|
Five of the very best
A retrospective look at some of the top sports cars of all time
By Bob English
Thursday, January 8, 2004
The sports car, always a distinct species, underwent a rather abrupt evolution in the 1950s that neatly split its history in two.
From the early 1900s until the 1930s, sports cars were lightweight machines with rakish bodywork that offered minimal protection from the elements. They had more powerful engines, better brakes and superior suspensions than the family cars of the times.
Most were very basic designs, although some were street legal versions of racing models.
With the arrival of cars such as the more complex Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the sophistication level began to rise. Performance improved, but an increasing level of creature comforts - heaters, for example - were also added to pamper a new generation of driver.
Let's take a look at a handful of the best, from almost 50 years ago to present day.
Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette, introduced in 1953, was the American answer to the new breed of sophisticated sports car emerging in Europe. The first Corvette models missed the point when it came to speed and handling, but they had plenty of style and interior luxury features. It took a while to come up to speed, but the 'Vette did just that in the '60s, armed with high-powered V8s. The sixth generation Corvette made its first public appearance this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
The gull-wing 300 SL, a production version of the racers that marked Mercedes-Benz's return to road racing, was introduced in New York in 1954. It looked fast and it was, with the world's first fuel-injected production engine making 215 horsepower, good for a top speed of about 220 km/h. It was also exotic - those roof-hinged doors were too cool - and well appointed inside. It was quickly adopted as a new kind of sports car for the well-heeled. Picasso owned one, so did Zsa Zsa Gabor. Mercedes built 1,400 gull-wing 300 SLs (and 1,858 roadsters) by the time production halted to make way for the 'milder' 230 SL in 1963.
Jaguar E-Type
The arrival of the E-Type in 1961 marked an era of even greater sophistication in sports car design. This one knocked everyone's socks off with its Le Mans race-bred chassis, voluptuous curves (derived from the D-Type sports racing car) and 240 km/h (150 mph) performance from its 265 horsepower, 3.8-litre engine. In either roadster or coupe form, it was also superbly comfortable inside with leather trim, carpeting, radio and heater. One of the most beautiful sports cars of its era, the E-Type's sensual design even found a place in the Museum of Modern Art.
Porsche 911
Porsche's 911, introduced in 1963, brought Porsche into this new, more sophisticated era. The classic rear-engine layout of the 356 model was retained, but the new 911 was larger, more refined, faster and more comfortably equipped. With a 2.0-litre, 130 hp flat-four engine, it would do 210 km/h. Like the Corvette, the 911 has an ultra-loyal following and survives to this day, albeit in considerably more sophisticated (and potent) form.
Datsun 240Z
Another classic was born a year later when Datsun (now Nissan) launched the 240Z, the first Japanese sports car to really make an impact in North America. This 2-seater coupe offered great looks, a 150 hp, 2.4-litre, inline 6-cylinder engine, good handling, plus a comfortable interior for a reasonable price. Fast, fetching and affordable, it had loads of personality.
|
