For Sale: ex-Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
Images and information thanks to Iconic Auctioneers
Iconic Auctioneers is offering this iconic ex-Dick Johnson Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth. This remarkable car is part of the rich history of the Australian Touring Car Championship, a series Ford dominated at the time with the RS500.
Iconic Auctioneers is the new name for Silverstone Auctions, a world class, specialist auction house for the sale of classic, competition, modern and collectors cars and motorcycles.
Dick Johnson was a true Australian touring car legend who gratefully took advantage of the offer whereby Ford Australia supplied the car and the technology.
The car offered by Iconic Auctioneers bears chassis number DJR1 (Dick Johnson Racing). What makes this RS500 even more special is that the original vehicle was an imported right-hand-drive model featuring the 3-door body shell, in fact the first of only six ever built. Teammate Greg Hansford received chassis DJR2, a left-hand-drive version.
Because the FIA had not yet homologated the official evolution model of the RS500, the two chassis—DJR1 and DJR2—were initially fielded as standard three-door Sierra Cosworths equipped with standard Garrett T3 turbochargers.
To make them competitive, the boost level was significantly increased, but this led to catastrophic failures. The team then had to wait until August 1987, when the RS500 was formally homologated. At the same time, a larger turbocharger was introduced, featuring a massive intercooler and the distinctive “whale tail” dual spoiler. Reliability improved significantly once Dick Johnson Racing began converting the Sierras.
The chassis offered for auction, DJR1, made its debut at Calder Park, finishing in ninth place. Despite securing a number of pole positions, reliability issues occasionally let the car down, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the championship.
In 1988, DJR1 was driven by John Bowe, while Dick Johnson competed in DJR3. Incidentally, Johnson won the championship that year. More information about this remarkable car can be found here.
