Van Diemen was founded in 1973 by Ross Ambrose and Ralph Firman Sr. The company’s name derives from the island of Tasmania, Australia — formerly known as Van Diemen’s Land — where Ambrose was born and lived before moving to the UK to co-found the company.

For over five decades, Van Diemen has stood as one of the most — if not the most — successful constructors in the history of Formula Ford, with household names like Ayrton Senna, Johnny Herbert, and Mark Webber having kick-started their careers in a Van Diemen. The inception of the company and its debut vehicle, the FA73, marked a pivotal shift from Lotus in 1972, with Ralph Firman, Dave Baldwin, and Ross Ambrose at the helm. The FA73, a direct evolution of the Lotus 69 designed by Baldwin, clinched victory at the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival on its inaugural outing, paving the way for Van Diemen’s remarkable 21 Festival victories.

By the late 1980s, Van Diemen had firmly established itself as the benchmark in Formula Ford design and engineering. The RF89, introduced for the 1989 season, represented one of the final iterations of the marque’s classic Kent-engined Formula Ford chassis before the arrival of the later Zetec era. It featured refined suspension geometry, improved aerodynamics, and a stiffer spaceframe, offering greater adjustability and predictability — qualities that made it a favourite among both aspiring professionals and club racers alike. The RF89’s blend of accessibility, precision, and performance has ensured its enduring popularity in historic Formula Ford competition today.

Having become the largest volume manufacturer of race cars in the world, Van Diemen drivers have gone on to win the Formula One World Championship, Le Mans 24 Hours, and the Indy 500. The original Van Diemen marque has been raced by Ayrton Senna, Eddie Irvine, Mark Webber, Mark Blundell, Jonathan Palmer, and David Coulthard, to name only a few.

Originally owned by the renowned Henri Morrogh Racing School — a respected institution that trained generations of professional drivers — this Van Diemen RF89 (Chassis 1360) is offered for sale with Klasiko having spent its life in Italy. Maintained in recent years by MAN Racing (Antonio Maniero) and campaigned extensively in the Italian hill-climb scene, the car is powered by a freshly overhauled 1.6-litre Ford Kent engine paired with a Hewland LD200 gearbox. At the time of overhaul, the chassis was fully checked, gearbox rebuilt, and a new aluminium fuel tank with FIA-compliant foam installed, alongside an up-to-date fire-extinguisher system and harnesses meeting current regulations.

With only seven races completed since, the car is presented as a competitive, usable, and desirable entry into classic Formula Ford 1600.

Notably, this Van Diemen is offered with FIA HTP valid until 31 December 2029, accompanied by a previous CSAI Passaporto Tecnico containing handwritten details of prior owners and past results. Dyno sheets, technical documentation, and setup information are also included.

Overall, this represents a superb opportunity to acquire a well-maintained, well-prepared, and competitive RF89 — a perfect entry point to one of the most engaging and fiercely contested historic single-seater categories.

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