Do you remember the old manufacturer mantra of win on Sunday, sell on Monday? That of course is related to the halo effect it’s thought racing affords to sales. Yeah, well what about race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday… in the very-same car! Yeah man, that’s what Im talking about.
Of course, attempting to drive a modern race car on the road presents challenges, not the least of which is ground clearance, as most of them have none. That’s less of an issue with vintage hardware as for a long time the differentiation between racer and road car was less than obvious. Considering all the vintage racing iron out there – Porsche 917s, Formula Fords, Birdcage Maseratis – do you think any of them could pass for a weekly car pool contender? Yeah, you might have to make multiple trips, but seeing as you’re driving a freaking race car, why would you mind?
Your car pool buddies might put up a fuss however, so maybe it’s time to go lone wolf on that work drive. If you’re good with that, what would be the vintage racer that you’d most like to make your ride on your daily commute?
Image: MyRideIsMe
Hooniverse Asks: What Old Race Car Would You Totally Rock on the Street?
By Robert Emslie
Jun 10, 2015
Jeff Glucker
http://www.legendsracing.co.uk/Content/Images/Cars/1987AlfaRomeoV6Race/IMG_5291%20-%20Version%202.jpg
I need 4 doors for the ease of getting the youngins to school.
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–1h_0YZPk–/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/phawci8jalxcdauhaweu.jpg
And then the Mrs. will need our grocery getter.
How about a minivan?
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.caranddriver.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F04%2FFord-Supervan-1.jpg&hash=0b3a9bdf8be287b6748f7d700b37dc5f
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/07/379350_002-1984-Supervan-2-based-on-the-mid-engine-Ford-C100-racing-sports-car-chassis.-It-had-a-F1-based-Cosworth-DFL-V8-engine-and-hit-174mph-at-the-Silverstone-GP-circuit.jpg
I had the matchbox car as a kid, so it only makes sense to own the real thing.
I’ll take the XJ220 test van.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/videos/a7427/this-ford-transit-helped-build-the-jaguar-xj220/
http://roa.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/14/47/546b3695cfa2e_-_ford-transit-xj220-development-mule-2013-goodwood-festival-of-speed-lg.jpg
Sadly I can only click the like button on this once.
Classic case of “see more”-itis. On the phone, I don’t always click on it. So it seems I posted the exact same photo once more later on…I curse you, Disqus!
For warm sunny days a Lister Corvette.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2732/4089596575_69d7c13739_b.jpg
For cooler cloudy days, a nice English Ford.
http://www.oocities.org/motorcity/downs/1403/gt40.jpg
Because I don’t believe there was ever an official W126 race car.
Kam hier für Die Rote Sau. Verlassen glücklich.
AMG actually did do a couple of Group A SECs and ran them at the Spa 24 Hours one year. Converted to 5-speeds, too.
http://hq-wall.net/i/med_thumb/01/12/amg_500sec_race_car_236.jpg
Yar, but t’isn’t a sedan. I needs it to be a sedan because 3 younguns.
Grandpa preferred a coupe for youguns. Put them in the back seat and you didn’t have to worry about them opening a door and falling out. This was in the 1950s though.
If you only get one pick, aim high
Because as Potbelly Joe pointed out, I’d need a family vehicle, too!
I have an absurd fantasy that revolves around building my Ody into the ultimate sleeper with the go-fast bits of the One Lap Odyssey (~500whp, 6speed manual, suspension goodies) and none of the appearance ones, and having the most badass dadmobile on the planet.
I’m more of an SUV guy for the family vehicle.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Dakar_2006_Hummer_Gordon.jpg
See you at Walmart, wagon-guy.
http://www.volvotips.com/wp-content/uploads/Volvo_850_Estate_racing_Lammers.jpg
Wal-Mart? Ain’t nobody got time to get all gussied up for that high-class shopping!
Real ‘Murricans go to Target! Because we like the name — it reminds us of guns!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw!
But Target IS the high class shopping.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9a/db/86/9adb863b61aa9ede0f5d935268012276.jpg
Shopping at Dollar Palace won’t bring you worldwide fame and ridicule via peopleofWalmart.com, therefore, there is no need to dress up.
Man, and here I thought only McDonald’s required me to wear my tuxedo.
I had a chance to do it back when this was still affordable. I suppose I’m glad I didn’t do it.
http://www.historictransam.com/images/History/SamPosey170.jpg
What about that guy in Japan that drives a 962?
Of course, you could asle get a Dauer 962 as well, if you wanted something a little more civilized.
Here’s a Switec 962…
http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/switec-porsche-962-c-can-be-driven-on-the-road-33998_1.jpg
…and a Dauer 962. One of each, please.
http://www.skyhdwallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Dauer-962-LM-1994.jpg
Practical, reliable, good fuel economy.
Since I live on gravel, and need to haul my boys to day-care, I’d better pick something sensible – like a Walker Evans trophy truck
http://ramchargercentral.com/open-discussions/rod-hall's-utiline-macho-155862/?action=dlattach;attach=67409;image
Most outlandish use of “sensible” I’ve seen today. Good work!
