95-661: The Nash-Healey is a three-seat luxury sports car or grand tourer produced from 1951 to 1954. It was marketed by the Nash-Kelvinator conglomerate in North America as a halo car to promote sales of its Nash Motors division. The car resulted from a joint venture between Nash-Kelvinator and British automaker, the Donald Healey Motor Company . Nash supplied the drivetrain from their range-topping Ambassador model, and Healey provided
190-410: A transaxle and individual rear suspension. The Chevrolet Chevette (1976-1988) and the similar Pontiac T-1000 used a torque tube and center bearing. This design was unlike any other Chevrolet model "to isolate impacts to the rear wheels, cut down on road noise, and reduce engine vibration ... also allows a reduction in the height of the drive shaft and tunnel." The continuing limited production of
285-487: A "horizontal yoke at the front end of the torque tube is supported by rubber biscuits at each side." After the merger of Nash and Hudson in 1954, American Motors Corporation (AMC) continued to use the coil spring and torque tube rear suspension design on their large-sized cars ( Rambler Classic and Ambassador ) from the 1956 through the 1966 model year. The enclosed driveshaft made for more complicated gear swaps and hampered hot rodders. The discontinued torque-tube drive
380-399: A controversial choice for a "purist" sports car. The Elan sold poorly and was discontinued after three years. The 1996 Lotus Elise , a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster, was much more successful and remained in production until 2021. Roadsters enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-1990s, including the 1989-present Mazda MX-5 , the 1995-2002 BMW Z3 (succeeded by the 2002-2016 BMW Z4 ),
475-409: A definition. Insurance companies have also attempted to use mathematical formulae to categorise sports cars, often charging more for insurance due to the inherent risk of performance driving. There is no fixed distinction between sports cars and other categories of performance cars, such as muscle cars and grand tourers , with some cars being members of several categories. Traditionally,
570-414: A grand tourer for its luxury appointments and extreme price, the car served its purpose and was campaigned in several racing circuits. Donald Healey gave the first example to Petula Clark , with the registration number PET 1. The only colors available were "Champagne Ivory" and "Sunset Maroon". The suggested retail price (MSRP) of US$ 3,767 F.O.B. New York City was considered to be high priced. For
665-420: A lighter, higher-compression aluminum cylinder head (in place of the cast-iron stock item) with twin 1.75-inch (44 mm) SU carburetors . This increased power from the stock 112 hp (84 kW; 114 PS) version to 125 hp (93 kW; 127 PS). The chassis was a widened and reinforced Healey Silverstone box-section ladder-type steel frame. Independent front suspension, also Healey Silverstone,
760-399: A pressed-steel chassis, a gated 4-speed transmission, pushrod-actuated overhead inlet valves , a honeycomb radiator, low-tension magneto ignition , a long wheelbase, a low center of mass and a very effective suspension system. The overall result was a "safe and well-balanced machine" with a higher performance than any other contemporary production car. At the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup ,
855-427: A production Simplex 60 hp was entered only due to a specially-built 90 hp racing car being destroyed in a fire; the 60 hp famously went on to win the race. The 1910 Austro-Daimler 27/80 is another early sports car which had success in motor racing. The 27/80 was designed by Ferdinand Porsche , who drove the car to victory in the 1910 Prince Henry Tour motor race. The Vauxhall and Austro-Daimler —like
950-621: A racing pedigree for the marque, Donald Healey built four lightweight Nash-Healeys for endurance racing Like the road cars, they had Nash Ambassador engines and drivelines. However, fitting higher-compression aluminum cylinder heads, special manifolds, and twin SU carburetors increased their power to 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS). The cars had spartan, lightweight aluminum racing bodies. Three open versions were built, and one coupe. These cars competed in four consecutive Le Mans races and one Mille Miglia . Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton debuted
1045-465: A rotating tubular steel or small-diameter solid drive shaft (known colloquially in the U.S. as a "rope drive" ) that transmits the power of the engine to a regular or limited-slip differential . The purpose of a torque tube is to hold the rear end in place during acceleration and braking. Otherwise, the axle housing would suffer axle wrap, which is when the front of the differential lifts excessively during acceleration and drops down during braking. Its use
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#17327827477101140-659: A scuttle vent, fog lamps, and revised wheel covers, were added. Powering the car was a 3.0 L (183 cu in) inline six-cylinder engine from the Alvis TB 21 fed by two SU carburetors. Built on a G-Type chassis; it is commonly called the Alvis-Healey . The Alvis-Healey also used the clutch and transmission from Alvis, and replaced the Nash-Healey's torque tube rear drive with a rigid Salisbury axle suspended on coil springs and located by trailing links, with
