Throwback Thursday- June 19th, 2014

Chaparral 2E

The mid-engined Chaparrals, built from 1963 through 1970, are among the most iconic sports-racing cars ever built, up there with vehicles such as the Ford GT40, Ferrari 330P4, and Porsche 917. They were cutting edge. Chaparral founder Jim Hall pioneered aerodynamic developments such as wings and ground effects, as well as alternative forms of construction.

Hall's small operation out of Midland, Texas, was also one of the most successful American competitors in international motorsports, taking on and beating the established sports-car makers from Europe. For example, in 1964 and '65, Chaparral won 11 of 16 races in the SCCA's U.S. Road Racing Championship, the precursor to the SCCA Canadian-American Challenge (or Can-Am) series. The Chaparral 2 and 2C also won 11 other major races in that period, including the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring.