30 Greatest Cars in History
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30 Greatest Cars in History

There are many charts out there trying to pick out the greatest models in the car's 135 year history. Some of them are well argued, others are just a cheap way to get attention. But the choice of American Car & Driver is undoubtedly of the first type. One of the most respected automotive publications turns 65, and in honor of the anniversary, 30 of the most wonderful cars it has ever tested have been selected. The choice only covers the period of existence of the C / D, that is, from 1955, so the absence of cars such as the Ford Model T, Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B or Bugatti 57 Atlantic is understandable.

Chevrolet V-8, 1955 

Until March 26, 1955, when this car made its debut in the NASCAR series, Chevrolet did not have a single victory in them. But the eight-cylinder race car has corrected that from its first launch to make the brand the most successful in NASCAR history. It powers the legendary Chevy V8 small-size engine, which Car & Driver considers the largest production car engine ever.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Lotus Seven, 1957

The famous motto of Colin Chapman - "simplify, then add lightness" - has never been realized as convincingly as in the mythical "Seven of Lotus". The Seven is so easy to use that customers can order it in cardboard boxes and assemble it in their own garage. Caterham, which still manufactures it under license, continues to offer this variant. The difference is only in the engines - early models are standard at 36 horsepower, while top versions develop 75. 

30 Greatest Cars in History

Austin Mini, 1960

Alec Isigonis, the great Greek-born British engineer and father of Mini, had something interesting to say in a 1964 New York Times interview: “I think your car designers in America are ashamed of painting cars. ., and do their best to make them look like something else - like submarines or aircraft ... As an engineer, this disgusts me.”

The mythical Mini Isygonis doesn't try to look like anything else - it's just a small car born from a lack of fuel after the Suez Crisis. The car is only 3 meters long, with maximum wheels at the corners for better handling and with a side-mounted 4-cylinder 848cc engine. see At that time there were many economical minivans, but none of them were pleasant to drive. – unlike the Mini. His victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s finally legitimized his status as an automotive icon.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Jaguar E Type, 1961 

Available in North America as the XK-E, this car is still considered by many to be the most beautiful of all time. But the truth is that in it form is subordinated to function. The goal of designer Malcolm Sayer was above all to achieve maximum aerodynamics, not beauty.

However, looks are only part of the E-Type's allure. Beneath it lies a well-researched D-Type racing design with an inline six-cylinder overhead-shaft engine producing 265 horsepower - an amazing amount for that era. In addition to this, the Jaguar was significantly cheaper than similar German or American cars of the time.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Chevrolet Corvette StingRay, 1963

A sports car with rear-wheel drive, a powerful V8 engine with over 300 horsepower, independent suspension and a body made of lightweight materials. Imagine the reaction when Chevrolet first used it in its debut Corvette Stingray in 1963. At the time, American cars were bulky, heavy giants. Against their background, this machine is alien, the creation of the designer Bill Mitchell and the engineering genius Zor Arkus-Duntov. The injected V8 develops 360 horsepower, and the car is fully comparable in performance to a Ferrari of that era, but at a price affordable for the average American.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Pontiac GTO, 1964 

The GTO may not be the first incarnation of the "big engine in a midsize car" formula, but it still remains one of the most successful to this day. The authors of the first C/D test drive in 1964 were extremely impressed: “Our test car, with standard suspension, metal brakes and a 348 horsepower engine, will drive any track in the United States faster than any Ferrari. “they assure. And all this pleasure at the cost of a massive family car.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Ford Mustang, 1965

What makes the Mustang an icon today - rear-wheel drive, V8 engine, two doors and a low seating position - also made it stand out from the competition when it first appeared in the '60s. But the most surprising thing is its price: since the impressive exterior hides the components of the most common Fords of that era, such as the Falcon and Galaxie, the company can afford to sell it for less than $ 2400. It is no coincidence that one of the first announcements was "The perfect car for your secretary."

Cheap, powerful, cool and open to the world: Mustang is the quintessential American idea of ​​freedom.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Lamborghini Miura, 1966 

Initially, the Miura has grown into one of the most influential cars of all time. The design, created by the very young Marcello Gandini, makes it extremely memorable: as C / D once wrote, "Miura exudes power, speed and drama even when parked."

