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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
12/3/14 6:29 p.m.

I started this over on the Classic Motorsports board, but I figured you guys would have some input, too:

http://classicmotorsports.net/forum/classic-cars/what-is-the-greatest-race-car-of-all-time/96390/page1/

wheels777
wheels777 Dork
12/3/14 7:00 p.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: I started this over on the Classic Motorsports board, but I figured you guys would have some input, too: http://classicmotorsports.net/forum/classic-cars/what-is-the-greatest-race-car-of-all-time/96390/page1/

Bob Glidden's Fairmont - Won every national, division and match race it was entered in, and Won the National Championship.....probably not what your looking for.....but the title made me think car (single vehicle) not car (like a Monte Carlo SS).

Trackmouse
Trackmouse New Reader
12/3/14 7:08 p.m.

M3... Particularly this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay2bzaI1Qa4

jmc14
jmc14 Reader
12/3/14 7:09 p.m.

Porsche 917

Spitsix
Spitsix Reader
12/3/14 7:58 p.m.

Audi R series at Le Mans

amg_rx7
amg_rx7 Dork
12/3/14 8:08 p.m.

Miata of course
Or... Mazda 787b

JFX001
JFX001 UberDork
12/3/14 8:08 p.m.

GT 40

kazoospec
kazoospec Dork
12/3/14 8:27 p.m.

Don't know if its the "best", but this is my favorite:

ebonyandivory
ebonyandivory SuperDork
12/3/14 8:43 p.m.

Watch Group B rally and take your pick.

aussiesmg
aussiesmg MegaDork
12/3/14 8:57 p.m.

Are you talking individual car, or particular chassis, or even an ongoing model?

Trackmouse
Trackmouse New Reader
12/3/14 9:07 p.m.

As said in other thread, the r32 skyline gt-r dominated so much it had rules changed around it, then it still walked away with hat tricks, they gave tons of advantage to other makes, they still win. They entered the 911, it still won. Couldn't be stopped. The rest of Japan had to up its game five years in...

chaparral
chaparral HalfDork
12/3/14 9:09 p.m.

At Indy immediately after World War II, the rules were simple: You were permitted any number of cylinders, any method of supercharging, any fuel in any amount, any chassis, any drivetrain, and any type and number of tires you wanted.

So what won?

The Novis had howling, supercharged V8s making over 600 horsepower. They couldn't keep tires on them when they weren't crashing or blowing up.

The Modifieds had methanol-burning 255 cubic inch Offenhauser fours, up to 17:1 compression, 400 horsepower, and drive to either two or four rear wheels. Chassis construction included ladder frames, four-rail frames, partial spaceframes, and rail frames with shear panels as part of the bodywork. They put the driver over or next to the driveshaft, weighed in around 1400 lbs empty, and surrounded the driver in what sometimes proved to a be a lifetime supply of fuel.

The Blue Crown Seal Specials burned aviation gas in detuned Offenhausers. They had 270 horsepower and used it to drive the front wheels. The driver sat behind the engine and looked over the the top. They only made one pitstop and won three years in a row.

Tmc22
Tmc22 New Reader
12/3/14 9:12 p.m.
Trackmouse wrote: M3... Particularly this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay2bzaI1Qa4

Thank you for that.

maj75
maj75 Reader
12/3/14 9:16 p.m.

Porsche 917, GT 40 close second.

RexSeven
RexSeven UberDork
12/3/14 9:18 p.m.

Porsche 956 and 962.

aussiesmg
aussiesmg MegaDork
12/3/14 9:48 p.m.

5 years in a row, true Production class for road cars, RX7 FD won 5 x 12 hour Easter classics at Bathurst in a row, Porsche even build specials for the event and yet the FD marched on, and on, and on..

For the duration of the event it was never beaten.

However having seen Godzilla in action, hells yes that was the best tin top ever

chaparral
chaparral HalfDork
12/3/14 9:59 p.m.

The McLaren M8A/B/D/F series was probably the best-engineered car ever to race and won Can-Ams for five years. There are still little details on it that people think are cool when they show up on FSAE cars. Carroll Smith wrote "Prepare to Win" mostly based on his experience racing against them.

Trackmouse
Trackmouse New Reader
12/3/14 10:10 p.m.

In reply to RexSeven: Having drove an r35, I agree as well.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
12/3/14 10:22 p.m.

Greer, Black, and Prudhomme FED.

vwfreek
vwfreek New Reader
12/3/14 10:36 p.m.

RexSeven
RexSeven UberDork
12/3/14 10:47 p.m.
Trackmouse wrote: In reply to RexSeven: Having drove an r35, I agree as well.

Did you mean aussiesmg?

Nick_Comstock
Nick_Comstock PowerDork
12/3/14 10:57 p.m.

I said it in the other thread and I see no one else here has any sense so I'll say it again

Lotus 72

With

out

question

the

single

greatest

racing

car

of

all

time!

Wally
Wally MegaDork
12/3/14 11:22 p.m.
RexSeven wrote: Porsche 956 and 962.

This. The last endurance racer that a privateer could buy and win with.

ChrisR
ChrisR New Reader
12/3/14 11:36 p.m.

The one that left an impression on me was the Panoz LMP1 Roadster. The one and only time I saw it on track was back in 2000 or 2001. I was walking through the paddock at Sears Point by turn 11...and that's when I heard it. Then it shook the ground as it exited the corner, and that's when I did this...I fell in love with it at that moment. So different then all the other cars, and much more exciting to watch. OK, far from the greatest, but I'm not picky.

chada75
chada75 New Reader
12/4/14 5:05 a.m.

One of the greatest race car comes to mind is one that is almost obscure. It is greatest not due to being successful (it wasn't), but the way it was build, by Friday Hassler, is the foundation of the American Stock Car. Using Truck arms and Ford suspension parts and Rear ends.

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