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 migr 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.
For more articles like this one, please visit [http://www.SportsCarGuide.org]
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Sports Cars - Distinction With Performance
When talking about sports cars, it is important to make the distinction between cars which have been produced solely for this purpose, and normal road-going vehicles which have been modified to achieve sports car performance. One notable example of such a vehicle is the popular Golf GTI series.
Generally speaking, the term 'sports car' refers to vehicles which have the following characteristics:
2 seats
2 doors
Rear-wheel drive
Light-weight
Low ground clearance
A powerful engine (although this is not essential)
Many classic British sports cars such as the MG series have lacked powerful engines. However, due to their light frame and chassis, they still managed to attain exceptional levels of ride, handling and performance.
True sports cars are vehicles which have been specially designed to be fun to drive, with great handling and ride together with high performance. In many cases, these qualities are attained at the expense of practicality, driver comfort and fuel economy. However, many modern sports cars allow the driver the full sports car experience, without compromising on practicality, reliability or comfort.
Sports cars come in a number of guises. In their simplest form, they are designed for an uncompromising 'pure' racing experience. One of the best examples of this type of sports car is the Lotus Elise. Although lacking in the kind of specification and equipment one would normally expect from a road-going car, the Elise is one of the most fun to drive cars around.
At the other end of the scale, luxurious models such as those offered by Aston Martin and Bentley have spectacular performance, whilst at the same time offering a truly luxurious and decadent driving experience.
Traditionally, owning a sports car was a costly affair. Early incarnations were less than reliable and were notoriously temperamental. They also lacked the refinements we have come to expect from modern vehicles.
Nowadays, due to advances in technology, sports cars are as trustworthy and comfortable as passenger cars. This means that their owners can quite happily use them everyday.
British sports cars
Although none of the British sports car manufacturers are now independently and privately owned, Britain can still be proud of its illustrious motorsport heritage. Luxury British marques include Aston Martin, Bentley and Jaguar, while those looking for that pure racing experience need look no further than the stables of Lotus and TVR
Italian sports cars
Nobody makes sports cars with more passion and flair than the Italians. Select have a full range from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.
German sports cars
German cars are famed for their build quality and reliability, not qualities one would normally associate with a sports car! However, Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes have a range of luxury cars which are as fun to drive as they are dependable.
Japanese sports cars
Combining fine racing pedigree with the technology and innovation we've come to expect from Japanese manufacturers, Honda's S200 and Subaru's Impreza are perfect for those who want a fun driving experience, without compromising on everyday dependability
Many of us have dreamed of owning a sports car. Thanks to Select Vehicle Leasing's range of affordable sports car leasing you can make this dream a reality.
http://www.selectvehicleleasing.com
Generally speaking, the term 'sports car' refers to vehicles which have the following characteristics:
2 seats
2 doors
Rear-wheel drive
Light-weight
Low ground clearance
A powerful engine (although this is not essential)
Many classic British sports cars such as the MG series have lacked powerful engines. However, due to their light frame and chassis, they still managed to attain exceptional levels of ride, handling and performance.
True sports cars are vehicles which have been specially designed to be fun to drive, with great handling and ride together with high performance. In many cases, these qualities are attained at the expense of practicality, driver comfort and fuel economy. However, many modern sports cars allow the driver the full sports car experience, without compromising on practicality, reliability or comfort.
Sports cars come in a number of guises. In their simplest form, they are designed for an uncompromising 'pure' racing experience. One of the best examples of this type of sports car is the Lotus Elise. Although lacking in the kind of specification and equipment one would normally expect from a road-going car, the Elise is one of the most fun to drive cars around.
At the other end of the scale, luxurious models such as those offered by Aston Martin and Bentley have spectacular performance, whilst at the same time offering a truly luxurious and decadent driving experience.
Traditionally, owning a sports car was a costly affair. Early incarnations were less than reliable and were notoriously temperamental. They also lacked the refinements we have come to expect from modern vehicles.
Nowadays, due to advances in technology, sports cars are as trustworthy and comfortable as passenger cars. This means that their owners can quite happily use them everyday.
British sports cars
Although none of the British sports car manufacturers are now independently and privately owned, Britain can still be proud of its illustrious motorsport heritage. Luxury British marques include Aston Martin, Bentley and Jaguar, while those looking for that pure racing experience need look no further than the stables of Lotus and TVR
Italian sports cars
Nobody makes sports cars with more passion and flair than the Italians. Select have a full range from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.