With a top speed of 280 km / h, it was the fastest production car in the world at the time. At the rear is a powerful 5 horsepower V345 engine, which reduces the wheelbase and creates a two-seat mid-engined sports car concept. Today, traces of its DNA can be seen everywhere, from Corvette to Ferrari. An amazing legacy for a car with only 763 pieces built.

30 Greatest Cars in History

BMW 2002, 1968

Today we call it a sports coupe. But in 1968, when this car appeared on the market, such a term did not yet exist - the 2002 BMW came to impose it.

Paradoxically, this version of the BMW 1600 with a more powerful engine was born out of ... environmental standards. America has just tightened its smog control measures in big cities and has required additional devices to cut nitrogen and sulfur emissions. But these devices were not compatible with the two Solex 40 PHH carburettors on the 1,6-liter engine.

Fortunately, two BMW engineers experimentally installed two-liter single-carburetor units in their personal cars - just for fun. The company took this idea and gave birth to the 2002 BMW, intended primarily for the American market. In their 1968 test, Car & Driver wrote that it was "the best way to get from point A to point B while sitting."

30 Greatest Cars in History

Range Rover, 1970 

Apparently, this is the first car to be exhibited as a work of art in a museum - shortly after its debut in 1970, this car was shown in the Louvre as "an example of industrial design."

The first Range Rover is an ingeniously simple idea: to offer the high off-road performance of a military vehicle, but combined with luxury and comfort. It is essentially the forerunner of all of today's BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Ferrari 308 GTB, 1975

This two-seater is the first car with less than 12 cylinders under the hood that Maranello dares to offer under its own logo. If you count the sliding roof version of the GTS, this model remained in production until 1980 and 6116 units were produced. The 2,9-liter V8 from the previous 240bhp Dino expands Ferrari's lineup beyond the super-rich. And the design made by Pininfarina is one of the most popular at the time.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Honda Accord, 1976 

The second half of the 70s was the time of disco and screaming. But just then, one of the most sensible and discreet cars in history debuted. American budget offerings of that era are complete rubbish, like the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto; Against their background, the Japanese offer a carefully thought out, practical and, above all, reliable car. It is incomparably smaller in size than the current Accord, even smaller than the Jazz. Its 1,6-liter engine has 68 horsepower, which just a few years ago would have seemed a little awkward to American buyers, but after the oil crisis suddenly began to seem attractive. The cabin is spacious, well organized, and a well-equipped car costs just $4000. In addition, reliable mechanics make the Accord attractive to tuning enthusiasts and sporty riders.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Porsche 928, 1978 

In an era where everyone is skimping on R&D and obsessed with small bikes, this Porsche is going supernova. Powered by the then current 4,5-liter aluminum block V8 engine producing 219 horsepower, innovative suspension, adjustable pedals, rear-mounted five-speed gearbox, Recaro seats and glove compartment ventilation, the 928 is a radical departure from the well-known 911. ...

Today we consider it a relative failure because it was never successful at the expense of the older model. But in fact, the 928 was an amazing car that, despite its hefty price tag ($26), remained on the market for almost two decades - and was perfectly adequate even when it ended production in 150.

30 Greatest Cars in History

Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI, 1983 

It's known in America as the Rabbit, but aside from some minor design awards, it's the same car that made the letters GTI synonymous with the hot hatchback. Its four-cylinder engine initially made 90 horsepower—not bad at less than 900 kg—and also cost less than $8000. In his first test, C/D insisted that "this is the funniest car built by American hands" (the Rabbit GTI was built at the Westmoreland plant).

30 Greatest Cars in History

Jeep Cherokee, 1985 

Another major step towards today's versatile crossover. The first Cherokee showed that a tall SUV can be a comfortable city car at the same time. Before him, there were others with a similar concept, such as the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and the Ford Bronco II. But here Jeep has shifted its focus from sport and off-roading to practicality with a four-door vehicle. The model remained on the market until 2001, and the first generation is still in demand by off-road enthusiasts.

30 Greatest Cars in History

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