1235-403: A similar luxurious two-seat Ford Thunderbird with V8 power was being planned. In light of the low sales for the preceding years, Nash delayed the introduction of the 1954 models until 3 June and discontinued the convertible, leaving just a slightly reworked "Le Mans" coupe, distinguished by a reverse slanted "C" pillar and a three-piece rear window instead of the previous one-piece glass. Healey
1330-571: A third-place finish at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans . In December 1949, British engineer, rally driver, and automaker Donald Healey sailed for America aboard the RMS ; Queen Elizabeth ocean liner . He was going for a meeting with General Motors ' (GMs) Ed Cole , hoping to secure a supply of Cadillac's new 331 cu in (5.4 L) V8 engine . Healey planned to use the engines in his company's Healey Silverstone club racer. Two such Healey/Cadillac hybrids had already been built, one in
1425-452: Is an iconic sports car of the early 1960s, due to its attractive styling and claimed top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The E-type was produced for 14 years and was initially powered by a six-cylinder engine, followed by a V12 engine for the final generation. In 1962, the MG B introduced a new era of affordable lightweight four-cylinder roadsters. The MG B used a unibody construction and
1520-466: Is not as widespread in modern automobiles as is the Hotchkiss drive , which holds the rear end in place and prevents it from flipping up or down, during acceleration and braking by anchoring the axle housings to the leaf springs using spring perches. The "torque" referred to in the name is not that of the driveshaft along the axis of the car but that applied by the wheels. The engineering problem that
1615-406: Is notable for using a three-seat layout, where the front row consists of a centrally-located driver's seat. The location of the engine and driven wheels significantly influence the handling characteristics of a car and are therefore crucial in the design of a sports car. Traditionally, most sports cars have used rear-wheel drive with the engine either located at the front ( FR layout ) or in
1710-572: The 1952 Le Mans race , when only 17 of the 58 starters finished, the entry driven by Leslie Johnson and motoring journalist Tommy Wisdom took third overall behind two factory-entered Mercedes-Benz 300SLs ; also first in class, ahead of Chinetti 's Ferrari, and second in the Rudge-Whitworth Cup for the best performance over two consecutive years. In addition, they won the Motor Gold Challenge Cup. The drivers said
1805-559: The 1953 Le Mans race , the factory partnered Johnson with Bert Hadley in one of two cars with redesigned bodies. Johnson started in 27th place. Although he and Hadley advanced steadily up the race order, they were 11th at the finish, 39 laps behind the winning Jaguar, despite an average speed of 92.45 miles per hour (148.78 km/h)—higher than the previous year's run to third place. However, they beat both of Donald Healey's new Austin-Healey 100s . The second Nash-Healey of Veyron and Giraud-Cabantous retired after nine laps. This concluded
1900-520: The Audi RS 2 Avant . Ford Europe withdrew from the sports car market at the end of 1986 when the Capri was discontinued after a production run of nearly two decades. There was no direct successor, as Ford was concentrating on higher-performance versions of its hatchback and saloon models at the time. In 1989, a new generation of Lotus Elan roadster was released which used a front-wheel drive layout,
1995-541: The BMW 303 , Citroën Traction Avant and Fiat 508 — offered similar handling and comfort to the more expensive sports cars. Powerful, reliable, and economical (although softly suspended) American saloons began to be imported to Europe in significant numbers. Sports car ownership was increased through models such as the Austin 7 and Wolseley Hornet six , however many of these sports cars did not offer any performance upgrades over
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#17327827477102090-623: The Bentley Speed Six (1928-1930), with the former famously described by Bugatti's founder as "the fastest lorry in the world". Between the Great Depression and the World War II the pre-war era was a period of decline in importance for sports car manufacturers, although the period was not devoid of advances, for example streamlining . Cheap, light-weight family sedans with independent front suspension— such as
2185-550: The Chevrolet Corvette . This appellation excludes the limited volume Kurtis-Kraft and Muntz Jet , as well as the diminutive Crosley Hotshot, Super Hotshot, and Super Sport roadsters. Nash supplied Healey's company with the powertrain components: the Ambassador's inline six-cylinder OHV 234.8 cu in (3.85 L) engine and three-speed manual transmission with Borg-Warner overdrive . Healey fitted
2280-520: The Jensen FF became the first sports car to use all-wheel drive . The Ford Capri is a 2+2 coupe that was produced from 1968 to 1986 and intended to be a smaller European equivalent of the Ford Mustang. A main rival to the Capri was Opel Manta , which was produced from 1970 to 1988. The 1973-1978 Lancia Stratos was a mid-engined two-seat coupe that was powered by a Ferrari V6 engine. This
