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Galaxies in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
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Photo: Maurice Foulgoc Archive
Photo: Maurice Foulgoc Archive
Featured Editorials & ContentRacecar ArticlesRacecar Features

Galaxies in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

 Mike Matune

Environment affects evolution. Case in point: racing sedans. European sedans, contending with high fuel costs and operating on winding and narrow roads, ended up looking different from their American counterparts, raised on cheap fuel in more open spaces. Racing venues also differed, with sedan racing in Europe dominated by road racing and hillclimbs, while their American counterparts gravitated, for the most part, to drag strips and ovals.

The route for the 1963 Tour de France Auto started in France before crossing into Germany and Belgium, looping back through France and ending in Monaco. Along the way, each crew took on seven hillclimbs and nine race courses as well as each other.

There was little crossover, but instances did occur where American sedans made forays onto the circuits of Europe with varied levels of success. Examples include the Briggs Cunningham-entered Cadillac Series 61 Coupe de Ville at Le Mans in 1950, driven by the Collier brothers, which came home 10th among much sleeker racing machinery. Famed Belgian race driver and journalist Paul Frère would win the Grand-Prix des Voitures de Série, held at Spa-Francorchamps, for both Oldsmobile and Chrysler in the ’50s. Dan Gurney invaded the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with a Chevrolet Impala in 1961. And while there were others, the sight of a hulking American sedan alongside its European brethren, on a European racetrack, was not common.

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Brand (Briggs Cunningham)Brand (Chevrolet)Brand (Chrysler)Brand (Ferrari)Brand (Ford)Brand (Jaguar)Brand (Oldsmobile)Event (Tour Auto)Grand PrixGroup (FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile))People (Alan Brown)People (Dan Gurney)People (Henri Greder)People (Jack Sears)People (Peter Jopp)Race (24 Hours of Le Mans)Racetrack (Daytona)Racetrack (Spa-Francorchamps)Series (BTCC (British Touring Car Championship))Series (Hillclimb Racing)Series (NASCAR)

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Mike Matune
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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