Best looking FF1600 car?

[Andrew Kitson]

Ok, there have been hundreds of different FF1600 models built, but which to you is the best looking?

As a kid I remember being a spectator at Brands for the very first Formula Ford race in 1967 and like many of us here have seen many hundreds of FF races since. I also attended most of the Festivals, including the early Snetterton ones. So I reckon I could have seen virtually every type of FF model ever built - I'm not including Zetecs here - they are not proper FF's IMO!

For me, the simple elegant lines of the 1978 PRS RH01. The car pictured below is the works car of Bernard Devaney - the 'gofer' to this car at the time one Trevor Carlin, as his uncle founded PRS! I was the Royale 'gofer' same year.

So, what's yours?

Photo I took at Silverstone August '78


Here at Oulton, also '78, the year the Irish took over in FF, Devaney leading Roe, Acheson, McClelland and Templeton. Photo thanks to Autosport.

[Dave Brand]

That's a bit like being asked to choose the best-looking warthog!

Only joking...... ......or am I?

[Andrew Kitson]

Yeah there have been some real dogs Dave, but some great looking little cars too...

[GolddustMini]

its like anything though isnt it, gotta go through the chaff to find the wheat...

id have to say one of the earlier ones, when cars looked like cigars with wheels



maybe you should do this for the drivers...

that new american ff1600 that someone linked to definetly qualifys for the inaugural ten tenths "paper bag" award award though, munter!

[foreversideways]

This is a really intersting one and i am applying my mind to it. I do however think my Royale RP26 which i drove in the early 80s was a nice looking car. Mine had the wide nose, however i think the car looked better with the narrow one.

[foreversideways]

Great picture comming out of Old Hall there. I was also there that day watching from the sidelines. That i think was the year Kenny won all three FF1600 championships however i do not remember if it was the day Kenny and Mickey decided to push each other into the pit wall.
Sorry about large picture . Cant find out where to delete it.

[Athgoe Racing]

It's got to be the 84 reynard, with the driver sitting right at the front, it was the first car that looked fast parked in the garage.

[foreversideways]

This is a classic FF1600 with clean clear lines .The Merlin Mk11A looking as good today as 30 years ago

[Andrew Kitson]

Lovely Merlyn!

There have been some weird ones though...check these out at Brands, reckon late 60s/early70s. Anyone know what they are? Taken by the late Fred Scatley.

[jjordan]

the Titan Mk 6, the first Hawke's with side radiators, Merlyn Mk 21, the early Elden's with the optional bodywork(can't remember what they called it), but absolutely the best looking was the ADF by David Bruns.

[PaulSands]

Merlyn MK20 for me

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by jjordan

the early Elden's with the optional bodywork(can't remember what they called it.

Those would be the Mk10s with Falconer bodywork, as driven by Danny Sullivan, Johnny Gerber etc. Will try to find a pic.

[HH Tech]

Andrew, the bottom one #9 looks like a Hawke DL2 with a home made nose to me.

Here is a picture of a Hawke DL19
http://www.classicformula.se/mantorp...23-018_JPG.jpg

Among the wierd ones I think the VD RF84 must qualify!

The Titan MK6 and Merlyn MK20 will definetly get a vote from me for best looking!

Henrik

[jjordan]

How about the 340(?) series Lola's(especially liked the snorkel scoop) for good looking. What do you think of Gurney's Eagle? Definately could NOT be called good looking, I think it was rather strange, but effective.
Thank you, Andrew, I would have been up late trying to think of Falconer. There weren't many over here (Tom Pumpelly comes to mind) but they were the first I remember that really worked on the aero end.

[Triple J Motorsport]

With out doubt the new Ray is the best looking car

[JohnMiller]

What about the Lazer HD87?

[jminsh]

<<<< This one on my avatar

J.

[foreversideways]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

Those would be the Mk10s with Falconer bodywork, as driven by Danny Sullivan, Johnny Gerber etc. Will try to find a pic.

Refered to as the Ipokampus Elden.

Perhaps a little bit much for a FF1600. And the back bit weighed a ton.

[foreversideways]

Yours is a beauty Jason

[jminsh]

Originally Posted by foreversideways

Yours is a beauty Jason

Easy Tiger

OT why you racin tommorow or is the shoulder still hurting ?

[jminsh]

or maybe not racin (doh)

[alfaman]

The ugliest has to be the Van Dieman RF83 - they used to have them at the Silverstone Racing school in the mid-80s.

Does anyone remember the OX cars that used to race at Brands?

Of the better looking I think the Reynard 84 and the VD RF85 and the Rondeau of the mid-80s as well.

[jminsh]

85 Reynard ??? (bit before it's time)

[foreversideways]

Originally Posted by jminsh

or maybe not racin (doh)

No still under doctors orders. Red Racer is out in the VD95 tomorrow. I will be watching from the sidelines. Below are a couple of pictures of my friends Elden Mk 10, with the standard bodywork from 73/74.Note the aspiring, handsome young team manager holding the wheel in the first photo. Both taken during a wet Mallory Park meeting. Not a pretty car but it was effective in the right hands.

[sprocket]

Originally Posted by RayFF

With out doubt the new Ray is the best looking car

The new Ray definately, what about the 86/7 s they were good looking.

"But then i'm a Rayhead"