Sports Car Innovators To Remember

The history of American sports cars is the story notstandard Chevy 6 cylinder engine. Sales stagnated.
only of machines, but also of the men who madeA Russian émigré and Chevrolet designer
and drove them. There have been many key playersnamed Zora Arkus-Duntov took the reigns of the
in the development of the modern sports car, butCorvette project after its second lackluster year. He
some stand out as truly significant figures.redesigned the new Chevy V8 to fit in the Corvette
Among those innovators to remember are Alexanderand replaced the automatic transmission with a
Winton, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and John DeLorean. Eachsportier 3-speed manual tranny. His design changes
made a lasting impression on the sports car scene.vaulted the Corvette to fame and admiration.
Alexander WintonArkus-Duntov continued his affiliation with Corvette,
Alexander Winton was the first truly successfulushering it into its heyday as the most respected and
automotive magnate in the United States. His carsadmired American sports car.
participated and excelled in virtually every majorJohn DeLorean
racing and touring event of the late 1890s and earlyA brash young auto executive at Pontiac named
1900s. Winton cars were perceived as the model ofJohn DeLorean had an idea. He could take the under
American automotive engineering.performing Pontiac Tempest, make a few minor
Winton's success and belief in his vehicles led him toexterior alterations, outfit it with a big and powerful
accept a challenge from an upstart from DetroitV8 engine and upgrade some of the other
named Henry Ford. In a much-ballyhooed 1901components. His revitalization effort turned the lowly
contest, Ford and Winton squared off in one-on-oneTempest into the Pontiac GTO-the car that sparked
race.the muscle car era in America.
Winton's Sweepstakes racecar suffered fromDeLorean's efforts to build better and more
mechanical problems during the contest and hisinteresting sports cars continued as he opened his
two-cylinder, 28 horsepower racer finished a distantown auto company. He introduced the stainless steel
second to Ford, who found his career revitalizedDMC-12 sports car later popularized in the Back to
after the publicized victory.the Future movies. The innovative vehicle was never
Despite often being remembered as the man whoa hot-seller but was an inspiration for countless future
lost to Ford, Alexander Winton was a true Americandesigns from other automakers.
sports car pioneer and laid the groundwork for manyThe controversial DeLorean was plotting an
manufacturers who followed in his footsteps.economy-priced plastic sports car that was never
Zora Arkus-Duntovreleased. He passed away while the vehicle idea was
After World War II, American manufacturers beganstill in its infancy.
to produce readily available sports cars, in contrast toSports car enthusiasts remember cars. They can tell
the limited production, high-dollar versions from earlieryou the specs of many significant sports cars and
in history. After Ford made a splash with thecan trace the history of many sports car lines. It's
Thunderbird sports car, Chevrolet sought to captureimportant to remember these cars did not materialize
its share of the growing market with the 1955from thin air. There were men behind the cars who
introduction of the Corvette.brought them to the limelight. Three of the great
The Corvette, whose distinctive appearance wasinnovators-Winton, Arkus-Dontav, and DeLorean
brought to light be famous designer Harley Earl, wasdeserve to be as remembered as any sports car to
a beautiful package containing a ho-hum gift. The carever hit the road.
had a two-speed automatic transmission and a