NEWS

BIG NAMES FOR SALE

BRISBANE CLASSIC car dealer John Conroy is putting the ’77 Dick Johnson XC hardtop up for sale. It's in race-ready trim, with its original and current CAMS log books, with one of Dick’s old helmets and race suits thrown in.

Before capturing his first Bathurst crown in the shortened 1981 race, Johnson had made a name for himself in the late 70s thundering around Mt Panorama in a series of two-door Falcon hardtops.

In the era of home-grown Group C Touring Cars that many consider the pinnacle, Johnson’s XC Falcon coupe made its track debut in 1978. Painted in Tru Blu livery with sponsorship from Queensland Ford dealer Bryan Byrt, it competed in selected rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), and also had a crack at the Bathurst 1000.

Johnson shared Bathurst driving duties with Australian international and LeMans 24-hour winner, Vern Schuppan – the duo claimed fifth outright.

The following year after a limited ATCC campaign, Johnson enlisted fellow Queenslander Garry Scott to share wheel duties at Bathurst. Their race came to a premature end on lap 24 when a tyre deflated through the Dipper, pitching the big Henry into the fence.

Nestled under its long bonnet is a 5.8-litre Ford V8 that feeds its 600-odd horsepower to its guard-filling rear wheels via a four-speed box. Inside are two body-hugging seats (as per the regs), a full roll cage and a swathe of custom gauges across the dash.

Given its authenticity and the scarcity of genuine Group C touring cars in the country, this valuable piece of Australian motorsport history, driven by one of Australia’s greatest drivers, is highly collectible and a valuable keepsake.

For more information, contact John Conroy Classic Cars on 07 3848 8973.