Gordon Murray

[Jon B]

Originally Posted by rusnak

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

Originally Posted by Adrian Thompson

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!

It's a very comprehensive and well-illustrated book on the project.
Hard to decide which page to show as an example...

[Jon B]

Originally Posted by Jon B

Hard to decide which page to show as an example...

Polaroid photos of Gordon Murray testing Weismann's transmission developments in Costa Mesa... :-)

[rusnak]

^ I LOVED Gordon's hand drawn plans of the shifter mechanism. Pure Gordon Murray gold right there. The sketches are the reason for buying the book. Where else, and how else are you going to see a master like that at work?

[Jon B]

Originally Posted by rusnak

^ I LOVED Gordon's hand drawn plans of the shifter mechanism. Pure Gordon Murray gold right there...

His notes on the shift lever design...

[RWebb]

"For me, car design _is_ packaging. To create something truly forward-thinking, a designer has to challenge the accepted major component placement in an automobile."

"I have a "real-world" checklist when designing road cars:
1. size or perceived size; is the car intimidating to drive?
2. ergonomics; primary and secondary controls, pedals
3. luggage capacity, cabin storage
4. drivability, slow traffic engine characteristics, overtaking
5. ride and handling
6. ease of parking"

Gordon Murray -- Road & Track, January 2005, p. 65

[rusnak]

^5 should say "agility in both planes of travel", because in fact that is closer to his actual checklist.

[Won]

I wasn't particularly excited by the initial (limited) details on Murray's new car, T.50. But this latest render... Wow! A fan car for the road!!

https://www.gordonmurraydesign.com/

[RWebb]

Looks like the exhaust fan is back and not banned by racing rules on a road car...

who pioneered it? Lola?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Looks like the exhaust fan is back and not banned by racing rules on a road car...

who pioneered it? Lola?

Chaparral fielded the first successful one, in the CanAm series. Murray designed the first successful one in an F1 car, in a Brabham.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

this is worth a listen, podcast with Gordon

talks a lot about his fan F1 car,

"30 mph quicker than other cars in a 4th gear corner"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrHHdMFBRco

[rusnak]

I have undying admiration for Gordon Murray, but the fan on his latest fan car reminds me of the jet on the back of the Batmobile, or the racing brake and saddle bag on the original Big Wheel. In other words, a gimmick, a hook. A novelty.

[RWebb]

The*Alpine A110*is Gordon Murray’s everyday car.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I have undying admiration for Gordon Murray, but the fan on his latest fan car reminds me of the jet on the back of the Batmobile, or the racing brake and saddle bag on the original Big Wheel. In other words, a gimmick, a hook. A novelty.

It may remind you of that but it does have a useful function.

He's got another pretty clever car on his hands, not that I'm a buyer for one. I'd like to see some of his ideas trickle down to being used on more normal cars.

[RWebb]

He is the furthest from putting any gimmick anywhere that any human can get.

I am waiting on the T.43 - a 40,000 Brit Bucks very lightwt. sports car. So light that 220 hp gives it 991 acceleration...

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by RWebb

He is the furthest from putting any gimmick anywhere that any human can get.

I am waiting on the T.43 - a $40,000 very lightwt. sports car. So light that 220 hp gives it 991 acceleration...

Agree 100% on it not being a gimmick

Gordon is the last car designer to add weight for the sake of weight, watch this to see what I mean

https://youtu.be/ENaOBNWeJ_I

[David]

Everyday I search YouTube for T.50 to see if there’s any new videos. Can’t wait to see this thing!

[RWebb]

Ahab, do you know what Porsches he owns, or has commented on?

The only one I've seen is a 550.

[Deschodt]

Can you rename your thread "Gordon Murray..is a genius" - each time I see it I think he's dead and it's a Obit ;-(

[RWebb]

maybe a mod can do it?

I agree tho - he is the next guy in a line of Ferd. Porsche, Mr. Honda ... and few others

[Fast Freddy 944]

Good looking classics!