JPS BMW Sports Sedans in Australia

[2002 turbo]

The story behind these cars is out of control, talk about a mystery!

Going off the date of 1984 in the ad it is after the big crash at AIR so I would assume
its was owned by Glenn Molloy at that stage before it was sold on to Robin Doherty????
Just a guess!

[jd yort]

The latest AMC magazine has an article on these trying to track the location of the 2 IMSA spec cars. I remember seeing pics of one of them online somewhere in the States.

[2002 turbo]

From what I was told the LHD car was bought in from the USA and was an ex Jim Busby car which ran in IMSA
I saw it advertised for sale on www.race-cars.com/ some years ago.
After a quick Google search it appears someone in the USA looks to be restoring it:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1733410-JIm-Busby-IMSA-320-Turbo


The other RHD car was made here in Australia and had no IMSA history from what I know. It used Lola suspension uprights which possibly may have been taken from the banned Corvair.

[jd yort]

AMC did a wrap up of the JPS BMW's a few issues back. Here is essentially how they reported it:

1) Craven Mild 318i. LHD Floorpanned Turbo actually built by BMW Motorsport GmbH in Germany. It was one of 28 and was originally raced in factory BMW Motorsport colours in Europe (including by Ronnie Peterson) during 1978 before going to the US for Jim Busby Racing who had factory support along with Coors in IMSA to be raced in 1979. They moved to racing an M1 and the car was secured by Frank Gardner along with the show (spare) chassis. Brought out here in early 1980 and made its debut in Rd3 of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship at Amaroo Park with Gricey at the wheel. Raced through 1980. Did not re appear until the 1982 Championship Rd6 with Jim Richards at the wheel under JPS colours after the locally built car was favoured in 1981. The car was put back to its IMSA specs under the new GT Category rules with 19 inch wheels and the box guards. This was the car involved in the big AIR pile up. This car then ended up being purchased by Molloy and raced by Chris Hones before being passed on to Robin Doherty and then on to Rob Burns. It was then sold onto the US and is owned by Corey Muensterman who is still slowing rebuilding it.

2) JPS 318i. RHD Space frame. Made its debut at Rd1 of the Better Brakes 3.5 series at Amaroo Park in 1981 with Gricey at the wheel under JPS colours. Raced throughout 1981 in the Championship before being sold to Bruce Lynton for 1982 season and then John Briggs for the 1983 season. It was then raced by Grant Munday, John Gurney and then to Richard Gartner. Richard put a rotary in it and raced it in the NSW state series with a black colour scheme before being involved in a big accident at Oran Park. The remains of the car ended up with the Gattermeier clan before being scrapped.

3) JPS IMSA 320i. LHD Floorpanned Jim Busby Promo car which was used as show/spares car. The car apparently raced in Europe during 1977 and was used sparingly by Busby as he preferred the newer car. It was shipped to Australia along with the other LHD car. This chassis did not race until the WSC in 1984 with Richards at the wheel with a naturally aspirated 2L F2 engine. This was sold onto Molloy with Chris Hones at the wheel before being raced by Ludwig Finnaur with a sky blue paint scheme as he got his CAMS license. It was then further raced by Chris Hones before being passed on to a Rob Shiels. The car ended up in England before being sold to Germany. Its location is currently unknown.

So it appears none of them were ever in Pattaya or NZ. Also appears who ever wrote that article for AMC has spent some time reading this thread.