July 18, 2024 | Jamie Hayes

The 94 Greatest Cars Ever Built


Art On Wheels

The Ferrari GTO. Volkwagen Beetle. Bugatti Veyron. Toyota Corolla. These are the best cars ever built.

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1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The Corvette has always been a style icon, but the 4th-generation Corvette ZR1, with a DOHC 32-valve, 5.7-liter all-aluminum V8 and 375 hp was the first time they built a true beast that could keep pace with the best supercars out of Europe.

1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1Steven N. Severinghaus, Wikimedia Commons

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1976 Honda Accord

The Accord walked so the Camry could run. Before the Accord, family cars on American roads were the size of boats, and most people thought the dinky little cars out of Japan were silly and unserious. 

Then the Accord appeared in North America and changed the industry forever.

1981 Honda AccordRiley, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Ferrari F40

Ferrari had to do something special to celebrate their 40th anniversary, and they didn't disappoint. The 470-hp, 200-mph F40 remains one of the finest cars the automaker has ever built.

1987 Ferrari F40Adriano, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda

Plymouth redesigned the Barracuda to be able to envelop the massive 426 Hemi V8 and made one of the meanest, fastest, and most bad-a** muscle cars in history.

1970 Plymouth Hemi 'CudaGreg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1961 Lincoln Continental

When more ostentatious Americans were driving around in cars with big fins, the clean lines of the 1961 Lincoln Continental were the epitome of class and luxury. Simply one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

1961 Lincoln ContinentalSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1955 Ford Thunderbird

The T-Bird isn't just a car, it's a statement. Fun and fast, sure, but behind the wheel, you're driving a work of art.

1955 Ford ThunderbirdRandy von Liski, Flickr

1993 Honda Civic Coupe

The two-door Civic Coupe worked great as an affordable, first car for sensible drivers. It was also fast, rugged, and very easy to modify, which is what made it the hot rodding legend that it remains today.

1993 Honda Civic CoupeRutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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2002 Subaru WRX

Subaru used to be a sensible brand purchased by your nervous, college professor uncle from the East Coast. Then the fast, fun, and cool WRX quite literally turbocharged the brand's image when it reached American shores in 2002.

2002 Subaru Impreza WRXharry_nl, Flickr

1992 Hummer H1

Heavy vehicle manufacturer AM General first released the Hummer H1, a civilian version of the military Humvee, in 1991, and they haven't been topped since. There's never been a civilian vehicle that's more capable off-road—and ridiculously impractical on-road. The perfect SUV.

1992 Hummer H1harry_nl, Flickr

1973 Lancia Stratos

The Lancia Stratos looked like a toy version of a sports car—but that was a real Ferrari V6 under the hood, and it powered the unbelievably unique car to three straight World Rally Championships.

1973 Lancia Stratos Marlboro PrototypeUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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1968 Datsun 510

The affordable Japanese Datsun 510 might have looked square—both figuratively and literally—but it has beaten many a Porsche in SCCA races, and it was half the price of the comparable BMW 2002.

Close Up Photo of Green 1968 Datsun 510sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII

Once the Evo first came to North America in 2003 with the VIII, it immediately became the standard for performance in the rally car market—at a price that the common man could afford.

Close Up Photo of 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIIIsv1ambo, Flickr

1963 Jeep Wagoneer

The 1965 Jeep Wagoneer invented the entire family SUV category—and back then, 4x4 Jeep toughness came standard.

Close Up Photo of Blue 1963 Jeep Wagoneer on the streetJOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

Nissan's reputation in the sports car market faded considerably during the 1980s—before they dropped the 300-horsepower 300ZX Twin Turbo in 1990 like an atom bomb. Then they were right back on top.

Close Up Photo of 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin TurboDennis Elzinga, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

The 2007 S65 AMG may look like your standard luxury sedan—but whoever's behind the wheel knows that it's packing a 604-horsepower turbocharged V12 under the hood. It's something special.

Close Up Photo of Silver 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMGnakhon100, Flickr

1988 BMW M5

The 1988 BMW M5 was the first time a luxury car company made a Motorsport Division version of a sedan. Although its 3.5 liter, 256-hp engine wouldn't raise eyebrows today, in 1988 it was the birth of a legend.

