Auto Obscura

More Cars Named After Racing Legends

Auto Obscura

Summary

The discussion centers on race car drivers and the cars named in their honor, continuing a previous episode's exploration of this theme. The hosts highlight Tazio Nuvolari, an iconic pre-war driver known for his remarkable skills and legendary races, including a dramatic victory at the Nürburgring in 1935. Despite driving an outdated Alfa Romeo against superior German cars, Nuvolari's exceptional talent shone through, earning him a place in racing history. His legacy is honored by Audi, which has named several models after him, including the upcoming Audi Nuvolari, a powerful hybrid supercar.

The conversation shifts to Paddy Hopkirk, a celebrated Irish rally driver known for his success in the Mini Cooper. Hopkirk's achievements include winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, where he famously outperformed larger cars. The hosts critique Mini's tribute to Hopkirk through a special edition car that lacks significant enhancements, yet Hopkirk himself expresses gratitude for the recognition.

The episode also touches on other notable drivers and their associated vehicles, including Sterling Moss and the Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 edition, which pays homage to Moss's legendary Mille Miglia drive. The hosts conclude that many more drivers and cars deserve recognition, hinting at a future episode to continue this exploration of automotive history.

Show Notes

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura Website - Https://www.autoobscura.com

00:00 Intro 01:17 The Rules 02:58 Tazio Nuvolari 21:44 Paddy Hopkirk 27:55 Sterling Moss 37:45 Valentino Balboni 40:22 So many more 41:22 Emerson Fittipaldi 44:21 So many more again 45:27 Mazda Cosmo Terrible? 49:03 Wrap Up

More from Auto Obscura

Oct 21, 2026

You know the cars, do you know the stories behind their names? Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoObscura

Oct 14, 2026

Deep dive into the history of Turbine engines in Cars. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura Website - Https://www.autoobscura.com00:00 Intro 01:09 Turban or Turbine? 01:46 Different Turbines 02:49 Turbine history 06:20 First Turbine Car - Rover Jet 1 10:11 SAC FireBoid 16:42 1955 Rover T3 18:50 1956 Rover T3 20:33 1961 Rover T4 21:59 1963 Rover-BRM 23:48 1964 Rover-BRM 26:00 Howmet TX 38:01 GM Firebird I 41:52 GM Firebird II 44:10 GM Firebird III 46:03 GM Firebird IV 47:19 Next Turbine Car Episode 47:46 Terrible Car Book 49:08 Volvo 262C - Terrible? 50:49 Craig is WRONG 51:11 Wrap Up

Oct 7, 2026

When fashion designers with auto makers for some great and questionable special editions. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura Website - Https://www.autoobscura.com Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/auto-obscura/id1896902455 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/79PbqJ05tJRvgnqXu9501y 00:00 Intro 01:13 Fashionable Definitions 03:13 Eddie Bauer Fords 09:54 Gucci Cadillac 12:45 Gucci AMC 15:22 Gucci Fiat 500 18:40 Oleg Cassini AMC 22:02 Pierre Cardin Javelin 23:59 Levis AMCs 26:01 Lincoln Designer Series 30:55 Fila Thunderbird 32:00 Lacoste Peugeot 205 32:25 Nautica Mercury Villager 34:28 Hermès Bugatti 36:15 Hermès Citröen 2CV 37:21 Hermès Chiron and Pagani 38:27 Versace Lamborghini 40:55 Victoria's Secret Diablo 43:21 LL Bean and Neman Marcus 44:05 Kith BMW 44:32 Pop Quiz! 47:06 Book of Iacocca 48:18 Wrap Up

Sep 30, 2026

Crime in the top tier of MotorsportPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura Website - Https://www.autoobscura.com

Sep 23, 2026

Being an automotive influencer is not a new thing. We dig into the history of the genre. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/AutoObscura Website - Https://www.autoobscura.com

See all episodes →