German sports cars
German cars are famed for their build quality and reliability, not qualities one would normally associate with a sports car! However, Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes have a range of luxury cars which are as fun to drive as they are dependable.
Japanese sports cars
Combining fine racing pedigree with the technology and innovation we've come to expect from Japanese manufacturers, Honda's S200 and Subaru's Impreza are perfect for those who want a fun driving experience, without compromising on everyday dependability
Many of us have dreamed of owning a sports car. Thanks to Select Vehicle Leasing's range of affordable sports car leasing you can make this dream a reality.
http://www.selectvehicleleasing.com
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Super Exotic Sports Cars - What You Should Know, Before Spending Any Money!
Before we start, let's define the term 'super exotic sports cars'. Sports cars, by definition are borderline racing cars; boasting powerful performance and sleek looks. Their prestige makes them expensive, and thus the domain of a select few. With reference to sports cars, the term "exotic" refers to vehicles produced in very limited numbers. This of course increases their exclusivity and by virtue of this, their value. Exotic sports cars will, in all likelihood, be built by smaller manufacturers or perhaps the super high-end vehicles will be created by some of the better-known car companies outside of the United States, as exclusive models.
Many exotic sports cars are the stuff of legend. The world's fastest car, the McLaren F1, for instance is a well-known exotic. Although only around one hundred F1s were produced and the manufacturer is not a household name (outside of the Grand Prix circuits of course), the McLarens are coveted sports cars. All exotic sports cars are highly sought after and, as status symbols, are second to none in the sports car world.
But, assuming that you can afford it, is an exotic sports car for you?
It is easy to be seduced by the allure of owning an exotic sports car. Owning one can be very tempting. Amongst the purists, the cars themselves are often considered the pinnacle of design. Any enthusiast who has the means will tell you that when an opportunity to invest in an exotic sports car presents itself, resistance can be very difficult.
One should try and be objective about the proposition though.
Before making such a major commitment, there are three factors you should consider.
Exotic Sports Cars Are Very Expense
The cost of owning such a prestigious car, does not end when you part with the initial payment. Even if one can afford the initial asking price of an exotic (and not many can), one needs to be aware of the likely ongoing running expenses , which can be significant. The maintenance and repair of an exotic car is certain to be expensive compared to non-exotic vehicles and a buyer should attempt to discover what kind of costs he or she is likely to experience in order to keep the car in running order. There can be no cost cutting on parts for these high end vehicles.
Parts for prestige cars are likely to be in short supply, if they are available at all. The likelihood that the owners of exotic sports cars will need to have some parts custom made during their ownership of the vehicle is quite high. And the cost will be significant. This is especially true of older exotics, many of which will have been orphaned when their original manufacturer stopped making cars. Not only will this prove extremely expensive, one can also expect it to be time consuming as well. And, as time passes, the necessary investment will only become greater.
Your usual mechanic cannot be expected to be able to repair exotic sports cars. You will need specialised mechanics with specialised tools to be able to ensure that appropriate and professional repairs are carried out. Not only will such individuals be, in all probability much more expensive than your usual mechanics, you would be very fortunate if you found one in your town. You should expect to have to do a lot of traveling in order to find suitable mechanical help.
All too often a sports car buff will purchase an exotic, without though to the ongoing costs, and, as a consequence be completely unprepared to handle additional future expenses. A thorough planning of expected costs and the means to meet those costs would certainly be in order.
Reliability Of High End Vehicles
Even though an exotic sports car may represent the ultimate in performance, One cannot assume that it will also be reliable. This will hold particularly true for the older 'classic' exotic cars. As with any high performance machine, exotic sports cars can be quite delicate (temperamental) which will, in all probability, require that you, or someone close to you be regularly on hand to make the adjustments to ensure that the vehicle stays in operating order. Exotic sports cars are well known for the spectacular side of their performance when they running well. However, the other side of the coin is that they are notorious for being among the most temperamental of vehicles that one may encounter.
If you plan to run an exotic sports car on a regular basis, you should be prepared for the highs and los of motoring. The sublime feeling of driving a top car with top performance can often be forgotten if the same car stops and refuses to start many miles from any assistance.
The Drivability of Exotic Cars
Most owners of high performance cars will tell you that such vehicles take 'some getting used too'. Optimum performance comes at a price, and will depend very largely on the skill of the driver. So, if you are relatively inexperienced, then please do not expect to get the best out of your car straight away. This in itself could prove too frustrating for many potentials owners. One should also take into account the relative risk of driving a high performance cars whilst still inexperienced.
