This weekend was the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, an event described as the greatest spectacle in auto racing and which has over the course of its existence seen many a great name turn a tire in anger around its 2.5-mile oval.
That got me thinking about those names, and how many of them have been lent to production cars, whether simply for the recognition or as indication of a performance model in whose creation the racer had a hand. That latter case has given rise to to cars like the Mini Cooper, above, as well as Steve Saleen’s various Mustangs and other Ford hardware.
Those are just a couple of racers who have been immortalized in metal, but there are many more. Which do you think is the greatest racer-named production car there ever was?
Image: AutoEvolution
Hooniverse Asks: What's the Greatest Racer-Named Car Model
By Robert Emslie
May 30, 2016
Jeff Glucker
It’s definitely not the greatest and purely a stickers and marketing special, but I feel the need to throw the gigglefest that is the Micheal Schumacher edition Fiat Seicento into the ring for your amusement
http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/fb/68/e3/z14903547Q.jpg
At least the ad was cool :
http://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/186951-1000-0.jpg
Well, this one is racer-named because Alejandro de Tomaso founded an eponymous company.
Picture from Hemmings – http://blog.hemmings.com/?p=65187
https://www.corvaircorsa.com/cdmag/landersfs.jpg
The Fitch Sprint.
Image from https://www.corvaircorsa.com/
Also:
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Little-Fitch-in-Phoenix1-626×291.jpeg
I got to see this car in the metal at Lime Rock 20+ years ago. I came within 2 feet of Mr Fitch but I went into vaporlock and missed my chance to talk with him.
More Serious answer: Mitsubishi Evo 6 Makkinen edition, worst thing is I can remember when these were sort of affordable.
http://images.cdn.autocar.co.uk/sites/autocar.co.uk/files/styles/gallery_slide/public/evo-6-2.jpg?itok=UDo6Atgj
And the Colin McRae Imprezas:
And the Richard Burns edition too:
I think the RB5 with the Prodrive PPP pack is pretty much up there as the ultimate of the first gen subaru UK special editions, but it’s a head meltingly diverse array of versions and option packs. With the Evo, it’s pretty easy to pick the king of the hill, in the 6th gen anyway!
Here’s a nominee for worst special edition named after a race car driver.
http://www.daleearnhardt.net/chevy/signature/earnhardt_signature_monte_01.jpg
Bill Elliot had a run….
http://victrolla.homeip.net/1988BillElliottFord/87Tbird04.jpg
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/23486/23486_Front_3-4_Web.jpg
veyron should be close…
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Bugatti_Veyron_16.4_%E2%80%93_Frontansicht_(1),_5._April_2012,_D%C3%BCsseldorf.jpg/250px-Bugatti_Veyron_16.4_%E2%80%93_Frontansicht_(1),_5._April_2012,_D%C3%BCsseldorf.jpg
Off the top of my mind:
Smokin’ Joe Winkelhock had an M5 edition.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-mNWxtpYtA/UCPMSlNTrjI/AAAAAAAABhU/FjD8UNAcKc4/s1600/M5-E34-Winkelhock_blog_che168_com.jpg
…and Jonny Cecotto had an E30 M3 special edition.
Cecotto had his own M5 version too. Because just one model is never enough.
Except for Shelby- The King may have more editions that anyone on the face of the planet.
http://www.streetmusclemag.com/files/2011/03/PettyChallenger.jpg
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a175a70ca8643457fbfff0725828fa4167cce865/c=84-0-587-377&r=x404&c=534×401/local/-/media/2015/10/22/DetroitNews/B99316719Z.1_20151022163558_000_G0SKDVJ9.1-0.jpg
http://saleofcar.com/img/pontiac-grand-prix-richard-petty-edition-222049891063/0.jpg
Technically they were Grand Prix STP’s but it was because of Petty.
For me this one has been the best race car ever!
One more until I think of more…
I witnessed this at the Sam Pack – NTx Mustang Club show last month.
Not usually open to the public, but it was open for the show.
Of all the Shelbys, I nominate the Shelby 1000 Widebody.
Because 1000hp.
https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13133169_10154233921812853_1308281328290323165_n.jpg?oh=87b00d4608863775b0ea661320ca338e&oe=57C6D51E
Not the greatest, but the Saab 9000 Carlsson is pretty sweet, if a bit Eurotrash. http://wordpress.carthrottle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/saab-9000-carlsson-2.jpg
Sadly Bruce McLaren was long dead before these were produced; but the McLaren F1 has to be mentioned in this thread.
(The picture even has one in a Bruce-appropriate orange colour.)
http://www.thesupercars.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/mclaren-f1-variations.jpg
…and also debuting after the death of its namesake; The 2001 Pagani Zonda F.
(F for Fangio)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Pagani_Zonda_F_%2815248212882%29.jpg/1280px-Pagani_Zonda_F_%2815248212882%29.jpg
The F1 was the pinnacle, but Bruce Mclaren did produce a road car in his lifetime, the M6GT
http://img.favcars.com/mclaren/m6/mclaren_m6_1970_photos_1.jpg
Thoroughly deserving of a special edition: The Michelle Mouton Audi 4000CS.
Acura NSX Alex Zanardi. Not just special colors and a dashboard plaque, but functional upgrades like a lightweight battery, lighter BBS wheels and power steering delete. Plus how can you not love Zanardi, particularly in light of what he’s managed to accomplish in the 15 years since his accident?
http://nsxclubeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ZanardiNSX_6.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XuHMPSoO_c8/hqdefault.jpg
Alex Type S-Zero?
Real answer, every Chevrolet ever.
Thursday answer, the Eddie Lawson KZ1000.
And every Ferrari,
Rambler Marlin.
Rambler Marlin
Ligier anyone?
http://ipocars.com/imgs/a/c/u/u/d/ligier__microcar_m_go_sxi_brommobiel_2009_1_lgw.jpg
Mercedes W168 “Häkkinen Edition” (1998)
A few from Down Under:
Holden Brabham Torana – stickers and stripes package named after Jack Brabham.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Holden_HB_Brabham_Torana_SL.JPG
HDT ‘Brock’ Commodore – not an official name, but,since Peter Brock owned HDT, it became the name that most Aussie Hoons know them by.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/smitty1955/Car%20Pics/Brock_NthMelbs.jpg
http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2006/09/15/brockCom11L_m.jpg
Ford Falcon ‘John Goss special’
http://www.aussiecoupes.com/images/jgs1.jpg
Ah, the Gossy, aka the “can’t afford a GT” (being 302 instead of 351 4V)
At least it had unique colour schemes; there was also an Allan Moffat Special, but you wouldn’t know it because it only had the hood scoops and black accent paint of any GS pack plus some tiny badges.
Perhaps we should forget the Brock Lada Samara!
http://c.images.boldride.com/chevrolet/2007/chevrolet-corvette-ron-fellows-edition.1800×1019.Oct-17-2012_14.45.56.377717.jpg
For the sake of patriotism, the Ron Fellows Z06 was pretty cool.
Still waiting for the James May Dacia Sandero