Solved -PJ536- Desert Speed Car by Rox Automobiles, 1984

[Paul Jaray]

What is this? 1 point for you.
I do not have the answer but I know it's name, when and why it was built and what powers it...and the missing part (who built it) is not an obscure name (but I don't know it).

[ValkyrieGT]

Centerline wheels, ford bolt pattern. Ford mechanicals?

[Paul Jaray]

Not Ford-engined.

[faksta]

I can't even suppose what was the purpose of this car - clearly not a road-going one and hardly for tarmac with such tyres. Some kind of an autocross racer maybe?

[Otto Puzzell]

Is it a swamp racer?

[Paul Jaray]

I thought it was the easiest of the lot!

I can't even suppose what was the purpose of this car - clearly not a road-going one and hardly for tarmac with such tyres. Some kind of an autocross racer maybe?

Follow that path...
Not road-going, not autocross but somewhat close...

Is it a swamp racer?

Not that.
Think easy 

[Allemano]

Is it a Rallye car? Maybe a Dakar experimental?

[GrahamClayton]

Speedway/oval track racing?

[nicanary]

Baja buggy ?

[faksta]

Or sand dragster

Changed my mind. Sand dragster would rather have by far more serious rear tyres.

[Paul Jaray]

Speedway/oval track racing?

Baja buggy ?

Nope...

Is it a Rallye car? Maybe a Dakar experimental?

Precisely! It was developed for the Paris-Dakar.

[Allemano]

I've found it named "Desert Speed Cat" built in France in 1984. Equipped with a tuned Honda 1000cc engine with 140 BHP its structure was a monocoque made of carbon-fibre and a tubular frame. Curb weight was apparently only 260 kg. (!)

[Paul Jaray]

So far so good!
That is what I have too.
I can add that top speed was 230km\h and that the equipe that built it was well known in the world of the automobile.

[Allemano]

What did I tell you?

[Paul Jaray]

...and now you know why I wasn't too afraid 

[Allemano]

I must look in the racing mags of 1984, but that will take some time...

[faksta]

Could it be related to Yves Sunhill? He raced a single-seater buggy in 1985 Dakar, result unknown (at least where I looked up), and in 1983 he had a VW engined buggy, also single seater.

P.S. That is, of course, in case the car was actually entered in one of Dakars and was not left unfinished or just raced elsewhere.

[Paul Jaray]

Could it be related to Yves Sunhill? He raced a single-seater buggy in 1985 Dakar, result unknown (at least where I looked up), and in 1983 he had a VW engined buggy, also single seater.

P.S. That is, of course, in case the car was actually entered in one of Dakars and was not left unfinished or just raced elsewhere.

I don't know....all I know is that, according to my source, the name (equipe) behind it is not obscure. 

[Allemano]

I would have said "Oreca", but with the same confidence as faksta..

[Paul Jaray]

I have not the solution, you should find some proof.
I don't know if it may help:

[Allemano]

I already tried to decode the lettering, but was unable to find anything so far.

[faksta]

Looks like ROX to me, but that doesn't ring any bells

[Paul Jaray]

Could it be related to Yves Sunhill? He raced a single-seater buggy in 1985 Dakar, result unknown (at least where I looked up), and in 1983 he had a VW engined buggy, also single seater.

P.S. That is, of course, in case the car was actually entered in one of Dakars and was not left unfinished or just raced elsewhere.

...my picture cames from a December '84 issue...

[faksta]

I understood you. That is why I looked through 1985 Dakar. I mentioned 1983 car only as an additional information

[Paul Jaray]

Any news?