centerpunch

A couple more, plus a shot of my in-process Ford GT at the Saleen factory last week...

93 FireHawk 968

Paul;

Ron Tietjen name was mentioned in a couple responses to your thread. He's in the CVR Chapter for PCA and runs the 944 Cup series in the NE. Real nice guy who happens to have several 944 Turbo Cups. I think he's close having 10 Rothmann cars. He may own some of those your still looking for.

Joe

centerpunch

Joe-

Thanks, I have talked to him.

Paul

User 41221

Paul,

Beautiful GT, what does Ford call that color? Its almost the same color as my 951!

Thanks for the pics of your car, its great to be able to see an unmolested example.

Regards,

Peckster

[QUOTE=Oddjob]Paul, your car is the one on the left? Any idea which of the 9 the other two are?

Dan, I think the Club Sport description is appropriate. They are the M637 Club Sport optioned cars, and since the 9 were imported into the US to race in the SCCA Escort Endurance Championship, they are also referred to as Escort Cars. Although the Turbo Cup designation is appropriate from the performance and specification standpoint and more widely recognized, a "Turbo Cup" in north america can also imply an '88 Canandian Rothman's car.
QUOTE]

I wasn't aware there were two different specs, but there seem to be quite a few of the Rothmans cars up here, they come on the market from time to time.

Maybe they have fewer emissions restrictions than the US cars?

Robby

thanks for the pics- I love the Recaro w/crest patch... what did they do for the rear seat? It almost looks like the seat bottom is there- I would think they would have done something like the 911CS or 968CS only w/out heavy-*** wood... better yet, like Rich Sandor did- just carpet straight over the metal...

centerpunch

That's the original driver seat with crest. The car has a standard rear seat, I unbolted and removed the seat back. Interestingly, there are no rear seat belts or provisions for them.

There were 9 Turbo Cups brought in to the US for SCCA showroom stock racing. There were more than that in Canada, because they ran a Bilstein series for the cars there, I think in conjunction with a bigger race series.

The Ford GT color is called Midnight Blue.

Oddjob

Not really much difference between the 87 US Escort cars and the 88 Canadian Cup cars. US Escort cars came with Koni double adjustable suspension, the Canadian cars used Bilstein - they both used the same springs, just the different brands of shocks and struts.

Also the US Escort cars, since they were racing against Corvettes in the SCCA Escort Endurance championship, could run more boost/power (came with 3 chip sets of various power levels and a 3.0 bar FPR), than the one make Canadian Turbo Cup cars/series.

When the cars were raced, they all ran open exhaust, so in race trim, emissions were not an issue. My guess is that all the cars (both Escort and Canadian Cup) were imported to North America with catalytic converters installed. Both because of importation/emissions laws and because the German Turbo Cup series ran with Cats (initially a marketing decision to show the Euro public that high performance cars could still be fast with cats).

centerpunch

Yes, I bought my car new, and it had the cat installed. But no airbag, despite the fact that the VIN number says it has one!

I found a factory race muffler on eBay (used for the European racing with the catalyst), and have it installed on my car, and I've also removed the cat.

It sounds healthy without being obnoxious.....

testarossa_td

You need to burn that camera up with shots.
Then put all your documentation on a flatbed scanner(omitting of course your personal info) and post it! or send it to me testarossatd@gmail.com
I would love to put together a pdf with all the unique info and shots that make up a cup car.

Oh and nice GT shots

Robby

Please let me know when this materializes... Also, did these cars all have magnesium wheels???

centerpunch

Yes, magnesium 8"F and 9"R, painted pearlescent white.

clangjr

This is by far one of the most interesting threads I've ever come across on rennlist. Paul, your car is awesome and has an incredible history. I'd love to be able to check it out sometime. I get out to Ohio pretty regularly. If you're ever really going to sell it you've got a buyer right here.

What are you getting done to the GT at the Saleen factory?
Chuck

centerpunch

Well, regarding the 944, thanks. The market price for the cars seems to be about half of what I value my all-original 18K mile car at, so I probably won't be selling it anytime soon.

My Ford GT was in the process of being built in the photo. A Saleen plant in Michigan does the paint and most of the assembly on the Ford GT, there's a great 10-minute narrated slideshow of the whole production process here http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=107085

It should have gone to the Ford Wixom plant this week for installation of the seats and drivetrain, and may be on the way to my dealer as we speak!

FSAEracer03

Neat story on the original ownership!! This thread is a keeper.

I second the respectful request for video footage. I can't get enough of the cup cars. You are blessed to have such an incredible car on your hands, Paul. If I'm ever up in that area, I'd love to buy you a beer and see it.