Close Up Photo of Red 1988 BMW M5 parked on grassCharles01, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1991 Mercedes-Benz 500E/E500

The reason that the bar for high-performance luxury sedans is so high today is because of the arms race in the early 90s between the BMW M5 and Mercedes's 322-hp E500.

Mercedes enlisted the help of Porsche to try and top their rivals, and the result is one of the best cars ever made.

Close Up Photo of 1991 Mercedes-Benz E 500Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Probably the single-most underappreciated muscle car ever built, the 1985 Camaro IROC-Z was the peak of 1980s muscle style, performance, and attitude.

Close Up Photo of 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-ZSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1939 Lincoln Continental

Edsel Ford, the wealthy son of Henry Ford himself, wanted an American-made "personal luxury" car. The only problem was, it didn't exist yet. The result was the V12-powered 1939 Lincoln continental. 

The American automotive industry has been chasing the original Lincoln Continental ever since.

Close Up Photo of Blue 1939 Lincoln Continental CabrioletGreg Gjerdingen, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1968 Toyota Corolla

The first Corollas hit the road in Japan in 1966, and by 1968 they were already shipping their reliable, affordable compacts in America. 

To say it was a hit would be an understatement. It became the best selling car ever.

 Close Up Photo of White 1968 Toyota Corollaharry_nl, Flickr

1951 Ford Country Squire

The Woody. There's never been a more iconic family vehicle. It's what every minivan wishes it could be. The wood isn't real, but it looks so good.

1951 Ford Country Squire on a parking lotGreg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1930 Cadillac V-16

Cadillac means "prestige" because of the V-16. For 11 years, it quite simply set the standard that all other luxury vehicles could only follow.

In the decade that Cadillac built these beasts, barely 4,000 ever rolled off the assembly line, each one a work of art.

Close Up Photo of 1930 Cadillac V-16 Dual Cowl Sports Phaetonsv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1979 Mazda RX-7

The sports car was down for the count by the late 1970s—until a little Japanese company called Mazda came around with a simple, affordable, and most importantly, extremely fun two-seater called the RX-7.

Mazda saved the sports car with the RX-7—and it wasn't the only time they'd do it.

Green 1979 Mazda RX-7 displayed on exhibitionRené, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2003 Bentley Continental GT

Some fans were maybe concerned that their beloved Bentley's might not be the same after Volkswagen purchased them in the late 90s.

The 2003 Bentley Continental GT, packing VW's monster turbocharged W12, proved the brand was in very good hands.

2003 Silver Bentley Continental on a parking lotDetectandpreserve, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1950 Volkswagen Type 2

The best combination of style and function in the history of the automotive industry, the VW Microbus was cheap, practical, beautiful, and fun. It was an immediate hit in 1950, and it's remained popular ever since.

Blue 1950 Volkswagen Type 2 parked on grassSantosh Puthran, Flickr

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2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

GM was very nearly bankrupt in 2009, but their financial problems didn't stop them from unveiling the sixth-generation Corvette ZR1.

With a 638-hp LS9 V8, the 2009 ZR1 is quite simply the best Corvette ever built.

Close Up Photo of 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1Bull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons

1986 Ford Taurus

The 1986 Ford Taurus might not look like much, but don't underestimate it. Ford wouldn't be hear today had they not hit the nail on the head with the original Ford Taurus, a modern, front-drive sedan that proved Ford could still compete with the Camries and Accords on the road.

A 1986 Ford Taurus on display at the Henry Ford MuseumMichael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1936 Cord 810/812

The Cord 810 and 812 raised the standard for American luxury vehicles. 

Technical innovations like front-wheel drive and independent suspension, combined with the style of its iconic coffin nose, hidden headlamps, and sleek exterior are why the 810 and 812 are still some of the greatest cars ever built.

White 1936 Cord 810 displayed on exhibitionBuch-t, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1953 Ford F-100

Modern truck culture was born with the 1953 Ford F-100. It was tough and practical and it looked absolutely amazing, the original Ford F-100 was the first truck to gather an enthusiast following—and they're still going strong today.

Pastel green vintage 1953 Ford F-100 V8 on a parking lotJohann Jaritz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1946 MG TC

American servicemen who served in WWII fell in love with the sporty MGs they drove while they were over there. When the fighting stopped, MG started exporting the iconic TC to America in 1946, starting the British sports car invasion across the Atlantic.

