this car a little difficult however we know that this car has been converted to a dirt track car after he couldnt sell it. Still sits in a workshop in Queensland. have spent many hours and phone calls and most people dont ring back.

[htcmotorsport]

Forgot to mention that there is evidence of 10 Escorts with varying body kits currently racing here in Australia, we have photos of these cars and if you can work out which car is what i would appreciate your help. Can post photos if you like.

[Alex E]

Ian Grey was apparently at Macau last November for an old drivers reunion, so obviously still interested. I promised to look out his mechanics phone number for you but not got around to it yet !
Alex

[jd yort]

Originally Posted by driftwood

its simple call every owner ask who did they buy car from sell car to?
do they have any fotos of when the collected car sold car
what mods did they make?
it aint that difficult to nail down a ford escort

I wish life was that simple driftwood.

For starters Australia moved from a seven digit to an eight digit phone number system back in the 90's so everyones phone number has changed. Secondly these clippings pre date mobile phones and the internet. The people that raced these type of cars are not from the internet generation, it is not just a matter of typing in a name in Facebook.

[driftwood]

i have been tracking down cars histories for a while now managed to sort out my lola sports car from japan where NO ONE will even admit they owned the car yet you know damn well they did
you just have to drag out every car advert and talk to as many people from that area as possible who did race
yes people move but often they still have mates in the area to keen to talk the old days again

[zakspeed65]

Hi All,

Htc & Jd,

If you look back in post 202 there is a link to a photo of Ian Grey at BP Corner, somewhere in Australia, in what looks like too me a Gp 5 Zakspeed Escort. Front and Rear Guards, Splitter and Rear Wing all fit. This May or May not be my car. Looking at all 3 of the Ads you found, in all cases these show an Escort which in my opinion is a bit of Gp 2 and Gp 5 spec.
The front and rear guards are Gp 2 the splitter is Gp 5. I have already mentioned somewhere in this thread that there were at least 2 cars built in Asia being copies of the Gp 2 And Gp 5 escorts that were campaigned there. These cars were not Zakspeed cars, but were fitted with BDG engines and ZF Gearbox, there is very little else to tell about these cars. It mat be that the car in the Ad is one of these cars.

Time really makes the job of working out the Truth from the Fiction very hard.

keep up the good work.

[rs1600]

From a south african magazine 1977




cheers

[driftwood]

Hard to read the artcile off here
is it possible to be hosted on 1 of the other sites in high res to read?

I had a german walk thru my door 2 weeks ago a ford escort car owner/collecto and fan
he said his friend has the 2 real Gp5 zakspeed cars in his collection has chassis 1 and he said there are 2 or 3 replicas built and hillclimbing in germany

[zakspeed65]

Rs1600, great find, looks to be nov 77, this looks to be a Alloy frame car!!

Driftwood, the guy in germany, could it be it is the Doctor??

2 Alloy cars, 1 in average condition the other not so good, would love to restore the Turbo car!!!

[driftwood]

Not sure on the car owner wil find out in due course when the german comes to visit me

[rs1600]

Pictures from Wynns1000 at Kyalami 1977 and other races
http://www.genclassics.mahoonas.co.za/posters.htm

[jlp]

can any one help me. i need to contac mr zakspeed65. he had some parts i need

[superroo73]

The JB-Racing Team get´s the Deminm Car from Zakspeed for Hill-Climb.
My last information is that the car is nearly ready for race, first test-run of the engine has gone last weekend.
Sorry no pictures of the car at the momend but will follow as soon as possible.
webside of the interesting Team / owner who has also a lot of BMW´s will find here:

http://www.jb-racing.de/

greeds

Stefan

[jlp]

thank you. this blue gr5 bmw is the car of my dreams

[superroo73]

This weekend the rebuild Demin car has startet at the Hill-Climb in Schleiz (germany) more pictures at my facebook side....

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search...40156&view=all

[zakspeed65]

Fantastic Photos, good to see the car running, good photos of the enging and boot area.

My car is now waiting for a new ZF input shaft after breaking the Magnesium Bell-housing and then the Shaft.
More testing soon, then some good video!!

From the Chassis Number, is this car the first of 81, Gp 4, Customer Cars??

Regards,

Zakspeed65.

[superroo73]

Think JB take a big deal with Peter Zakowski . On his webside you can see some a pictures Race Car Passes 1 x MK1, 2 x MK2 and that from the Grp.5 Pentosin Capri. Will see if i can get more in Kontakt with him becaus he is a customer of my friend who is preparing the engine and gearbox of the car. Also JB wants to sell his BMW collection....

[zakspeed65]

Thanks for the info Stefan,
I like the Car Passes, he is very lucky to have 4.

Cheers.

[Alex E]

Zakspeed Escort in sweden....I found these today & thought they might be of interest. Alex

[superroo73]

These are old pictures from Peter Mücke when he buy the grp.5 Turbo, later Dr. Helmut Stein buy this, see earler note at the formum.
Greeds
Stefan

[Alex E]

Yes that is right.

[superroo73]

why do you think they are from sweden?

[Alex E]

As I recall the car was offered to me about 10 years ago and I am pretty sure it was located in Sweden at that time. And i understand it went to Germany soon after ? But i might be wrong.
Alex