5 Greatest Sportscars of All Time

ranjan united · 25th July 2006, 15:21

Was watching Discovery Channel. 6 or so automotive experts come together to decide the 5 best racing cars of all times :

5. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (A car built by a chicken farmer - Carol Shelby - winning at Le Mans)

4. 1954-57 Jaguar D-Type (extremely dominating car, but with bad aerodynamics)
3. 1927 Auto Union C Type (6 litre V16 - did 227 MPH during races)

2. Ford GT40 (a legend)

1. Porsche 917 (superior engineering made the Ford GT40 obsolete overnight)

I was quite a little surprised myself to see the Ford GT-40 finish in 2nd. Ofcourse, I had forgotten about the 917. The Porsche was so monstorous, the the Ford GT40 was stripped of the Gulf Racing colours, and given to Porsche.
Enzo Ferrari was so depressed becoz of the Porsche, that he built 25 Ferraris for the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours. But, 25 cars are pretty expensive (inconvievable by todays standards), so Enzo Ferrari sold 50% shares of his company to FIAT. That is how determined he was to beat the 917. The Porsche finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that years Le Mans.

turbo_v12 · 25th July 2006, 19:44

Ok, here come my top 5:

5. FORD GT 40

4. AUDI QUATTRO (The first rally car to introduce 4x4 drive)

3. PORSCHE 959 (The Paris-Dakar champ which produced 640 bhp from the same 2.9litre engine as the road car)

2. MERCEDES BENZ W25 (SILVER ARROWS - which produced 600+bhp in the those days and won GP races by a margin of 9 odd minutes and nobody could do anthing about it)

1. McLAREN F1 GTR (How can I stay without this one?)

I would have loved to put in Rudolf Uhlenhaut's Merc 300 SLR which raced at Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, and the Shelby Daytona Coupe, but it seems there isn't enough place for them.

sujaylahiri · 28th July 2006, 05:50

How about the Audi Diesel V8 which won the LeMans 24 hours this year.

islero · 28th July 2006, 10:01

I alderady started a thred similar to this. Its in International Cars section.

R32_GTR · 28th July 2006, 15:43

Since we are talking about SPORTSCARS and NOT SUPERCARS in this thread...let me list my top 5.....CARS that a person might actually be able to get their hands on...

NO nostalgia here....as quite honestly...won't thrill you enough...and one can probably never own one...

please find below my list

based on:

a more affordable lot or
atleast rentable or
something you can borrow of a friend

in order of preferance

The NISSAN SKYLINE - GTR (obviously)
Porsche....the 911 range..The 1995 turbo's in particular
LOTUS ELISE...the whole lot
FERRARI F355...
BMW M3's

sidharth_j · 29th July 2006, 04:50

Here's my pick:-

1) Mercedes Benz 300SL 'GullWing'

2) Jaguar E-type

3)Lamborghini Miura

4) Porsche 911 turbo

5) I have to include a ferrari...so, my pick would be an F40.

Rtech · 29th July 2006, 10:18

Please continue this discussion on this existing thread.

And for something the exact opposite, you could also check out This thread on the top 5 worst Supercars!

25th July 2006, 15:21	#1
ranjan united BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada... But still a Bombay-Boy at heart !!! Posts: 409 Thanked: 3 Times	5 Greatest Sportscars of All Time Was watching Discovery Channel. 6 or so automotive experts come together to decide the 5 best racing cars of all times : 5. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (A car built by a chicken farmer - Carol Shelby - winning at Le Mans) 4. 1954-57 Jaguar D-Type (extremely dominating car, but with bad aerodynamics) 3. 1927 Auto Union C Type (6 litre V16 - did 227 MPH during races) 2. Ford GT40 (a legend) 1. Porsche 917 (superior engineering made the Ford GT40 obsolete overnight) I was quite a little surprised myself to see the Ford GT-40 finish in 2nd. Ofcourse, I had forgotten about the 917. The Porsche was so monstorous, the the Ford GT40 was stripped of the Gulf Racing colours, and given to Porsche. Enzo Ferrari was so depressed becoz of the Porsche, that he built 25 Ferraris for the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours. But, 25 cars are pretty expensive (inconvievable by todays standards), so Enzo Ferrari sold 50% shares of his company to FIAT. That is how determined he was to beat the 917. The Porsche finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that years Le Mans.
	() Thanks

25th July 2006, 19:44	#2
turbo_v12 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thane Posts: 457 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Ok, here come my top 5: 5. FORD GT 40 4. AUDI QUATTRO (The first rally car to introduce 4x4 drive) 3. PORSCHE 959 (The Paris-Dakar champ which produced 640 bhp from the same 2.9litre engine as the road car) 2. MERCEDES BENZ W25 (SILVER ARROWS - which produced 600+bhp in the those days and won GP races by a margin of 9 odd minutes and nobody could do anthing about it) 1. McLAREN F1 GTR (How can I stay without this one?) I would have loved to put in Rudolf Uhlenhaut's Merc 300 SLR which raced at Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, and the Shelby Daytona Coupe, but it seems there isn't enough place for them. Last edited by turbo_v12 : 25th July 2006 at 19:46.
	() Thanks

28th July 2006, 05:50	#3
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North America Posts: 960 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	How about the Audi Diesel V8 which won the LeMans 24 hours this year.
	() Thanks

28th July 2006, 10:01	#4
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	I alderady started a thred similar to this. Its in International Cars section.
	() Thanks

28th July 2006, 15:43	#5
R32_GTR BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 548 Thanked: 201 Times View My Garage	Since we are talking about SPORTSCARS and NOT SUPERCARS in this thread...let me list my top 5.....CARS that a person might actually be able to get their hands on... NO nostalgia here....as quite honestly...won't thrill you enough...and one can probably never own one... please find below my list based on: a more affordable lot or atleast rentable or something you can borrow of a friend in order of preferance The NISSAN SKYLINE - GTR (obviously) Porsche....the 911 range..The 1995 turbo's in particular LOTUS ELISE...the whole lot FERRARI F355... BMW M3's
	() Thanks

29th July 2006, 04:50	#6
sidharth_j BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney, AU Posts: 139 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	Here's my pick:- 1) Mercedes Benz 300SL 'GullWing' 2) Jaguar E-type 3)Lamborghini Miura 4) Porsche 911 turbo 5) I have to include a ferrari...so, my pick would be an F40.
	() Thanks

29th July 2006, 10:18	#7
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Please continue this discussion on this existing thread. And for something the exact opposite, you could also check out This thread on the top 5 worst Supercars!
	() Thanks