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Who loves the old 1988 - 1990 Touring Cars? Specifically... the RS500s?
General Car Related Discussion.To discuss anything that is related to cars and automotive technology that doesnt naturally fit into another forum catagory.
Who loves the old 1988 - 1990 Touring Cars? Specifically... the RS500s?
We were recently chosen by a long-standing customer to undertake the recommissioning of his Gp.A Sierra RS500.
The car was originally built by Andy Rouse Engineering in 1988 and was driven in the iconic Kaliber livery by Andy himself to first place in 10 of the 11 scoring rounds of the BTCC that year, making it the most successful RS500 Andy drove (and arguably ever built).
The car was then sold to legendary Australian touring car driver Peter Brock where it was transformed into the Mobil livery that remains on the car today. Brocky drove the car himself throughout the 1989 ATCC, with it also being shared with Andrew Miedecke and Brad Jones for the 1989 endurance events. Brocky drove the car for the last time at the 1990 season finale Adelaide GP support race before it was stored for many years and subsequently sold.
Critically, this car retains its original Andy Rouse Engineering engine that was fitted to it in period, making it one of the very few Gp.A RS500s around today having its original engine fitted.
The work undertaken by us involved a full workshop assessment, defect rectification and setup, followed by live ECU calibration on our Dyno Dynamics rolling road.
The car will not be raced, so the target was not the in-period 560+bhp, but to achieve good power whilst running sensible boost to preserve this historic engine and maximise usability and reliability…
Pictures of this amazing piece of motorsport history will follow in the comments.
Her history really seems to increase your interest in the car, I guess due to so many years of watching this very car dominate the touring car championship.
She is without a doubt the only car to ever truly get under my skin and make me want to go and buy another one.
I actually said goodnight to the damn thing one evening, and took this pic of her after a hard days boost!
Last edited by Stu @ M Developments; Jun 28, 2018 at 12:06 PM.
I can't think of anything I'd rather watch or listen to than a group A rs500 and coupled with there legendary history makes them something seriously special in my eyes. Unfortunately I will never own a genuine car but have the next best thing. Thank you for posting Stu
The days of the Bathurst battles between The RS500s, Holden Commodores, Nissan Skylines etc was the most exciting its ever been.The 05 was the drink/drive limit in Australia and at that time the racing teams were doing their bit to encourage drivers to stick to the limit.
Last edited by cossynut2; Jun 28, 2018 at 09:28 PM.
Looks awesome and sounds mega on the dyno, does it have air intakes at both sides of the car judging by the hose going both ways?
If you look at that blue intake you will notice some black duct tape, that is holding on the foam filter - it runs the length of teh front and an extra section to the left hand side.
Originally Posted by XRT_si
That's pretty epic. I saw you were working on it on Facebook but didn't clock which car it was.
Has it never been restored then?
I have no idea. The owner may pop on here and let us know at some point.
Originally Posted by Caddyshack
Looks lovely and I like it in the Kaliber colours as I remember that. Would it be worth more in that livery?
I wouldnt like to say. Brocky was a legend in his own right, he actually got a state funeral!!
Originally Posted by GVK.
Awesome stuff.
Stu, what is the thing that looks like a multimeter on the dash to the left of the steering wheel for?
Exhaust gas Temperature monitor.
Originally Posted by 3drRich
I can't think of anything I'd rather watch or listen to than a group A rs500 and coupled with there legendary history makes them something seriously special in my eyes. Unfortunately I will never own a genuine car but have the next best thing. Thank you for posting Stu
I am the same. Absolutely love them and technically, can probably thank them for my career as I cut my teeth on the Cosworths back in the late 90s because kenny and I owned them, and probably only did so due to the success of the Touring cars.
Originally Posted by cossynut2
The days of the Bathurst battles between The RS500s, Holden Commodores, Nissan Skylines etc was the most exciting its ever been.The 05 was the drink/drive limit in Australia and at that time the racing teams were doing their bit to encourage drivers to stick to the limit.
I didnt know that. thanks.
Originally Posted by stevieturbo
No EFR though ? lol
Absolutely as it was last raced by Brocky.
Nothing added or removed.
Imagine what these cars could have done had EFR's been around? LOL
Great peice of history Stu. I have the 1988 BTCC series on dvd Rouse Kaliber livery and the Bathurst 1000 1990 I think when it was in it's current Mobil livery driven by Brocky of course.Touring cars are nothing like the days of the 500 it's just gone backwards nowadays, nothing like the excitment of the late 80's, a very special time for Ford.I don't think you will ever see anything like the that ever again.Makes you appreciate it all the more now looking back.
