What’s your favorite car in Indy 500 history? Here’s a start — a top 10 list of my favorite entries on purely aesthetic grounds. Not necessarily the best, but the most striking to the eyes:
1911 Marmon Wasp
Imagine bouncing around on bricks in this horseless carriage for 500 miles. Still, 100 years after it won the first 500, the Wasp looks as menacing as it did in those warped photos from back in the day. It looks like a race car.
Marmon Wasp
1923 Mercedes Benz
From its bug-eyed windscreen to its tapered nose, this beast was decades ahead of its time. Even with the skinny tires, it’s still a beautiful fright 87 years after the fact.
1952 Cummins Diesel Special
A cigar with four wheels, this car was a radical departure from the typical designs of the day. Remarkably low and aerodynamic. A minimalistic work of art. Drivers joked that they didn’t know whether to race it or take a bath in it.
Cummins Diesel Special
1955 Kurtis Kraft/Offenhauser
Kurtis Kraft and Watson dominated the designs from the classic roadster era of the 1950s and early ‘60s, but this model – driven to victory by Bob Sweikert – had an unmatched elegance. The glory days of pretty cars.
1955 Kurtis Kraft/Offenhauser
All of the Watson roadsters from the ‘50s and ‘60s are worthy of recognition for their looks and performance, but the one A.J. Foyt drove to victory in ’64 was the genre at its peak. Snarling and low-slung, it flexed its muscles while sitting still.
1964 Watson/Offenhauser
One of the all-time best. Sleek, elegant lines. A simple beauty until you get to the ferocious headers, and you realize this car is a flying mullet. Business in the front, party in the back. There were several adaptations of this model, but the unadorned version Jim Clark drove to victory in 1965 is the best.
1965 Lotus 38
1967 Silent Sam Turbine
If not for a bad bearing, Parnelli Jones would have won the ’67 race in this radical, all-wheel-drive Andy Granatelli monster powered by a jet turbine engine. Perhaps the most innovative single step in 500 history, and one of the sexiest.
1967 Silent Sam Turbine
1971 McLaren M16
A strange but fierce design that featured an unusually low, flat front nose, open engine cowl and flat, broad rear wing. The only elements higher than the tires were the roll cage and a tripod-mounted rearview mirror. Mean yet stylish.
1971 McLaren M16
1980 Chaparral 2K
All of Jim Hall’s creations are revolutionary beauties, but Johnny Rutherford’s winner in 1980 truly changed things. The first ground effects car at the Speedway, the Yellow Submarine was an odd but exquisite bird.
1980 Chaparral 2k
1984 Penske March
All four of Rick Mears’ winners are gorgeous, but this one has a certain unmatched grace. Sleek, streamlined and low, with no wasted space. It was as beautiful as it was effective. Looks like it’s moving when it’s standing still.
1984 Penske March
Obviously this is a short list that left out countless creations. Help us out. What are your favorites? Add to the list by commenting below which Indy 500 cars knocked you out with their looks.
Thank you, fans, for the great comments on this blog post. Catch the follow-up blog post with YOUR picks for the best-looking, historic Indy 500 cars here.
1964 A J Foyt, Watson/Offenhauser. Best car and driver ever.
I loved the NOVI! Of these pictured – the LOTUS
I would want to add one of the “depression” era cars, effectively midgets running in order to keep the speedway in business.
I love the Indianapolis 500. God, the history is unmatched in sports. And Rick Mears was the very best.
Thank you for including the STP Paxton turbine…thankfully, the Speedway is long past the USAC closed-mindedness that likely would have never acknowledged this car. Jim Clark’s Lotus 38 is, certainly, a worthy pick (being a 500 race winner)…but I wonder if Brabham’s Cooper wasn’t the more significant, being the car that started the rear engine revolution 4 years earlier.
I like the fact that this list takes into account important cars that really changed the face of things in the 500 (or were relegated out of the race by rules-makers). I might have put the Vukovich winner in place of Sweikert’s Kraft/Offy, and for an 11th entry, I’d go with the 1994 Penske/Mercedes.
Sir Jack Brabham,The first to drive a rear engine car at the 500,he came 7th.I have seen his car and photo at the Hall inside the speedway.
Gotta go with THE Indy Legends… AJ Foyt in the 64 Watson Roadster
When visiting the Speedway Museum one of the cars that always captures my attention is the Louis Meyer 1928 winning number 14 Miller.
Great pics…how I wished it was May
Missing is any of the Novi powered cars – my vote would be for Jim Hurtubise’s Novi powered Kurtis Kraft chassis that started 2nd in the 1963 Indianapolis 500
As long as the engine is in front of the driver they were all my favoritess… Foyt and the ’64 Watson/Offy says it all !!