Black 1946 MG TC parked on grassGraham Robertson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1968 Jaguar XJ6

The British car industry wasn't exactly setting the automotive industry ablaze through the 70s and 80s—but at least the Brits had the XJ6 to hang their hat on.

Its luxurious styling was so perfect, Jaguar pretty much didn't change the design for 41 years.

1968 Jaguar XJ6 Series parked in front of buildingSteven Leussink, Wikimedia Commons

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1955 Chevrolet Corvette V8

The Chevrolet Corvette turned heads from the moment it was unveiled in 1953—but it wasn't until Chevy introduced its small-block V8 engine two years later when it really arrived.

White 1955 Chevrolet Corvette V8 on a parking lotSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1996 Audi A4

A car that was so good it saved the company. Audi's going strong today, but it had fallen way behind its competitors by the early 90s. They needed a miracle—and their new A4 sedan was exactly that. 

The car was the first realistic rival to the BMW 3 series, and sales were so good Audi rebounded for the first time in a decade.

1996 Audi A4Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1993 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo

Though not commercially very successful, the 1993 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo is legendary in the tuning and street racing communities as the first import vehicle capable of being modded to put out 1,000 horsepower.

1993 Toyota Supra Twin Turboharry_nl, Flickr

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1986 Lamborghini LM002

Packing a V12 engine out of a Countach and outrageous styling worth of Lamborghini's name, the 1986 LM002, codenamed "Cheetah," was the first and greatest true luxury SUV.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo might sell more, but it will never be the LM002.

1986 Lamborghini LM002Georg Sander, Flickr

1984 Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep name earned its pedigree in WWII, but by the 80s the brand seemed destined for the scrap heap. Then in 1984, GM took the flagship Jeep Cherokee, then a beast of a vehicle, and downsized it.

The resulting 1984 Jeep Cherokee was a smash hit and kicked off the compact SUV category. All that, and it's still one of the best-offroaders that Jeep ever released.

1984 Jeep CherokeeRudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1957 Lotus 7

The history of auto-racing is a series of advancements in engineering. One of those advancements was the realization that a low center of mass is a very good thing. The iconic 1957 Lotus 7 proved that and then some.

1957 Lotus 7Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1984 Toyota Corolla AE86

The Toyota Corolla has never been the most exciting car, but the 1984 Toyota Corolla AE86 was the most fun first-car buyers could have behind the wheel. Many teenagers learned out to drift—on purpose or by accident—thanks to its rear-wheel drive transmission.

1984 Toyota Corolla AE86DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1991 Ford Explorer

Other brands have since stolen its spotlight, but the 1991 Ford Explorer defined an entire generation of SUVs, and it laid the blueprint for a rugged, family-hauler that manufacturers are still copying today.

Ford Explorer Xlt 1991RL GNZLZ, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1982 Ford Mustang 5.0

Fast, mean, unapologetic, and a 5.0 liter engine. And it's a Mustang? Sounds like the ultimate hot-rodder/street racer for the 1990s.

1982 Ford Mustang 5.0Michel Curi, Flickr

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1986 Acura Legend

No one could deny that Japan could compete in the luxury vehicle market after Honda released the 1986 Acura Legend. It was sold so many units that Toyota and Nissan started Lexus and Infiniti, respectively, soon after.

1986 Acura LegendKevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1992 Dodge Viper RT/10

The automotive industry was lacking a certain...flair in the early 90s. Then Dodge released a 400-hp, 8.0 liter, V10 powered beast that looked like an actual snake. 

The Dodge Viper is one of the most outrageous statements in the history of the automotive industry—and that's a very, very good thing.

1992 Dodge Viper RT/10artistmac, Flickr

2004 Toyota Prius

The Prius has been a punchline and a pariah since its 2004 release—but it proved forever that hybrid cars are here to stay. The entire automotive industry is still swimming in the Prius's wake.

2004 Toyota PriusRudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1984 Honda Civic CRX

Young drivers all around the world should thank Honda for releasing the 1984 Civic CRX, the first economy car that was actually fun to drive. 

1984 Honda Civic CRXpeterolthof, Flickr

1992 Toyota Camry

The original, 1992 Toyota Camry didn't have the pizazz of earlier American sedans—but it was affordable, practical, and reliable, and that's what modern drivers were looking for.

The Camry soon topped the Ford Taurus as the most popular sedan in the United States, and it's held the top spot ever since.

