37 replies to this topic

[eronrules]

Fans asked to vote for greatest cars in Le Mans history - Autosport.com

Endurance racing fans are being called upon to help name the greatest cars in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours in its 90th anniversary year in 2013.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the organiser of the 24 Hours, has set up an online poll for fans of the great race to vote for a car from each of the 10 decades of the event.

A 10-man panel, including top drivers, team managers and journalists, will then choose between the winners of each decade to come up with a top-10 list of the cars that best embody the legend of Le Mans.

The ACO has nominated three cars per decade for which sportscar aficionados can cast their votes. Included on the list are the Bentley Speed Six from the 1930s, the Jaguar D-type from the '50s, the Porsche 917K from the '70s and the Porsche 956 from the '80s and the Audi R18 e-tron quattro from the present decade.

Fans can vote via the Le Mans Facebook community on or by going to the dedicated page on and following the instructions.

Dedicated page link for voting

in the mean time, give us some of your thoughts on what is in your opinion the best Le Mans Cars so far ....

[jcbc3]

Sorry, can't vote. I refuse to participate in a vote that demands that I 'like it' on Facebook.

That being said, the choices are interesting and well worth a discussion. I went for:

Bentley Speed six
Alfa Romeo 8C
Ferrari 166MM
Jaguar D-type
Ford GT40
Matra MS670B
Porsche 956
Peugeot 905
Audi R10 TDI
Audi e-tron Quattro

[Risil]

Wot, no Japanese Lamborghini Owners' Club?

[regracing]

Why is there no Audi R8? it only one 5 times and was the basis for the Bentley speed 8

[jcbc3]

Why is there no Audi R8? it only one 5 times and was the basis for the Bentley speed 8

They limited themselves to 3 entries per decade.
Being French, the Peugeot had to be there.
The Bentley for nostalgic reasons.
So they had to choose between the R8 and R10. They chose the diesel over the multiple winner R8.

The R8 was, btw, NOT the basis of the Speed 8. Linky

[Risil]

jcbc3

There's some good stuff about those Audis and Bentleys over on Mulsanne's Corner, too.

I can see why they'd want to pitch the R10 against the 908, in my mind Le Mans in the 2000s was totally dominated by those two cars. One has to admit that however good the R8 was, with almost every other manufacturer undergoing their periodic fascination with Formula One, it had very little serious competition.

[HopkinsonF1]

Porsche 917. If only because it led to the fantastically ridiculous 917/30.

[Jovanotti]

Who ever has seen the beginning of the race in Steve McQueens Le Mans will go for the 917, especially the Langheck version which unfortunately is not included in the poll. Almost 400 km/h down the straight, wonder how they were able to reach that speed considering the massive balls of steel they had on board. What a beauty.

Edited by Jovanotti, 06 December 2012 - 14:42.

[montoyasminion]

This thread needs more pictures.

[KinoNoNo]

If Bruce Wayne ever decide to race at Le Mans, he would choose a Bentley Speed 8.




I know it only raced at Le Mans once and Audi pulled out to give it a free run, but to me it's the most beautiful modern prototype racer.

[Garagiste]

D Type and GT40 were the first two that popped into my head, toss a coin.

[Linther]

The lack of a C-Type is also a bit strange.



And Bruce Wayne (Batman) would definitely drive this:

[JacnGille]

Porsche 917
D Type Jag
Ford GT
Porsche 956/962
Mazda 787
Audi R8

[crooky369]

If Bruce Wayne ever decide to race at Le Mans, he would choose a Bentley Speed 8.




I know it only raced at Le Mans once and Audi pulled out to give it a free run, but to me it's the most beautiful modern prototype racer.

Sorry to be pedantic but the car in question is actually the Bentley EXP Speed 8 that raced in 2001 and 2002. The Bentley Speed 8 was this similar beauty.



Both of them absolutely wonderful cars.

Edited by crooky369, 06 December 2012 - 18:20.

[Glengavel]

No C-Type? I'm not playing...



