Articles and Info about : SportsCars

Three Sports Car Innovators to Remember

The history of American sports cars is the story not only of machines, but also of the men who made and drove them. There have been many key players in the development of the modern sports car, but some stand out as truly significant figures.

Among those innovators to remember are Alexander Winton, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and John DeLorean. Each made a lasting impression on the sports car scene.

Alexander Winton

Alexander Winton was the first truly successful automotive magnate in the United States. His cars participated and excelled in virtually every major racing and touring event of the late 1890s and early 1900s. Winton cars were perceived as the model of American automotive engineering.

Winton’s success and belief in his vehicles led him to accept a challenge from an upstart from Detroit named Henry Ford. In a much-ballyhooed 1901 contest, Ford and Winton squared off in one-on-one race.

Winton’s Sweepstakes racecar suffered from mechanical problems during the contest and his two-cylinder, 28 horsepower racer finished a distant second to Ford, who found his career revitalized after the publicized victory.

Despite often being remembered as the man who lost to Ford, Alexander Winton was a true American sports car pioneer and laid the groundwork for many manufacturers who followed in his footsteps.

Zora Arkus-Duntov

After World War II, American manufacturers began to produce readily available sports cars, in contrast to the limited production, high-dollar versions from earlier in history. After Ford made a splash with the Thunderbird sports car, Chevrolet sought to capture its share of the growing market with the 1955 introduction of the Corvette.

The Corvette, whose distinctive appearance was brought to light be famous designer Harley Earl, was a beautiful package containing a ho-hum gift. The car had a two-speed automatic transmission and a standard Chevy 6 cylinder engine. Sales stagnated.

A Russian émigré and Chevrolet designer named Zora Arkus-Duntov took the reigns of the Corvette project after its second lackluster year. He redesigned the new Chevy V8 to fit in the Corvette and replaced the automatic transmission with a sportier 3-speed manual tranny. His design changes vaulted the Corvette to fame and admiration.

Arkus-Duntov continued his affiliation with Corvette, ushering it into its heyday as the most respected and admired American sports car.

John DeLorean

A brash young auto executive at Pontiac named John DeLorean had an idea. He could take the under performing Pontiac Tempest, make a few minor exterior alterations, outfit it with a big and powerful V8 engine and upgrade some of the other components. His revitalization effort turned the lowly Tempest into the Pontiac GTO—the car that sparked the muscle car era in America.

DeLorean’s efforts to build better and more interesting sports cars continued as he opened his own auto company. He introduced the stainless steel DMC-12 sports car later popularized in the Back to the Future movies. The innovative vehicle was never a hot-seller but was an inspiration for countless future designs from other automakers.

The controversial DeLorean was plotting an economy-priced plastic sports car that was never released. He passed away while the vehicle idea was still in its infancy.

Sports car enthusiasts remember cars. They can tell you the specs of many significant sports cars and can trace the history of many sports car lines. It’s important to remember these cars did not materialize from thin air. There were men behind the cars who brought them to the limelight. Three of the great innovators—Winton, Arkus-Dontav, and DeLorean deserve to be as remembered as any sports car to ever hit the road.