No single driver and car combination has ever topped the accomplishment of Bill Vukovich and the #14 Fuel Injection Special. I dont think any car/driver combination has led more laps or a percentage of laps competed in as does the Vuky/#14 car combination. Anyone who doubts the greatness of Bil Vukovich really does not know or understand the 500. They might know teh cars and drivers of today, but, are clueless about Vukovich and his greatness. Wilbur Shaw, after the 1954 win by Vukovich, “He is good for another 3 or 4 wins if he doesnt retire”. Vukovich was absolutely a fantastic race driver. A quote from Rodger Ward on an ESPN special…”When you showed up at a race and Vukovich was there, you knew you were going to be racing for second place”. NO ONE will ever replace Vukovich as the number 1 driver ever to run Indianapolis.
THE RED 1956 NOVI THAT PAUL DROVE.
THAT WAS PAUL RUSSO
The 1947 NOVI made famous by Duke Nalon. No car has grabbed the attention and devotion of the race fans these front drive machines did in the 40′s and early 50′s.
Loved AJ’s ’64 Watson/Offy, but I also would have added Brabham’s ’61 Cooper-Climax on the list. Beautiful car, and the herald of a revolution.
I’d vote for the 1970 & 1971 Vels/Parnelli Jones, Johnny Lightning Specials driven by Al Unser Sr. for his first and second Indy 500 wins.
How about the Smokey Yunick sidecar, now that was different even if it was unsuccessful.
I would add the NOVI that herk put in the front row in63;
also the 1970 vels /parnelli special and Smokey yunick sidecar from 1964.there are so many ,this list could go on forever!!
How about Vuky’s ’53 & ’54 winner, and the front drive Novi?
All I know is that Jeff Olson likes yellow. Maybe he likes Pennzoil too.
How could you leave out George Salih’s lay down Offy driven by Sam Hanks and Jimmy Bryan to victory two years in a row! The story behind this car is true Americana and the low profile for 1957 is astonishing.
The 1972 Sunoco McLaren (Offy) that Mark Donohue drove to victory for Roger Penkse.
RE: Bill Schiel s post….Remember Hanks little yellow car passed Russo in the NOVI right down the front straightaway to take the lead. “Sam Hanks in his little yellow car has passed Russo in the NOVI right down the front straightaway to take the lead”..Sid Collins. Then in 58 Bryan. 3 days before the 500 Jimmy took me out to dinner at a real fancy restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. What a big deal it was to me at age 13 and my first year at the Speedway. My dad took me out of school in Fresno, CA. for 3 weeks in May to go with him to Indy. What a great guy Jimmy Bryan was. I still miss him.
I am only 26, but I would have to say my favorite has to be either the 1967 or 1968 Eagle. Give it a 4 cam Ford and I would be in heaven. (although I like the sound of one with an Offy better)
Where to begin? No. 1 would have to be AJ’s 64 Sheridan Thompson Spl. Watson Roadster. Everything else is a darn close second… Sam Hanks 57 Belond Spl. Laydown Offy by George Salhi. Herk in the 63 Curtis Novi 4WD. Vuky in his charcoal grey 54 Curtis Fuel Injection Spl Roadster. Parnelli & Calhoun turning the first official 150 mph lap in 1962, also a Watson Roadster. Wish I had seen the Blue Crowns & Millers… they are beautiful just sleeping in the museum. Iduno it is too hard to imagine all of what was and all what came after paving over the bricks.
I started INDY back in 1976 and loved the cars that AJ drove right from the start. I love the Watson/Offy model. It looks so cool and for the list, Well I say you have to add the AJ car from 77 when he won that 500 race. I love that car the most of the cars he drove (and more times that he worked on them too.)
Technically, the 64 Foyt car is a Trevis COPY of a Watson, not a car built by A.J. Watson. Still a great car.
Love all the picks. Where do you start? I do think the 1953 Fuel Injection Special and the 1958 Belond Exhaust Special belong in there somewhere. And.. for best paint job, the 1988 Miller High Life Special. Guess what kind of beer I like!
I have to agree with a couple of the other guys. Jack Brabham’s Cooper Climax was revolutionary and should have been in the top ten.
While i absolutely love the 1946 Paul Russo twin offey, and the 1967 stp turbine, my favorite car ever is the 1980 Mike Mosley eagle.
George Bailey qualified the first rear engine car for the Indianapolis 500 in 1939. The car was designed by Harry Miller and qualified on the outside of row 2. Bailey was killed the following year during practice at the speedway in the same rear engine car.
[...] all started last week with a post from writer, Jeff Olson, staking claim to his picks for the Top Ten Historic Indy 500 Cars. Fans jumped in with an overwhelmingly response via Facebook, Twitter, and the IMS blog to approve, [...]
My all time favorite CLASSIC INDY car was Parnelli Jones’ #98 winner of the ’63 INDY 500.
The Boyle Maserati. Simply elegant, and a car with a great story.
I think it was the 41 winner, the Noc Out Hose Clamp Special. To this day, I think the best looking race car of all time.
