Thread: Great racing cars from the past

Here is a streamliner W196 including a Fangio eyes view.

Another Ferrari 500M. This one in the Harrah museum in Reno.

He won in 1951 with the Alfa Romeo 159.
I do not remember which other cars raced against the streamliner W196
Stirling Moss also drove the W196

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Originally Posted by Chucaro

He won in 1951 with the Alfa Romeo 159.
I do not remember which other cars raced against the streamliner W196
Stirling Moss also drove the W196

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Lancia, Ferrari, Maserati, Gordini all raced in1954 & 1955

Originally Posted by Chucaro

The awesome Fangio's Mercedes W196R was sold few days ago for more than 22 million dollars.
I was a young boy back in 1954 but still remember the great Fangio.

In that case, you might remember that in those days driving at speeds a little higher than was absolutely necessary was referred to by young petrol heads as, "going for a fang".

Although, that might have been peculiarly Australian slang.

Going back to the 50's (what a great decade ) I use to go to the races and watch Florian Gonzalez and in one opportunity Fangio racing in the category Fuerza Libre (unlimited force).
Perhaps not many petrol heads know that there were Ferrari bodies fitted with Chevrolet engines and also Maserati bodies fitted with Jeep engines.
Here is one 1947 Ferrari with Chevy V8 engine raced by Fangio



Another beauty is the Lancia D24 in which Fangio won the Panamerican race back in 1953

http://www.cosasdeautos.com.ar/wp-co...24-560x372.jpg

Chuck, from the look of the inlet/exhaust layout, that car has a pushrod ohv or side valve six cylinder engine not a V8.

Here are a few winners of the Indianapolis 500. A Maserati 8CM driven by Wilbur Shaw in1939 & 1940; the Kurtis Kraft driven by Bill Vukovich to wins in 1953 & 1954; the first "lay down" car which won in 1957 & 1958 built by George Salih; three A.J. Watson built winners, the centre one was driven by Parnelli Jones to the front engine car lap record of 153 mph in 1962; the KenPaul Special which won in 1960.

The KenPaul has an interesting history. Chick Hirashima is recorded at the Speedway as the crew chief. Smoky Yunick reckoned he was but the speedway wouldn't recognise his claim. Smoky never forgave or forgot a slight and was bitter about this for the rest of his life. There are currently four KenPaul Specials. Bob McConnell of Gaslight Auto Parts probably holds the moral high ground here as his (which he has restored as something else) probably contains more of the original car than the others.

I wasn't alive in the 50's but it (and the 60's to an extent) really was the ultimate era for motor racing

My favourite for Grand Prix racing was the pre-war years, however this was very much a two horse race with Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, at during the 1930's