[NoFear]

The last video is about a VLN ( a long distance cup ) -Puma.
It's an ex cup Puma. Rebuild with a 1.7 engine but running as a 1.6 .
It's build by the same company as the Cup and the frp prototyp.
It has ~220 BHP.
As I remember, the Limiter is by around 8600 U/min
The Bodywork ist made of Carbonfiber.
The Driver is Klaus Ebbing.
Imo the fastest puma on the Nürburgring

[sparx]

all i can say is.... WOW

i never even knew this existed!!! i'm guessing this only goes on in Germany? I may have to get myself out there just to watch it!!

[Gaz]

I race in a single make championship in the UK - albeit not in a Puma (in Mini Se7en) and they are great fun and very competitive. This German Championship looked the nuts - well supportd with sponsors and very high profile support (check out the crowds!)- I bet the organistion was excellent too .

Great pictures and what a fab car to go racing with, eh?

This post has been edited by Gaz: 17 April 2008 - 08:05 AM

[Gaydek]

[R5CPD]

It's interesting to see how many ex-Cup cars have gone on to be very modified in the VLN series (in some case new-build 'Cup' spec cars made from road car shells) or in other racing champioships, like tarmac rallying and rallycross.

These pictures are from a German rallycross site of one for sale at 12,000 Euro.












......... and a few more random pictures too. This one being of the Minichamps Puma Cup car.

[cheshiresport]

Some really cool pics there

[Gaydek]

[R5CPD]

These pictures of ex-Cup cars were taken at a VLN race at the Nurburgring last Novemeber.


















... and some older pictures.

[BOK]

Where can I get these rims?

[R5CPD]

They are Borbet Design K alloy wheels from 1997. Now no longer available sadly.




I believe that the wheels fitted as standard to the Cup cars were Borbet Design E wheels. Again sadly no longer available from Borbet.

[BOK]

They are Borbet Design K alloy wheels from 1997. Now no longer available sadly.

Will keep an eye out for them anyway...

[justfun]

Sorry for this late reply, Chris.

I saw that the VCT system was disconnected. Why was this? Aside from the camshafts, were there any other internal changes to the engine. Also, did the gearbox have a limited slip differential, and how did the ratio's / final drive differ for the standard 1.7?

The VCT got disconnected because of being not needed up the revs and for safety reasons.
Other changes coming to my mind were small ones, like special CAI with huge filter in front of the left wheel, updated tables in ecu, headers, metal cat, and updated exhaust system. Final drive from a 1.4 and limited slip were used also, when my dusty memory serves me right.

I'm curious to the see the route you guys took in tuning the 1.7 engine in comparasion to what Ford Racing did at Boreham with the Racing Puma?

I don't know, what they did at Boreham, but as a hint:
In 1999 Ford urgently asked for a streetable version of a Puma engine which at the end of the day had 153 HP, and was checked, tested and approved by german TUV authorities giving their OK to mass production, which obviously never took place, or at least not in such big numbers.

Some parts, prototypes an so, used for that development could be seen last year at the 10th meet near the Ring.
A few bits and pieces which we brought with us, just to show some more or less unknown parts of Puma history.
Perhaps one can have a glimpse, when looking at the many pictures taken that weekend.

[R5CPD]

No problem, this is really interesting.

I've read about this 153bhp engine before in a short book that Ford released in the UK during 2002 about the history of the Puma. It made a brief mention of this engine as Richard Parry-Jones, the then Small and Medium Vehicle head of Ford Europe, apparently test drove this engine and rejected it in favour of the 125ps unit. I don't have this book to hand, but I seem to recall it was rejected as it lacked the smoothness and refinement of the low powered version.

I'm sure your aware that Ford orginally planned to sell a further 500 Racing Puma's in Germany (and other European markets), but in the event only the 500 were produced for the UK. I've heard several possible reasons why this was the case, one of which being that it was felt that the FRP's 155ps engine would have possible trouble meeting TUV regulations for noise and exhaust emissions. So it's interesting to hear this 153bhp was up to TUV standards.

I remember your car and some of the parts you had on display during last year's 10th Meet. That meet was so interesting for seeing so many different models and colours of Puma you are not able to see in your own countries, as well as all the friendly people that were there too.

[R5CPD]

[Gaydek]

I've read about this 153bhp engine before in a short book that Ford released in the UK during 2002 about the history of the Puma. It made a brief mention of this engine as Richard Parry-Jones, the then Small and Medium Vehicle head of Ford Europe, apparently test drove this engine and rejected it in favour of the 125ps unit. I don't have this book to hand, but I seem to recall it was rejected as it lacked the smoothness and refinement of the low powered version.

Taken from Puma - The Inside Story:

"Inevitably the discussion ends on a predictable subject: power. "I drove a 150bhp version of the VCT engine that Yamaha had built for us," says Parry-Jones, "but I decided not to do it. The standard Puma was so well balanced with a fantastic blend of chuckable, yet predictable handling and I was determined no to let anything detract from this unique and attractive trait.""