2375-583: The "thrill of driving" or are marketed "using the excitement of speed and the glamour of the (race)track" However, other people have more specific definitions, such as "must be a two-seater or a 2+2 seater" or a car with two seats only. In the United Kingdom, early recorded usage of the "sports car" was in The Times newspaper in 1919. The first known use of the term in the United States
2470-403: The 1905 Isotta Fraschini Tipo D, the 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost , the 1908 Delage , the 1910 Bugatti Type 13 , and the 1912 DFP 12/15 . Early motor racing events included the 1903 Paris–Madrid race , the 1905-1907 Herkomer Trophy, the 1908-1911 Prince Henry Tour and the 1911–present Monte Carlo Rally . The Prince Henry Tours (which were similar to modern car rallies) were among
2565-495: The 1921 Coppa Florio . Another approach— such as that used by Morris Garages— was to convert touring cars into sports cars. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans race for sports cars was held in 1923, although the two-seat sports cars only competed in the smallest class, with the majority of cars entered being four-seat fast touring cars. "This race, together with the Tourist Trophy Series of Races , organised after
2660-404: The 1948 Ferrari 166 S . A new concept altogether was the modern Gran Turismo class from Italy, which was in effect unknown before the war: sustained high-speed motoring from relatively modest engine size and compact closed or berlinetta coachwork. The 1947 Maserati A6 1500 two-seat berlinetta was the first production model from Maserati. In Germany, the motor industry was devastated by
2755-479: The 1952 model year, Nash commissioned Italian designer Battista Farina and his carrozzeria, Pinin Farina , to revise the original body design. One objective was to make the new sports car resemble the rest of Nash's models more closely. The front received a new grille incorporating inboard headlights. The sides gained distinct fender character lines ending with small tailfins in the rear. A curved windshield replaced
2850-442: The 1954 film Sabrina starring Humphrey Bogart , William Holden , and Audrey Hepburn . Nash-Kelvinator became reorganized as a division of American Motors Corporation (AMC) that was formed as a result of a merger with Hudson Motor Car Company on 1 May 1954. Nash was faced with limited resources for marketing, promotion, and further development of this niche market car compared to its volume models. By this time AMC knew that
2945-423: The 1963 through 1966 AMC Rambler used a double-Cardan constant velocity joint to eliminate driveshaft fluctuations, though six-cylinder and earlier V8 models used only one standard universal joint. The torque tube design is typically heavier and securely ties the rear end together, thus providing a rigid rear end and assuring good alignment under all conditions. However, because of the greater unsprung weight of
Nash-Healey - Misplaced Pages Continue
3040-499: The 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and Giro d'Italia automobilistico marathon. The Montecarlo was a basis for the silhouette racing car , Lancia Rally 037 . In the 1970s, turbocharging began to be adopted by sports cars, such as the BMW 2002 Turbo in 1973, the first Porsche 911 Turbo in 1975, and the Saab 99 Turbo in 1978. Turbocharging became increasingly popular in the 1980s, from relatively affordable coupes such as
3135-452: The 1980–1986 Renault Fuego and 1992–1996 Rover 220 Coupé Turbo , to expensive supercars such as the 1984-1987 Ferrari 288 GTO and 1987-1992 Ferrari F40 . In the late 1980s and early 1990s, several manufacturers developed supercars that competed for production car top speed records . These cars included the 1986–1993 Porsche 959 , 1991–1995 Bugatti EB 110 , 1992–1994 Jaguar XJ220 and 1993–998 McLaren F1 . The 1980-1995 Audi Quattro
3230-506: The 1990s, all-wheel drive has become more common in sports cars. All-wheel drive offers better acceleration and favorable handling characteristics (especially in slippery conditions), but is often heavier and more mechanically complex than traditional layouts. Examples of all-wheel drive sports cars are the Lamborghini Huracan , Bugatti Veyron , and Nissan GT-R . Rear engine layouts are not typical for sports cars, with
3325-426: The 1995-2002 MG F , the 1996–present Porsche Boxster and the 1998–present Audi TT . Torque tube A torque tube system is a power transmission and braking technology that involves a stationary housing around the drive shaft , often used in automobiles with a front engine and rear drive. The torque tube consists of a large diameter stationary housing between the transmission and rear end that fully encloses
3420-524: The Corvette. Master Modeler Charl Greene created a wooden scale model of the Wisp to show to management, but Nash did not have the resources to fund the development of a new car for a small market. Anderson requested a quote from Pinin Farina to have a single copy built for him, but did not proceed with the project. The 1956 Nash Rambler Palm Beach was a design commissioned by Mason as a possible successor to
