The Ford Falcon EB race car that won the first round of the modern V8 touring car era in 1993, driven by racing legend John Bowe for Dick Johnson Racing (DJR), has been put up for sale. This historic vehicle, known as chassis EB2, has undergone an extensive period-correct restoration and is expected to fetch a price well over $1 million.

Significance of the Car

Chassis EB2 holds a special place in Australian motorsport history as it was the first Ford Falcon homologated under the new "Group 3A" regulations introduced in 1993. These rules focused on rear-wheel drive, 5.0-liter V8-powered Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores, marking the birth of what would later become known as the V8 Supercars category.

John Bowe drove the #18 DJR Ford Falcon EB2 to victory in the season opener at Amaroo Park in Sydney, winning the final 28-lap race of the weekend. This triumph made EB2 the first car to win a round under the new V8 touring car regulations.

Restoration Process

Current owner John Vergotis has meticulously restored both EB2 and its sibling car EB3 (driven by Dick Johnson in 1993) to their original 1993 Amaroo Park-winning specification. The restoration involved countless hours of work and consultation with former DJR team members, engineers, mechanics, painters, and suppliers to ensure period-correct accuracy.

Upcoming Public Appearance and Sale

Both EB2 and EB3 will be publicly reunited for the first time since the 1993 Bathurst 1000 at the upcoming Canberra Festival of Speed on January 25-26, 2025. The sale of EB2 through Unique Race Car Marketing will allow Vergotis to continue his passion for preserving and restoring historically significant race cars.

John Bowe, a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner and the 1995 Australian Touring Car Champion, expressed his excitement at the prospect of reuniting with these two cars, stating, "These cars were a joy to drive after all the turbo lag of the Sierras from the years before, and without the aerodynamic downforce of today's V8 Supercars, they really put the emphasis on the driver to get the best out of them."

The sale of this iconic Ford Falcon EB2 represents a rare opportunity for motorsport enthusiasts and collectors to own a piece of Australian racing history. Its significance as the first winner of the V8 touring car era and its meticulous restoration make it a truly unique and valuable asset.