08/05/2026
In the midst of lots of fantastic period correct Es**rt touring cars let’s get some clarity on what constitutes a factory Group 2 ‘Zakspeed’ Es**rt after 1974.
For international European touring car post 1975 there were only ever 3 ‘works’ cars built, by works that means a Ford funded program by Team Zakspeed to contest an fia championship. Zakspeed built just 3 cars (specials) for this, all 3 were in D&W livery, only 2 exist today and only 1 in original paint which is here, chassis 01.
Ford factory pulled out of mainstream touring car racing, with the regulation changes at the end of ‘74 the GAA Capri effectively made obsolete. With pressure from Eric Zakspeed Ford funded the programme for 1979 to contest the ETCC Group 2 division 3 championship to which Zakspeed won with that 3 car team.
A ‘works’ Zakspeed RS1800 international Group 2 is identifiable by an 1840cc engine, 4 speed gearbox using Hewland internals, leaf spring and tramp bar rear suspension, fully floating axle, magnesium bearing carriers and drive shafts, onboard air jacks, centre lock magnesium 16” wheels with Porsche RSR hubs, Girling 16/4 front calipers, Porsche RSR rear calipers, semi floating discs, fabricated tension strut front suspension and quick fill fuel system along with a host of changes to chassis reinforcement and geometry.
If it doesn’t have this combination then it is a domestic series DRM car of which Zakspeed built 11 customer cars to race in national championships, these would generally have 5 speed ZF gearbox and 6 link rear suspension but with 15” bolt on stud wheels, no air jacks or quick fill fuel systems with regular compression strut suspension. Division racers for DRM not international FIA Group 2.
Same with the post ‘74 replicas currently racing, these are replicas of DRM cars or national series cars not FIA Group 2
Ultimately an FIA Group 2 car is by nature slower with regulation constraints, largely down to leaf springs and 4 speed gearbox hurting things but it was supremely clever and works remarkably well.
Melliard of London ltd