3515-483: The Hotchkiss drive transmits the traction forces to the car frame by using suspension components such as leaf springs or trailing arms . A type of ball and socket joint called a "torque ball" is used at one end of the torque tube to allow relative motion between the axle and transmission due to suspension travel. Later American Motors Rambler models (1962 through 1966) used a flange and cushion mount in place of
3610-468: The Mercedes Simplex 60 hp— were production fast touring cars. The 1912 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII is also considered one of the earliest sports cars, as it was a "purpose built, high performance, two-seater production automobile". The model was named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain , a patron of the car's chief designer and an enthusiast for the marque. Other early sports cars include
3705-567: The Nash engines and drivetrains went to England for installation in the Healey-fabricated frames. Healey then sent the rolling chassis to Italy, where Pininfarina's craftsmen fashioned the bodywork and assembled the finished product. They were then exported to the U.S., with the car's complicated logistical process resulting in a $ 5,908 sticker price in 1953, approaching double the new Chevrolet Corvette's $ 3,513. The 1953 model year saw
3800-463: The Nash-Healey. Pinin Farina drew the shape. This 2-seater featured a large circular air intake at the front, reminiscent of Farina's Lancia PF200 of 1953, and prominent tail fins. The car was built on a Nash Rambler chassis and is powered by a Rambler straight-six flathead engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission. The car debuted on Farina's stand at the 1956 Turin Auto Show, after which it
3895-655: The US by American sportsman Briggs Cunningham , and one in England by Healey's own Donald Healey Motor Company; the Cadillac-engined X 4 prototype. While aboard ship, Healey encountered a man using an elaborate stereo camera system that intrigued him. The man was George W. Mason , president of Nash-Kelvinator. The two made an acquaintance based on their shared interest in photography . Hearing Healey's plan and anticipating GM's reply, Mason told Healey to contact him if
Nash-Healey - Misplaced Pages Continue
3990-532: The automaker described as "more than 20 major golf tournaments across the country" in 1953, and golfer Sam Snead was shown with his Nash-Healey roadster on the cover of the June 1953 issue of Nash News . Product placement was another marketing strategy. A roadster owned by Dick Powell was driven by George Reeves , as Clark Kent, in four TV episodes of the Adventures of Superman . Another roadster appears in
4085-460: The ball and socket. Since the torque tube does not constrain the car's body to the axle in the lateral (side-to-side) direction, a panhard rod is often used for this purpose. The combination of the panhard rod and the torque tube allows the easy implementation of soft coil springs in the rear to give good ride quality, as in Buicks after 1937. Before 1937, Buicks used leaf springs, so the panhard rod
4180-479: The car appeared during the next year or two, all conforming to the same basic design and earning for themselves a reputation second to none for fast and reliable travel. The 60-h.p. cars were announced late in 1902. The cars were possessed of a very real performance superior to anything else which could be bought at the time... and the model achieved an almost invincible position among the fast cars of its day. The Sports Car: Development and Design The basis for
4275-534: The car in the Mille Miglia , the thousand-mile Italian road race that would be banned as too dangerous five years later. Daily Telegraph motoring correspondent Bill McKenzie rode as passenger. They finished a creditable seventh overall to Bracco 's winning works team Ferrari, the works Mercedes-Benz 300SLs of Kling and Caracciola , and three works Lancias ; they also took fourth in class. The coupe driven by Donald Healey and his son Geoffrey crashed out. For
4370-478: The car was more nimble through the corners than its more exotic competitors. It delivered 13 mpg ‑US (18 L/100 km; 16 mpg ‑imp ) and the engine needed no oil or water during the entire 24 hours. The car had been built from scratch in a fortnight, Menadue and his assistant Jock Reid fabricating the body in less than a week, by eye, without any drawings. Healey said: "That's an ugly bugger, isn't it, Roger?" The same year, Johnson raced
4465-423: The chassis and early bodies. One year after its introduction, the car was restyled by Pininfarina , and the final assembly was transferred to Italy. Some describe the Nash-Healey as the first sports car introduced in the U.S. by a major automaker after the Great Depression . Various Nash-Healeys, some modified road cars, and some purpose-built racers competed in several endurance racing events, most notably posting
4560-411: The development of performance cars such as the 1910 Vauxhall Prince Henry , 1910 Sunbeam 12/16 , 1910 Talbot 25 hp , 1910 Straker-Squire 15 hp and 1913 Star 15.9 hp . Following the halt in sports car production caused by World War I , Europe returned to manufacturing automobiles from around 1920. It was around this time that the term 'Sports Car' began to appear in the motor catalogues, although
