Hooniverse Asks- What's Your Favorite Race Car?


Okay, we’ve done motors, drivers and tracks. But one thing has been missing- that single element that brings all those parts together to create an exciting motorsport event, and not just a bunch of guys (and the occasional girl) trying to drag an engine around.
Race cars get our blood going. They are the ultimate expression of the day-to-day drivers we have sitting in the driveway right now, and most are aspirational- driving our fantasies when we get into our cars for the slog to work, or to the store for a half gallon of Hagen Daz. But which one drives your fantasies?
I’m kind of a Ford man myself, and jones for both an RS200 and a GT40 MK I.
But I also love the shark-nosed Ferrari 156, as well as the later race-prepped 289 Cobras and even the much more recent Audi R10 TDI. It’s hard to choose, I know, especially as each racing type – superspeedway, endurance, WRC, etc – requires a different kind of car, and many are just so awesome.
That’s why, instead of just your favorite, I want you to give a top-ten list. You can pick one car out of the lot that does happen to fluff your pillow more than the others, but the group will do.
So, get those brains a thinkin’, and give up your list.
Image sources: [Shorey.net, SisuAutomotive.com]

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69 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What's Your Favorite Race Car?”

  1. OA 5599 Avatar
    OA 5599

    Posey's T/A Challenger. I'm not sure how to post a picture, but http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/200

    1. Rick Avatar
      Rick

      Mercedes 190 DTM car.

  2. Dr_Dangerously Avatar

    '55 Merc 300SLR 722
    Audi Union Type D
    E30 M3
    Also, speaking of rally cars, anyone want to pick me up this Lancia Delta?
    http://tippecanoe.craigslist.org/cto/1671532055.h

    1. Mike_the_Dog Avatar

      You buy, I'll fly!

    2. Manic_King Avatar

      God, that's Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, CL seller is basically giving away legendary and rare car……or maybe it's BS, how doesn't he know what he's selling?

      1. raffo Avatar
        raffo

        that's a very painful April Fool's joke…. blue balls for everyone!

  3. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    This thing is pretty bad ass…
    <img src="http://www.media.suzuki.com/auto/uploads/images/views/monster_tajima.jpg"&gt;
    Zero to … ONE HUNDRED in under 5 seconds.

  4. Dr_Dangerously Avatar

    More like zero to AWESOME in 1 second.

  5. Alff Avatar

    My first love…
    <img src="http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/speed_racer.gif"&gt;
    In terms of real vehicles, though, my choice should not surprise anyone – the Nuvolari Alfa P3
    <img src="http://www.historicracing.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Nuvolari_Alfa.jpg"&gt;

  6. scroggzilla Avatar

    Not the fastest…….or the prettiest……certainly not the most aerodynamic…..but God I love it so.
    ALL HAIL THE RED PIG!
    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/4005024699_3d8afe306d_o.jpg"&gt;

    1. nofrillls Avatar

      I love this car not because there is anything special particularly special about it except for the significant fact that it is the only production-based MB racer from the period that I know of. Now that the W108 is covered, if I could only find evidence of a W114 racer…

      1. straight6 Avatar
        straight6

        Few years earlier there was the "Boehringer"- Pagoda, which won the Spa – Sofia – Lüttich Rallye in 1963. It was a 96 hours non- stop race across Europe (6.600 km).

      2. scroggzilla Avatar

        Eugen Boehringer also rallied Fintails successfully, winning the Monte Carlo, RAC and Acropolis Rallies along with the Argentine Grand Prix (an open road race like the Targa Florio). He also drove Fintails to victory in touring car endurance events at Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring.
        http://www.carkeys.co.uk/columns/ross_finlay/1126
        http://www.eugen-boehringer.de/

        1. nofrillls Avatar

          Yes! Spotted that rallying Fintail on this clip a few days ago (c/o Jalopnik/motorsportretro.com/):
          [youtube ufcqP2LwQ9E&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufcqP2LwQ9E&fe… youtube]

      3. scroggzilla Avatar
        scroggzilla

        Evidence, you say…..
        <img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/503223/4.jpg"&gt;

        1. nofrillls Avatar

          I don't believe it. Cibie's, side pipes and everything! You sir, are my hero.
          If you know anything else about this car and it's history I'd love to hear it.

