Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Bell
It was all about trying to squeeze biggest wheels and tyres possible between extended arches and chassis rail. The former could only be certain amount wider than standard body and chassis could not be removed. Ralph Broad was always thinking outside the box, not always gaining an advantage but certainly trying! BTW the torsion bars themselves reputably came off a Moggy 1000 or Marina. Although have only seen a genuine Zakspeed Mk1 well out of period (so don't know if original or not) it had coilovers mounted inboard of chassis rails and coming through boot floor. That car also had 'A' frame top links (as original Lotus Cortina but above diff)- with rubber handbrake gaiters where they went though floor- and no watts or panhard. Again, this could have been done out of period as have not seen any other evidence to suggest Zak used it.
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Aha! I remember torsion bar suspension on Escorts. In the early 1970's I worked for Wooding in Hamburg. Amongst other activities we ran a Mk1 Escort in touring car races in Europe. Over the winter of, I think it was 1971 but could have been 72, we built 2 new cars for the following year. The body shells were prepared by Maurice Gomm of Woking. We actually built 3 cars; one was for a custimer, Jorg Obermoser. These cars did indeed have crossed-over torsion bars for the rear suspension. They were 1300 Marina bars and we had various thickness ones machined down to give different spring rates. The torsion bar set up was indeed employed so that the widest possible rear wheels could be accommodated. The rules said that the original springs must still be in the same location but the size/material was free. Additional springs could also be employed so this set up did indeed comply with the rules. The "existing" springs were made of Teflon and were not attached to the axle, they were just there for show.
The cars were completed over the winter and testing carried out in the spring. The cars were excellent and everything was ready for the new season, cars, wheels, tyres, spares, big black Mercedes transporter.... everything. Unfortunately Wooding then went bust and the whole shooting match was purchased by a German guy who used to run a 1300cc Escort.... one Eric Zakovski (spellin?) i.e. Zakspeed. The rest is history!!