The innovative cars from Chaparral captured my imagination and love for Jim Hall's creations when I was a boy and my first slot car, a Chaparral 2. Part of the golden age of U.S. road racing, they are some of my favorites. I present our small collection of the cars from Midland, Texas.

Jim Hall Race Cars:

1960 Lotus 18: The 18 was Lotus' first mid-engine car and Lotus made F1, F2 & FJ versions of the tube frame chassis car. The F1 version had a 2.5L Coventry Climax DOHC four-cylinder engine, capable of producing 239hp. The engine was mated to a five-speed sequential manual gearbox and the Lotus 18's advantage was its low weight to power ratio. It proved to be one of the fastest cars on any grid, gearbox reliability however was its downfall. Lotus sold 18's to private teams as well as running its own F1 team. Jim Hall purchased an 18 for the USGP at Riverside in 1960. Lotus team drivers Moss and Ireland finished the race 1-2, but Hall in his only F1 race of the season finished 7th. He raced the 18 at the USGP again in 1961, but failed to finish.
Model by SPARK 1/43
1960 Maserati Tipo 61: Jim Hall drove this car for Carrol Shelby during the 1960 and part of the 1961 season in both USAC and SCCA races. Hall finished 2nd at the Road America 200,among the more notable outings in this car. Part way through the 1961 season, Hall began driving the Chapparal 1 and by 1962, drove almost exclusively cars that had the Chapparal name on them. The rest is history.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: Roger Penske, Jim Hall and Hap Sharp drove this car to 3rd place at the Road America 500 in 1964. Originally they planned to enter a Chaparral 2, but not being ready, entered Penske's Grand Sport (Chassis #005) instead. It was an exciting race with the Meacom Ferrari 250 LM and Cobra of Ken Miles providing stiff competition.
Model by UNIVERSAL 1/43

The Chaparral's:

1965 Chaparral 2A: Chaparral was founded by Jim Hall, a Texas oil magnate with an impressive combination of skills in engineering and race car driving. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Chaparral's distinctive race cars experienced strong success in both American and European racing circuits. The Chaparral 2-Series was designed and built to compete in the United States Road Racing Championship
Model by AUTOART 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2A: In 1965 Chaparral 2 dominated United States road racing with 16 wins in 21 races, and its greatest win to date, the Sebring 12 hour race against top international competition. This car driven by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp won the Road America 500. I was fortunate to see this car run there again, driven by Hall in 2001 when Chaparral was the featured car. Click here for photos
Model by MRCC 1/32
1965 Chaparral 2A: In 1965 Chaparral won the Sebring 12 Hours despite torrential rains for part of the race, which flooded parts of the course. Jim Hall and Hap Sharp had built up a significant lead and won handily. This car is Chassis #001 and was converted to a 2D in 1966 and raced in that configuration through 1967 where it the Nurburgring 1000km and was also raced at Le Mans.
Model by MA MODELS 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2A: The Chaparral automatic transmission was "actually a two-speed manual gearbox with a high performance lockup torque converter instead of a conventional clutch." Coupled to an aluminum block Chevrolet 5.3L V8, with four Weber carburetors and higher compression aluminum heads. the Chaparral produced 475 bhp. A fiberglass monocoque with steel reinforcements and fiberglass body the Chaparral cars were on the leading edge of aerodynamics in race cars in the 60's.
VARIOUS SCALES

1965 Chaparral 2A: I fell in love with the Chaparral when I got a Chaparral slot car for a birthday present in 1965. That car is among my projects awaiting restoration. As I grew older, I came over time to appreciate the innovation and total impact that the Chaparral's made to racing.
Model by EXOTO 1/18
1965 Chaparral 2A: With nearly two dozen victories in two seasons, the Chaparral 2A remains as the most successful of all of Jim Hall's racers. The composite chassis was revolutionary and the advantages were not accepted for another two decades when the carbon composites structures debuted in Formula 1 racing.
Model by EXOTO 1/18
1965 Chaparral 2A: Hall and Sharp kicked off the 1965 season with a stunning win in the prestigious Sebring 12 Hours. Against America's and Europe's finest the further developed Chaparral took the pole position, fastest lap and overall victory leaving the Fords and Ferraris to bite their dust.
EXOTO 1/18

