If you haven’t had a chance to check out the 1966 Chaparral from the Top Gear Car Pack, this story gives you many reasons to do so.
The rich history and influence of this car’s design made it an interest HMA candidate. The first DLC car to be covered.
I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.
I invite you to tell me how the Chaparral compares to older cars like the Maserati Tipo 61 or later cars like the McLaren and Ferrari F1 cars from the 70s.
Also if you don’t have the Top Gear Pack, but want it, write a good post telling me why I should gift it to you, and I just might.
John, i have been having trouble with a nerve in my shoulder but just had to drive this car. Man what a beast,i just love it. Set a better time with it then i did with the old F1 Mclaren,also think it drives better,now if they can get the vacum one.
I would love to have the Top Gear Pack for a several reasons. One, I am a huge fan of the show (the Burma special was so good). Two, I want to try to beat the Stig or his “Digital Cousin” in the rivals event. And finally the cars look very, very cool.
I still haven’t got the Top Gear Car Pack right now but the main reason why I want to take a spin on the Chaparral 2E is simple; Chaparral Cars are famed for making some of the most iconic racing cars in the last century. One of the most famous machines, I remember is the 2J because it is an orthodox racing machine rigged with the fans on the back that provide some speed boost. It was once competed in the CanAm series but later banned because the other CanAm racers said this was unfair for a fan car. If they did not ban this car, this fan car would have been invincible and unstoppable in the CanAm races. In reality, the 2J is an unwelcome racer because of the regulations and the fan car technology is relatively forbidden because of its unfairness according to the racers.
Chaparral also made other racing machines such as the 2A which featured a sharp edged aerodynamics, the 2D, which is their first ever closed cockpit racer made for endurance racing and won at the Nurburgring in 1966 with Phil Hill and Joakim Bonnier behind the wheel, and the 2K, which is an Indy Car that draws inspiration from Formula One cars due to its ground effect and it won the 1980 Indy 500 and PPG Indy Car World Series with Johnny Rutherford behind the wheel.
I think you should take it as a consideration because of their illustrious history behind Chaparral Cars and I believe that the 2E you’ve tackled in this week’s HMA makes it a perfect addition to the list of vintage racers from the FM5 roster.
Great article on a great car and innovator. Always interesting how inventions that are first thought to be silly, end up being the basis for new and improved ways of doing things!
I do not have this car pack…yet. As a matter of fact, I very recently just got my XONE and opted for the VIP package and I am well on my way in Career mode. So the answer to why I want this pack is very simple and also the same reason I use to justify to my wife, why I love FM5 and why I still love FM4. It is because if not for these games/sims, in my lifetime, I would never come close to being able to experience the feel and sound of driving some of the most expensive, most unique and most historic cars ever made in the world. Between the graphics and the sounds in my headphones, I’m there in the car of my choice whenever I want. In particular, I have known about the Chaparral for quite some time through another hobby, which is slot car racing! When I first saw this car was available as a 1/32 scale slot car, I had to have it. And it does not disappoint even as a slot car! It is low to the track and handles extremely well. I’m sure that as a slot car the wing may not come into play, but it just looks so cool going around my track. Slot racing is another fun way to enjoy the world of cars and imagine that I am behind the wheel If you are ever interested in more information on slot racing, let me know.
Anyway, having this pack would put me behind the wheel of one of my all time favorite historic racing cars.
Thank you for considering my entry!
RescueDog
The Chaparral can am program is the development car that led to Chevy’s legendary all aluminum 427ci big block that is more well know to be placed in 69 very special Camaros and 2 Corvettes under the ZL-1 designation. With out the can-am work these cars would not have been possible.
The 1966 Chaparral 2E is my favorite car in the Top Gear pack so far I only tried it on the indy oval and gp layout but its a blast to drive. Hoping there will be more Chaparral cars in Forza’s future and more race cars from the 60s and 70s. I also really liked the walk around video that was included in the article.
