The Formula Juniors, like many other cars in vintage racing, have been forced
out by cheaper, quicker cars.
The performance envelope of the Formula Fords and Juniors are very similar.
The Juniors use an 1100cc engine, which, in competitive tune, costs as much
as $10,000-15,000 to rebuild, while the less stressed 1600cc Formula Ford
rebuild is one-third of that. The Junior engines were being rebuilt 1-3
times a season while most Fords will go a full season on a rebuild. Once the
sanctioning bodies started to allow Fords to run, it was inevitable that
people with Juniors would switch to the cheaper to acquire and cheaper to
maintain Formula Fords.
I think the higher asking price of the Formula Juniors, in large part,
reflects the more expensive Formula Junior engine. Bill Dolson would know
for sure, but I suspect that very few Formula Juniors are selling at anything
near their asking prices.
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