          1. nofrillls Avatar

            I did just find this…
            <img src="http://www.racingsportscars.com/etcc/1977/Spa-1977-07-24-016.jpg"&gt;
            Interesting.

  7. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    New cage yet?

    1. KillerZomBee Avatar

      Yup, that's the Bee showing off it's new full custom cage at Sears Pointless. It's pretty much holding the rest of the car together at this point. Well, that and a fresh roll of duck-tape.

  8. scroggzilla Avatar

    The rest of the Top 10
    Ferrari 250 GTO
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3385590187_de
    Ford Escort Mk 1 (Twin-Cam or RS 1600…it's all good)
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/3968995073_90
    Lancia Fulvia HF 1.6 Fanolone
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3151203395_b3
    Scarab Mk 1
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3267098582_97
    Gurney Eagle-Weslake
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4288642952_2e
    Maserati 250F
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2592/3972015025_37
    Porsche 906 Carrera 6
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3951567930_42
    Ford GT40
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/3955673155_e5
    Mercedes Benz 300SLR
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/3385591835_95
    Naturally, this list is subject to change

  9. engineerd Avatar

    My top ten list:
    1. Ford GT40 Mk IV
    2. Ford RS200
    3. Ford Mustang Trans Am
    4. Ford Falcon
    5. Porsche 917
    6. Mercedes Benz W196
    7. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
    8. Lancia Delta S4
    9. BMW M1
    10. Audi Sport Quattro
    11. Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 AMG
    Oops…I could keep going, but I've already gone over the top ten allotment.

    1. scroggzilla Avatar

      FYI #11 was bored und stroked to 6.8 liters by the nice people at AMG.

      1. engineerd Avatar

        Dammit, you're right and I knew that. It was based on the 6.3L 300SEL, but they went with the old "there's no replacement for displacement" when creating that monster.

    2. Tomsk Avatar

      I can't pick just one, but here (in no particular order) are a few of my faves:
      <img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/5/54765/1111142/AudiIMSAGTO1-vi.jpg&quot; height="392" width="600">
      <img src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/355056.jpg&quot; height="375" width="500">
      <img src="http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/files/articles/future04speed_c485x330.jpg&quot; height="330" width="485">
      <img src="http://www.allpar.com/corporate/bios/photos/indy-special.jpg&quot; height="296" width="506">
      <img src="http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/141/140/96/gDDY7KJaEkt4Pno.jpg&quot; height="250" width="510">

  10. P161911 Avatar

    Chapparel 2J Big block Chevy power and a snowmobile engine powered ground effects fan.
    <img src="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/91-3.jpg"&gt;

    1. Møbius Avatar

      Wørd. A race car so awesome it got a whole branch of the racing tech tree banned.

    1. CEMan Avatar
      CEMan

      I care not about the sizing for he doth have the 'motion'
      +++ for cOde's 3

  11. Marco Avatar
    Marco

    McLaren MP4-4.

  12. c0de Avatar
    c0de

    my kingdom for an automatic picture re-sizer.

    1. engineerd Avatar

      Oh, I was wondering why you wanted a screwdriver.
      Mmmm…OJ and vodka.

  13. skay¢og Avatar

    Guess what? I agree with you! Thank you, Sir!

    1. BrianTheHoon Avatar

      You do??? I'm shocked! 😉

  14. Dr_Dangerously Avatar

    I usually add in the width attribute, no bigger then 600.

  15. BGW Avatar

    Pretty much the entirety of Dan Gurney's Eagle production. The race-winning '67 F1 Car, the 70s and 80s Indy Cars, the GTU and GTO Celcias, the series-destorying Toyota Eagle GTPs, the beautiful CART chassis…hell, even the Trans Am Barracudas.
    Simply put, the man knew how to prepare a racing car.

  16. engineerd Avatar

    How did the Mustang do? I'm thinking about rallying my 'Stang. I figure the 4.0L V6 should be pretty darn reliable, even if I only get 210 hp from it.