Man I wish I had 500 bucks to get a X-BOX 1.Both cars look great tho but I cant so I think the Chaparral would be better I think. unicorn car HKS TIME ATTACK EVO sleepyp1980
Wow. What a nice car. It kind of looks weird but that’s what makes it looking nice. I don’t know what I’m saying haha! But, this car is on forza 5 so I can just give up all hope of the car pack being gifted. The xbox one is just too out the budget for a college student
Since I can’t receive the car pack:
GT: Aristica
FM4 Unicorn: Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
Great HMA! Learned a lot from reading it. I’m going to take a quote from one of my favorite tv shows of all time (Knight Rider), “One man can make a difference.” It’s amazing at the amount of innovations that came from Hall. The Chaparral is just a prime example of what innovation can lead to and one of the greats of it’s generation and of all time. While I do not have the Top Gear pack, I would love to take the Chaparral around the track and see how well the car grips and compare it to the 70’s F1 cars. Along with the Chaparral, the pack has a plethora of great cars stretching many decades. Who would have thought racing a Transit and Hummer could be incredible amounts of fun, not to mention they give great canvases for the talented painters of Forza. Then there’s the R390, which is an incredible piece of machinery in it’s own right. To think someone could actually drive that on the streets(legally) is insane. Nissan has always had some of the most astonishing cars and the R390 is no exception. And to wrap it up, the #10 Xbox Commodore. It’s great to see this car makes its way into Forza 5, having Bathurst to drive on. I downloaded this car to compete in the Stig challenge, and what a challenge it is. There’s no other track in the game that I would love to learn more than Bathurst. It’s my demon and hopefully I’ll be able to tame it a little more after running many laps trying to get the best possible time I can achieve. The entire pack is full of great cars and would love to drive each one stock to see what they offer and upgrade a few to see how much I can push them. Not to mention it’s the Top Gear pack and would make any petrol head approve! Great article, John!
I love the article, John. That Chapparal is a gorgeous car. I love all those old 60s racers like that one, the GT40, and the Ferrari GTO 250. They are such beasts but they’re fun to tame. I found Jim Hall’s contributions to motorsport really fascinating. As a child of the 80s and 90s and a race fan, it’s amazing the progress that has been made in the last 50 years. It’s so hard to believe that things like wider tires and improved downforce have all been figured out in that recent history. You sometimes forget this stuff wasn’t common knowledge. I really enjoyed the perspective and reminder. Pretty freaking cool that the guy’s still around to talk to and get all that history in what shaped modern racing into what it is.
Awesome!! Even though I can’t afford FM5/XB1, I’m thrilled that Turn 10 decided to add the Chapparal 2e to the car list!! These cars, and this era, was truly the innovative time that brought us to where we are today in racing. It makes sense for you to pay tribute to them, and starting with the Chapparal. How 'bout the Porsche 917/10 of Donohue/Follmer…also a true innovation and world-beater to boot! Of course the McLaren(s) would be cool as well (as they were the perennial champs!). These cars will never be seen again (I was lucky enough to be alive in these days, and lived near Riverside, CA) and its cool to me to have later generations be able to drive/experience these beasts, and innovators of racing concepts. Thanks Turn 10!
Very insightful read about a car I’d not really heard about before. Great to know some of the background behind it, and the toe strap on the pedal is a really simple lifesaver - what a great idea! Also, the way in which the air ducts work to balance the car is a remarkable innovation for that time. It amazes me how clever some people are.
More importantly, I’m the Stig’s digital cousin, so if you could just let me have my car pack now so I can get on with the rivals, that’d be just great.
thanks again for another good read, john. what a truly great piece of engineering. that’s really interesting how the aerodynamics of the vehicle work, how taping the brake opens air ducts and such. amazing engineering and those are some beautiful specs on that build! and to all those to passed away due to stuck throttles, may you rest in peace. that’s a horrible way to pass away. a stuck throttle would be terrifying. thanks again.
Thanks for sharing!