Crosslé 20F (Formula Ford)
The Crosslé 20F is historic Formula Ford royalty: the Northern Irish constructor's 1971 refinement of its 16F became one of the definitive front-running chassis of FF1600's golden early years, and remains a Historic FF grid staple today.
History
Crosslé Car Company of Holywood, County Down — founded by John Crosslé in 1957 and still trading as one of the world's oldest customer race-car constructors — hit Formula Ford's first boom with the 16F of 1969–70, then refined it into the 20F for 1971: a stronger spaceframe, cleaner suspension geometry and a removable nose over the classic FF1600 running gear of Kent crossflow and Hewland Mk-series gearbox, at around 405 kg wet.
In period the 20F fought Merlyns and Lotus 61s at the sharp end of British and Irish Formula Ford, launched careers through the Crosslé-linked racing school ecosystem, and sold across the Atlantic where American FF grids absorbed Northern Irish chassis by the dozen.
Its real kingdom is now: Historic Formula Ford (pre-72 class) treats the 20F as a benchmark drive — competitive, beautifully balanced, and supported by Crosslé itself, which still supplies parts and even new-build continuation chassis. For a buyer entering historic single-seaters, the 20F offers the rare combination of front-running pace, factory support from the original constructor, and the FF1600 economy that makes wheel-to-wheel historic racing affordable.
Palmarès
Front-running results in British and Irish Formula Ford through 1971–72 against the Merlyn/Lotus establishment; American SCCA Formula Ford race wins as exports spread; and five decades of Historic Formula Ford success since — 20Fs remain regular winners in the pre-72 class at HSCC, Monoposto and continental historic meetings.
What to check before you buy
Chassis identity via the Crosslé works — the factory's records and the historic FF community document most surviving 20Fs, and a car with continuous history papers (FIA HTP for pre-72 class) is the premium buy. Inspect the spaceframe for crash repairs and corrosion at the front bay and engine-mount tubes, verify Kent engine builder and freshness (the engine is a third of the car's value), and check Hewland Mk6/Mk9 internals. Class-legality matters: period-correct uprights, wheels and bodywork decide pre-72 eligibility — an 'updated' car races in less prestigious company and prices accordingly.
Did you know
- Crosslé is among the oldest continuously trading customer racing constructors on earth — building cars in County Down since 1957, and still supporting half-century-old chassis.
- The 20F's era coincided with the Crosslé school cars at Mondello Park that gave countless Irish racers — and future professionals — their first single-seater laps.
- Historic Formula Ford's pre-72 class effectively froze the 20F at its competitive peak — a 1971 design still winning races against its exact period rivals, fifty years on.
In the marketplace now
View all →No exact Crosslé 20F (Formula Ford) listed right now — here is closely related machinery on the market.
LMP3 FOR SALE
Osella Pa2000 anno 2021 Peugeot Turbo LRM
Formula 3 Dallara F311 Fiat FPT EVO2 Paddle Shift
Radical Sr3 Motore Hayabusa 1600cc
Formula History Martini MK32 1982
Prototipo CMS Honda Mugen 2500cc 352hp E2Sc by LRM 1 of 1 NEW
Formula 3 RALT RT35 1992
F3 Dallara F307 FiAT/ALFA ROMEO
Parts, spares & upgrades
Browse parts →
McLaren PCU-400
01E Quattro 6 speed gearbox / dog box with LSD
16 PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 981 ENGINE MOTOR 3.8L
