Colin's unfortunate Targa experience has prompted this post.
A few will know I own the ex Brian Foley/Alfa Australia Group C 2000GTV. The highpoint of it's long and illustrious racing history was Derek Bell/Gary Leggatt winning class C and coming 8th outright at Bathurst 1977. The low point was me crashing on a Targa Tas about 14 years ago. A lengthy period of inactivity (by me) followed but finally the car has emerged from Tim Doyle's Zoo Automotive in NSW looking pristine, albeit in bare metal. Attached are before and after photos.
Andrew from Trackart has just built a lovely new cage, so just paint, mechanicals and stickers to go!
Like!
WOW--- beautiful work--a coat of clear and some stickers--??
Good to see the old girl coming back to life Chris. Nice work.
Wow, I was of the understanding all the group c and earlier historied 105 coupes had been written off... Good to see it's coming back to life!
Good on you Chris, always wonder what was going on with the car, after seeing it stored for years in the factory next to my project.
And in no way stealing the glory away from Chris, Bill Magoffin's Gp C Gil Gordon 105. So they do exist.
Great stuff Chris! What ever happened to that Derek Bell bloke, never did do much else apart from that '77 Bathurst :)
Thank you for bringing back another treasure and keeping the Bathurst Alfa history alive.
What livery will it come back as?
After lots of thought and several changes of mind it will come back in its Bathurst '77 colours.
The car was originally white, quickly became red and ran with first Chesterfield, then Singapore Airlines sponsorship when running in the ATCC and up to Bathurst '75 (where it retired). It was given a rest in '76 and then repainted a darkish blue for Bathurst '77 where it ran with Ming as the main sponsor but support also from Singapore Airlines.
The other advantage of running this iteration (i have to pick a year for logbook and C of D purposes) is that I can keep it's mechanical specs the same (big brakes, panhard rod, rose jointed rear end, etc) rather than having to de-modify.
And besides, EVERYBODY has a chesterfield 105 these days ;-)
Sounds like good reasoning to me. Can't wait to see it!
Quote from: Evan Bottcher on June 16, 2014, 05:45:10 PM
And besides, EVERYBODY has a chesterfield 105 these days ;-)
hehe ;D
I'd be doing it for no other reason than to be able to put Derek Bell's name on the side 8)
Chris,
The obvious question no one is asking, WHEN?
http://autopics.com.au/77811-d-bell-g-leggatt-alfa-2000-gtv-8th-outright-bathurst-1977-photographer-lance-j-ruting/ (http://autopics.com.au/77811-d-bell-g-leggatt-alfa-2000-gtv-8th-outright-bathurst-1977-photographer-lance-j-ruting/)
It ran a good number too :)
Caught out.
The real reason for the livery was to run #58 and to try to channel Derek Bell thru the name on the front guard!
As to the obvious question, there is a reason no one is asking (15yrs so far)! Hoping for early next year.
Great to see this car coming back from the dead. I remember seeing it looking forlorn outside of Hugh Harrison's workshop back in 2006. It came pretty close to going to that scrapyard in the sky... :-\
Good to see it coming along Chris. It was a tough one on the livery, particularly as this was 'Christine's Car' and probably the most famous of the Foley team cars in the red livery. But a Bathurst class winner in the hands of Derek Bell is hard to go past eh!
On the cars remaining, I think this is the only remaining Foley team 105. 'My' car was built by Foley's team in '75 to the same spec as this car but run by the Geelong boys separate to Foley's.
The other cars were the LHD Autodelta car the the team 'inherited' in '75. It won the class at Bathurst in '75 in the hands of John Leffler and Marie Clause Beaumont, run by Wherrett in 76 and written off in practice at Bathurst in 1977 by Gordon Rich (co-driver Ron Gillard). He was hit from behind by John Harvey coming into Forrest Elbow and rolled end for end. Rich spent a few days in hospital and the wreck was bought by Ray Gulson who stripped the mechanicals (probably still has some!)
The other was the John French car written off by Tim Schenken (Paul Bernasconi) at Bathurst '75. Michael Stillone (NSW Club Member who was working for Alfa at the time) remembers stripping the car down when it got back to Sydney.
Both Christine and Frenchy were 'given a holiday' by CAMS in '75 which is why other drivers were in the cars. I believe Chris's car was driven that year by Fred Gibson and John Fitzpatrick. Fred was Team Manager for Foley at the time. The car was a DNF early on, not sure why. John of course went on to win with Bob Morris the following year. So there are certainly some good drivers that have sat their ass in that car Chris!
I'm sure Paul will correct me if I got any of this wrong!!
Great to see her coming back Chris,Tim keeps me informed.Had a very hard life that car but much success .