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Allan Moffat was always adamant that he wouldn't race without factory support and throughout the '70s Ford continally withdrew support from his team. By 1979 it was almost non-existent.
During 1979 CAMS decreed that homolgation for the XC Falcon would expire PRIOR to Sandown and Bathurst 1980. Ford made it clear that they were definitely NOT interested in racing the XD and in fact did not even homologate the car. Garry Willmington took it upon himself to do so and did all of the initial development and paperwork.
Throughout 1980 it seemed unlikely that Moffat would race at the enduros in 1980 and in fact he drove a Commodore at Sandown in 1980, on the proviso that he did NOT race a Ford at Bathurst. Three weeks prior to Bathurst, with the support of his associate sponsors, Moffat began building an XD. As we all know now, it was woefully underprepared and the engine expired on lap 3.
After that race and in retaliation for the unceremonious way he had been dumped by FoMoCo, Moffat declared that he would never again race a Ford. He held true to his word for about 8 years.
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