1985 Ralt RT5 Super Vee

History

This car was thought to be the ex-Tony George RT5 from 1986. The reasoning was that his name was on the cockpit of the car, and nothing further was known.

However, recent deeper research indicates that this is the ex-Steve Bren car, SCCA chassis number 658.  The SCCA pro series decal remains on the car’s tub to this day. That same chassis number, 658, matches the chassis identification number found in the car’s log book.

There is more evidence too. OldRacingCars.com reports Bren’s results for the 1986 Robert Bosch Super Vee Championship. Those results include a win at the opening round at Long Beach. However, the results show that Bren took that win in chassis number 536, not 658. 

However, by the third round of the Championship, at Milwaukee, Bren was driving chassis 658. There he finished second. He would race #658 again at Detroit, but finished well down the order. At the Meadowlands Bren drove #658, but was sidelined with fuel metering problems. 

On July 6th in Cleveland Bren put #658 on the podium in second again, this time behind eventual series champion, Didier Theys. At Road America Bren would beat Theys, but both finished well down in the order.

On August 31, 1986 it all came good for Bren and #658 at Mid Ohio. Bren captured the win by nearly 20 seconds over second place finisher Scott Atchison. 

Back at Road America in September, Bren would again lose a great opportunity for points finishing well down the order in 12th. However on October 12th at Laguna Seca Bren and #658 would again claim the top step on the podium, this time ahead of Theys and his own brother, Carey Bren.  On October 19th, Bren raced #658 to 3rd at Phoenix.

For the last two races of the season, both in Florida, Bren switched to chassis #662. Switching from #658 to the newer car did not go well for Bren. He was out on the first lap with engine failure at Tamiami. He would finish 16th at St. Pete, thereby dashing any hopes of winning the Championship. Despite these setbacks, he still claimed third in the Bosch Formula Super Vee Championship, mostly on the back of #658, including two victories and multiple podiums. 

But there’s more. If you examine the reported race results further you will see that the Bren car, chassis 658, was entered all season by Ralt American. Ralt American was Ralt’s U.S. importer and distributor. Ralt American was also Ralt’s factory backed team in the U.S. That makes Bren’s chassis #658 a multiple time race winner, several time podium finisher, Ralt factory team car, and third place in the Bosch Pro Formula Super Vee Championship.

It’s kind of like finding a diamond in the rough, and really not so rough at all.

Description

Chassis #658 has just been gone through by a race car engineer and top Formula Super Vee historic racer. The fuel cell has been redone. The hydraulics have been rebuilt. The Ralt has a fresh 1800 c.c. engine on Weber carbs. The Ralt needs belts and a fire system. Then it is ready for a shakedown.

Note that photos 14 through 23 below are from when the car was last offered for sale years ago. 

The Ralt is currently located on the U.S. West Coast.

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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Photos

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