The New Zealand built Ford...'Sports Sedan'.........'Gentleman' Jim Richards

[thunder427]

..Spoke with Graham Booth of 'NSW' fame....Owner/Restorer,.."some people say I'm Crazy" !!!....of the Jim Richards. 'Mighty' Falcon 'Sports Sedan', he rang to tell me he has joined this great Forum, to talk, show pictures of the build process, find parts and imformation, so now I've 'OUTED' him ...watch this spot................regards thunder427/MJ:cool:

[Steve Holmes]

Thats an amazing car, will be great to see its restoration progress. I know Graeme has owned it for several years, and it'll be great to have him on board here filling us in.

To kick things off, here is some neat video footage of the car racing at Sandown in 1980. Turn the volume up, these cars sound incredible.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQNz_vNl-kE

[nzboss]

Does it still have the 351C with Gurney Weslake heads?

[Shano]

Those things look twitchy don't they? Must be a real handful.

But how's the pseudo-posh announcers? They don't sound like Ozzies at all. Fawlcon.....

[nigel watts]

Wow. Brilliant video clip. They're twitchy alright - looks like great fun. I bet ya Jim enjoyed every second of that ride!!!!

[Steve Holmes]

But how's the pseudo-posh announcers? They don't sound like Ozzies at all. Fawlcon.....

And go back another 20 years and they all sound like members of the Royal family.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is Jim chasing Leo Leonard in the spectacular Manfeild round of the no-holds-barred 1979 Open Saloon series. Remember how good those cars sounded with their open pipes as they boomed down the Manfeild back straight with the corrugated iron fence that made the noise bounce back into the crowd?

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[Steve Holmes]

Bry3500 found this piece of footage and posted it on another thread, but it seems like a good fit for this thread too. No sound sadly, but still interesting, even if there are only five cars in Jim Richards (Falcon hardtop), Brad Jones (Mercedes Benz), Garry Rogers (Torana), Bob Jolly (Commodore), and John Briggs (Monza). Check the straight line squirt of the Briggs Monza!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSZ8Ub1jbwE

[timbo61]

A couple of photo's of the Jim Richards Falcon.
The first is being driven by Tony Hubbard in a support race for the Aust.GP (domestic version) at Calder Park in the early 1980's.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7550/scn0050.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/97/scn0050.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

This one is at Oran Park driven by Graeme Booth.

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3512/scn0051.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/scn0051.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Steve Holmes]

These are cool photos Timbo, thanks for posting. The red and blue colours of Hubbard were how the car looked when it was involved in the massive startline shunt at Adelaide in 1983. I think it ended up on its roof didn't it?

[timbo61]

A bit more has been unearthed on the Jim Richards falcon.
After the big crash at Adelaide, it was repaired to the new sports sedan regulations of the day, and painted green and yellow.
It supposedly ran with a 253c.i. Holden V8 motor with twin turbochargers for a while also.
In 1989 Robin Doherty, who bought the car from Hubbard, pulled most of the good bit from it to go towards a VN Commodore sports sedan he was building.
In 1992, the shell was sold to Graeme Booth, who fitted some McLaren and Lola parts (suspension etc) and fitted a 6litre Nascar based
V8 in it. I have been told (via google) that Graeme has located the Doherty Commodore and plans to return the original parts to the car.
The original Cleveland based engine went to Paul Halstead to go in the DeTomaso Pantera he built and which Kevin bartlett drove.

The Doherty Falcon just behind Des Wall in Bob Tindals TWR Commodore, note the lack of wings.
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/2651/scn0052.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/scn0052.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/3016/scn0053.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/scn0053.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The Paul Halstead owned Pantera.

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/8656/scn0054.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/scn0054.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks again Timbo for the awesome photos. Graham should hopefully be on here in the not too distant future to help fill us in on some of the details and a few progress reports. I'm sure the car raced with box-flares in the early 80s, when Hubbard had it? Could it have been 1984 or 84? It was red at the time.

I see Des Wall has popped up again. He clearly loves his big bangers!

That De Tomaso is a spectacular car! I believe its currently for sale?

[faminz]

I drew the XC Falcon some time ago in Winfield colours racing at Manfeild. I took the original to Eastern Creek in 2009 and Jim kindly signed it for me... and then commissioned his Falcon Sprint from me... great memories (already)...

