Art On Wheels
The Ferrari GTO. Volkwagen Beetle. Bugatti Veyron. Toyota Corolla. These are the best cars ever built.
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.
Steven N. Severinghaus, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Riley, 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.
Adriano, 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.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Sicnag, 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.
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.
Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
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.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
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.
sv1ambo, 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.
1963 Jeep Wagoneer
The 1965 Jeep Wagoneer invented the entire family SUV category—and back then, 4x4 Jeep toughness came standard.
JOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Dennis 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.
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.
Charles01, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Matti 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.
Sicnag, 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.
Greg Gjerdingen, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
Greg 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.
sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
René, 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.
Detectandpreserve, 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.
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.
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.
Michael 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.
Buch-t, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Johann 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.
Graham 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.
Steven Leussink, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Sicnag, 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.
Vauxford, 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.
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.
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.
Rudolf 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.
Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
DestinationFearFan, 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.
RL 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.
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.
Kevauto, 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.
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.
Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
Vauxford, 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.
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.
MrWalkr, 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.
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.
Aleksandr Semenov151, Shutterstock
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.
Vauxford, 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.
Cshaiku, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Matti 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.
SG2012, 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.
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.
Sicnag, 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.
Herranderssvensson, 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.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Jacob 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.
Aero777, 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.
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.
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.
nakhon100, 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.
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
SG2012, 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.
Greg 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.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Tony 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.
Bernard 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.
Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons
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.
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.
Wajira 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.
Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
U.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.
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.
Andrew Bone, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
Sicnag, 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!
Pokemonprime, 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.
Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
MrWalkr, 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.
GPS 56, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic
Automobile as art. Plain and simple.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
1938 Volkswagen Beetle
Maybe the most beloved car of all time, there's a reason it was produced unchanged for 65 years.
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.
Davide 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.
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.
Reinhold 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.
Pierre 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.
SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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.
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...
Pat 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.