4655-490: The drive reaching the rear axle via an open Hardy-Spicer driveshaft. Approximately twenty-five examples were built. Sports car A sports car is a type of car that is designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling , acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving, and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1910s and are currently produced by many manufacturers around
4750-400: The early 1920s, the cost to produce a racing car was not significantly higher than a road car, therefore several manufacturers used the design from the current year's racing car for the next year's sports car. For example, the 1921 Ballot 2LS based on the racing car that finished third at the 1921 French Grand Prix. The Benz 28/95PS was also a successful racing car, with victories including
4845-463: The exact origin of the name is not known. The decade that followed became known as the vintage era and featured rapid technical advances over the preceding Brass Era cars . Engine performance benefited from the abandonment of " tax horsepower " (where vehicles were taxed based on bore and number of cylinders, rather than actual power output) and the introduction of leaded fuel , which increased power by allowing for higher compression ratios . In
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#17327827477104940-559: The exception of the aluminum hood, trunk lid, and dashboard. The aluminum panels, plus careful engineering, reduced curb weight. The Nash engine was enlarged to 252 cu in (4.1 L), producing 140 hp (104 kW; 142 PS) with American-made twin Carter Carburetors . Shipping costs were considerable and moderated by Kelvinator's trans-Atlantic success in the European marketplace. From Kenosha, Wisconsin ,
5035-533: The factory's race program with the lightweight competition cars. The 1952 Le Mans/Mille Miglia car passed into private ownership and raced in America. Nash's designer, Ed Anderson, wanted to bring the design for a successor to the Nash-Healey back in-house after Pinin Farina restyled the car for 1952. In 1953, he created the Wisp . Sketches of the car show a low 2-seater with a tapering tail and side coves, foreshadowing
5130-472: The first supercars . Other significant European models of the 1960s and 1970s which might be considered supercars today are the Ferrari 250 GTO (1962-1964), Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (1963-1964), Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (1966-1968), Maserati Ghibli (1967-1973), Ferrari Daytona (1968-1973), Dino 246 (1969-1974), De Tomaso Pantera (1971-1993), Ferrari 308 GTB (1975-1980) and BMW M1 (1978-1981). In 1966,
5225-468: The first World War by the R.A.C. , appealed to the public imagination and offered to the manufacturers of the more sporting cars an excellent opportunity for boosting sales of their products." The classic Italian road races— the Targa Florio , and the Mille Miglia (first held in 1927)— also captured the public's imagination. By 1925, the higher profits available for four-seater cars resulted in
5320-555: The following year at the 1951 Chicago Auto show. The car's full name is the Nash-Healey Series 25. Some time after its release, the Chrysler Corporation purchased a Nash-Healey from a Detroit dealership, disassembled it, and submitted an analysis of it to the company executives. The 1951 Nash-Healey is called the first post-war sports car from a major American automaker, as it was released two years before
5415-446: The introduction of a new closed coupe alongside the roadster (now termed a "convertible"). Capitalizing on the 3rd-place finish at Le Mans by a lightweight racing Nash-Healey purpose-built for the race (see below), the new model was called the "Le Mans" coupe. Nash had already named the engine the "Le-Mans Dual Jetfire Ambassador Six" in 1952, in reference to the previous racing exploits of the lightweight competition cars. Some describe
5510-573: The late 1920s were AC Cars , Alfa Romeo , Alvis , Amilcar , Bignan and Samson, Chenard-Walcker , Delage , Hispano-Suiza , Hotchkiss , Mercedes-Benz and Nazzaro . Two cars from the Vintage Era that would influence sports cars for many years were the Austin Seven and MG M-type "Midget". Successful sports cars from Bentley during this era were the Bentley 3 Litre (1921-1929) and
5605-518: The mass-produced cars upon which they were based. The highest selling sports car company of the 1930s was Morris Garages , who produced 'MG Midget' models of the M-Type , J-Type , P-Type and T-Type . The K3 version of the K-Type Magnette was a successful racing car, achieving success in the Mille Miglia , Tourist Trophy and 24 Hours of Le Mans . The Bugatti Type 57 (1934-1940)
5700-537: The middle of the vehicle ( MR layout ). Examples of FR layout sports cars include the Caterham 7 , Mazda MX-5 , and the Dodge Viper . Examples of MR layout sports cars are the Ferrari 488 , Ford GT , and Toyota MR2 . To avoid a front-heavy weight distribution , many FR layout sports cars are designed so that the engine is located further back in the engine bay, as close to the firewall as possible. Since
