Gordon Murray
 

seems to be timely for a thread devoted to him

If he is not the greatest living car (or land vehicle - truck in a box) designer, then I'd like to know who is....

He's awesome but Adrian Newey is pretty darn good too.

true but another thread for that

It was that video in the old Lotus Elan thread that really put me in awe of his work.

Hard to believe all that in a single lifetime.

Yes.

Yes he is.

In the pantheon of Colin Chapman and Ferdinand Porsche.

He is the JMB of the car world.

You thread got me worried, thought he died or something...

Smart guy, awful taste in shirts (in every picture I've ever seen)....

His McLaren MP4/4 F1 car from 1988 is still the most successful F1 car to date, 15 wins out of 16 races

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_MP4/4

Then his McLaren F1 GTR from 1995 won 10 out of 12 races in the World GT Championship and I think the first manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24hr race on the 1st attempt

I thoroughly enjoyed working for Gordon, so so clever (too clever for F1), no ego, easy going and very free with his knowledge

Probably my favourite big boss and the one I've worked under for the longest by quite a few years

When I told him I was leaving to try F1, his parting words were 'Good and don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out' :D

Might have been what he was thinking but he said 'Don't go and do F1, it won't be as much fun and all you'll be doing is scratching for performance as the rules are too restrictive'

Of course he was right!

His latest idea is to create some light wt. sports cars. Here is a penultimate sally:

https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/09/new-tvr-griffith-cosworth-tuned-v8-will-200-mph.html

and then...

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/gordon-murrays-new-sports-car

Jim Hall should certainly receive similar recognition as one of the greatest living car designers.
Read the "influence" section on his Wikipedia page... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hall_(racing_driver)

I kinda wish I could buy his truck in a box in the US...

"Weight saving should be by design and not a post process. Weight is the car designer's biggest enemy. It works against you in every single aspect of vehicle dynamics."

"Achieving a good power-to-weight figure by applying huge horsepower to a heavy car is in no way the same thing as achieving the same ratio with a light car."

If you haven't picked up a copy of "Driving Ambition, the official inside story of the McLaren F1", then I highly recommend it.

Do a search on YouTube for Retropowercars

They are building a very nice MK1 Escort for Gordon Murry. Epic build for undoubtedly an exacting and demanding customer.
Worth a watch....

I'd love too, but Amazon lists used copies from $289 up and one new copy for $777. Let me know if there is a cheaper source!

Some of his early work that I love as well.
The BT52 the year after they banned ground effect. Such a purposeful yet elegant car. Nothing added that wasn't needed.
https://www.formula1.com/content/fom....1536.high.jpg
https://www.formula1.com/content/fom...4232749368.jpg

ANd the highly unsuccesful low line BT55. Too flexible and engine issue from canting the BMW 4cyl over to the side to lower CofG, but the concept was developed into the outstanding MP4/4

https://external-preview.redd.it/-Vz...=webp&b4c18877

https://live.staticflickr.com/7155/6...deda4a4a_b.jpg

https://cdn-4.motorsport.com/images/...m-bt55-bmw.jpg

"Achieving a good power-to-weight figure by applying huge horsepower to a heavy car is in no way the same thing as achieving the same ratio with a light car."