Technically, it is old and it is a racecar, though it is rather new as a racecar.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/33-Spirit-of-LeMons-Racing-Cessna-Race-626×426.jpg
Bit of cheat perhaps, but Ginetta G40R, unlike most manufacturers where the R stands for racing, Ginetta is a race car manufacturer who make a small number of road cars, so the R desigination stands for Road, as in road legal. Mazda/ford duratec engine and MX5 gearbox means it will be relatively trouble free as a daily too. It’s the thinking mans Lotus Elise.
http://www.ginetta.com/images/cars/g40r_new/g40r_banner01.jpg
Does it count if it’s a Death Race?
http://www.imcdb.org/i362834.jpg
Yes it does!
http://www.blastr.com/sites/blastr/files/DeathRace2000Car.jpg
I saw that movie – and I don’t remember anything. The original though…can’t forget.
I could live with this!
http://www.trofeumodels.com/trofeu/hpi/lancia/lancia-stratos-fotosg/lancia-stratos-8131.jpg
I prefer this one 🙂
This also could fill the bill
http://www.topcarrating.com/ford/1986-ford-rs200-evolution.jpg
A thousand times “yes.”
Lamborghini Jota, anyone?
ToJota or not ToJota, that is the question…
I am not the first guy to think that a Formula Vee would be a blast and a half on the street.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/477008.jpg
I very nearly purchased a Kellison Crusader Formula Vee a couple years back. The intent was to participate in vintage racing events and Formula Vee racing, while being competitive in neither.
Why stick with a Formula Vee when you can drive a Formula 1?
And for weekend trips into the wilderness with the family.
A little spiced Mk1 is on the list too
http://www.dmmultimedia.com/escort_mk1/MK1_Escort_RS2000_in_garage.jpg
And of course the Batmobile is very high on my list
I’m going to go with mid-70’s era NASCAR. Full sized, stock body, 200 mph top end, ridiculous.
Paint it brown, add some chrome trim and a landau top and you’ve got one confusing vehicle.
http://images.athlonsports.com/d/34285-1/Pearson-71a.jpg
For maximum WTF, go with an early 1980s Imperial.
http://www.imperialclub.com/~imperialclub/Yr/1981/Buddy/82imp67.jpg
Or do it in Petty’s Superbird.
https://vds.rightster.com/v/01yze8pkx2qrnl
Instant chesthair explosion behind that wheel…
IMSA 90 GTO (tribute car in the pic)
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l285/davidclanton/Toyota_2000GT_at_Laguna_Seca_by_Par.jpg
A sensible winter beater…
http://cdn2.evo.co.uk/sites/evo/files/styles/gallery_adv/public/images/dir_810/car_photo_405259.jpg?itok=ruLRAWWp
Or a proven winter winner:
Gotta fly the Saab flag.
http://cdn.classiccars.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Erik_Carlsson_au_rally_de_Monte_Carlo_en_1963.jpg
I can get behind that.
http://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8502/8434033984_cb17a61297_z.jpg
But currently, you’re in front.
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1734833/tumblr_lqt3kxPJOZ1r0gfsio1_400.gif
I was driving the 96.
But… isn’t that confusing?
No more so than usual.
While it’s tempting to just say all of them, I think I found a winning formula.
http://content.worldcarfans.co/2009/1/medium/street-legal-reynard-91f_2.jpg
Someone in Edmonton has a street legal MC12 Corsa… I’d personally go for something older, but you have to admire him. He took the track version of a road car and turned it into a road car.
http://www.gtspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_01411.jpg
I have an unnatural desire for an IMSA Monza. How hard would it be to make it road legal?
http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Chevrolet/76-Dekon-Monza-num20-DV_10-MH_010.jpg
http://img.favcars.com/chevrolet/monza/images_chevrolet_monza_1975_1.jpg
I think for Georgia it would need windshield wipers, maybe a muffler, otherwise you are good to go.
DeKon Monzas had wipers.
Works for Jerry Seinfeld, would work for me.
Just out cruisin’ with my best fella.
Excellent choice, the Golf 1 really should have had more success in motorsports!
On the other hand, the NSU TT did quite well!
(I’m not sure about the Hanomag Henschel/Mercedes though)
A Works BMC Mini Cooper or a Group-B Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.
Bruce’s personal street car:
http://a38898d4011a160a051fb191.gearheads.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/wu191.jpg?e1be4f
The McLaren M6GT.
Dan Gurney’s TransAm Cougar.
I’ve always like the SuperTouring era touring cars. I’d probably go with the Camry, because second to the 850 Wagon, it’s got the highest WTF factor.
http://www.supertouringregister.com/image/1338.jpg
“So what’s in your driveway, dude?”
“A Camry and old Volvo wagon.”
“C’mon, you claim to be a car guy, grandpa?”
Misidentified that as a Subaru at least 3 times.
The one thing I don’t like about Robert asking these questions … he always picks at least one of my answers to use as an example. In this case, two – 917 and Birdcage. Fine … I’ll take a D Type thankyouverymuch. http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/624_351/images/live/p0/1b/zb/p01bzbsx.jpg
300SLR…Sir Stirling approves this choice and claims it is easy to drive on public roads, And it is street legal already.
http://www.corksport.com/images/add_content/Mazda%202/CorkSport-Mazda-2-B-Spec-Majors.jpg
Just a reminder that nearly anything can be a race car! I mean, with the right connections, I could get the kit to convert even my little car! What could go wrong?
*Southern Ontario’s terrible roads are what could go wrong, on lowered suspension
The concept of “race everything” is something that everybody here could get behind, I’d assume. Just for reference:
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww29/peebeep/Revllations/JagermeisterTrabant_zps8a785bef.jpg
Indeed!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/2CV_24_Hour_Race_Snetterton_2009.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/2CV_24_Hour_Race_Snetterton_2009.jpg