A History of Sports Cars

What defines the term sports car and why are weBig powerful engines were placed into fragile frames
so fascinated with them. Is it simply the flowingand pushed to the limit often with dire consequences
curves of the body design, the massive powerto drivers and spectators. But humans have a need
output of the high revving engines or could it evento go faster and faster and this drove these brave
be the distinctive throaty musical note of theand quite often reckless early pioneers to design
exhaust pipes. Everyone will have a different opinionbetter and more powerful machines and this began
on what they think makes sports cars special and forthe start of the new age of the modern motor car.
the reasons why we love them so much. EvenSafety was usually an after thought if it came up at
people who say they are impractical or unnecessaryall, the main focus was pushing the machines and
cannot help but to turn and look when one drivesdrivers to their limits and beyond if possible. The
past displaying its beautiful contours hinting at theengines power output quickly out grew the motor
power hidden under the perfectly painted panels.cars ability to handle these increases and the
Since the development of motorised vehicles a smalldesigners had to rethink the chassis and suspensions
select group of individuals have always had thelimitations. As with in the aircraft industry the designs
undying fascination of designing and building themof planes and engines regularly changed along with
bigger, more powerful and faster than they eitherthe abilities and reliability of the aircraft, the motor
needed to be or really should be with any regard tocars began to evolve along the same lines with new
safety. This was no different with the motor carideas and breakthroughs in technologies incorporating
industry, from its relative simple and sluggishaerodynamics to help reduce drag and stronger
beginnings the car quickly developed into a verybuilding materials for chassis and bodywork.
useful mode of transport and working tool. For someDeveloping test vehicles purely for racing was the
this new way to transport us around turned into anbeginning of what we now class as the sports car.
obsession of power and speed and welcomed theAfter the Second World War a new breed of sports
age of the racing cars and sports cars.car began to emerge. The once very high-priced and
To begin with motor vehicles were built for morehard to obtain race bred cars that only the most
functional than aesthetically pleasing reasons and theirwealthy and enthusiastic owners could secure began
ability to carry both people and heavy loads is whatto evolve into a more accessible vehicle with the
drove the designers and manufacturers forward.additional comforts and road functionalities, and what
Humans though have an eye for beauty and a thirstwas even more important, a more affordable price
for power and speed, combining these attributes thetag making them more accessible to the average
birth of the sports cars was inevitable.owner and driver. The sports cars had taken their
As new developments occurred in the early motorfirst steps from the exclusive domain to main stream
industry a small number of designers, builders andavailability. Over the next few years as
drivers pushed the motor car to its limits on raceadvancements were made on and off the racing
tracks to test its abilities against other manufacturerscircuit designs began their slow transformation into
vehicles. These races fuelled the next generation ofthe popular modern shapes of today's models. Many
cars and drivers. As engines became more powerfulfamous names have added their own distinctions to
the ability to race these machines began to push thethe sports car moulds and most can be easily
designs and needs to new levels this quite often wasidentified by pure shape alone even today.
at the expense of someone's life.