For those to whom the additional cost of time in learning to drive a prestige car optimally and safely is not an issue, an additional, problem arises in the adjustment of seats and pedals for example. Small things that are irrelevant in normal cars take on much greater significance when applied to exotic sports cars.
When considering the purchase of an exotic sports car, one must look past the romance and excitement of owning a legendary vehicle. There are real concerns and obstacles to be overcome before the full enjoyment and benefit of owning such a car can be achieved.
Every motorist needs to know how to legally beat your speeding ticket today. Or avoid the problem altogether with the best radar detectors around.
Many exotic sports cars are the stuff of legend. The world's fastest car, the McLaren F1, for instance is a well-known exotic. Although only around one hundred F1s were produced and the manufacturer is not a household name (outside of the Grand Prix circuits of course), the McLarens are coveted sports cars. All exotic sports cars are highly sought after and, as status symbols, are second to none in the sports car world.
But, assuming that you can afford it, is an exotic sports car for you?
It is easy to be seduced by the allure of owning an exotic sports car. Owning one can be very tempting. Amongst the purists, the cars themselves are often considered the pinnacle of design. Any enthusiast who has the means will tell you that when an opportunity to invest in an exotic sports car presents itself, resistance can be very difficult.
One should try and be objective about the proposition though.
Before making such a major commitment, there are three factors you should consider.
Exotic Sports Cars Are Very Expense
The cost of owning such a prestigious car, does not end when you part with the initial payment. Even if one can afford the initial asking price of an exotic (and not many can), one needs to be aware of the likely ongoing running expenses , which can be significant. The maintenance and repair of an exotic car is certain to be expensive compared to non-exotic vehicles and a buyer should attempt to discover what kind of costs he or she is likely to experience in order to keep the car in running order. There can be no cost cutting on parts for these high end vehicles.
Parts for prestige cars are likely to be in short supply, if they are available at all. The likelihood that the owners of exotic sports cars will need to have some parts custom made during their ownership of the vehicle is quite high. And the cost will be significant. This is especially true of older exotics, many of which will have been orphaned when their original manufacturer stopped making cars. Not only will this prove extremely expensive, one can also expect it to be time consuming as well. And, as time passes, the necessary investment will only become greater.
Your usual mechanic cannot be expected to be able to repair exotic sports cars. You will need specialised mechanics with specialised tools to be able to ensure that appropriate and professional repairs are carried out. Not only will such individuals be, in all probability much more expensive than your usual mechanics, you would be very fortunate if you found one in your town. You should expect to have to do a lot of traveling in order to find suitable mechanical help.
All too often a sports car buff will purchase an exotic, without though to the ongoing costs, and, as a consequence be completely unprepared to handle additional future expenses. A thorough planning of expected costs and the means to meet those costs would certainly be in order.
Reliability Of High End Vehicles
Even though an exotic sports car may represent the ultimate in performance, One cannot assume that it will also be reliable. This will hold particularly true for the older 'classic' exotic cars. As with any high performance machine, exotic sports cars can be quite delicate (temperamental) which will, in all probability, require that you, or someone close to you be regularly on hand to make the adjustments to ensure that the vehicle stays in operating order. Exotic sports cars are well known for the spectacular side of their performance when they running well. However, the other side of the coin is that they are notorious for being among the most temperamental of vehicles that one may encounter.
If you plan to run an exotic sports car on a regular basis, you should be prepared for the highs and los of motoring. The sublime feeling of driving a top car with top performance can often be forgotten if the same car stops and refuses to start many miles from any assistance.
The Drivability of Exotic Cars
Most owners of high performance cars will tell you that such vehicles take 'some getting used too'. Optimum performance comes at a price, and will depend very largely on the skill of the driver. So, if you are relatively inexperienced, then please do not expect to get the best out of your car straight away. This in itself could prove too frustrating for many potentials owners. One should also take into account the relative risk of driving a high performance cars whilst still inexperienced.
For those to whom the additional cost of time in learning to drive a prestige car optimally and safely is not an issue, an additional, problem arises in the adjustment of seats and pedals for example. Small things that are irrelevant in normal cars take on much greater significance when applied to exotic sports cars.
When considering the purchase of an exotic sports car, one must look past the romance and excitement of owning a legendary vehicle. There are real concerns and obstacles to be overcome before the full enjoyment and benefit of owning such a car can be achieved.
Every motorist needs to know how to legally beat your speeding ticket today. Or avoid the problem altogether with the best radar detectors around.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
When It Comes To Sports Cars Everyone Has The Same Question - How Fast Is It?
