There was a time when — because racecar — everything was allowed. Sure a lot of cars got banned, but the world was briefly graced with such spectacular weirdos as these.
10.) The upside down Camaro/Festiva monster
Being another creation of 'SpeedyCop' Jeff Block, while not the fastest, certainly the most insane thing at LeMons.
Suggested By: Bryce Womeldurf
9.) BMW H2R
A 6.0-litre V12 from a 760i, some hydrogen, and a bunch of speed records.
This is how the chassis looks under the wrap:
Yes, I know it's a penis car.
Suggested By: Dailygaraged, Photo Credit: BMW
8.) Bugatti Type 32
'Le Tank'. Bugatti's race car from 1923 with a 1991cc inline-four, two Zenith carburetors, 80 horsepower and terrible handling.
Suggested By: EvoCS, Photo Credit: Bugatti
7.) March Engineering 711
For the 1971 F1 season, March's Frank Costin came up with a new front wing design called "Spitfire." The car took no wins, but Ronnie Petterson finished second on four occasions with it, making the team the runner-up.
But when it comes to strange noses in F1, let's not forget about the 1979 Ensign N179 either...
Suggested By: Jonee, Photo Credit: Wikipedia
6.) Eagle Aircraft Flyer Special
The Scrambler says it was rubbish:
My vote is for the Eagle Aircraft Flyer Special, which driver Kenny Hamilton attempted to qualify for the 1982 Indianapolis 500... and failed miserably.
Can't see what was the problem.
Suggested By: The Scrambler says it can be done, Photo Credit: taurtoisemotorsports
5.) Chaparral 2H
It didn't work, but Chaparral2F explains what was going on:
The 2H was not designed to run that wing. Initially, the car ran sans wing. But, the 2H could not generate the downforce needed to be competitive on the tracks of North America. When it raced at Laguna Seca in 1969, the ginormous wing was somewhat opposite of why the car was designed in the first place: to provide a small frontal area and allow higher top speeds. But, you cannot fault Jim Hall for thinking outside of the box. In a way, his cars were more of a test bed for Chevrolet Research and Development than a more traditional car that could win a Can Am championship like the McLarens did. And, you cannot argue with the fact that Jim Hall championed the cause of aerodynamic downforce and gave a lesson to everyone else in the motorsports world about this. Even Colin Chapman was forced to examine the Chaparrals and in 1968, his Lotus 49's had high mounted wings on spindly supports which of course, buckled and twisted.
Suggested By: reverberocket is nipping the apex..and gently blowing in it's ear, Photo Credit: Dave Kutz
4.) Tyrell P34
Image the effect this had on the crowd in 1976! Still looks it came from a manga, and it worked.
Suggested By: CKeffer, Photo Credit: V96GLF
3.) Chaparral 2J
Our friend Bill Caswell sent us a car with "two 17-inch, JLO fans driven by a single 45 hp two stroke twin snowmobile engine" at the rear. It was sucking hard.
Suggested By: Bill Caswell
2.) Italcorsa / TARF II
Driver on one side, a 195 bhp, 2,418 cc Ferrari 246 Dino DOHC V-6 engine with three twin-choke carburetors, a Rover gearbox on the other. It had independent front suspension, and a chain-driven live rear axle. Managed to grab seven speed records between 1951 and '52.
Check it out in action:
Suggested By: bobrayner, Photo Credit: Hemmings
1.) Kenny Reece's 3-to-1 Supermodified
Three wheels on one side, one plus a big block Chevy on the other. It got banned. Read more about today's AOTD winner here!
Suggested By: Autolegend86, Photo Credit: Kenny Reece
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: Cerbera 1001
The Ten Weirdest Looking Race Cars