The Greatest Sportscar ever is...

[krt917]

I've very much enjoyed all the pics of the 2-litre sportscars and of the Big Bangers of the 1960s and 1970s. I just thought it might be worth starting that age-old debate on the greatest car ever (and why?). Whenever I do this I always find it splits into two categories - the GREATEST (eg. Porsche 956, Ferrari 250TR) and the BEST LOOKING (Ferrari P4). I just wondered what people thought. Here's my list. Given my user name you might not be surprised at number 1!
Porsche 917
Then, in no particular order
Jaguar D-Type
Aston Martin DBR1/300
Ford GT40
Jaguar XJR14
Aston Martin Project 212
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 1938 Le Mans Coupe

[Peter Mallett]

How about the "Blower" Bentley?

Or in terms of availability the MGB?

But for me the GT40 caps them all.

[paulzinho]

My favoruite is the 956/962. Beautiful, great and successful over many years! Awesome!

I'm also quite fond of the 917 and Ferrari P4, but I do love those Group C cars!

[simon drabble]

surely the Lotus 23 - so good the French banned it from Le Mans!

[krt917]

Interesting choices. Funnily enough, the last Bentley and the GT40 appear on a list for a website I've just started. The premise being people's favourite cars ever (www.tentopcars.com). It's only just started so it doesn't exactly look very polished yet but anyone who wants to submit please do.

The GT40 was/is an incredible car. I reckon 1968 was its finest hour - excluding the '69 Le Mans of course). To beat all the new Porsche - sometimes on pace - really shows how good it was. And, of course, how good JW Automotive were.

[krt917]

Crums, I can't keep up with this!!

Group C cars, I reckoin, were the re-amergence of the great Sportscars. Always had a sof spot for the Jags I must admit. Have seen Nathan Kinch and Justin Law strutting their stuff in the Group C revival a few time - I hope it goes from strength to strength.

The Lotus is an unusual choice, but you can't argue with Chapman's genius. He always seemed to have trouble with the Le Mans organisers - probably because his cars were faster than all the french entries competing for the lower classes and the index of performance.

[carrera]

krt917 surely with those numbers after your initials you must rate the 917 as the greatest sportscar whether it be in short or long-tailed form.

Is home Copthorne?

[Mal]

For acheivments and longevity then it has to be the Porsche 911 and all its derivatives. But for looks and being the ultimate then the Ferrari P4, Porsche 917 & Ford GT40

[Nordic]

Krt, you may want to have a look at the sportscar section of the fourm, you will find alot more options on a simillar question there,
as for my favorites, I too love the 2 litre cars of the 70's however
for looks a 512m or group 44 jags, but this does change on a daily basic.
for race wins nothing can come close to a 911 and its clones

[Smokey 6 litre]

Gt40 in both catergories,
a fantastic car in handling and speed,
winning many races,
and a car that combines its function with stunning looks.
what more could a person want.
i would post the 911 alongside it but im getting tired of it, and its reinventions, porshe need to come up with something original again.

[krt917]

Carrera,
Yes my fave is the 917 - in any form really though the Langheck's straightline speed impresses almost as much as the achievements of the Kurtz.

And yes, it is Copthorne - must have been a typo. Where are you?

[krt917]

Almost forgot,
Thanks Nordic - will do. I can see why your views change on a regular basis when it comes to this sort of thing - mine do sometimes too!

[Mackmot]

917 does it for me

[dretceterini]

The Alfa Romeo 8c2300 from the 1930s was probibly the most sucessful sportscar ever..

[Remus]

Erm, today I will pick...

1) 917
2) 250 GTO
3) Aston DBR1, (only another 7 months till the next Goodwood revival...)
4) P4
5) GT40
6) 956
7) Mclaren F1
8) D-type
9) Toyota GTone
10) 935

Tomorrow, well who knows what I would pick. My opinions change that often!

[NGS]

I get a little specific on this, I like the 917/30s. But as for a family of cars, the 917 bunch was definitely the best.

[carrera]

Originally posted by krt917


And yes, it is Copthorne - must have been a typo. Where are you? [/B]

If it's Copthorne by Gatwick.
Not far away! Between you and the airport. Looks like Nordic is in the area as well.

[Mackmot]

I like the k, the can ams dont look quite as pretty. They look awsome but not pretty.

[racer69]

Not sure if it counts, but the TWR chassis.

Won as a Jaguar in the 1988 and 1990, won as a Mazda in 1991, and as a Joest Porsche in 1996 and 1997.

As for a full-on car, Porsche 917 or 956. The Audi R8 would have to rate as well.

[eclectic]

For me obviously it has to be the Stutz Bearcat! Nothing to beat it, see photos under the Pomeroy thread!

Sports cars, well we need a definition, if its a mass production job cheap and accessible, unlike the above behemoth, an Alfa 8C or Group C car then it has to be a Fiat Twinkie 2000 Pininfarina, its everything an MGB isn't, and if had been sold in RHD it would have led to the demise of the 'B' ten years earlier! You can buy a good one for £5,000. Many of the parts are common to a Strada! Track rod ends etc, I replaced an oil pump with one from the scrapyard!

A great open car, good looks, handling, ifs, irs disc brakes and the last one was made in 1982. Some of them even had the Argenta Supercharged engines and a some were even turboed by the factory to get rid of the last few.

[moffman]

GT40 is my pick

[krt917]

I agree with Mackmot, the Can-Am cars were awesome but not pretty. I reckon the 1970 and 1971 Langhecks were probably the best looking, especially the 'hippy' paint liveried car that finished second in 1970.

Eclectic has a point about the definition of Sportscar. Most of what we are talking about are sports-racing cars or sports-prototypes. ie. those that competed in the World Championship (and lesser racing events).

I'm a big fan of the TWR chassis, though I think the chassis types were as follows:

XJR9/XJR12 - Same basic theme. Classic TWR with the big V12. Won Le Mans and Daytona in 1988 and 1990. Also - in heavier form - came in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 1991.

XJR14/Joest WRC - Initially seen as the Rory Byrne-designed XJR14 which thrashed the opposition at the first few rounds in '91. One car was then used in the IMSA in 1992, whilst another found its way to Mazda and had a Rotary engine fitted. This car then came fourth - I think - in the 1992 Le Mans driven by the same crew - Herbert, Wiedler and Gachot - as had won the previous year in Mazda's own 787B. Chassis then turned up as part of a deal to combine it with Porsche engine for 1995. Car was promising, but Porsche canned it. Project then taken up by Joest who preceded to beat the works Porsche GT1s in 1996 and 1997.

Definitely impressive - probably the best two modern Sports-racers with the possible exception of the 956/962 (R8 hasn't really had the opposition...yet - though is still impressive)

[eclectic]

What a good thread! Sports racers/prototypes are great but in my experience driving anything flat out, even a Citroen 2CV is fun and that is the attraction of Vintage racing, you can drive something on the circuit, within your skill range... And it can be affordable say an Austin 7 special, and will never become obsolete as it is already! Not all of us are or ever will be Trulli let alone Schumi!

[Spaced Invader]

Ford GT40 a very, very successful car and it had style.

[verglas]

How about the gorgeous Ferrari 312PB 3 litre sports car as raced by Ickx, Peterson et al ?? Any pictures Andrew?!!