RT1 F2 French Hillclimb car

jamesl · 23 Apr 2005, 21:12 (Ref:1285332)

I've just acquired a RT1 in F2 spec via the French hills. I am trying to identify it. The Federation Francise du Sport Autombile passport shows it being last hill climbed in 1995 by Francois Vincenti, when it ran with a BMW engine M12/7.There is no Ralt chassis plate with it, but this I am told this was common practise. Does anybody know where on RT1's there may be an identification mark, or other characteristics to look out for. I am also in the market for some decent bodywork.

Many thanks,

James

phdm · 24 Apr 2005, 15:56 (Ref:1285927)

There could be a number on the front bulkhead

jamesl · 24 Apr 2005, 17:50 (Ref:1286026)

Thanks for the tip!!! I've been looking around the roll hoop support area thinking Ralts were like March's. I've just found an AM 78 number on the left side of the front bulk-head.Is this an Arch Motors number, and if so what does it mean, if anything?

Dan Rear · 25 Apr 2005, 11:35 (Ref:1286806)

RT1-53 maybe ??? Originally clmibed by Christian Debias in 1977 IIRC. I think the car is listed on the "F2 RT1s" thread.

Chris Townsend · 25 Apr 2005, 16:18 (Ref:1287055)

That would be an Arch Motors no.
Adam Ferrington has Ralt build records for 1978, and may have tub, fuel cell and box numbers. Ralt might have used an AM78 tub in early 79, but they didn't build any F2 models that year.

1978 build starts at chassis no. 95 and ends at 146. Of these the only genuine F2 was chassis 99, delivered with a BMW M12 for Cassani and used in F2 for next 3 years.

Chris

Adam Ferrington · 26 Apr 2005, 00:01 (Ref:1287495)

Chris,

Unfortunately the records I have only start at chassis no. 94 and they only start showing tub numbers in 1980. There's nothing in the early cars on my list which might be a French HC car. Debais car is a possibility, but that should have a "77" tub number if Autosport's list is correct. The other possibility is one of the "missing" cars between no. 70 in the Autosports list and 94, the first in my records. Some. at least, of these cars would be 78 build.

Chris Townsend · 26 Apr 2005, 10:06 (Ref:1287724)

Adam

If it was built in that lacuna we can narrow it a bit further, because 88 [an Atlantic car for Robertson] was delivered October 77, and 91 [Perkins's car for the NZ series must be November or early December]. That would rather preclude it being the other possibility which is chassis 87 - originally went to Bakst with a BMW M12, and then hillclimbing in France, since that would have had an AM77 tub. Another outside chance is 92, built with a BMW M12 for the Japanese series, but why and how it got back to France would be a puzzle

Chris

jamesl · 26 Apr 2005, 16:52 (Ref:1287971)

Is there a direct link between the Arch motors number and the Ralt chassis numbers?
This car was hillclimbed from early 1980's up until 1995.

Chris Townsend · 26 Apr 2005, 17:14 (Ref:1287978)

James

Sadly there seems to be no connection between AM and Ralt chassis no.

Chris

jamesl · 26 Apr 2005, 17:35 (Ref:1287989)

Chris,

Some info gleaned today:
The passeport technique from FFSA was issued in 1985 showing the car as 1978 Ralt RT1, type F2.Other drivers were Delannoy and Lombardo prior to Vincenti running the car. The arch motors number is AM-78-121.

jamesl · 26 Apr 2005, 19:55 (Ref:1288076)

Chris

With regard to the fuel tank number, some Frog has cut the rear bulk head away and put a behind the seat fuel tank in... so that avenue is closewd too.

Bryan Miller · 26 Apr 2005, 22:51 (Ref:1288160)

jamesl,

That no. indicates AM[built 78] tub 121 to me.

Bryan.

Chris Townsend · 27 Apr 2005, 10:36 (Ref:1288401)

James

Do you have any original body work, whatever its condition?

Chris

jamesl · 27 Apr 2005, 21:10 (Ref:1288900)

Chris
There was no original body work with the car, it had been converted to side radiator and was running AGS/Martini F2/F3000 body work(doesnt look as bad as it sounds) with a home made rear wing. I'm putting it back to RT1 F2 spec with Ford power.
The engine is stamped M12/7 24/4, the rods stamped R443, the crank is stamped 23-4R.

James

Charles Warner · 29 Apr 2005, 00:13 (Ref:1289773)

http://www.carclassic.com/stock.asp?StockID=102236

Is this the car

jamesl · 14 May 2005, 14:31 (Ref:1300759)

Charles,

No its not. But I have had some interesting emails and more info come my way from France. The body work currently on the car is Martini mk 43/44 and this was put on the car after a shunt hill climbing early in the early 1980's.The car was also run by M Tarress,Anne Bavery,Luc Seigneret.
Does any body recognise these names?
The chassis is now at Gomm Metal work having some repair work done.When I stripped down the chassis I found orange overspray on/around the front suspension pick up points.Looking through the Ralt history scrolls at Gomm's this suggests to me its the Cassani car because this was the only F2 car that was orange.This also ties up with the arch motors number being a 78 car.The position of the forward facing bars also support this, because the Cassani car had non standard F2 forward bars, the same as on my car.

I am waiting for some more information from France to arrive and will post it when it arrives, but in the meantime if anybody has any more info please do share it.

Thanks,
James

allenbrown · 9 Oct 2006, 09:50 (Ref:1732720)

Hi James

Can you give us an update on your Ralt? Did you learn any more about it?

Of the names you mention before, Marcel Tarres was many time French hill climb champion and ran a Ralt RT1 in 1979, I believe. Anne Bavery ran a Ralt with considerable success in French hill climbs in 1982.

Allen

jamesl · 10 Oct 2006, 20:04 (Ref:1734470)

Allen,

Since my last post I have found out a lot more info, with emails coming back from previous owners. It is the ex Cassani car, but it was never hillclimbed by Tarres as was first indicated to me. the history as I have it so far, with a few blanks is:
Cassani Racing 1978-1980 Euro F2
???? 1981-1984
1985-1990 Federal Trophee Bruno Delanoy
1990-1994 Antoine Lombardo hillclimb
1995-2002 Francois Vincenti hillclimb
2006 James Ledamun Euro F2

The car has been rebuilt and I have run it in Euro F2, my best result was 7th in a wet Spa race in August. Its a very nice car to drive and this is a common theme which all of the previous owners have said to me about the car. I hope to track down the missing 1981-1984 years. I'll post the info if and when I find out.

allenbrown · 11 Oct 2006, 09:46 (Ref:1734932)

James

Thanks for the update. How did you establish that it was the ex-Cassani car?

Allen

jamesl · 23 Oct 2006, 19:34 (Ref:1746661)

Allen,

Previous owners confirmation and the paperwork that I have since gathered including a plate forwarded onto me. These RT1's really are good cars to drive.

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