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Question about front to back width of F1 cars from certain period.

Discussion in 'F1' started by SSNISTR, Oct 10, 2013.

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  1. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

    Feb 13, 2004
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    #1 SSNISTR, Oct 10, 2013
    My buddy and I are disagreeing on this and we can not find a definite answer. Maybe you guys can help...

    Here is the deal, we were talking about late 80's to late 90's F1 cars. Basically from right after the turbo ban ('89), to just before they narrowed the cars up a little ('97).

    He thinks that some cars during this time period were wider up front then at the rear (not talking about track, talking about overall width from end of tire to end of tire). I think he is wrong, as every car that I have seen in person from this time period seemed to actually be nearly the exact same from front to back as far as overall width.

    I know some F1 cars were wider at the rear, like for a period in the 70's, but I don't think any have ever been wider up front.

    Were there rules pertaining to this? Can anybody shed some light on this?

    Thanks!
     
  2. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
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    #2 rmani, Oct 10, 2013
    I dont think they were ever wider in the front
     
  3. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #3 SSNISTR, Oct 10, 2013
    Anyone else?
     
  4. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

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    #4 spirot, Oct 10, 2013
    Typically - F-1 cars have been symmetrical since the early 60's... there is not really an advantage to having a narrow track and then wider track... however some cars looked wider in the 70's because of the large Balloon tires... however the tracks were the same.

    In the 80's - 90's all cars were legislated to be within the FIA box - so there was no allowance for narrow or wide tracks. wings, outside wheels etc were mandated by the FIA.
     
  5. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #5 SSNISTR, Oct 10, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2013
    The year in particular we were talking about was 1991 incase it matters.

    When you say "tracks" it throws me off as track is measured in the center of the wheel area usually and F1 (and many other performance cars) have a narrower rear track to accomidate for the wider tires and deep dish wheels.

    But I assume you are talking about total width (outer edge of tire to outer edge of tire) was not allowed to differ on either the front or back? Am I correct?

    Do you have a link or something showing how the cars at the time had to fit those guidelines?

    Thanks!
     
  6. ricksb

    ricksb F1 Veteran

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    #6 ricksb, Oct 11, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Looking at these photos of the Ferrari 642, it's hard to tell...
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. ricksb

    ricksb F1 Veteran

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    #7 ricksb, Oct 11, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here's the other photo and dimensions. The width would seem to be the same in front and back


    Dimensions
    Length: 4,400 mm
    Width: 2,130 mm
    Height: 1,004 mm
    Wheelbase: 2881 mm
    Front/ Rear Track: 1,800/1,675 mm
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  8. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

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    #8 spirot, Oct 11, 2013
    i was using track in the general sense - I can look in autocourse - tech section.... what year ? 1990? that is the year of the 641 pictured above.
     
  9. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #9 SSNISTR, Oct 11, 2013
    1991...car is question was actually the Jordan 191, thx.
     

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