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Technology in race cars (19): Chaparral 2F - The outrunner

Name: Chaparral 2D 1966
Brand: Chaparral

Created on August 16, 2022

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Chaparral 2F (1967) - rare color photo before the 1000 km race at Monza

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - At the 1000 km race on the Nürburgring

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - at Daytona, driven by Phil Hill and Jo Bonnier

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - in Daytona. The headlights had to be placed higher for Europe

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - in the Nürburgring carousel at the 1000 km race

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - based on the chassis of the 2A

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - in Daytona. Only in comparison with Joakim Bonnier at the wheel does it become clear how small the car is

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - in the pit lane at the 1000 km race on the Nürburgring

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - Bonnier and Hill fight against Ferrari's superiority at Le Mans

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - after restoration in 1983

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - based on the widened chassis of the 2A

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - still with front-mounted water cooler

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Chaparral 2D (1966) - at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the Targa Florio in Sicily

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Phil Hill jumps at the Pflanzgarten in the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Phill Hill and Hap Sharp retired from the Targa Florio due to a puncture

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Start of the six-hour race at Brands Hatch

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - with Texan license plate at the Targa Florio

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Village entrance at the Targa Florio

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - on the way to his only victory at Brands Hatch

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Phantom drawing to illustrate the air flow in the vehicle

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Compared to the Shelby Cobra (here by Herb Byrne), the technical progress is also visually clear

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Phil Hill leads for four hours until suspension damage knocks him out of the race

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the 1000 km race in Monza. The Alfa Romeo TZ 2 of Zeccoli/Volonterio is already lapped. The Ferrari 330 P4 of Parkes/Scarfiotti is breathing down their necks

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - Unique at the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 km race with small front spoiler

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - The light-alloy V8 from Chevrolet with a displacement of 7.6 liters and around 550 hp

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - unusual cockpit radiator ensemble

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - rear axle with compact

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - there was only room for one front wheel in the spare tire compartment, which led to its failure at the Targa Florio

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - the front end. Behind the right front wheel you can see the white (non-supporting) widening compared to the 2D chassis

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - The inlets for cooling air (large) and intake air (small) are located next to the cockpit. Behind them are the waste air outlets

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - view into the cockpit. The seat shells are part of the chassis

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - The plastic chassis remained in use for five years

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Hill/Spence in front of the Corvette of Bondurant/Guldstrand. In the background the Chaparral of Johnson/Jennings

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Chaparral 2F (1967) - at the 1000 km race at Spa-Francorchamps

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Summary

A five-year-old design is no longer competitive in racing. However, the Chaparral 2F was still in contention for victories in its final season, but only won one because reliability was not on its side. Despite its modest success, the car has remained etched in the memories of motorsport enthusiasts thanks to its powerful rear wing. This article from the series "Technology in racing cars from 1958 to 1978" looks at the Chaparral 2F in detail and shows it in historical photos.

This article contains the following chapters

The Chaparral 2F
Sophisticated aerodynamics
A single victory
Intermezzo in Sicily

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

After a first victory for the open 2A at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1965, Chaparral took part in European races of the international one-make world championship for two-seaters for the first time in 1966 with a Type 2D coupé. The European premiere was at the Nürburgring of all places. The single car - a Texan nobody with its plastic chassis and automatic transmission - was brought to the track on a trailer. The team manager was Hap Sharp. His wife Susie took the times. There were also three mechanics and the two drivers Phil Hill and Joakim Bonnier. The Europeans had actually expected a more grandiose appearance from a US team.

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