1973 Van Diemen FA73 Formula Ford

For over five decades, Van Diemen has stood as one of the most, if not the most, successful constructors in the history of Formula Ford with household names like Ayrton Senna, Johnny Herbert and Mark Weber having kick started their careers in a Van Diemen. The inception of the company and its debut vehicle, the FA73, marked a pivotal shift from Lotus in 1972, with Ralph Firman, Dave Baldwin, and Ross Ambrose at the helm. The FA73, a direct evolution of the Lotus 69 which was designed by Baldwin, clinched victory at the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival on its inaugural outing, paving the way for Van Diemen's remarkable 21 Festival victories.

In addition to the 1973 Festival, the FA73 was used by Derek Lawrence to win the BRDC Formula Ford 1600 Championship that year and the 1973 BRSCC Formula Ford Championship was also won by an FA73 driven by Donald MacLeod. Much more success followed with South African, Kenny Gray, taking the Scottish Formula Ford Championship in 1974 in a Van Diemen RF74 and FF Championships around the world were a happy hunting ground for these well designed cars.

FA73 chassis #3 found its way to Canada, where it competed for many years before coming into our vendor’s possession through a collaboration with the Potekhen family. In 1997, Mike Potekhen embarked on his racing journey in this very car, eventually making a name for himself in Indy Lights in the early 2000s. Aware of the car's significance in the company's history, Ralph Firman played a role in restoring the car, ensuring historical accuracy and issuing a new chassis plate. Chassis #3 now stands as the marque's earliest known surviving car and is listed as such in the Van Diemen Registry, adding significant historical value to this fabulous little Formula Ford racer.

It's now meticulously restored to its original state, as can be seen by the original photo on our listing, with the exception of some replacement fiberglass panels direct from Universal Racing in Norfolk, who of course hold the original moulds. The frame has been repainted, a new floor installed and a Concept Racing fuel tank added, complete with dating and certification. Equipped with a new FIA fire extinguisher system, new seatbelts and a Stack rev counter, the nickel-plated suspension by Doug Taylor Metal Finishing enhances its overall appeal. The engine has been refreshed with new bearings and rings, whilst the Mark 9 Hewland gearbox underwent flushing and checking and is accompanied by a selection of spare ratios. Van Diemens have always been known for having relatively comfortable cockpits despite their compact overall size and #3 is no exception, being able to accommodate a 6' 5" (197cm) driver.

Eligible for a number of Classic and Historic Formula Ford championships, this is a superb opportunity to immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of Formula Ford Racing, driving a vehicle with documented historical ties to the series and the recent restoration and recommissioning affords the new owner the flexibility to tailor the car's individual set-up to their preferences before hitting the circuit.