[BOK]

Taken from Puma - The Inside Story:

"Inevitably the discussion ends on a predictable subject: power. "I drove a 150bhp version of the VCT engine that Yamaha had built for us," says Parry-Jones, "but I decided not to do it. The standard Puma was so well balanced with a fantastic blend of chuckable, yet predictable handling and I was determined no to let anything detract from this unique and attractive trait.""

Good comment from a man who knows what he is talking about.

It is possible to corrupt the fine balance of a car by upsetting the ingredients that go into it, much like a recipe. Put in too much sugar and butter and it becomes to sickly. The theory works for those that are able to tell the difference though.

Case in point: I wonder if the Vectra VXR would be a more balanced car if they decreased the power output of it and made it less stable in a straight line? Remember how much power understeer it had? It would then appeal more to drivers rather than those interested in traffic light grand prix and straightline speed (though i suspect most Vauxhall enthusiasts only care about who they've 'scalped' rather than true driving pleasure ). Having less would definitely give it more (especially resale value) at the end of the day....

This post has been edited by BOK: 20 April 2008 - 09:16 PM

[racepuma52]

Hi Chris,

Some fantastic pictures and a great thread, i am the chap who imported the black cup car that Lisa posted the pictures off.
I bought the car from a guy in Austria who used it in endurance racing, it was fitted with a 1.6 zetec se engine built by Sorg motorsport in germany and producing around 170bhp .
We raced it in the Ford Saloon car championship in 2004 in class C where we finnished 2nd in class,to a very fast and very reliable mk2 fiesta(and very light).
Due to business commitments we sold the car in 2005 and i think is now rallying in Ireland.
During 2004 we fitted a Quaife gearkit and LSD and Proflex dampers all round to replace the non adjustable bilstiens which were standard on the cup car, we also planned to lighten the car for 2005 by fitting fibreglass wings bonnet and bumpers and also removing the air jacks, but our plans changed and the car was sadly sold.
Chris, dont think it is hard work buying from Germany i bought this car without viewing it, then paid a company to collect it from Germany and deliver it to my workshop, i would do it again if i could find another, just sorry i sold this one, as it was one of the last cars built and only raced in half a dozen cup races.
Ihave a few pictures of our car on track but will need instructions how to load them up on here.
Regards Steve.

[racepuma52]

Just noticed the blue puma no 574 which had rolled in the earlier pictures is not a cup car, but a road car converted.
I must have too much time on my hands here at work,i need a puma to keep me busy.

[R5CPD]

Taken from Puma - The Inside Story:

"Inevitably the discussion ends on a predictable subject: power...........

Thanks for that Gaydek!

Good comment from a man who knows what he is talking about..........

Very true comments there Colin. I'm a big fan of RPJ. There's talk of him gatting envolved in some role with the FIA if Mosley ends up getting kicked out. Shame he's still not with Ford, but I imagine the poor man needed a rest!!

Some fantastic pictures and a great thread, i am the chap who imported the black cup car that Lisa posted the pictures off.........

Thanks for posting Steve. It's interesting to hear your experiances. I'd certainly be keen to see any pictures you have of the car. If your not sure how to post them up, then please e-mail me them and I upload them for you if that's ok?

Also it was to see how you went about importing the car too. For my own needs, a full-on race car is probably a bit too much for my weekend road car / trackday car requirements. That said, for a pure circuit racer such as yourself, I can see it being good value to buy. In someways I'm surprised not more have turned up in the UK, considering the number of ex- Ford Credit Fiesta Championship cars that seem to be competing in various series about the place.

Just noticed the blue puma no 574 which had rolled in the earlier pictures is not a cup car, but a road car converted.
I must have too much time on my hands here at work,i need a puma to keep me busy.

The blue one in those pictures is from the Nurburgring based multi-class VLN series. Several ex-Cup cars have found their way into the series. I understand some have been reshelled from road cars or made up from parts. No doubt some of these VLN Puma's have little or none of the original Cup car left in them!! Aside from the Cup cars, I know Ford produced at least one Puma for the 2002 Nurburgring 24 Hours. I'm not sure how the spec of these cars compared with that of the Cup cars.

[racepuma52]

The car was advertised on racecarsdirect for 10k euros which at the time was around £6800, after asking a million questions and being sent loads of pictures the deal was done,my Austrian friend trailered the car into Germany ,where he was met by my English vehicle carrier who charged me about £600 to bring it back to Manchester.
I think what clinched the deal was Erich the Austrian was really helpfull, he sent me the invoice for the engine which was only two months old and cost him 10k euros alone, included was three other sets of wheels and tyres and various spares brake pads disks etc.
So buying from somewhere like Germany is just like buying from someone over here, just a longer trip to pick up.
I will try and scan the pictures into my computer at work and if you dont mind Chris pm me your e mail account to upload.