    1. ptschett Avatar

      They were midpack through most of the stages, but something must have happened about stage 12-13 because they were toward the tail of the field after that. Not bad considering that the car had previously been built as a drag racer then was rebuilt into a rally racer for its second life in the "2010 Unleashed" promotion.

  17. thomasmac Avatar

    <img src="http://www.legendarymotorcar.com/site/wsc_content/pics/mediabox/original/124206570021.jpg&quot; style="width: 800px; height: 600px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />

    1. CptSevere Avatar

      That is so unspeakably gorgeous.

  18. Reuven Avatar
    Reuven

    Auto Quattro from the class B days.
    The 959.
    THe Auto Union Racers that terrified the world in the 1930s. Serious. over a thousand horsepower, speeds of 250+ MPH.. it's like a veyron but art deco and as safe as riding in a bicycle's basket.

  19. Tomsk Avatar

    I can't pick just one, but here (in no particular order) are a few of my faves:
    <img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/5/54765/1111142/AudiIMSAGTO1-vi.jpg&quot; width="600" height="392" />
    <img src="http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/141/140/96/gDDY7KJaEkt4Pno.jpg&quot; width="510" height="250" />
    <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/gadget1127/2E.jpg&quot; width="770" height="435" />
    <img src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/355056.jpg&quot; width="500" height="375" />

  20. Møbius Avatar

    Using my limited knowledge of race cars, since most of those mentioned here are way older than I am, and I really only got to know them via Gran Turismo:
    1, Chaparral 2J
    2, Ford GT40
    3, Porsche 917
    4, Mazda 787B
    And in no particular order:
    Audi R10
    Aston Martin DBR9
    Lancia Stratos
    Lancia Delta Integrale
    Volvo 850 Racing
    And of course, there are racing series that spawned many great vehicles many of which I don't know in particular, such as Trans-Am, Can-Am, B/WTCC, and so on and so forth.

  21. dustin_driver Avatar

    <img src="http://cache-02.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2008/04/medium_2438408591_827de52a8c_o.jpg"&gt;
    1935 Monaco Trossi Radial. Two-stroke, 16-cylinder radial engine. Front-wheel drive. 75/25 front/rear weight distribution. Uncontrollable understeer. Total deathtrap. It never raced, but I love it.

    1. RetroRCR Avatar
      RetroRCR

      Looks like something Hot Wheels would dream up!

  22. dustin_driver Avatar

    <img src="http://www.trans-amseries.com/images/monterey08/_RAM5404.jpg"&gt;
    And Michael Eisenberg/James Taylor's 1963 Falcon Sprint is totally badass.

  23. dragon951 Avatar

    Good God! This is worse than yesterday. I will just go with what we will call:
    The Top Ten Porsche Race Car List (excluding the 959, 956/962 and 935 as they have already been listed by others). Sorta chronological.
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1954-550&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1959-718rs60&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1962-804formel1&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/3851909302_ba11c43e59.jpg"/&gt;
    <img src="http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/JohnBrooks/Porsche%20911%20Carrera%20RSR%20Turbo/HDK%202436.jpg"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1986-944turbocup&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1993-986turbors&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1998-911gt198&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules/ew_filemanager/06images/alms/porsche/2007porsche-spyder-side-600.jpg"/&gt;
    <img src="http://image.eurotuner.com/f/16649213+w750+st0/eurp_0906_01_z+porsche_24_hours_of_le_mans+flying_lizard_911_gt3_rsr.jpg

  24. rikadyn Avatar

    <img src="http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/Rod%20Chong/retrospective/IMSA%20Nissans/24682345.sTqEGUvd.jpg"&gt;
    IMSA 240sx.
    Of course it's my favorite, I'm a Nissan and Silvia/180/240sx fanatic… After all I've held onto a none running 240sx for the last 6yrs of the 8 i've owned it….and spent the day elbow deep in it's gastank draining out about 8 gallons of 93 octane of indeterminate vintage…

  25. Derek X Avatar
    Derek X

    Race cars are fine ‘n all, but Rallye cars use real roads at insane speeds, and THATS the kind of racing that gets my attention, so my choice would be a Lancia Stratos and/or Ford RS200. Real road cars for real roads, if you can’t take it to the dirt, it isn’t even in the game.

