Bob Riley, a legend in the world of motorsports, has passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the history of racing. From designing iconic IndyCar and sports car chassis to shaping some of the most memorable vehicles in motorsports history, Riley’s work touched every corner of the racing world. His creations included the Coyote Indy cars for A.J. Foyt, front-engine Mustang GTPs, the high-downforce Intrepid RM-1, the legendary Riley & Scott Trans Am cars, the Mk III prototype, and the Daytona Prototype chassis—vehicles that defined an era and dominated racetracks across the globe.
Riley’s career spanned multiple disciplines of racing, and in 2024, he was inducted into the IMSA Hall of Fame, joining the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. A trained mechanical and aeronautical engineer, Riley’s journey began in the aerospace industry, where he contributed to Chrysler’s Space Department and the Saturn rocket program. But it was his passion for racing that led him to build his own cars at home, starting with the legendary Lynx Formula Vee—a decision that would change the course of his life forever.
In the 1970s, Riley’s Coyote-Foyt Ford Indy cars became a powerhouse in IndyCar racing, with A.J. Foyt winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 1977 behind the wheel of one of Riley’s designs. As an engineer for Ford, Riley also contributed to the success of the Ford GT MK IV program, which claimed victory at Le Mans. A few years later, Riley developed the Coyote Indy car chassis, including the groundbreaking 1981 Coyote, which introduced full ground effects to Indy racing. The car generated so much downforce that the team had to modify it, cutting holes to relieve some of the pressure—a testament to Riley’s innovative spirit.
Riley’s foray into sports car racing began with the front-engine Ford Mustang GTP, a unique design in 1983. While its initial success was overshadowed by reliability issues, it laid the foundation for what would become a string of groundbreaking projects. Riley’s next creation, the Intrepid RM-1, developed with his son Bill and produced by Pratt & Miller, was a game-changer. With its extreme downforce, the Intrepid became the fastest car in cornering during its debut season, claiming victory with Wayne Taylor behind the wheel in New Orleans in 1991.
In 1990, Riley teamed up with Mark Scott to form Riley & Scott, and the partnership quickly produced a series of successful racecars. The Mk I Trans Am chassis racked up victories, and the Mk III World Sports Car chassis became a dominant force in the late ’90s, outpacing even the mighty Ferrari 333SP. The Mk III won three of four Daytona 24-hour races from 1996-1999, with victories for teams like Doyle Racing and Dyson Racing. The chassis not only dominated IMSA but also became the foundation for the Cadillac Northstar LMP and the Mk III C, which continued racing until 2005.
Riley & Scott’s success didn’t stop there. They also developed the Mk V Indy car chassis, which scored a victory at Phoenix with Buddy Lazier behind the wheel. In 1999, Reynard acquired the company, but Riley’s legacy lived on through the creation of Riley Technologies in 2001. Under the Riley banner, the Mk XI chassis became a force to be reckoned with, winning the Daytona 24 Hour race 10 times from 2005-2015. Teams like Wayne Taylor Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Michael Shank Racing all celebrated victory in these cars, which featured a variety of powerplants, including Pontiac, Lexus, Porsche, BMW, and Ford.
In addition to these triumphs, Riley’s influence extended to notable projects such as the SpeedSource RX-7s and the Viper GTS-Rs that raced in ALMS and IMSA GTLM from 2012-2014, as well as the Viper GT3-R.
Mark Raffauf, IMSA’s Senior Director of Competition, summed it up best when reflecting on Riley’s induction into the IMSA Hall of Fame: “It’s hard to condense his career into something brief. He was likely directly involved in or conceived at least 20 significant designs. In my opinion, he is the single most significant American race car designer in history.”
Today, Riley Motorsports continues to race under the leadership of Bill Riley, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in LMP2 and GT World Challenge America. Chris Dyson races Riley Technologies chassis in Trans Am, while the company has also taken over Kar-Kraft, building a continuation of the Mk IV chassis.
Bob Riley’s impact on motorsports will never be forgotten, and his name will always be synonymous with innovation, excellence, and the spirit of racing.