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Although many of these cars also happened to be devastatingly-effective weapons on the racetracks of the world during the eras in which they competed, they are arguably more well-remembered for how easy on the eye they are. From the bare-bones Formula 1 cars of the 1960s and the big wings and wheelarches of the 1980s to the open-topped prototypes of the late 1990s and early 2000s, here is a collection of 15 of the most beautiful racing cars in history:
1. Ford Capri Zakspeed
Country of Origin: United Kingdom/Germany
Type: Touring car This car is the embodiment of 1980s sports motoring, with its big wings and massive flared wheelarches. It achieved plenty of success in the various racing series held across Europe, however it’s best known for winning the 1981 German Racing Championship in the hands of Klaus Ludwig.
2. Maserati MC12 Versione Corse
Country of Origin: Italy
Type: Endurance racer Built on the chassis of a Ferrari Enzo, this car marked Maserati’s return to racing following a 37-year absence. Lots of success in a range of different championships ensued, most notably in the FIA GT Championship. In the hands of various different racing teams and drivers, it took no less than 40 victories from the 94 races it entered throughout its competition history.
3. Lotus 79
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Formula 1 car The stunning Lotus 79, resplendent in its black and gold John Player Special livery, was the car that Mario Andretti drove to the Formula 1 World Championship in 1978. This made him only the second American Formula 1 champion in history, and there have been no more since. It remains an icon in Formula 1 design, as it was the first Formula 1 car to properly harness ground-effect aerodynamics.
4. Alfa Romeo Tipo 33
Country of Origin: Italy
Type: Sports racer Alfa Romeo began developing the Tipo 33 in the mid-1960s, however it wasn’t until a decade later that it achieved any sort of racing success. During that time, numerous variants of the car were produced. Pictured is a 1968 Tipo 33/2 Daytona, which was raced during that year’s 1968 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race.
5. Eagle T1G
Country of Origin: USA
Type: Formula 1 car This incredibly elegant Formula 1 car only took a single victory during its competition history, but remains firmly in the memories of racing enthusiasts for just how beautiful it is. In this picture, Dan Gurney is behind the wheel at the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix. Gurney is one of three drivers in history to win a Grand Prix in a car of his own construction.
