Description:

The 32F of 1977-78 was perhaps John Crosslé’s most successful design, certainly in terms of sales but also in launching the careers of future champions. Nigel Mansell won the main British Formula Ford 1600 championship in 1977 on his way to a stellar career in Formula 1 and Indycar. In 2016 when the Sunday Times asked him to name favourite cars, the response from one of F1’s finest surprised some: “The Crosslé 32F that came over from Ireland was a hell of a machine. I won a lot of races with it.”

Today, the Crosslé 32F is a common sight at the front of Classic Formula Ford grids worldwide where it continues to surprise more modern machinery as well as period competition. With the Crosslé Car Company still very much in business and fabricating every component from its original factory, owners are in a uniquely privileged position in terms of parts and support compared to the host of contemporary constructors, long-defunct.

This 32F is offered for sale as a meticulous, unfinished restoration. Much effort and expense are evident, and many key components are as new. The purchaser of this project, with a little further effort, will have an exemplary and competitive car with the pleasure of completing it to his or her individual preferences. Extensive spares are a bonus.

The car is offered as a rolling chassis, lovingly restored over a period of years and in very tidy condition. Engine, gearbox, GRP side pods and some other components are included but not installed. Chassis itself was refurbished at the factory some years ago with very clean powder coat and unused aluminium panels. Uprights, suspension, pedals etc. are excellent. Driveshafts and CV joints are in very good condition.

AP brake calipers are restored front and rear, with braided hoses. AVO dampers are unused and as new, as are Racetech steering wheel (with quick release) and instruments.

Hewland Mk9 main casing was recently chromated and the gearbox rebuilt by JP Gearboxes at Silverstone. Adaptor plate, clutch bobbin and other parts are evidently unused.

There are nine Weller steel wheels, four nicely powder coated and fitted with Avon ACB10 tyres.

Robust construction made the 32F a popular choice with racing schools in Europe and the USA. To mitigate risk in novice hands, some schools replaced the distinctively wide original front radiator and nose with a small, pointed GRP nose and twin side-mounted radiators, as is the case here. GRP side pods are fitted with new radiators and there are two used rads as spares.

Four main GRP body sections are included, two with the early, integral engine cover (one red, one grey). Two other main body sections (one green, one red) are the later, shorter version for separate engine cover. All are lightweight and in good condition. There are three (pointed) nose cones in good order.

Engine is a standard Formula Ford dry sump unit with 711M block, rebuilt with a gas flowed head. Inlet manifold has an incomplete carburettor. Engine spares include a 711M block, crank, pistons and rods plus a spare standard Crossflow cylinder head, rocker shaft assembly, and an unmodified flywheel. Exhaust manifold is in good condition. A new, unused pair of cast alloy engine mountings are  spares.

Additional parts, not fitted but available for enhanced performance outside FF1600, include a set of 40 DCOE Webers and manifold, and a plunger type LSD.

Crosslé chassis plate and nose emblem are fitted.

Parts in unrestored condition include oil tank, gearchange linkage and throttle linkage.

The car and accessories can be viewed by prior arrangement in Shropshire and transported anywhere at competitive rates.

Keyword Search Terms:

Crossle Crosslé Mansell champion Formula Ford 1600 FF1600 Classic Kent Historic