Ford C100 lives on

Group C car in transition
The sportscar which became a van has been returned to its first role and will race in 2007

Although its planned return was thwarted by overheating problems, the stillborn Ford C100 Group C project of 1983 should return to racing in 2007.

After two seasons racing the original C100, Tony Southgate was commissioned to design a lighter and more aerodynamic car for 1983. However, when Cosworth could not confirm that the intended turbocharged DFL engine would be ready in time Ford canned the project.

Instead, the chassis was fitted with a composite body in the shape of a Ford Transit van and became the second ‘Supervan’, which was demonstrated widely. In 1986, it retired to the Museum of Transport in Coventry, where it was housed until 1995, when the long process of restoring it to 1983 specification began. That work was finally finished shortly before the Silverstone Classic in July and David Leslie was scheduled to race the car.

Unfortunately, overheating problems in testing forced its withdrawal, but Bryan Wingfield Racing hopes to have the car ready to race in 2007. “It’s a really nice car and everything feels right on it,” said Leslie. “It’s just the water temperature. Within a couple of laps we had 120 degrees water temperature. We put new radiators in, but it needs more than that.”