Johnson’s ‘Greens-Tuf’ Mustang in Shannons MotorEx sale

A legend of Australian touring car racing, the ‘Greens-Tuf’ Ford Mustang GT of Dick Johnson, will go under the hammer at next month’s Meguiar’s MotorEx.

After a successful run in Europe with driver Klaus Ludwig, the 1983 Ford Mustang GT was run in Group A Touring Car racing by Dick Johnson during the mid-80s. 1986 saw the car running endurance events in Australia and New Zealand before it moved to New Zealand with Robbie Ker in 1987. The car has since been purchased by Ross Donnelly and restored to its previous racing glory.

Meguiar’s MotorEx is one of Australia’s most prestigious events for motoring enthusiasts and will run over July 24 and 25 in 2010. This year the event has a particular focus on muscle, racing, sports and classic cars, making it one not to be missed.

Read the full story below:

Johnson’s ‘Greens-Tuf’ Mustang in Shannons MotorEx sale

One of Australia’s most important touring cars, the original ‘Greens-Tuf’ Ford Mustang GT raced by Dick Johnson in the mid-1980s, is one of the stars of the Custom and Collectible Vehicle Auction presented by Shannons at Sydney’s MotorEx on July 25.

When Australia moved to the International Group A Touring Car regulations in 1985, reigning Champion Johnson swapped his famous Group C Greens-Tuf Falcon for the Zakspeed-developed Ford Mustang GT formerly raced with success in Europe by German ace Klaus Ludwig.

Wearing Johnson’s famous No. 17 and signature Greens-Tuf livery, the car proved very competitive from the outset and in its debut season finished a close runner-up to the factory-backed BMW 635 of Jim Richards in the 1985 Australian title.

Dick Johnson, who developed the Mustang to be one of the best handling Group A cars and ultimately more powerful than in its original European spec, has fond memories of that first Mustang. “It ended up being a great car,” he said. “With a little bit of luck we could have won back-to-back titles in 1985.”

At Bathurst that year Allan Moffat test-drove the car in practice and was considering running it, but instead decided to continue his Sabbatical year from touring car racing.

In 1986 the Mustang was entered by Dick Johnson Racing in the major Australian and New Zealand endurance races and in early 1987 it was sold to Kiwi racer Robbie Ker.

Following the Wellington 500 street race, the Mustang remained in New Zealand until it was purchased in 2006 by well-known New South Wales muscle car racer, Ross Donnelley.

Donnelley, who had previously restored the ex-Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan 1967 Mustang GTA to a very high standard, applied his touch to the Greens-Tuf Mustang and says the car is now just as Johnson raced it in 1985.

It has a current Certificate of Description and CAMS Log Book, making it eligible and ready to race in Group C/Group A – currently one of the fastest-growing and most exciting categories in Australian Historic Racing.

Shannons are auctioning this well-known Dick Johnson touring car at their Custom and Collectible Vehicle Auction at Sydney’s MotorEx on July 25 and are quoting a guiding range of $180,000-$220,000.

The ex-DJR Mustang is one of a number of outstanding muscle cars in Shannons MotorEx auction.

Others include the first production Torana A9X Hatch in totally undisturbed original condition, a muscular 1974 Torana SL/R 5000, a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang Fastback, a 1970 right hand drive Dodge Charger, a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere race car and a 1978 V8-engined Morgan Plus 8.

All details of all MotorEx auction lots visit www.shannons.com.au

For media information/images, contact: Michael Browning 0418 324 328.

For further auction information, contact: Ian (02) 8019 4180 or Christophe 0413 567 308.

Images courtesy of Michael Browning