Formula Ford was a specification racing series created on the idea that the best drivers would win if they were racing identical cars. The idea for this low budget Formula was created by an Englishman named Geoffrey Clarke who had a driver’s school called Motor Racing Stables based at the Brands Hatch Circuit. Clarke received support from Ford’s competition manager, Henry Taylor, and Ford’s director of public affairs, Walter Hayes. Ford supplied their 1600cc Cortina GT engine and their backing and name. Lotus Components built a car based on the Lotus 31 Formula 3 car calling it the Lotus 51 Formula Ford. Ironically, these early cars had a Renault gearbox. They sold for the affordable price of just under 1,000 British pounds, making racing in this series very affordable since a Formula 3 car of the day cost over 3,000 British pounds.
The Royal Automobile Club, Britain’s governing body, established a set of racing regulations. The first official race was held at Brands Hatch on July 2, 1967. From 1967 to the present, the Formula Ford Series has produced some very exciting racing in many different makes of racing cars as well as great drivers and future champions including Andretti, Fittipaldi, Schenken, Scheckter and Senna. Today historic Formula Ford is an entry level racing category and, for the purposes of this guide, covers cars from 1967 to 1972. Keep in mind the greatest single factor in determining the value of a Formula Ford is the quality and cost of its preparation.
1967 Lotus 51 A, B, C
The Lotus 51 was the first purpose-built Formula Ford. Since Colin Chapman’s Lotus Components, the customer racing division of Lotus cars, had an excess of leftover Lotus 31s, Lotus was able to use this space frame design with the available Renault gearbox to build a large batch of Formula Fords at the targeted price of under 1,000 British pounds. The 51 evolved into the Lotus 61 of 1970, finally being replaced by a new design, the Lotus 69.
1969 Merlyn MK11/11A
Colchester Racing Developments Ltd. was formed in late 1967 and produced the MK11, dominating the first full year of Formula Ford racing in 1968. It proved a superior car to early front runners Lotus and Alexis, and sales were brisk. Tim Schenken won the first Ford title in 1968, winning 33 out of 38 races after which he went on to race for Surtees, Brabham, Ferrari and Jaguar. Other drivers which used the MK11A were Emerson Fittipaldi and Jody Scheckter, two future world champions.
1970 Titan MK6 A,B
The Titan Racecar Company was founded by Charles Lucas after a dispute with Colin Champman of Lotus Cars. The Titan MK6 of 1970 was a successful design winning the Formula Ford Championship in England and the SCCA National Championship in the U.S.A.–beating many a Lotus along the way. Fred Opert and Pierre Phillips were the Titan importers in the U.S.A. Titans were very noticeable with an air intake scoop off the side of the engine cover.
Criteria Used For Assessing Valuations for this Guide:
- Degree of Originality
- Overall Condition, Restoration
- Technology, Design, Coachbuilder
- Production Numbers/Rarity
- Competition History
- Ownership History, Documentation
- Modern Event Eligibility
Regional Variances
The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT. Most of the time, we are able to document known sales or closed escrows, as they say in real estate. When this is not possible, a logical estimate of the car’s value is given, based on its sales history and relationship to cars of its type.
The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT.
LEVEL |
VALUATION CATEGORIES |
---|---|
I |
The best combination of all criteria. |
II |
Satisfies mid-range of criteria. |
III |
In need of restoration. Meets only a few points of criteria |