1992 Toyota CamryVauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3

Before Mercedes AMG existed, the brand was still pushing the limits of luxury and performance. The ultimate example was the 1968 300 SEL 6.3. On the outside, it was stern and distinguished. 

On the inside? 6.3 liters of fuel-injected V8 that pushed out 247 hp.

Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 3.5 (1971)Andrew Bone, Flickr

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1961 Jaguar E-Type

Call it subjective if you want: The 1961 Jaugar E-Type roadster is quite simply one of the most beautiful cars ever produced.

1961 Jaguar E-TypeMrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1970 Datsun 240Z

OK, so Datsun may have taken a little inspiration from Jaguar's E-Type when they built the 1970 240Z—but can you blame them?

The 240Z had the quality of a Japanese-built car with a style and performance that finally made American car lovers start taking Japanese sports cars seriously.

1970 Datsun 240Zharry_nl, Flickr

1990 Acura NSX

There was a time when major automakers like Ferrari looked down on Japanese brands. Then Honda released the Acura NSX, an all-aluminum, midengine beast with their VTEC variable valve timing system.

Ferrari never underestimated Honda again after that.

1991 Acura NSXAleksandr Semenov151, Shutterstock

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1975 Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI

The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI hatchback was so perfect, essentially every major automaker builds their own version of it today.

1975 Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTIVauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Buick Grand National and GNX

There is no feeling like driving around in an iconic, all-black Buick muscle legend in the late 1980s—and their 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 made it stand out in an American market bursting with V8s.

1987 Buick Regal Grand NationalCshaiku, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1957 Fiat 500

The original "small car" icon, the dinky, rear-engine Fiat 500 was tearing up racetracks long before the Mini, proving that a car didn't need to be big to be high performance.

1957 Fiat 500Shawn Clover, Flickr

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1973 Lamborghini Countach

The originator of the iconic Lamborghini doors, the original Countach has one of the most memorable designs in the history of supercars—as well as a hilariously impractical V12 and a chassis so low you could barely see out the windshield.

1973 Lamborghini CountachBiscuit in Pursuit, Flickr

1949 Ford

Car culture was ready to explode in the United States after WWII—and the brand new design of the 1949 set the standard that all the other American makers would follow for years to come.

1949 FordAlfvanBeem, Wikimedia Commons

1969 Porsche 917

They don't make em like this any more—and I really mean that! The Porsche 917, of which only 25 were ever built, won Le Mans in both 1970 and 1971 before forcing a rule change.

Le Mans would never be the same again—and the 917 still holds the record for the fastest lap to this day.

1969 Porsche 917Jim Culp, Flickr

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1987 Porsche 959

The Porsche 959 was years ahead of its time. Not only was it the fastest street-legal car in the world when it was released, but its 4-wheel drive, twin turbo engine, six-speed transmission, and water-cooled heads were a glimpse at the future of the sport.

1987 Porsche 959Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1964 Ford Mustang

If you looked really close, you'd realize that the original Ford Mustang was pretty much just a Falcon—but young drivers took one look at this iconic car and a legend was born.

1964 Ford MustangSG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1973 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty

The era of the classic muscle car was coming to a close—and Pontiac went out with a bang. As other manufacturers were making their cars less powerful, Pontiac dropped a Trans Am with a 310-hp 455 Super Duty V8. The end of an era—but you might as well go out on top.

1973 Pontiac Trans Am Super Dutypriceman 141, Flickr

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1967 Chevrolet Camaro

It took a few years for GM to come up with their answer to the Ford Mustang. They finally came up with the Camaro in 1967—and it was worth the wait. 

Instantly popular with everyone from racers to moms, the original Camaro might still be the ideal version of an American sports car.

1967 Chevrolet CamaroSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1964 Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac Le Mans? Not the most exciting car in the world. Throw a 389 V8 engine under the hood and steal the name from Ferrari?

You've just invented the American muscle car.

1964 Pontiac GTOHerranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1949 Oldsmobile 88

In 1949, the best Ford you could by only had 100 horsepower. Oldsmobile's high-compression, overhead-valve 303-cubic-inch Rocket V8 pushed out 165. 

The 88 set a new standard that American automakers would be chasing for 25 years.

1949 Oldsmobile 88Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1997 Acura Integra Type-R

Hand-ported heads, 8,000-rpm redline, and the best-handling front-drive chassis ever. It's still the ultimate sport compact.