Every true auto enthusiast has one dream in mind if they are given enough money to spend and even with all of the options and varied choices available when choosing a car. What is that dream? -getting a sports car. In the minds of sports car lovers, however, there is one basic standard that all sports cars are based on and that is speed.
According to diverse critics in the automotive industry the fastest vehicle is the 1994 Dauer 962 LeMans. This neck breaker accelerates quickly with a time of 2.6 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. In comparison,the fastest Ferrari is the 2002 Ferrari Enzo, and this particular speedster can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour with a time of 3.5 seconds. Some other notable fast cars include vehicles from Dodge, LeBlanc, Renault, Audi, and of course Corvette, all of which have rapid starting times of less than 3 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
So what is it that makes sports cars fast? Why can't all cars be fast like the high end sports cars?
The very thing that makes the sports car so appealing to the eye, the sleek aerodynamic styling also establishes for a very high standard for performance when choosing a sports car. The very sleek and streamlined bodies of the elite super fast sports cars actually contribute a great deal to the phenomenal aerodynamics. This also makes it much easier to drive the cars as fast as they were intended without worrying about resistance, air pressure, etc. Effectively, the attractive and sexy design of these beauties actually makes for more than eye candy, but is responsible for a great deal of the speed and performance of the automobile.
Still another key characteristic that adds to the speed of a particular vehicle is its reduced weight in comparison to other automobiles. It is obvious in the minimized cargo capacity that is found in most sports cars. Fortunately, this isn't so much of an issue with sports car lovers. Also closely rlated to cargo capacity and reduced weight is the reality that many sports cars might have smaller seating capacities, and are generally known for firmer, tighter rides, in comparison to the roomier and more comfortable rides of S.U.V.s or luxury sedans.
One of the last things considered in speed, however, is its general dynamics, especially in relation to handling and resistance when driving. If it can't sustain its straight-line speeds while driving in tight curves and finishes up crushed after it hit a dead end a sports car has very little value if any. This is the exact reason that even the absolute fastest sports cars are typically rear-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive, due to the fact that rear-wheel drive offers greater traction and permits the weight to be evenly distributed as the automobile makes a turn.
Although there is a great deal more to a quality sports car than merely speed, it definitely doesn't hurt matters that your sports car is also fast. Even in the new hybrid and electric market there are pioneers in that arena such as Tesla Motors who are focusing on speed and performance.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about sports cars as well as tires and wheels at http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com
According to diverse critics in the automotive industry the fastest vehicle is the 1994 Dauer 962 LeMans. This neck breaker accelerates quickly with a time of 2.6 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. In comparison,the fastest Ferrari is the 2002 Ferrari Enzo, and this particular speedster can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour with a time of 3.5 seconds. Some other notable fast cars include vehicles from Dodge, LeBlanc, Renault, Audi, and of course Corvette, all of which have rapid starting times of less than 3 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
So what is it that makes sports cars fast? Why can't all cars be fast like the high end sports cars?
The very thing that makes the sports car so appealing to the eye, the sleek aerodynamic styling also establishes for a very high standard for performance when choosing a sports car. The very sleek and streamlined bodies of the elite super fast sports cars actually contribute a great deal to the phenomenal aerodynamics. This also makes it much easier to drive the cars as fast as they were intended without worrying about resistance, air pressure, etc. Effectively, the attractive and sexy design of these beauties actually makes for more than eye candy, but is responsible for a great deal of the speed and performance of the automobile.
Still another key characteristic that adds to the speed of a particular vehicle is its reduced weight in comparison to other automobiles. It is obvious in the minimized cargo capacity that is found in most sports cars. Fortunately, this isn't so much of an issue with sports car lovers. Also closely rlated to cargo capacity and reduced weight is the reality that many sports cars might have smaller seating capacities, and are generally known for firmer, tighter rides, in comparison to the roomier and more comfortable rides of S.U.V.s or luxury sedans.
One of the last things considered in speed, however, is its general dynamics, especially in relation to handling and resistance when driving. If it can't sustain its straight-line speeds while driving in tight curves and finishes up crushed after it hit a dead end a sports car has very little value if any. This is the exact reason that even the absolute fastest sports cars are typically rear-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive, due to the fact that rear-wheel drive offers greater traction and permits the weight to be evenly distributed as the automobile makes a turn.
Although there is a great deal more to a quality sports car than merely speed, it definitely doesn't hurt matters that your sports car is also fast. Even in the new hybrid and electric market there are pioneers in that arena such as Tesla Motors who are focusing on speed and performance.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about sports cars as well as tires and wheels at http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com
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