5795-449: The model D). The torque tube also allowed Buick, beginning in 1938, to use coil springs for a softer ride than traditional leaf springs, which can use a Hotchkiss drive , but coil springs cannot. Buick's use of a torque tube and coil springs became a Buick "engineering trademark", until it was dropped with the 1961 model year full-sized models. The Nash 600 model adopted torque-tube drive in 1941 without an enclosed joint, but utilized
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#17327827477105890-544: The most common layout for sports cars was a roadster (a two-seat car without a fixed roof). However, there are also several examples of early sports cars with four seats. Sports cars are not usually intended to transport more than two adult occupants regularly, so most modern sports cars are generally two-seat or 2+2 layout (two smaller rear seats for children or occasional adult use). Larger cars with more spacious rear-seat accommodation are usually considered sports sedans rather than sports cars. The 1993-1998 McLaren F1
5985-636: The negotiations were unsuccessful. When GM turned Healey down due to their defense commitments, Healey contacted Mason, and development of the Nash-Healey started. As part of the arrangement between the companies, Nash paid off Healey's £50,000 bank debt, which was to be repaid in assembled cars. A prototype was previewed at the Paris Motor Show in October 1950. The fate of this car is unknown. The Nash-Healey made its official debut in February of
6080-616: The new design as "magnificent". Some "people didn't take to the inboard headlights". This headlight mounting was described as "Safety-Vu" concentrating illumination, and their low position increased safety under foggy conditions. The 1953 "Le Mans" model was awarded first prize in March of that year in the Italian International Concours d'Elegance held at Stresa , Italy. Leveraging the popularity of golf to promote their cars, Nash Motors and Nash dealers sponsored what
6175-809: The notable exception of the Porsche 911 . The front-wheel drive layout with the engine at the front ( FF layout ) is generally the most common for cars, but it is not as common among traditional sports cars. Nonetheless, the FF layout is used by sport compacts and hot hatches such as the Mazdaspeed3 . Sports cars with an FF layout include the Fiat Barchetta , Saab Sonett , or Opel Tigra . The ancestor of all high-performance cars had its origin in Germany. The 28-h.p. Cannstatt-Daimler racing car of 1899
6270-456: The philosophy of achieving performance through minimizing weight and has been rated as one of the top 10 sports cars of the 1960s. The Elan featured fibreglass bodies, a backbone chassis, and overhead camshaft engines. A different style of roadster was the AC Cobra , released in 1962, which was fitted with V8 engines up to 7.0 L (427 cu in) in size by Shelby . The Porsche 911
6365-519: The previous two-piece flat windshield. The restyled car appeared at that year's Chicago Auto Show . Reflecting its role as a halo car , the Nash Ambassador and Statesman models adopted a Nash-Healey-inspired grille with inboard headlights for 1955, and advertising featured the new Nash with a Nash-Healey in the background to show the similarity. Pininfarina in Turin built the steel bodies with
6460-423: The production of two-seat sports cars being limited to smaller manufacturers such as Aston-Martin (350 Astons built from 1921 to 1939) and Frazer-Nash (323 cars built from 1924 to 1939). Then by the late 1920s, the cost of producing racing cars (especially Grand Prix cars) escalated, causing more manufacturers to produce cars for the growing sports car market instead. Significant manufacturers of sports cars in
6555-405: The prototype at Le Mans in 1950 . It was the first-ever Le Mans entry to have an overdrive transmission. Not only was the car one of the 29 finishers from the field of 66, but also finished in fourth place. This outstanding achievement sealed Healey's contract with Nash for a limited production run of the road cars. Roger Menadue, head of Healey's experimental department, played a significant role in
6650-429: The public was close to $ 6,000 compared with around $ 3,500 for a Chevrolet Corvette and $ 3,000 for a 1955 Ford Thunderbird. A Nash-Healey served as the course car for the 1951 Carrera Panamericana , described as one of the most dangerous automobile races of any type in the world. Driven by Chuck Stevenson , the Nash-Healey ran ahead of the racers to ensure the way was clear on "the world's greatest road race". To create
6745-558: The sporting events of the period, bringing renown to successful entrants. The Prince Henry Tours started the evolution of reasonably large and technically advanced production sports cars. In England, the development of sporting cars was inhibited by the Motor Car Act 1903 , which imposed a speed limit of 20 mph (32 km/h) on all public roads. This led to the 1907 opening of the Brooklands motor circuit , which inspired
6840-408: The sports car is traced to the early 20th century touring cars and roadsters , and the term 'sports car' would not be coined until after World War One. A car considered to be "a sports-car years ahead of its time" is the 1903 Mercedes Simplex 60 hp , described at the time as a fast touring car and designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Paul Daimler . The Mercedes included pioneering features such as