[timbo61]

Steve, your right about the Falcon being red at one stage, and having boxed flared guards. I don't have any photo's of it like that and only found one photo of it like that on the Autopics website. It says the year was 1987.
I suppose the constant changing of specifications of Sports Sedans is one of the problems owners have when restoring cars, especially with Sports Sedans having their own Historic category now. The Bob Jane Monaro now owned by Des Wall had been through many stages of development and I only remember it as a sports sedan, but it was taken back to Improved Production specs.

[Steve Holmes]

I drew the XC Falcon some time ago in Winfield colours racing at Manfeild. I took the original to Eastern Creek in 2009 and Jim kindly signed it for me... and then commissioned his Falcon Sprint from me... great memories (already)...

Brett, thats awesome! And very cool that JR signed it for you.

[Steve Holmes]

Steve, your right about the Falcon being red at one stage, and having boxed flared guards. I don't have any photo's of it like that and only found one photo of it like that on the Autopics website. It says the year was 1987.
I suppose the constant changing of specifications of Sports Sedans is one of the problems owners have when restoring cars, especially with Sports Sedans having their own Historic category now. The Bob Jane Monaro now owned by Des Wall had been through many stages of development and I only remember it as a sports sedan, but it was taken back to Improved Production specs.

Thanks Timbo, I just found that photo on Autopics you mentioned. I'm pretty certain the car ran the box guards much earlier than 1987 as they've listed it as. I thought it was somewhere around 1983-85 when Sports Sedans in Australia became that crazy GT championship, with the 935 Porsche's etc that wiped the floor with the traditional cars. The owner of the car, Graham Booth, is a member on here, and I spoke to him yesterday. He is supposed to post some info on here so hopefully he isn't too far away.

I agree with you the challenges an owner of a historic car faces when restoring it, especially one with such a long history. Its probably made easier if the car has won a national championship, but other than that, I guess sometimes it comes down to personal preference.

[Graham]

Jim Richards NZ Falcon Sports sedan

I am the current owner Of the great N.Z. built Jim Richards Big M Falcon sports sedan. I bought it minus mechanicals in 1993. When I got it home and unpacked everything I had a good look at it all [in pieces] and thought what have I got myself into. At the time I was racing a full bodied Falcon XC coupe sports sedan which was simple, so when I looked at this space frame chassis with holes and mounts and brackets where an engine and transaxles had to somehow mount, I was lost. So I started reading how to build racecar books, how to make youre car handle books, looking at pictures, looking at other cars and taking photos, and fortunately being a metal fabricator it began to not look so hard.
So to cut a long story short, it ended up with the 351 Cleveland and Top Loader gearbox that was out of the old car, a CAE quick change independent diff with Lola rear uprights and I was racing with pretty good success [ at club level] on a low budget.
I eventually updated to a Nascar style Jerico transmission and later an SVO Nascar style engine.
In around 1995 I had an engine failure, and so decided it was time to start restoring it back to JRs 1980 days, as by then I was able to get hold of a lot of the important original bits of the car from the Brian Walden ex Robin Doherty VP Commodore to which they had all gone. So since then its been a long hard road but it is all coming together including the Gurney Eagle headed Cleveland with Lucas mechanical fuel injection.
In issue #18 of Australian Muscle car they did a story in the Missing in action section which led Murray Smith who was an apprentice working on the car to contact me, who has been of great assistance with advice, of which I am very thankfull, and I must also thank Jim himself for pictures and advise when I annoy him asking for help, Bob Gill, Prahans fastest plumber who has been a great source of parts, advise and contacts, which leads me last but not least Myles, aka thunder427 for lots of inspiration on doing things properly, and getting me going on this forum [what a gem].

[Steve Holmes]

Graham, its great to finally hear from you! We'll be looking forward to your updates and details about the Falcon. Its a really great car with a fascinating history.

Of the people involved in the car during its long history, have you ever tracked down Brent Bullivant? He was a Kiwi racer who built a very fast V8 powered Capri Sports Sedan when he was just 19. He debuted the Capri in early 1975, and was working for JR by 1978, having moved from NZ to Australia, preparing the Falcon. He would have only been 22 by this stage, so was obviously a pretty talented young guy, but he seems to have quickly vanished from trace.

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[Steve Holmes]

Graham, any news on how the restoration is coming along?

[Ellis]

Scanned from magazines over the years.....so photographer unknown

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/Richards.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/RichardsLWTFalcon.jpg

[Steve Holmes]

Nice one Ellis. I really liked the Big M guise for this car the most, before it sprouted the big rear wing.