Close Up Photo of 1997 Acura Integra Type R WhiteJacob Frey 4A, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1964 Ford GT40

Ford will always be a legendary name, but nobody thought they could ever—or would ever—compete with the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Porsche on the racetrack. 

Carroll Shelby and his GT40—winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans 1966 to 1969 and one of the most beautiful cars ever made—changed that.

Yellow 1964 Ford GT40 at Sepang Intl. Circuit, MalaysiaAero777, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1948 Jaguar XK120

The Bugatti Veyron before the Bugatti Veyron, the low and sleek XK120's 3.4 liter straight six engine could hit 120 mph, making it the fastest car you could buy at the time of its release.

Close Up Photo of Black 1948 Jaguar XK 120 on a parking lotGeorg Sander, Flickr

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1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Rolls-Royce long claimed that they built "the best car in the world"—and we have the Silver Ghost to thank. That's exactly what the prestigious Autocar called the Silver Ghost on 1906, and it remained so for the 20 years it was in production. Owners included T.E. Lawrence, Woodrow Wilson, and Vladimir Lenin.

Close Up Photo of 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver GhostGeorg Sander, Flickr

2010 Porsche Panamera

Say what you want about the Panamera's stretched out chassis, but under the hood, it's maybe the most high-performance four-door ever built, and only Porsche could built it.

Black 2010 Porsche Panamera on a parking lotnakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1970 Range Rover

The Land Rover was a workhorse icon for decades before the brand introduced the original Range Rover in 1970. Keeping the utility of the original, the Range Rover invented the luxury SUV—and nothing has dethroned it since.

 Green 1970 Land Rover Range RoverVauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1975 Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS

If there was ever a time when the name Ferrari lost some of its lustre, it was the 1970s. The iconic brand needed to do something new to bring them back to glory. The midengine, V8 308s were exactly what they needed.

It was a smash hit, and Ferrari ended up back on top.

1975 Ferrari 308 GTS/GTB  parked on grassSG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1941 Jeep MB

600,000 U.S. Army Truck, 1⁄4‑ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance vehicles made up a quarter of the US's total vehicles in WWII—but most people just called them Willys Jeeps, or just Jeeps.

After the war ended, the 4x4 icon was adapted for civilian use, the origin of 4x4 vehicles for personal use in America.

Close Up Photo of 1941 Jeep MB parked on grassGreg Gjerdingen, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1955 Chrysler 300

The epitome of style, design, and power, the 1955 Chrysler 300—that's 300 for it's 300-hp V8 engine—dominated the NASCAR track for years, and became the archetype that an entire world of American muscle cars would be based on.

Red 1955 Chrysler 300 displayed on exhibitionGreg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1934 Chrysler Airflow

Aerodynamics were not of great concern for early car manufacturers. Then came the 1934 Chrysler Airflow. Its aerodynamic unibody design became the template for virtually all cars built today—but today's cars don't look nearly this good.

Silver 1934 Chrysler Airflow displayed on exhibitionTony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1963 Aston Martin DB5

James Bond has driven a lot of cars. Nothing will top the original. Maybe the most famous car of all time, it's definitely one of the most beautiful.

Silver 1963 Aston Martin DB5 parked on the streetBernard Spragg, Wikimedia Commons

1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Roadster

The 540K wasn't just the most beautiful car in the world at the time of its release—it was also one of the most powerful, thanks to it's ridiculous supercharged straight-8.

Close Up Photo of 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K RoadsterMatti Blume, Wikimedia Commons

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1984 Chrysler Minivans

Chrysler was facing bankruptcy when it came up with new idea: A small, affordable van that felt more like a car. Based off it's K-car chassis, they released the first Chrysler minivans in 1984—and changed the family car market forever.

When Chrysler was up against bankruptcy, it took some K-Car pieces, remodeled them into the minivan and reinvented family transportation. You grew up in this.

Close Up Photo of 1984 Plymouth Voyager minivanJoe Ross, Flickr

1968 BMW 2002

Before the BMW 2002, there was only so much you could expect out of a simple sedan. Then came the BMW 2002 that was actually...fun to drive? What a concept. 

Thank you for your service, BMW.