Mario’s 1967 Dean Van Lines SPL was one of my favorites
The 64 winner WAS a Watson. It was the Sheraton Thompson car Ebb Rose drove in 1963. Foyt ran the Trevis/offy in 61, 62 and 63…then switched to teh Watson in 64.
The Dan Gurney built, Mike Mosley driven Pepsi Challenger in the middle of the front row in 1980. Best looking car of the entire “winged” era.
Foyt’s ’64 roadster; Hurtubise’s ’63 middle of the front row Novi.
#52 Watson driven by Troy Ruttman at the Speedway and Jim Rathmann at Monza, he won. The lines of that car are beautiful. It is a GMP modeal as the 5 car Rathmann won with at Monza in 1958. A beautiful car.
The 99 Balenger Kurtis Art Cross drove at the Speedway in 55 and Tony B drove in 1956.
I loved the flying wedge turbines. Simple but elegant.
Also loved that blue Sunoco 66. Loved the driver also.
I like the list. It’s about the chassis, not the driver… or even specific year. I’m happy they included the 1984 March; everyone could afford a brand new March in ’84. I’m sure #11 and #12 choices would have been the 1972 Eagle and 1947-1949 Blue Crown Special. If you are going to include one-offs like the Cummins Diesel and 67 Turbine, you also need to add the 1994 Penske. As for modern cars, I would submit the 1986 March/Cosworth – as prolific as the 84 March, won two years in a row, and was fast enough to qualify four years in a row, as well as the 1995 Reynard/Cosworth – also won two years in a row, and holds the top speed record.
I would pick only 3 out of the 10. I find it almost impossible to rank my 10, I will list them in chronological order.
1939-Maserati driven by Wilbur Shaw, back-to-back winner.
1946-Novi driven by Ralph Hepburn (1st fwd Novi). What a beautifil robin egg blue with a really sweet, powerful sound. This was my first Indy to attend.
1956-Novi driven by Paul Russo converted to rear wheel drive.
1970-Johnny Lightning Spl driven by Al Unser, back-to-back winner. I have a hard time picking my #1 between this car and the blue 46 Novi
1953-First roadster to win driven by Bill Vukovich Sr., back-to-back winner
1957-First lay-down roadster driven to victory by Sam Hanks and Jimmy Bryan, back-to-back winner
1965-Lotus was first rear engine winner driven by Jimmy Clark
1980-Chaparral was first ground effects winner driven by Johnny Rutherford. JR completely blew the entire field away.
1990-Domino’s Pizza car driven to victory by Arie Luyendyk, the fastest 500 on record.
Of my 9 picks, 4 were back-to-back winners. The fwd drive Novis and the 1939 Maserati surely hold a record for number of starts that will never be broken.
Ron Hawk
Knoxville, TN
The variety of answers should tell the speedway what is wrong with today’s racing. The individual thinking and ingenuity of the engineers and mechanics gave the fans something to look forward to every year. No ‘cookie cutter’ cars. And most fans had their favorite engine whether it was Miller, Stutz, Hudson, Studebaker, Novi, Offy, Ford, Toyota or Honda. It just is a real bad idea to turn the world’s greatest race into a ‘spec car’ race.
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Peter
He was the personification of superior talent , and skill , a unrelenting dominate force, unsurpassed , the master and a God, and Bill Vukovich was his name .
It’s hard to argue with Foyt’s 64 ST Spl not only for what it did at the 500 but also because of the way it dominated the USAC series that year(no car has come close since) and also because it was the last of the front engine “dinosaurs” to win.
I would like to have seen the influence of Harry Miller(who came up with the 4-banger concept that dominated from the 20′s up into the 70′s) rewarded. Also, it is hard to overlook Dan Gurney’s Eagles because they could be raced on the Champ Car circuit and the F1 as well and dominated for so long. In the end it comes down to opinion and I think most have done a good job of stating why they prefer the ones they do. Hot damn, I love that race!
Due reslpect to the great drivers of late, I dont belive any one could compair to the the Great Bill Voukovich no disrespect intended , he was one of a kind that cant be beat , he would eat you up , the best ever, to bad he couldnt prove it . HE WA S THE BEST EVER , NO ONE COULD BEAT HIM , he was to good for everone. , and he wold be in todays world , No one could compair to Billy Vukovich ever.
Vuky was the best ever , he was an iCON , no one could really compete wth tlhis man , he was in fact the best of the best ever , and could with out a dobbt beat anyone in todays world, and no disrspect to the great drivers of late , but Bill Vukovich was actually unbelieveably the greatest ever at iNDY.The greatest that ever hand a on a wheel at INDY. EVER , this man was maginificent .
The repeat was in error , sorry about that.
I watched from the inside of #3 turn as Duke Nalon qualified the front drive Novi for the last time. I have the car with Duke at the wheel as my “screensaver” on both of my lap tops. Gets quite a rise from the latter day tekies when the computers go in for service. Twelve years later at the race Andy Granatelli let me try one of the rear drive Novi’s on for size at the Firestone garage on the Speedway grounds.
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