[BMCBOY]

Here are a couple of shots from the collection from Baypark

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4300

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, those are great! That car was in such contrast to Leo Leonards PDL Mustang II, with its tall wing, super soft suspension. But the cars were so evenly matched.

[Graham]

558655875588558955905591

Some pics of the Gurney Eagle engine getting ready for action to go back into the Falcon

[Graham]

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The new bootlid made from all aluminium as the original was.

[Graham]

Its about time I rolled some progress pics on. The car is slowly coming along, as any restorers know it can be a slow hard slog when you have all the other commitments in life, but I will get more pics soon.
GB

[thunder427]

Its about time I rolled some progress pics on. The car is slowly coming along, as any restorers know it can be a slow hard slog when you have all the other commitments in life, but I will get more pics soon.
GB

...Graham,thank you and your family for a great 'New Years,evening,come Surprise 50th birthday for you, meeting your family and friends was a real pleasure,look forward to discussing 'Paint and Body' with regards, Myles and Stephanie,:)special big 'Hello' to the kids!!
PS; ....check out the fenders on the 'Winfield' version!!!!:p:p:p

[Steve Holmes]

Nice work Graham, thanks for the update. Great to see the progress you're making.

[Steve Holmes]

Hows progress going on the Falcon Graham?

[superford]

I'm another in the Big M Falcon Coupe fan club - would also love to know if there has been any progress.

A few scans;
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/superfordpix/d002_edited.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/superfordpix/d004_edited.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/superfordpix/d003_edited.jpg

[jim short]

Hollywood 5 car race reminded me of a race at puke back in the 80s all understood except an Asian

[Oldfart]

Aren't those mufflers hideous?

[Steve Holmes]

I have to assume the car was never designed to wear mufflers, as they'd naturally be added within the bodywork. There must have just been no space for them under there. The early photos of the car from its first season show it without mufflers. They don't make an appearance until 1979.

[Steve Emson]

Graham, its great to finally hear from you! We'll be looking forward to your updates and details about the Falcon. Its a really great car with a fascinating history.

Of the people involved in the car during its long history, have you ever tracked down Brent Bullivant? He was a Kiwi racer who built a very fast V8 powered Capri Sports Sedan when he was just 19. He debuted the Capri in early 1975, and was working for JR by 1978, having moved from NZ to Australia, preparing the Falcon. He would have only been 22 by this stage, so was obviously a pretty talented young guy, but he seems to have quickly vanished from trace.

1575
I was just looking at this photo when I finally realised my blue Falcon panelvan is parked behind this car.

[Steve Holmes]

My understanding is that this significant car could be for sale? Can anyone confirm this? Graham has owned it for many years, and has been carefully collecting as many of the original parts for it as he could, slowly reconstructing the car. Like many Sports Sedans, much of the running gear was taken for newer projects, and Graham has tracked down one of the cars where a bunch of the parts ended up. Would really love to see this car back out racing again. It'd be very high on my shopping list if I had the coin...

[david5]

I remember seeing the bare shell sitting on the ground outside of Doherty's shed near Seymour in the early 90s, looking very sad.

[Steve Holmes]

David, thats probably around the time Graham Booth bought it. He has slowly been collecting many of the original parts ever since. Robin Doherty would have put most of the running gear into another Sports Sedan I assume?

[david5]

David, thats probably around the time Graham Booth bought it. He has slowly been collecting many of the original parts ever since. Robin Doherty would have put most of the running gear into another Sports Sedan I assume?

Steve I was hanging around Winton a bit in those days & that was the general "chat" amongst the boys, a red Commodore IIRC, but I'm only going on 20 y.o. memories.

[Steve Holmes]

I wonder if thats the car Graham Booth purchased to help with the restoration of JRs Falcon?

[Topgear]

My understanding is that this significant car could be for sale? Can anyone confirm this? Graham has owned it for many years, and has been carefully collecting as many of the original parts for it as he could, slowly reconstructing the car. Like many Sports Sedans, much of the running gear was taken for newer projects, and Graham has tracked down one of the cars where a bunch of the parts ended up. Would really love to see this car back out racing again. It'd be very high on my shopping list if I had the coin...

Steve, do you know if this car is for sale?

[thunder427]

Steve, do you know if this car is for sale?