What is a Sports Car?
As a simple matter of definition, a sports car is generally thought to be a small low car with a high-powered engine that generally seats two persons. This "textbook" definition gives us an idea of what a sports car is, but there are differing perspectives.
Do You Know Which Cars are Sports Cars?
Ask anyone what a sports car is and they will probably invent an answer. Ask a dozen different people the same question and they will probably provide a dozen different answers. There are a variety of ways to define what constitutes an actual sports car. With no standardized definition available within the industry, the term "sports car" is without certain meaning.
The World's Most Famous Sports Car
In 1959, Ian Fleming penned Goldfinger and inserted his secret agent hero, James Bond, into a 1959 Astin Martin DB-3. There was a lag between the story's release, however, and the motion picture that shared its name. By the time Sean Connery was prepared to take out Goldfinger, the DB-3 seemed dated. James Bond got behind the wheel of a 1963 Astin Martin DB-5 and made it the most famous sports car in the world.
Will Sports Cars Disappear?
Sports cars are widely loved, but a quick survey of one's morning commute will show they are not the most popular vehicle type on the road. Four door sedans, SUV's, practical pickup trucks, and small economy cars dominate the automotive landscape. Sports cars seem to be an increasingly rare commodity.
Three Sports Car Events You Cannot Miss
Sports car enthusiasts have thousands of exciting events from which to choose every year. From the Atlantic City auctions to the Muscle Car ranch, there are a variety of entertaining and informative happenings for the sports car scene. One can choose from any number of swap meets, rallies, meetings, auctions and car shows locally and throughout the country.
No Reason To Buy A Sports Car
Sports cars have long been a popular purchase among those seeking a high-performance vehicle that offers exceptional handling and speed. Ever since two-seat racing sports cars became widely available to the public after the conclusion of World War II, they have been coveted possessions for those seeking optimal vehicular performance.
Renting a Sports Car: Excitement on Loan
When one thinks of rental cars, they usually imagine overused sedans in neutral colors that lack pep or performance. Rental cars have often been generic, neutral vehicles maintained due to their functionality and reliability. The ho-hum prospect of renting a car in the past rarely elicited any feeling of excitement.
The Most Affordable Sports Cars / How to Find Them
Claiming any one new sports car is the most affordable is a great way to start an endless debate. Even if the list price of a particular sports car is less than its competitors, a forthcoming model is likely to sneak in at a few dollars less. Meanwhile, limiting discussion to current models overlooks the truly most affordable sports cars—used models.
The Sports Car Hobby
There are those who decry sports car ownership as poor decision-making. They maintain the limitations in functionality, high maintenance and insurance costs, and other factors make owning a sports car a poor move. They don't understand the value of purchasing a sports car and will espouse the numerous virtues of more "reasonable" choices.
Three Famous Sports Car Collections
There are literally thousands of sports car enthusiasts who have amassed impressive automobile collections. However, some collections stand out as truly amazing. Three collections, in particular, are very noteworthy and command the attention of any sports car fan.
Buying A Sports Car: Four Rules to Observe
When purchasing a new sports car, one should keep in mind 4 simple rules.
Four Special Techniques for Selling Your Sports Car
If you are considering selling your sports car, there are a variety of ways to seek out potential buyers. In order to get the most possible offers and the best possible price, it is advisable to look beyond the traditional technique of running a brief classified ad and hoping for the best.
Our Love Affair with Sports Cars
Why do so many of us find sports cars irresistible? Few objects inspire the emotional attachment that sports cars do among auto enthusiasts.
Insurance Buying Tips For Sports Car Owners
Insuring a sports car can be a relatively expensive proposition. Sports cars generally require higher premiums than other automobile types, and the sports car owner can expect some sticker shock when learning just how much it costs to insure a high performance vehicle. Additionally, most sports car owners want full-featured coverage for their prized possessions.
Hybrid Sports Cars on the Way
When one thinks of hybrid automobiles, the image of subcompact economy cars—high on gas mileage and low on top-end performance—undoubtedly comes to mind. However, with gas prices consistently increasing over time, occasionally in sudden spikes, and environmental awareness growing in all quarters, there is a movement afoot to bring hybrid technology into the realm of high-performance sports cars.
The First American Sportscar: The Mercer Raceabout
Chevrolet has claimed the Corvette is "America's first sports car," but that dubious claim can certainly be debunked by a quick look at American automotive history. Sports cars of many sorts existed prior to the Corvette. One of the most significant came into being before the First World War. Produced in New Jersey, the Mercer Raceabout has as good a claim as any on the title of American's first sports car.
How To Avoid Sportscar Theft
Sports cars are coveted items and it is not surprising thieves too often target these valuable vehicles. There is a steady market for professional car thieves willing to steal sports cars. Meanwhile, joy riders and other potential car thieves seem uniquely attracted to a beautiful sports car. There is, of course, no way to guarantee you will not be victimized by a car thief, but there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of having your sports car stolen.

The perfect gift for any auto enthusiast:
A gift certificate from The Tire Rack.

Sponsor your Zip Code