6935-476: The sports car, but also the most important and diverse technical developments [and] very rapid and genuine improvement in the qualities of every modern production car; assisted by new design and manufacturing techniques a consistently higher level of handling properties has been achieved." In Italy, a small but wealthy market segment allowed for the manufacture of a limited number of high-performance models directly allied to contemporary Grand Prix machines, such as
7030-516: The success: He filed slots in the backplates of the brakes and extended the adjusting mechanism to a small exterior lever. Thus, in a matter of seconds, he could adjust the brakes during pit stops without jacking the car up—an innovation that saved as much as half an hour at each stop. In the 1951 Le Mans race , Rolt and Hamilton took fourth in class and sixth overall behind a Jaguar, two Talbot-Lagos and two Aston Martins . They finished immediately ahead of two Ferraris and another Aston Martin. In
7125-553: The torque tube and radius rods, there may be a "little hopping around of the rear end when cornering fast or on washboard roads". Examples of torque tubes are the American cars of the Ford brand, built through 1948, including over 19 million Model Ts . Ford used the less expensive transverse springs that could not take forward thrust. For many of those years, Chevrolet used the torque tube, while Buick used it starting in 1906 (in
7220-412: The torque tube solves is getting the traction forces generated by the wheels to the car frame. The torque moving the wheels and axles in a forward direction is met with an "equal and opposite" reaction of the axle housing and differential, making the differential want to spin in a reverse direction, in the same way that a cyclist "pops a wheelie", lifting the bicycle in the air in the opposite direction from
7315-414: The turn of the wheel. The essential problem is keeping the differential from rotating during acceleration and braking. The torque tube solves that problem by coupling the differential housing to the transmission housing and, therefore, propels the car forward by pushing up on the engine/transmission and then through the engine mounts to the car frame, with the reverse happening during braking. In contrast,
7410-410: The two ends of the driveshaft. In most applications, the drive shaft uses a single universal joint, which has the disadvantage that it causes speed fluctuations in the driveshaft when the shaft is not straight. The Hotchkiss drive uses two universal joints, which has the effect of canceling the speed fluctuations and gives a constant speed even when the shaft is no longer straight . V8-powered models of
7505-478: The war, but a small number of manufacturers returned it to prominence. In 1948, the Porsche 356 was released as the debut model from Porsche. The significance of the Porsche 356 and its successors was described in 1957 as "future historians must see them as among the most important of mid-century production cars". The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is another significant car from this era. The 1961 Jaguar E-Type
7600-417: The world. Definitions of sports cars often relate to how the car design is optimised for dynamic performance, without any specific minimum requirements; both a Triumph Spitfire and Ferrari 488 Pista can be considered sports cars, despite vastly different levels of performance. Broader definitions of sports cars include cars "in which performance takes precedence over carrying capacity", or that emphasise
7695-415: Was a pioneering all-wheel drive sports car. The 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo (993) saw the 911 Turbo model switch to all-wheel drive, a drivetrain layout that the model uses to this day. The BMW M3 was released in 1986 and has been produced for every generation since. The 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz W124 E36 AMG was the mass-produced AMG model. Audi's equivalent division, called "RS", was launched in 1994 with
7790-684: Was an unusual arrangement for a car used to compete in rallying, nonetheless it was very successful and won the World Rally Championship in 1974 , 1975 , and 1976 . The Lancia Montecarlo was produced from 1975 to 1981 and is a mid-engine two-seater, available as a coupé or a targa-top. It was sold as Lancia Scorpion in the USA. Its racing variant, Montecarlo Turbo, won the 1979 World Championship for Makes in its division and overall for 1980 World Championship for Makes and 1981 World Endurance Championship for Makes . Montecarlo also won
7885-627: Was another significant sports car of the pre-war era and is now among the most valuable cars in the world. The T57 was successful in sports car races, including winning the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans and 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans . Another successful Bugatti sports car was the Bugatti Type 55 (1932-1935), which was based on the Type 51 Grand Prix racing car. The decade following the Second World War saw an "immense growth of interest in
7980-494: Was by coil springs , trailing link , and an anti-roll bar . The rear suspension featured a Nash-supplied torque tube and live axle , replacing the Silverstone's Riley Motor parts. Lateral location of the axle was handled by a Panhard rod . Healey designed the aluminum body, but it was outsourced . Panelcraft Sheet Metal of Birmingham fabricated the body. It incorporated a Nash grille, bumpers, and other trim. Healey