They were the days Stu, just makes you want more..lol.
Great peice of history Stu. I have the 1988 BTCC series on dvd Rouse Kaliber livery and the Bathurst 1000 1990 I think when it was in it's current Mobil livery driven by Brocky of course.Touring cars are nothing like the days of the 500 it's just gone backwards nowadays, nothing like the excitment of the late 80's, a very special time for Ford.I don't think you will ever see anything like the that ever again.Makes you appreciate it all the more now looking back.
They were the days Stu, just makes you want more..lol.
CheeRS.Lee.
I was living in Australia and the battles between Ford and Holden were epic. The touring cars series were great and some rounds were run at Adelaide International Raceway which was not far from where I lived.I had a mk1 v6 Capri with lots of Swaymar engineering performance parts fitted to it and my hero was Allan Moffat who ran a Capri with the Quad cam Cosworth engine in it. I loved it when he beat the big v8 engined Holdens and Ford Falcons! When the RS500s first started the Aussies could not believe how a little 2.0 litre engine could have so much power!!!
Didn't the rules change which effectively killed off the RS500's and the M3's? I thought in the early 90's the BTCC went to 2ltr normally aspirated engines?
Just out of interest what's the engine rules these days and what sort of bhp are the latest cars running? Don't follow it any more so wouldn't know.
Didn't the rules change which effectively killed off the RS500's and the M3's? I thought in the early 90's the BTCC went to 2ltr normally aspirated engines?
Just out of interest what's the engine rules these days and what sort of bhp are the latest cars running? Don't follow it any more so wouldn't know.
Think you are right. Also the fact that new tech came along which meant engines didn't require the rebuild /check which as we all know cossies require..
That's pretty epic. I saw you were working on it on Facebook but didn't clock which car it was.
Has it never been restored then?
No restoration done here, she's very original. The following things have changed since leaving BRT / Advantage:
- Returned to the 1989 specification in terms of transmission, so out with the Harrop back end and BRT driveshafts and back in with the "Eggenberger" style 7.5" diff and driveshafts.
- Replacement decals added where some were removed as per the regs when she was raced in NZ for a few rounds. (These decals are pretty crap and will be replaced by proper ones when time allows).
- New side-exit exhaust fitted - Almost identical replica of the BRT unit fitted in 1989.
- Car was run in the UK a few times with non-original engine. Original, 1989 stamped ARE engine now back in the car which is what was being setup my Stu and the MSD guys.
- Safety stuff has been updated of course as it had all expired (extinguisher, seat and harness).
No restoration done here, she's very original. The following things have changed since leaving BRT / Advantage:
- Returned to the 1989 specification in terms of transmission, so out with the Harrop back end and BRT driveshafts and back in with the "Eggenberger" style 7.5" diff and driveshafts.
- Replacement decals added where some were removed as per the regs when she was raced in NZ for a few rounds. (These decals are pretty crap and will be replaced by proper ones when time allows).
- New side-exit exhaust fitted - Almost identical replica of the BRT unit fitted in 1989.
- Car was run in the UK a few times with non-original engine. Original, 1989 stamped ARE engine now back in the car which is what was being setup my Stu and the MSD guys.
- Safety stuff has been updated of course as it had all expired (extinguisher, seat and harness).
Interesting, thanks.
Out of interest; so the engine original engine was always with the car, or did it have to be tracked down? And why was it run in the UK without it?
What a great post, thanks for sharing it. I used to go to a "few" BTCC races back in the day, and always wanted to look over Andy's cars, and have a long chat with him, but he seems to no longer be a part of the spot light, still an epic car, and some lovely memories, thank you.
Out of interest; so the engine original engine was always with the car, or did it have to be tracked down? And why was it run in the UK without it?
The original engine was always with the car. It wasn't run because the previous owner had a second, known good engine from his racing Escos running modern management that he put in rather than risk the original motor on original Zytek management.
Picked up a dvd off ebay eairler this year 88 89 and 90 btcc,
I was on the edge of the sofa watching the rs500"s just like when I watched them on grandstand back in the day.
Thanks for sharing...
Who loves the old 1988 - 1990 Touring Cars? Specifically... the RS500s?