(Sebring 12-Hour, 1965): After the successful 1964 season, Chaparral began the 1965 season at Sebring, where Bruce Jennings and Ronnie Hissom drove the second 2A in the World Championship for Makes round of the FIA Championship. Hissom was an original partner in Chaparral Cars and Jennings had a successful career driving Porsches. The pair placed the 5.4L Chevy V8 powered car second on the grid behind its sister car driven by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp. After running as high as third, the Jennings/Hissom 2A lost valuable time in the pits due to battery and electrical problems and were held there at one point in case the car was needed for spares to keep the other Chaparral entry going. That car clearly going strong, they rejoined the race and finished in 22nd position.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
(Sebring 12-Hour, 1965): Chaparral were the most innovative American racing cars and during the ten years they raced, they were always pioneering new concepts in aerodynamics, power units, transmissions and materials. The close association with the GM Technical Center and its engineers eager to help and offer assistance. That association helped make the innovations happen faster, but it is said that with Jim Hall, even without it they would have happened, just more slowly. The 2A would see service in most USRRC rounds and some SCCA races in 1965. This car, Chassis #2A002, after winning six races in 1964 and twice more at Mosport in 1965, would become the second 2D and the chassis would eventually become a 2F.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2A (Sebring 12-Hour, 1965):
Models by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2A (Sebring 12-Hour, 1965): Both the Chaparrals at Sebring in 1965. Photo by Walker Fricks, Jr.

1965 Chaparral 2C (Pacific Raceway, 1965): With the competition getting faster, Jim Hall knew that to remain competitive, the Chaparral 2A would need to become lighter. Looking towards the Can Am series set to debut in 1966, Hall designed a lighter aluminum chassis, and this genesis of the car became the 2C. Retaining the 400 HP, 5.4L aluminum small block Chevy engine, the 2C featured a moveable rear spoiler which could be trimmed by use of a cockpit foot pedal to provide downforce under breaking and less resistance under speed. It was the first moveable aerodynamic aid that could be operated by the driver. This and the lighter weight of the car made it more competitive than the 2A. It made its debut at the Northwest Grand Prix round of the USRRC in 1965.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2C (Pacific Raceway, 1965): Pacific Raceway in Kent, WA was a great test for the new 2C. With long straights and tight corners that are approached at high speeds, it was a great test for the new moveable rear wing spoiler. Jim Hall put the 2C on pole for the race and Hap Sharp in the teams 2A was a second behind, qualifying second. The lighter 2C showed that the team was moving in the right direction to stay ahead of the competition. Hall won the race on his way to becoming the USRRC Champion in 1965. While the car was withdrawn at Riverside due to a suspension problem, it won with Sharp in Las Vegas. It raced again in Nassau before it started the next chapter in its life, as a 2D.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2C (Nassau, 1965): There was one Chaparral 2C built (Ch.#2C001). After the successful debut at the USRRC Northwest Grand Prix in October 1965, Jim Hall and crew concentrated on Riverside. Things looked good, with Hall qualifying 2nd. However, a suspension problem before the start eliminated him from the race. The next action for the 2C would be the end of season finale in Nassau. Hall led the Governors Trophy race until a throttle linkage problem dropped him back to finish 7th. Hap Sharp in the older 2A finished second.
Model by ESDO 1/43
1965 Chaparral 2C (Nassau, 1965): Hall again led the 250-mile Nassau Trophy Race until his suspension collapsed and end his race on lap 44 of the 56-lap race won by Hap Sharp in the other Chaparral. It was the last race for the 2C and for long-time teammate Sharp, who retired from active racing after winning the race. In its short competition life, the 2C had proven that a lighter chassis was the way forward to stay even with the competition. The moveable rear spoiler activated with a foot pedal was an innovative first that allowed the car to brake later into corners. Its chassis would form the backbone for the new 2E in 1966.
Model by ESDO 1/43

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(Daytona 24-Hour, 1966): Using the chassis of the 1965 Sebring winning car (#001), Jim Hall and Chaparral added a roof to make a closed coupe for international endurance racing. This car became the 2D. For its inaugural race at the Daytona 24-Hours in 1966, the car employed the flipper rear spoiler from the 2C. It used the same small block aluminum Chevy V8 of 5.4L, but power had been increased to 470 HP, which helped the heavier car. At Daytona, the car was driven by Jo Bonnier and Phil Hill, who qualified the car 2nd on the grid, proving the new 2D equal to its competition. It was a promising beginning, but teething problems spoiled its debut.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43
(Daytona 24-Hour, 1966): Daytona was the opening round of the World Sportscar Championship in 1966 and Chaparrals were hopeful. Showing that the 2D had the speed to equal its closest rivals the Ford GT40 and Lola T70, the car led the opening laps of the twenty-four hour race. On Lap 7 however, trouble would strike as a steering problem developed. After two more long stops for the same problem, the car was withdrawn after 14 hours around 4 am with a broken wheel hub. It was raced again at Sebring where it failed to finish, but Bonnier and Hill took this car to the win at the Nurburgring before it was raced by the pair at Le Mans. It would run at Daytona and Sebring again in 1967 without success.
Model by MA Models (built kit) 1/43

