Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: WSC 001
Mot Expiry: N/A

Determined to become a racing car designer the Swiss-born mechanical engineer Jo Marquart moved to the UK during 1962. Unable to find a direct route into the motorsport industry, he worked for both Scottish Omnibuses and Hawker Siddeley before landing a job with Lotus. Trained under the great Maurice Phillipe and lauded by Colin Chapman as "a brilliant young man", Marquart showed not just talent and ingenuity but great adaptability too. Recruited as a chief designer by McLaren, he was instrumental in the evolution of their all conquering M8 Can-Am cars. Enduring a frustrating spell with Huron thereafter, Marquart rebounded to produce some excellent single-seaters and sports racers for first GRD and then Modus. Teaming up with race engineer Derek 'Nick' Jordan when the latter enterprise failed, he founded Anglia Cars (which incorporated Argo Racing) in 1977. Operating out of a domestic garage to begin with but soon taking over the ex-GRD / Modus premises, the new concern fielded a range of F3 / Atlantic and Super Vee chassis which proved immediately competitive.

After a couple of lean years during the early 1980s, Argo enjoyed a return to winning ways with its JM16 sportscar (the 'JM' initials standing for Joe Marquart). Based around an aluminium honeycomb sandwich monocoque clothed with a variety of carbon fibre and fibreglass panels, the JM16 was a neat and well resolved design. Featuring all round adjustable independent suspension, large diameter disc brakes and rack and pinion steering, it played host to a variety of Mazda, Cosworth DFV and Buick engines. Debuting in 1985, the JM19 proved even more versatile adding Chevrolet, Zakspeed and Ferrari to the list of potential powerplant choices. Renowned for their build quality and reliability Argo sportscars enjoyed considerable success on both sides of the Atlantic. Indeed, Jim Downing's team secured the first three IMSA Camel Lights titles with JM16 and JM19 sports car chassis, while Martin Schanche's Zakspeed F1 turbo-powered car was regarded as the best-handling Group C2 car in the World Championship.

The lot being offered for sale comprises not one but two Argo Chevrolet C/GTP cars together with a huge spares package and as such would be eminently suitable for someone looking to start his / her own team. There are worse decisions to make in life than whether your second machine should be kept as a T-car, made available for hire or raced by a friend / spouse. H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following description:

Argo Group C / GTP package

The basis of the lot on offer is one complete ready-to-run car (chassis number JM20-WSC-001) fitted with 6.7 litre Ali Chevrolet engine, a second car that is circa 90% completed (chassis number JM19-C-131) fitted with 6.3 litre Ali Chevrolet engine and a vast spares package that would provide the major chassis parts to complete a third car such as a brand new monocoque (no chassis plate). In addition we have the patterns for all group C chassis castings including other engine installations, set of under body moulds, jigs for manufacture of wishbones plus many other spare parts.

JM 20-WSC-001 / Chevrolet

This chassis is believed but not warranted to be the last of the Argo JM19/20 series built and was bought from the factory as an unassembled GTP car by American Stan Wattles. Once in the States the Argo was put together by renowned engineer Tim Albright who was also responsible for fitting the "American" type nose (a joint development between Dieter Bergmann and Jo Marquat that saw the radiator relocated from its usual JM19 position in the nose crash structure to the flanks of the car behind the doors). Rumoured to have run just once in GTP specification before being converted to World Sports Car Championship configuration (complete with open cockpit, flat under body and appropriate chassis number), the Argo was a sporadic WSC competitor. The car was purchased in 2003 by the current owner who commissioned respected race and sports car preparers Hepworth International to restore it to original GTP specification; the guise in which the JM20 is now presented. The Argo was totally dismantled and after locating an original roll cage was reassembled in accordance with Group C/GTP race series regulations including crack testing of all major components and a new fuel cell etc. A Mike Kovacs aluminium Chevrolet engine was shipped over from America and fitted with DTA management system to replicate the no longer available Motec unit used in period. Producing approximately 780 bhp it is mated to an original Hewland DGB gearbox.

Since making its debut in 2004 this car has contested all but two Group C / GTP events and as well as being one of the most popular machines on the grid with spectators has become ever more competitive. Thanks to the reliability of its Chevrolet power the JM20 has proved to have the beating in the overall series results of many of the more elaborate and expensive cars finishing third in 2008 with its Gentleman driver and collecting the index of reliability award in 2006. With respect to its owner there is little doubt that this Argo is capable of running towards the front of the grid and has a great chance of winning the series overall in 2009 in the right hands. The car has been the subject of a constant no expense spared preparation package throughout these years and is sold with an engine refreshed just 3 hours ago (rebuilds recommended every 24 hours) in the UK by Ric Wood who has maintained the unit since 2004. The gearbox was rejuvenated 6 hours ago and the car is presented in Ryder livery.

JM19-C-131 / Chevrolet

This Argo was essentially kept as a dismantled spares car by Stan Wattles and has been gradually reassembled over the last 12 months again by Hepworth International. It is currently estimated to be 90% complete and mimics the JM20 specification of WSC-001. Fitted with a zero-hour 6.3 aluminium Chevrolet engine running DTA management and maintained by Ric Wood, the JM19 also boasts a Hewland DGB gearbox which is fresh from a full overhaul by Pete Smith of PDS Racing. All major components have been crack tested. This car is finished in Cotelligent livery and could easily be completed for the start of the season offering a great opportunity to run a two car team.

General Specification both cars.

Aluminium honeycomb chassis
Carbon & Fibreglass Bodywork.
Aluminium Chevrolet engines.
Alcon 4 pot callipers operating on 360mm brake discs
Cast Magnesium uprights
Penske Shock absorbers (WSC-001)
Sachs shock absorbers (C-131)
AP 3-plate clutches.
17-inch BBS 3-piece rims
Hewland DGB gearboxes
Stack dashboards
Total of 16 wheels including those fitted to the cars plus many new and used tyres.

Spares package / Potential third car

In addition to the two cars we have the majority of the components (mainly new) necessary to either build up a third rolling chassis with WSC bodywork or keep as a comprehensive spares package for running the JM19 and JM20. These comprise: a new monocoque, engine frames, oil tank / Bell housing, uprights / hubs, brake discs, disc bells, front crash box , wishbones, steering racks, pedals, air jack components, track rods, bearings, spacers, drive shafts, wing mounts, DGB gearbox case, engine mounting plates and set of WSC open bodywork which could be reworked into GTP closed spec. We also have casting patterns for all Argo JM19 and 20 components including various engine installations, wishbone jigs, and various moulds. The complete package can be viewed prior to the sale by arrangement with the auctioneers.