A Monster March: 1988 March Buick 86G IMSA GTP Car Up for Sale
Images via Ascott Collection
This 1988 March Buick 86G race car was bought from BMW North America and raced by MOMO owner Giampiero Moretti in the 1988 IMSA GTP series. It’s up for sale at Ascott Collection.
Designed by Gordon Coppuck, the March 86G was supplied as a chassis and, based on the engine it received, was raced as a BMW GTP, Nissan R86V or Buick Hawk. Only eleven of the chassis were built, with five going to Nissan, four to BMW and three to private teams.
Our car, 86G-10, began its life in 1986 with BMW North America in BMW GTP configuration. It was then sold by BMW North America to Giampiero Moretti’s MOMO team for the 1988 IMSA GTP season, along with a second sister chassis. Moretti fitted the sister car with a normally-aspirated 4.5-litre Buick V6 and this car with a monster 900 horsepower three-litre turbo V6.
The car made its debut in January 1988 at the Daytona 24 Hours. Piloted by Moretti and Michael Roe, it qualified 18th, but retired early with a mechanical. A month later in Miami the team fared significantly better, once again qualifying 18th but moving up through the order to finish 12th.
Moretti and the team began developing the car’s aerodynamics ahead of the 1988 Road Atlanta 500 Kilometres, but they would struggle with reliability for the next few races. The changes would help them qualify 10th, but they went on to add another DNF to their season record. The theme continued at the West Palm Beach 3 Hours, with another DNF from 21st place. When they got to Lime Rock, Moretti changed the team’s direction, choosing to focus solely on this car, 86G-10. Sadly, the four race DNF streak continued and Moretti and Roe would leave the race early, classified 20th after qualifying 11th.
They finally got back on the board at the Mid-Ohio 500 Kilometers in June. Moretti and Roe qualified the car 14th and took it to a 10th place finish. They picked up some momentum at Watkins Glen a month later, recording the car’s first top ten finish by driving it to 9th after qualifying 11th.
Another strong qualification effort at Road America in July resulted in a DNF, and the team failed to finish the Portland 300 Kilometers. With Moretti not taking a turn in the driver’s seat in the final race of 1988, the Sears Point 300 Kilometers, Steve Phillips took a turn in the wheel. Sadly, the team would be out of the race 38 laps in.
Moretti sold the car in 1993 to Bob Akin Racing, and from there it moved between a few owners’ hands. In 2006 it was sold to Lilo Beuzieron, who restored it to its current condition. It was bought by its current owner in 2012 and has not been driven in a few years.
It’s understood now that in period the car was run with too much turbo boost dialled in, leading to struggles with reliability. Today’s fuels and a more sophisticated ECU should have the car meeting the chequered flag comfortably and finally allowing it to stretch its legs and test its competitive mettle. It’s a great car in good condition and all that’s needed to get it back on the track is a service and the usual preparation work.
This mighty IMSA GTP machine is not only striking to look at, it has the performance to match. Now’s a good chance to take it racing in historics and earn it a few well-deserved wins. It’s up for sale at Ascott Collection, and you can find the full details on their official website here.
Images via Ascott Collection