1966 Chaparral 2D (Nurburgring 1000 Km -, 1966 - WINNER): For 1966 the USSRC was replaced by the all new Can-Am Challenge series, which attracted a lot more European attention. For the FIA mandated races Chaparral developed the fiberglass 2A into the fixed-head 2D, which scored the company's first European victory in the 1966 Nurburgring 1000 km race with Phil Hill and Jo Bonnier driving. The 2D used the Chaparral 2 chassis. This is the Nurburgring winner.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1966 Chaparral 2D (Nurburgring 1000 Km -, 1966 - WINNER)
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1966 Chaparral 2D (Le Mans 1966): For Le Mans in 1966, the 2D used a smaller 5.4L Chevrolet V8, rather than the 7.0L engine used at Daytona and Sebring that year. The smaller engine produced 420 bhp, coupled to the Chaparral 6-speed automatic gearbox. Phil Hill and Jo Bonnier teamed together to take on the Ford's, Porsche's and Ferrari's at Le Mans in 1966. They could not duplicate their win at the Nurburgring, retiring in the 8th hour due to electrical problems. Running just one car against the other multi-car entries of the other works teams hampered the Chaparral success odds of winning. Innovative, beautiful and fast when running, there was nothing else quite like them.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1967 Chaparral 2F (Targa Florio 1967): "We came to Europe to race, we'll have a go at anything, whether it is suitable or not." That was the motto of the Chaparral team as they started the 1967 European racing season with the new 2F, which had been converted from a 2E to Group 6 specifications. Powered by the massive 7.0L Chevy engine, with its tall wing, the big coupe was a crowd attracter at each event. Phil Hill and Hap Sharp drove the Targa Florio. While the car was too heavy and wide for the narrow Sicilian roads, Ferrari was there and Chaparral was true to its motto. Driving carefully so as not to bend the car before Le Mans, the pair had the car in 4th place near the end of the ninth of ten laps, when Sharp got a puncture in a rear tire and had to give up. The spare tire and wheel they carried did not fit the rear. For once, the transmission did not let the car down and a finish would have been a real coup; especially since the favored Ferrari's did not finish either.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

Chaparral 2D & 2F: The 1966 Nurburgring 1000 Km winning 2D and the 1967 BOAC 500 winning 2F. A special edition set (#26 of 108) signed by Jim Hall and Phil Hill who drove both cars to victory!
Model by MARSH MODELS 1/43
1967 Chaparral 2F (Le Mans 1967): Driven at Le Mans in 1967 by Phil Hill and Mike Spence, this car and its sister entry did not survive the full 24 hours. This car surrendered in the 18th hour to transmission trouble while in third place. Using a 7.0L V8 instead of the 5.3L in the 2D, the 2F missed the taking the Le Mans pole by 0.3 seconds to a Ford MkIV driven by Bruce McLaren.
Model by IXO 1/43
1967 Chaparral 2F (Le Mans 1967): Bob Johnson and Bruce Jennings drove this car at Le Mans, but failed to finish after electrical problems forced the car to retire at 10 hours. When a solution was finally found to the 2F's transmission problems, the team scored its only win at the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch with Phil Hill and Mike Spence driving. After this race, the FIA changed its rules, outlawing not only the 2F but the Ford Gt Mark 4 and the Ferrari P4 as well.
Model by IXO 1/43
1967 Chaparral 2F (Le Mans 1967): The 2F used the Chaparral 2 chassis with the enclosed bodywork. A total of four chassis Chaparral 2 chassis were constructed, but only three were used. All three were converted to either 2D or 2F specification and survive to this day. Chassis 2A002, which was restored to 2A specification in the 1980s. 2A001 and 2A003 were restored to 2D and 2F form respectively.
Model by MRCC 1/32