Close Up Photo of yellow 1968 BMW 2002Wajira Somaratne, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1976 Porsche 930

When Porsche made a turbocharged version of their iconic 911, the world was never the same. It was disgustingly fast—but you had to know what you were doing to get the most out of that turbo.

A 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo in fairly unusual Emerald Green MetallicMr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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2011 Nissan Leaf

Despite the technology existing for decades, not a single major automotive manufacturer mass-produced an all-electric vehicle until Nissan did it with the 2011 Leaf, proving it could be done.

Then it was off to the races.

Black 2011 Nissan Leaf on a parking lotU.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Wikimedia Commons

2005 Bugatti Veyron

1,001-hp. 8.0-liter. Quad turbo W16. All-wheel-drive. Top speed: 253.52. And that's not even the Super Sports version.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 2005 Displayed on ExhibitionFalcon® Photography, Flickr

1977 Lotus Esprit

The Lotus Esprit's midengine design and angular style was so perfect that they didn't need to change it once for 27 years. Oh, and James Bond's Esprit could turn into a submarine.

White 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 on a parking lotAndrew Bone, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1962 Shelby Cobra 260 and 289

Before Caroll Shelby got his hands on it, the AC Ace was a boring English sports car barely worth its stripes. Then came Shelby with a small-block Ford V8, and a racing legend was born.

Blue 1962 Shelby Cobra 260 displayed on exhibitionSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1965 Shelby Cobra 427

As if his first Cobra wasn't enough, Shelby topped himself with his own coil-sprung chassis built to fit the enormous medium-block Ford 427 V8. Even better, it's still in production today!

Close Up Photo of 1965 Shelby Cobra 427Pokemonprime, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1928 Duesenberg Model J

If you've ever said, "Now that's a doozy!" it's because of the 1928 Duesenberg Model J, the first supercar.

Blue Duesenberg Model J parked on grassRex Gray, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing"

The peak of engineering at the time with its tubular frame, steel and aluminum construction, and direct-injection straight 6. The greatest Mercedes ever built.

Close Up Photo of A Black Mercedes-Benz 300SLMrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1932 Ford V8

The first-time ever a performance car was built at an affordable price, and with style taken straight from the Duesenberg, the Ford V8 maybe the single most iconic and important car in American automotive culture.

Blue 1932 Ford V8 on a parking lotGPS 56, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic

Automobile as art. Plain and simple.

1938 Bugatti Type 57S AtlanticUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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1938 Volkswagen Beetle

Maybe the most beloved car of all time, there's a reason it was produced unchanged for 65 years. 

1938 Volkswagen BeetleNico Biraogo, Flickr

1966 Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini created an entirely new kind of car with the V12 Miura: The hypercar. The fastest and most beautiful car of the era, Lamborghini has been trying to top the Miura ever since.

1966 Lamborghini MiuraDavide Oliva, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray

The split-window 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is the Corvette that all other Corvettes want to be.

1963 Chevy Corvette Split WindowChad Horwedel, Flickr

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1955 Chevrolet

You could get a '55 Chevy with a 265-cubic-inch small block V8. If you did, one got the greatest Chevy ever. It quite simply can't be beat.

1955 ChevroletReinhold Möller, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1908 Ford Model T

There's nothing more to say about the Ford Model T: Cars today do not exist without it.

1908 Ford Model TPierre Poschadel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1990 Mazda Miata MX-5

It's the best-selling sports car in history. If you think it's overrated, you're only proving that you've never driven one.

1990 Mazda Miata MX-5SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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1959 Austin Mini

The Mini Cooper eventually became a legend on the racetrack, but first came the humble Mini, a compact, front-wheel drive, transverse engine vehicle that set the blueprint for nearly all mainstream cars on the road today. 

1959 Austin Minisv1ambo, Flickr

1964 Porsche 911

The best Porsche ever made. A racing legend. A style icon. The best Porsche ever built. You could go on and on and on and on...

1964 Porsche 911Pat Durkin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

It's no wonder that Pontiac stole the name, because the three-time world GT champion Ferrari 250 GTO is the greatest car of all time—and only 39 of them were ever built.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTOBrian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons


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12 Lesser-Known Muscle Cars You Gotta Check Out

The muscle car world is packed with stylish Mustangs and Camaros, and so some often get overlooked. Here are some beasts that have gone under the radar but deserve the spotlight.
November 1, 2024 Jane O'Shea