7 Amazing Cars That Outlasted Their Drivers
If you’re a car enthusiast, then it’s hard not to be amazed by the lengths that some cars went through. Some of these vehicles were driven for decades without their owners ever taking them in for repairs or even oil changes. This is an article about 7 amazing cars that outlasted their drivers.
07. The 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B that won the Mille Miglia in 1933
Out of all these amazing cars, perhaps one of the most interesting ones is the 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B. This car was once driven by famous racer Tazio Nuvolari to win its first race back at Mille Miglia in 1933.
The last driver to drive the Tipo B was Achille Varzi until he retired from racing with it in 1936. This vehicle managed to survive World War II and was later restored by Alfa Romeo in the 1970s!
The Tipo B is a car that outlasted all but one of its drivers and won countless races back before World War II.
06. The 1939 BMW 328 Roadster that won the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio
The 1939 BMW 328 is a car with an interesting racing history behind it. It was raced by famous drivers such as Hans Stuck, Herbert Muller, and Dick Seaman back in its day. This BMW 328 Roadster was also one of the most expensive cars back in 1939; it has an estimated value today of around $12 million!
The car managed to set many records, such as winning both Mille Miglia and Targa Florio (two famous races) in 1940. It is a record that only two other vehicles have achieved since then.
The car also outlasted two of its drivers, who died on the track in 1955 and 1957 respectively. The last driver to drive this car was Paul Pietsch until he retired from racing with it in 1969. He donated it back to BMW where they restored the vehicle for future generations of enthusiasts to enjoy!
05. The 1954 Mercedes W196 that won the F-I Championship
Mercedes has always been a fan favorite when it comes to racing, and this is because of their famous cars. The most notable one was probably the 1954 Mercedes W196, which won its first race at Nurburgring in 1955. However, perhaps what made this vehicle so famous was the fact that it won its first race back in 1954 at Silverstone.
One of the most interesting things about this car is how it outlasted all but one of its drivers (the other driver died during a test drive). The only remaining driver who drove this vehicle, Stirling Moss, stopped racing after 1962 because he refused to compete without his teammate, Denis Jenkinson.
The Mercedes W196 is a car that outlasted five of its famous f1 drivers and won countless races!
04. A 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster with over 400,000 miles on the odometer
The Porsche 356A has many things to its name, including being one of the most famous cars in history. Car enthusiasts also recognize this vehicle as a racing car that set numerous world records and won countless races during the 1950s.
Perhaps what makes this 1956 Porsche 356A Speedster even more special is how it not only outlasted all but one of its drivers (the other driver died in a racing accident), but also the time it spent on display at RMS Queen Mary. It was displayed onboard this ship until 1978 when it was sold and restored.
The 356A is currently owned by Porsche who keeps this vehicle as an example to show off its history of success!
03. A 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider with over 55,000 miles on the odometer
Anyone who knows anything about racing history would immediately recognize this vehicle like a Ferrari that has a rich racing past! The 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider was driven by famous racer Juan Manuel Fangio and won many races such as the Mille Miglia (1955), Targa Florio (1956), and Grand Prix Championship!
The last driver to drive this car was Olivier Gendebien in 1958 until he retired with it.
The 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider is a car that outlasted all but one of its drivers and won many races during the 1950s, making it famous for any racing fan around the world!
02. BMW E36 M3 Lightweight models
Paul Walker was famous for numerous roles that he played in the Fast and Furious franchise. He starred as Brian O’Conner, one of the lead characters of this series.
As Paul’s last few projects were all centered on car racing, it is not surprising to find out that he had a strong passion for cars- so much so that he owned several BMW E36 M3 Lightweights!
This particular model of BMW is quite popular among performance enthusiasts due to its lightweight frame. It also has an inline-six engine with 300 horsepower. The most powerful iteration comes with 320 horsepower, which can propel this vehicle up to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds!
These are some features that make this model of BMW unique and popular among car enthusiasts. But perhaps what makes this vehicle even more interesting is how it has outlasted its most famous owner, Paul Walker!
01. The 1939 Packard Super Eight One-Eighty Convertible Victoria that was once a personal car of Henry Ford II
The 1939 Packard One-Eighty Convertible Victoria is not only a personal car of Henry Ford II, but it also has an interesting racing past. This vehicle was once raced by Briggs Cunningham and won many races such as the 12 Hours of Sebring (1957) and Le Mans 24 Hour race (1959).
However, perhaps what makes this car even more famous is the fact that it was also driven by a celebrity. This vehicle was once owned and raced by actor Clark Gable!
One of the most interesting things about this 1939 Packard One-Eighty Convertible Victoria is how it outlasted all but one of its drivers, including Henry Ford II himself when he died in 1987. The last driver to race this car was Briggs Cunningham until he retired in 1960 and donated the vehicle back to Ford where it is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum!
The 7 cars mentioned in this article are some of the most interesting ones out there. For one, they all managed to survive their drivers and continued for years afterward-even though many had over 400,000 miles or more that is why it’s not hard to see why these cars might be so interesting. Perhaps what makes these cars even more amazing is how they outlasted their famous owners.