Petrol-Driven & Peculiar: 5 Of Le Mans’ Strangest Cars
There is one endurance race on wheels that outshines any other regarding its difficulty level and demand for world-class stamina. Since its very first edition held in 1923, the world’s most famous pavement challenge of Le Mans has seen many varieties of experimental models grace its surface. Whether these creators were simply desperate to come out on top or prove a zany point, some of the vehicles here over the years were just a bit unconventional! Here’s a firsthand look at Le Mans’ strangest cars ever made:
5 0f Le Mans’ Strangest Cars
Some of these “strange eggs” have been an integral force in this French race that bodes the winning title to the car that covers the greatest distance over a 24-hour period. These ferocious and very unique cars boast top speeds of over 200 mph and must be expertly tuned to last. Cars that excel during this legendary event need to display their prowess on public roads. This puts a great amount of pressure on the parts, as the site is not groomed and prepared as some professional tracks are. Here are five of the models that displayed their own unique flair and memorable persona during this heralded and high-octane spectacle.
The Cadillac “Le Monstre”
GM’s very eccentric luxury division debuted at this famed 24-hour endurance test in 1950. Team owner Briggs Cunningham had made good on 3-time Le Mans champion Luigi Chinetti’s challenge to enter two American cars in the race. In those days, the strict guidelines did not allow for factory engines to be swapped out. To conquer the task of shedding some serious pounds, expert aeronautical engineer Howard Weinman was recruited.
Appearing very squared-off and sporting an appearance like a battle tank, this odd contender was developed using an aircraft testing wind tunnel. Immediately nicknamed “Le Monstre” by the French onlookers, this modified Cadillac boasted great performance despite its shortcomings. He was able to muster up an 11th-place finish, beating out other cars such as the Jaguar XK120s.
Nardi Bisiluro
Any diehard fan of vintage Italian sports cars has long been familiar with the Nardi namesake. This company actually was a high-quality producer of wooden steering wheels for other groundbreaking cars such as the Ferrari 20 GTO. The Nardi Bisiluro was the most farfetched and famous of this series designed by Enrico Nardi. It was built on a Fiat 500 chassis, with a 55 horsepower, 735CC BMW 4-cylinder powertrain situated cleverly inside the left “torpedo.”
This defiantly weird car began the 1955 Le Mans race as Ufficine Nardi’s sole factory entry, and unfortunately only lasted an hour before an accident. With a stature a little bit like a sidecar along with a very futuristic flair for the time, we would definitely have to agree with the masses that this is the weirdest car ever to compete at Le Mans. This is one of those iconic entries that almost seems as if it is bringing an Isaac Asimov novel to life a few decades early!
Rover-BRM
The Rover BRM may not possess quite the strange qualities of the others on this list, but its use of a jet engine rendered it quite a curio item. Shortly after World War II, many car makers were eagerly experimenting with gas turbine technology. This made notable advancements in airplanes during the conflict. Rover was the very first automaker to create a gas turbine-powered car. Shortly after, it went on to introduce several more over the following years.
One of these cars squeezed in a few demo laps just before the 1962 Le Mans race. And the crowd was very impressed. Rover then chose to partner with Formula One team British Racing Motors and came up with the stunning experimental prototype. The sheer bravado and defiant spirit of this car was a surprise to everyone. It finished the race ahead of the AC Cobra Hardtop in 6th. After a few trips back to the drawing board, the Rover-BRM again took on Le Mans in 1964 and 1965. This time, officially placing 5th.
Chaparral 2F
The Chaparral 2F was not originally developed with the challenge of the Le Mans as its goal. Constructed to grace the 1965 World Sportscar Championship Crown, the semi-monocoque chassis provided strange and quirky visual quality. The power source was the 526 horsepower Chevy “Porcupine”, which was a V8 mated to a three-speed automatic.
As some looked at the 2F’s unique bodywork they heralded it as a masterpiece of sorts. That said, it still earns its spot on this list for its wacky vibe! To control the spoiler there was an extra pedal inside the cockpit. This rendered the Chaparral 2F as one of the first-ever race cars to successfully incorporate active aerodynamics. Chaparral was behind two cars at the 1965 Le Mans race, and neither of them was able to finish, as they encountered transmission and electrical breakdown.
DeltaWing:
This very extravagant and off-the-wall racecar began as a project for IndyCar. The more modern example of this bunch, it was unveiled at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. It possessed notable strengths combating drag and lowering weight. Not to mention, an admirable boost in the all-important fuel consumption measurement. Nissan eventually backed the aspirational project, but it ultimately survived only 75 laps at the Le Mans before a crash.
Even though the IndyCar troupe flat-out rejected this prototype, its admirable design allowed it to boost exemplary performance with the benefit of a smaller engine. The DeltaWing exists as a fine testament that some seasoned experts may not want to gamble much. However, certain models can still shine during competition with fierce contenders.
Are these examples of Le Mans’ strangest cars awesome, or just plain loopy?
What do you make of these unique models that have braved the punishing challenge of Le Mans? Did they offer a notable hand in shaping the future? Or are they so far off base and wacked-out that they should be ignored? Let us know in the comments below or check out another article about Formula 1 Racing courtesy of Driver 61.
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