1966 Chaparral 2E: The car that changes racing! With its high wing, the 2E began the modern era of wings, spoiliers and downforce. Raced in the 1966 Can Am series, Jim Hall and Phill Hill were successful in the 6.0L Chevy V8 powered 2E's with podium finishes at Laguna Seca (1st & 2nd), Riverside and Bridgehampton. Chaparral used the chassis from #2C001 to make this car and it became #2E001.
Model by TRUESCALE 1/43
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1967 Chaparral 2G: Raced during the 1967 and 1968 Can Am season, the 2G chassis (#2G001) started out as a 2C in 1965 and was subsequentlty converted to a 2E in 1966 before its 2G configuration. Jim Hall drove the Chevy 7.0L aluminum block powered car to 3rd place at Riverside in 1968, with its best Can Am finish being 2nd at both Bridgehampton and Laguna Seca. Riverside was the last race before Hall's bad accident at Las Vegas and retirement from racing.
Model by TSM 1/43
1969 Chaparral/McLaren M12: The Chaparral/McLaren M12 was one of the first customer M12's and was the first Can Am car to have the all-aluminum Chevrolet 8.1L V-8, which put out a ground pounding 780 hp! Jim Hall used the McLaren to pacify John Surtees until the Chaparral 2H was ready. Surtees' best finish in the M12 was a 3rd at Mosport. He drove the car to the mid-point in the season before the 2H was ready. This is how the Chaparral M12 looked at the Bridgehampton round of the Can Am. It failed to finish due to a blown engine.
Model by MA MODELS 1/43
1969 Chaparral 2H: Built for the '69 Can-Am season, the 2H brought a new conceptual shape to Chaparral cars. With its long narrow shape, the 2H had a fully-stressed fiberglass shell and a small sub frame to stabilize the load bearing engine and transmission. Powered by a 465 Cu in Chevy big block, the 2H was driven by John Surtees in place on an injured Jim Hall. Due to Hall's inability to drive and test the car, it never reached its potential.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43
1970 Chaparral 2J: The most unusual Chaparral was the 2J. In addition to a powerful 700 hp engine, and a three-speed semi automatic transmission, the back of the 2J housed two 17-inch fans driven by a 45 hp snowmobile engine. The purpose of the fans was to 'suck' air from under the car to provide downforce. This gave the car tremendous gripping power and enabled greater maneuverability at all speeds. It also had ground effect Lexan-plastic skirts to keep air from leaking in, a technology that would appear in Formula One several years later. Vic Elford drove the 2J for most of the 1970 Ca-Am season, with teething problems denying him a victory.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1970 Chaparral 2J: The 2J competed in the Can-Am series and often qualified at least a couple of seconds quicker than the next fastest car, but was not a success because it was plagued with mechanical problems. It ran for only one racing season in 1970 after which it was outlawed by the SCCA. Jackie Stewart drove the car initially at its first race at Watkins Glen. Jim Hall needed a driver that could handle the cornering power of the 2J, so he sought out 'Quick' Vic Elford who had established himself as one of the best endurance racers ever. Unfortunately due to pressure from McLaren, the SCCA outlawed the 2J beacuse of its potential domination.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1970 Chevrolet-Chaparral Camaro: 1970 was the pinacle year for muscle car development and the SCCA Trans-Am racing was being contested in full fury by all of the U.S. manufacturers. Roger Penske had left the series and the Camaro's in 1970 were built for racing by Jim Hall. The Chaparral-Camaro had a 304 cu.in. V8, which produces 475 hp and featured the new generation body style Camaro introduced that year. Hall and Vic Elford drove this car to victory at Watkins Glen and 4th place at Road America.
Model by TRUE SCALE 1/43
1970 Chevrolet-Chaparral Camaro: Ed Leslie was the primary driver of the second Chaparral team entry in the 1970 Trans Am. The Trans Am was at its zenith, with stiff competition from Ford and AMC. The Chaparral-Camaro's had limited success due to both limited development time and weight and Chevy's best days in the series were behind it. Ed Leslie's best placing was a 2nd at Lime Rock. Three Chaparral-Camaro cars were built, the lone survivor still races in Historic Trans-Am races around the USA.
Model by SPARK 1/43
1979-82 Chaparral 2K Indianapolis 500 Winner: After the ban of his 2J, Jim Hall returned to racing in 1974, winning three Can-Am titles with a F5000 Lola chassis and in 1978 he turned to Indy, again with a Lola chassis and claimed victory with Al Unser. In 1979, Chaparral debuted an all-new car, the 2K. Driven by Unser, the 700 bhp, turbo-charged 2.65L Cosworth V8 powered car used highly advanced ground effects. The car failed to finish Indy, but showed potential through the 1979 season. For 1980, Johnny Rutherford was brought on to drive for the season. His Indy win and dominance of the 1980 CART season is a tribute to the genius of Jim Hall!
Model by SPARK 1/43
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To see the Chaparral collection at Road America in 2001, click on the following link:

THE CHAPPARAL'S AT ROAD AMERICA - The 35th CAN AM REUNION




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