Remarkable Racers: The Ten Best American Race Cars

September 3, 2018

Chaparral 2J

Debut Year: 1970

This is far from an obvious pick to include on this list. The car hasn’t won much in the way of silverware. In fact, its trophy cabinet lies completely bare, and it only raced in one Can-Am season. Despite this, it deserves a place on this list. Why? Well, it pioneered numerous technical advances that are still used to this day. The car used a snowmobile engine to power two fans that suckered it to the ground, giving it astounding downforce. This in turn gave it incredible maneuverability.

It may be ugly, but its idea of using a skirt made of Lexan, which reached the ground, would go on to inspire technology in F1, arguably the most tech-driven of all racing disciplines. These, in combination with the fans, allowed this car-cum-hovercraft to have a steady amount of downforce regardless of its speed. After its one season, other teams pressured SCAA into banning the car, arguing that the fans were “moveable aerodynamic devices” which were outlawed. Regardless of its short life, and, to be kind, spartan looks, the car is nevertheless forward thinking and crucially important in the history of racing.

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