      1. PowerTryp Avatar

        Really? You put the 944 and 968 but you neglect the 1981 carerra gt? I won it's class on street radials against bias ply slicks.
        http://www.cantonia.com/images/924_carrera_GT.jpg
        Sorry no one has taught me how to embed pics.

        1. dragon951 Avatar

          Apparently you did not see the title of the collection. The SORTA Top Ten Porsche Race Car List (that excludes the 935, 959 and 956/962 since they have already been mentioned), That's Kinda Chronological. I left out a lot of winners in this list. Feel free to add, the html is "<img src"hyperlink"/>"

    1. scroggzilla Avatar

      Nice selection. However, you might want to review the following……in case you missed something.
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/scroggzilla/sets/721

    2. scroggzilla Avatar

      Nice selection. However, you might want to review the following……in case you missed something.
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/scroggzilla/sets/721

  26. Tomsk Avatar

    I can't pick just one, but here (in no particular order) are a few of my faves:
    <img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/5/54765/1111142/AudiIMSAGTO1-vi.jpg&quot; width="600" height="392" />
    <img src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/355056.jpg&quot; width="500" height="375" />
    <img src="http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/files/articles/future04speed_c485x330.jpg&quot; width="485" height="330" />
    <img src="http://www.allpar.com/corporate/bios/photos/indy-special.jpg&quot; width="506" height="296" />
    <img src="http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/141/140/96/gDDY7KJaEkt4Pno.jpg&quot; width="510" height="250" />

  27. CptSevere Avatar

    Anything that competes in the Carrera Panamerican, the Mexican Road Race.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqdrD7_gVVQ

      1. CptSevere Avatar

        Exactly. Hey, those are some awesome pictures. I love it. What's the Cadillac thing with the fighter canopy, any idea?

        1. scroggzilla Avatar

          That is the Ham Lincoln/Cadillac Special, a Mexican special built by Jose Gunam for the '53 Carrera. Unfortunately, that's all I know about it.
          By the way, it's available in model form
          <img src="http://www.topmodelcollection.com/DSC05287.JPG"&gt;
          ” target=”_blank”>http://www.topmodelcollection.com/index.htm

  28. Tomsk Avatar

    In no particular order:
    1) 1952 Cummins Diesel Indycar
    2) 1989 Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO
    3) 1989-90 Ferrari 641
    4) 1966 Chaparral 2E
    5) 1986-88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe
    6) 1970 Porsche 917L
    7) 1991 Penske-Chevrolet PC19
    8) 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
    9) 1977 Holden Torana SS A9X
    10) 1956 Lancia-Ferrari D50

  29. dragon951 Avatar

    Good God! This is harder than yesterday. I will just go with what we will call:
    A Sorta Top Ten Porsche Race Car List (that excludes the 935, 959 and 956/962 since they have already been mentioned), That's Kinda Chronological:
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1954-550&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1959-718rs60&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1962-804formel1&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.svra.com/SVRA/photogal.nsf/plinks/PHOR-64VTKC/$File/PHOR-64VTKC.jpg"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1973-911carrerarsr&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1986-944turbocup&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1993-986turbors&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racinghistory-1998-911gt198&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://www.porsche.com/filestore.aspx/normal.jpg?pool=germany&type=image&id=racingcars-rsspyder-xle&lang=none&filetype=normal"/&gt;
    <img src="http://image.eurotuner.com/f/16649213+w750+st0/eurp_0906_01_z+porsche_24_hours_of_le_mans+flying_lizard_911_gt3_rsr.jpg"/&gt;

  30. Tomsk Avatar

    I can't pick just one, but here (in no particular order) are a few of my faves:
    <img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/5/54765/1111142/AudiIMSAGTO1-vi.jpg&quot; height="392" width="600">
    <img src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/355056.jpg&quot; height="375" width="500">
    <img src="http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/files/articles/future04speed_c485x330.jpg&quot; height="330" width="485">
    <img src="http://www.allpar.com/corporate/bios/photos/indy-special.jpg&quot; height="296" width="506">
    <img src="http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/141/140/96/gDDY7KJaEkt4Pno.jpg&quot; height="250" width="510">