Winner in 1951 and 1953 and would have won in 1952 if Jaguar hadn't taken fright. First winner at over 100mph average, first with all-round disc brakes.

Edited by Glengavel, 06 December 2012 - 18:38.

[BigCHrome]

Porsche 956 with Shell/Dunlop livery.

[ed24f1]

If I had to name only one I would probably say the Mazda 787B

[saudoso]

Funny that my two favourites are from the same decade. I never really got to watch them racing, but these are my favourites:

[Jackmancer]

Ferrari 330 P4 looks gorgeous

[jj2728]

Ferrari 330 P4 looks gorgeous

That's a 350 Can Am Ferrari. Ferrari removed the 330 P4 bodywork, tweaked the engine and ran it in the 1967 Can Am. Though it never raced at LeMans it is a beautiful car nonetheless.

[Victor_RO]

Porsche 956 with Shell/Dunlop livery.

Except that that's a 962, because it's from 1988.

[JRizzle86]

The Bentley Speed 8 was certainly one of the best looking prototypes. The McLaren F1 has to be one of the great winners, one of the last non-prototypes to win the title.

[DrProzac]

Sorry, can't vote. I refuse to participate in a vote that demands that I 'like it' on Facebook.

I feel the same, but I think that's not necessary?

[BetaVersion]

The Bentley is gorgeous indeed, as well as the 917K

[np93]

http://www.sportscar...co.uk/bh851.jpg

For no reason really, except that it's probably the best looking Group C car

And surely Bruce Wayne would drive one of these?

http://www.wired.com...n-deltawing.jpg

[eronrules]

perfect Bruce Wayne car IMO is this ... test livery of Audi E-tron (awesome name ) Quattro at monza

[eronrules]

The lack of a C-Type is also a bit strange.



And Bruce Wayne (Batman) would definitely drive this:

isn't this the Panoz GTR???

[OO7]

http://www.sportscar...co.uk/bh851.jpg

For no reason really, except that it's probably the best looking Group C car

And surely Bruce Wayne would drive one of these?

http://www.wired.com...n-deltawing.jpg

If aesthetics is one of the criteria, then I feel compelled to post the following links:
Wow!!! 1
Wow!!! 2
Wow!!! 3
Wow!!! 4
Wow!!! 5
Wow!!! 6
Wow!!! 7
Wow!!! 8
Wow!!! 9

[np93]

I'll agree on that, the Merc-Sauber is a great looker, going of aesthetics I'd probably go for:

1) Ferrari P3/4

2) Sauber Mercedes C11

3) Lancia LC2

But on being the best in the field, it's gotta be:

1) Porsche 956

2) Audi R8

3) Ford GT40

[JRizzle86]

perfect Bruce Wayne car IMO is this ... test livery of Audi E-tron (awesome name ) Quattro at monza

Surely the man should be Tony Stark, he was always more of a racer, Bruce Wayne was more of a playboy.

[Alfisti]

When one thinks leMans, one thinks 917.

[ViMaMo]

Awesome exhaust note from 787B

[BigCHrome]

Except that that's a 962, because it's from 1988.

True, but it's basically the same car except some safety improvements.

[Henri Greuter]

For me, the most beautiful cars at Le Mans were

1967 Ferrari 330P4

1971 Porsche 917LH (Martini no 21)

2003 Bentley


Henri

[Red17]

I understand the fuss about the Deltawing's concept, but what the hell is that young prototype doing there? Get it to win a few races first!

Anyway, I pickep up the Bentley (sure winner on that tier), a couple Jags, a couple Ferraris, most of the Porsches and the lone Renault, which, in my defence has one of best looking non-P1 Porsches lurking behind in the «candidate picture».

[InSearchOfThe]

1967 Ford GT40 MkIV
All american lineup(Foyt/Gurney) putting it on Ferrari's ass.

[Jimisgod]

[Andy35]

Some good cars there, but where's Mclaren GTR in the 1990s section? Oh, they have a French car in the 3 instead ;)

Andy

Edited by Andy35, 10 December 2012 - 07:47.