Topgear, I subjested the Big M Falcon is 'For Sale' in the Roaring Seasons 'CARS FOR SALES / WANTED' section.... and to answer your Question 'Yes !!!!.....Graham has arrived at that 'Cross Road' we often find ourselves in on a large project,be it a Bathroom that encompassed 2/3rds of the house or an 'historic' race car,the responsibility in such a project is to keep it as much as possible 'True to the original plan',Question is, What Day do we build it to represent,??? what 'livery'???,its all about 'research,'research,'research and more 'research,there is a huge commitment, to past 'Glory Days' and Graham has a Lovely young family that are asking the usual questions ..."Can I Have A Horse"?......Dad!!..."Dad', when can will take me 'Go-Karting"??????????????...so its time in Grahams world for somebody to 'take-over' the 'Cosmetics' department of the 'Big M' project....................this comes with a considerable amount of 'Soul' searching and absolutely no Pressure from the Family,they In fact disagree with this path,but !!!!..

Graham has a Single price for the complete package,that comes with his total support to the 'new Caretaker' of the project...AUD$225000...No offers will be considered,a singular transaction is simple,not complicated and as stated..with full support to assist the completion,complicated deals are strictly that,complicated...........the list of parts is massive,the effort that has been put into collecting the correct parts has been long and exspensive process.......the Gurney/Weslake is complete and yet to be run on the Dyno,this engine has over $70k invested, built by the Nearly 'Famous' ;)Pat Purcell.......anybody Interestd please PM me as Graham has asked for me to find a 'Good home' for his Project "BiG M'...............Regards thunder427/Myle Johnson:cool::cool:

[Steve Holmes]

Graham has done an amazing job with this car, and it has obviously gone to the right owner who saved it when these old cars really weren't considered important to most. I hope he can find the right person to sell it to. This is definitely one car that needs to be completed and raced again. Thanks for the update Myles.

[Steve Holmes]

Oh, by the way, my favourite guise was its first season, before the big wing. Man that was a sleek looking race car!

[david5]

Come on Powerball.

[Bondy]

Come on Powerball.

Sadly i did'nt win so my 2013 entry's for the ASSC have been canned ;) was a good line up though.. Tony Endmondson reunited with his Alfa, Glen Seton in the Baily 300ZX and myself in a Harry Lefoe inspired Ford powered Hyundai Getz :p

[david5]

Sadly i did'nt win so my 2013 entry's for the ASSC have been canned ;) was a good line up though.. Tony Endmondson reunited with his Alfa, Glen Seton in the Baily 300ZX and myself in a Harry Lefoe inspired Ford powered Hyundai Getz :p

As long as you paint the Alfa in the Elfin scheme I'll come & polish it for you.

[Steve Holmes]

Sadly i did'nt win so my 2013 entry's for the ASSC have been canned ;) was a good line up though.. Tony Endmondson reunited with his Alfa, Glen Seton in the Baily 300ZX and myself in a Harry Lefoe inspired Ford powered Hyundai Getz :p

Boy that Edmonson Alfa was/is a neat car!

Long time Sports Sedan racer Kerry Baily had a Nissan 300ZX for several years, but not many people know that 1986 Bathurst winner Graeme Bailey also had a Nissan 300ZX Sports Sedan built, which was hardly ever raced.

[Bondy]

Boy that Edmonson Alfa was/is a neat car!

Long time Sports Sedan racer Kerry Baily had a Nissan 300ZX for several years, but not many people know that 1986 Bathurst winner Graeme Bailey also had a Nissan 300ZX Sports Sedan built, which was hardly ever raced.

The Chickadee 300ZX was neat, Derek raced it for a while, later to Steven Voight and now run for a few seasons by Anthony Macready.

[Rod Grimwood]

Bondy, what happened to the red Monza that Voight had. That was a good looker.

[Bondy]

Bondy, what happened to the red Monza that Voight had. That was a good looker.

I think Voight still has it, thats an ex old Whincup car...

[rogered]

I think Voight still has it, thats an ex old Whincup car...

Ended up at champions museum for a while, (and may still be there?)

[thunder427]

.....With a "Bullshit' paint job to make it look like the Bob Jane Monza When Brock drove it...!!!!!

[rogered]

.....With a "Bullshit' paint job to make it look like the Bob Jane Monza When Brock drove it...!!!!!

I did think to finish my sentence with a similar (but slightly
more tact-full) statement. :):):)

[Rod Grimwood]

Thats a shame, because it looked good in it's original red. Don't worry Myle's they can try but will never get them like you have.

[bry3500]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBmcSOmGBmk

[Steve Holmes]

I see this car is now officially for sale. It won't be cheap. Its not yet finished. But it is a car of great significance, and huge historical importance.