8075-561: Was completed at the Healey factory in Warwick. The 1952 through 1954 models were built in Italy by Pinin Farina. The Nash-Healey registry has 520 entries, including prototypes and race vehicles. For contextual comparison, the Nash-Healey is framed in U.S. auto history with the 1953 Kaiser Darrin , 1953 Chevrolet Corvette , and 1955 Ford Thunderbird . The 1954 model year Nash-Healey price to
8170-521: Was focusing on its new Austin-Healey 100 , "and the Nash-Healey had to be abandoned." Although the international shipping charges were a significant cost factor, Nash cut the POE (port of entry) price by more than $ 1,200 to $ 5,128. Production ceased in August. A few leftover 1954s were sold as 1955 models. All 1951 Nash-Healeys were British-built. Bodies were crafted at Panelcraft Sheet Metal, and final assembly
8265-485: Was in 1928. Sports cars started to become popular during the 1920s. The term initially described two-seat roadsters (cars without a fixed roof), however, since the 1970s the term has also been used for cars with a fixed roof (which were previously considered grand tourers ). Attributing the definition of 'sports car' to any particular model can be controversial or the subject of debate among enthusiasts. Authors and experts have often contributed their ideas to capture
8360-593: Was in the personal collection of Roy Chapin Jr., CEO and Chairman of American Motors, until Joe Bortz purchased it. In 2007, the Palm Beach was bought by Jacques Harguindeguy. In Britain, Healey sold a model with Hodges' original Nash-Healey bodywork as the Healey Sports Convertible . A different piece replaced the Nash grille, the power bulge in the hood was deleted, and other minor features, such as
8455-402: Was not used, though the torque tube allowed a cantilever spring suspension, which gives a softer ride than a center-mount axle on the leaf spring, as required by the Hotchkiss setup. In addition to transmitting traction forces, the torque tube is hollow and contains the rotating driveshaft . Inside the hollow torque ball is the driveshaft's universal joint that allows relative motion between
8550-694: Was produced until 1980. Other successful lightweight roadsters include the Triumph Spitfire (1962-1980) and the Alfa Romeo Spider (1966-1993). The Fiat X1/9 (1972-1989) was unusual for its use of a mid-engine design in an affordable roadster model. A late entrant to the affordable roadster market was the 1975 Triumph TR7 , however by the late 1970s the demand for this style of car was in decline, resulting in production ceasing in 1982. The original Lotus Elan (1962-1975) two-seat coupe and roadster models are an early commercial success for
8645-675: Was released in 1964 and has remained in production since. The 911 is notable for its use of the uncommon rear-engine design and the use of a flat-six engine . Another successful rear-engine sports car was the original Alpine A110 (1961-1977), which was a successful rally car during the Group 4 era. In 1965, the BMW New Class Coupes were released, leading to the BMW 6 Series which remains in production to this day. The Lamborghini Miura (1966) and Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967) mid-engined high-performance cars are often cited as
8740-507: Was replaced by a new design utilizing an open driveshaft and a four-link axle-location system. The 1961 Pontiac Tempest was introduced as a new model, featuring an inline 4 coupled to a transaxle via a torque tube, giving it a perfect 50-50 front-rear weight balance. The Peugeot 403 and 404 models used a torque tube. The Peugeot 504 , and Peugeot 505 estate/station wagons, as well as most export-market sedans also had torque tubes, while domestic and European-market sedan models had
8835-437: Was responsible for the car's final assembly. The car had drum brakes all around. Wheels were steel, with full-diameter chrome hubcaps and 4-ply 6.40×15-inch whitewall tires . The interior featured luxurious leather upholstery, foam rubber cushions, an adjustable steering wheel, and a cigarette lighter. Completed vehicles were shipped to the United States and marketed through the Nash dealership network. The 1951 Nash-Healey
8930-556: Was the first post-war sports car from a major American automaker, two years ahead of the Chevrolet Corvette . The custom-built Kurtis-Kraft which predated it never reached "production car" status, with 18 units being built. A prototype was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in September 1950. The production model debuted at the February 1951 Chicago Auto Show , followed that month by the Miami Auto Show. Also classified as
9025-417: Was without a doubt the first attempt to give real performance to a road car. Many of its features, such as a honeycomb radiator and gate gear change, were continued on the much improved version which Paul Daimler designed in 1899-1900. This was of course the famous Mercedes. It also laid down standards of chassis design which were to be followed, almost unthinkingly, for the next thirty years. Several variants of
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