Description:

price reduced. half the asking price of most of the B Production Mustangs, Corvettes and Camaros on the market and substantially faster and better handling. GM supported and sponsored 1985 Tommy Riggins Buick Somerset TransAm/ IMSA/GTO and Kelly American Challenge car. Raced continually from 1985 thru 1988 in both series. Raced in the Daytona 24 hrs and the 12 hrs of Sebring in 1987. Backup car for the builder Tommy Riggins in his 1985 Championship season. Driven by Dick Danielson, Troy Walden, Craig Carter, Harold Shafer, Gene Felton, Riggins and others during this period. Sold to Dave Perelle in the 90’s who shipped it back to Riggins’ shop where it was restored to its original condition. Since raced in historic IMSA and vintage series on both the East and West Coasts, e.g., Sebring, Daytona, Sonoma, Portland, Laguna Seca, Willow Springs, Buttonwillow, Auto Club, Coronado with VARA, SCCA, HMSA, SVRA, NASA. Always draws a crowd with questions and favorable comments. Currently only raced by a senior driver once or twice a year because of other cars and car projects. A safe, fast, easy to drive dedicated race car that goes into turn one bank at Auto Club at 160+ mph rock solid. This is a work horse with the normal race car patina, i.e., chips and scratches. Not a trailer queen, but an attractive car that sets it apart from the many Mustangs and Camaros in the 1980’s TransAm/IMSA/GTO FIA Manufactuer Championship Series many of which are show car quality but with asking prices approaching $100,000 or more. Unique car. Very few Somersets left. Most were rebodied as Camaros or Oldsmobiles in the late 80’s. An authentic vintage race car not a reproduction or retro copy car like many of the Mustangs and Camaros of that period currently on the market. This is a car for a dedicated gearhead and experienced racer. It deserves to be raced on a regular basis not once or twice a year. Sold on a bill of sale. No warranties express or implied. If you want to get into vintage racing with an eligible and proven car and on a reasonable budget, and not worry about your new $5000+ paint and decal job, this is the car for you. In a better economy this is a $45,000-$50,000 car. Easy to confirm, just check out comparable cars on Ebay, Wirewheel, Fantasy Junction, Hemmings, HMSAUSA, Racing Junk, Race-Cars.com and other popular internet race car sites. You will not be disappointed. Extensive history. Many photos and write-ups on the internet as well as in-car videos [see youtube.com links below]. Details/Specs: Class: IMSA, GTO, TransAm, FIA Group 7 Weight: 2500 lbs. Engine: Chev SBC • Displacement: 362 • Horsepower: 600+ • Torque: 450+ • Induction: Holley 850 DP • Heads: 18 degree GM Nascar • Block: GM high-nickel • Main Caps: 4-bolt • Crankshaft: custom forged 3.340” short stroke crank • Connecting Rods: Carrillo 6.300” • Pistons: forged • Camshaft: Comp Cams solid roller • Valves: HD • Valve Train: Jesel • Clutch: Quarter Master dual disc 7.25 • Pressure Plate: Quarter Master 7.25 • Flywheel: Quarter Master • Exhaust: custom • Comments: A ton of money went into this engine back in the day. It is state of the art for late 80’s, early 90’s, e.g., short stroke 362 [.040 over] cubic inch high RPM SBC, all forged, custom crank, custom rods and pistons, internals polished, bushed lifter bores, dedicated oiling, 18* heads, Jesel shaft rockers and timing gear, etc. Fuel System • Fuel Cell • Manufacturer: ATL • Capacity: 32 gallons • Fuel Pump: dual electric Holleys • Fuel Type: 110 Oil/Water System • Radiator: aluminum • Water Pump: aluminum • Oil Cooler: Nascar aluminum Electrical System • Ignition: MSD • Alternator: GM • Battery: Bosche • Data Logger: no Transmission • Manfacturer: current generation Jerico 4 speed • Type: dog ring • Shifter: Hurst • Note: when I got the car it had an 80’s Jerico 4 speed. Worked fine for a while then blew second gear going up turn three at WSIR which trashed just about everything else in the trany so replaced it with a new current generation Jerico. Rear End • Manufacturer: Speedway • Type: quick change • Ratio: 4.86 R&P • Aluminum driveshaft • 3.49, 3.65, 3.83, and 4.11 gear sets • 3 link set-up with Watts Linkage Body • Construction: some tin, mostly fiberglass • Color: white with red & blue • Condition: good. normal rock chips and scratches, normal race car patina and wear and tear. 50/50 rule. Chassis • Type: tube frame, Nascar type cage • Builder: Tommy Riggins • Material: DOM and mild steel • Finish: grey paint • Condition: good, state of the art • Front Suspension: std A-arm Nascar type with coilovers • Rear Suspension: std 3 link with Watts Linkage and coilovers • Shocks: Carreras • Brakes: 12+” rotors, dual calipers up front • Steering: power rack • Wheels: 16x14,16x13 wide-5 • Tires: Goodyear slicks Interior • Color/Finish: std grey painted panels • Fire System: std and current • Restraints: current 5 point • Guages: tach, oil [pressure & temp], water, and GPS speedo • Steering Wheel: removable Nascar type • Condition: good Spares • gear sets • extra set of Somerset period correct grill and tail light bar • shocks • springs YOUTUBE.COM IN CAR VIDEOS: Vara Big Bore Bash Willow Springs Nov 2012 Vara High Desert Challenge April 5, 2014 Group 2 IMSA GTO 1985 Buick Somerset Laguna Seca vintage race 1 IMSA GTO 1985 Buick Somerset Laguna Seca vintage race 2 IMSA TransAM Buick Somerset Portland Historics group 9 Grassroots Motorsports ultimate track day challenge 2008 FOR ADDITIONAL PICS AND INFO JUST GOOGLE “Riggins 1985 Buick Somerset IMSA, Trans Am, Kelly American Challenge race car”
Spares

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