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Posted: 08/02/07 11:21 AM
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These cars are from Automobile Magazine's original shortlist for the 25 Greatest Cars of All Time feature. From this list the editorial staff whittled the final twenty-five cars. But maybe we missed something good? Or maybe there's a car there that doesn't belong? To give you a voice, we've included the entire list for you to look over. In addition, feel free to weigh in if you feel there is an important car that didn't make it onto the list at all.
The 25 Greatest Cars photo galleries are here: www.automobilemag.com/features/lists/twenty_five_greatest_cars/photo_galleries
Driver's Cars
Lotus Elan BMW M3 (E30) Volkswagen GTI (A1) Austin Mini Alfa Romeo GTV Bugatti Type 35 Porsche Boxster BMW 3-series / 2002 1961-64 Lincoln Continental Convertible Acura Integra Type R Porsche 911 Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works (modern) Ferrari F40 Lotus Elise Porsche 911 2.7RS Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint GTA Mazda MX-5 Caterham Seven Jaguar E-type Stutz Bearcat Duesenberg SJ roadster Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Alfa Romeo Spider Subaru WRX Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ferrari F430 Porsche 911 GT3 Porsche Cayman S Jaguar XKSS Lancia Aurelia Gran Turismo Maserati A6 GS
Technologically Marvelous
1980 Audi Quattro Porsche 959 1955 Citroen DS 19 Bugatti Veyron Jaguar E-type Tucker Torpedo Citroen Traction Avant Original Dodge Caravan Cord 810 / Cord L-29 Toyota Prius Audi TT DSG Cadillac Automatic 1912 Cadillac Electric Start Mini Austin Seven BMW 2002 Turbo 1958 Lotus Elite 1992 McLaren F1 Mercedes-Benz S-class Ford Model T 1940 Oldsmobile Automatic 1955 Cadillac with Air Con 1886 Benz Patentwagen 1895 Panhard et LeVassor 1901 Mercedes 35 hp 1946 Volkswagen Beetle Chevrolet with Small Block V-8 1968 Lamborghini Miura 2004 Porsche Carrera GT Saab 99 Turbo Fiat 128
Supercars
McLaren F1 Lamborghini Miura Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Ferrari F40 BMW M5 (E28) Acura NSX Dodge Charger 440 +6 Ford GT Porsche 959 Ferrari F430 Bugatti Veyron Plymouth Superbird Mercedes-Benz 300SLR Gullwing Lamborghini Countach Mercedes-Benz SSK Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster Ferrari Enzo Ferrari 250 GTO Ford V-8 Blower Bentleys 1949 Cadillac Series 62 V-8 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Porsche 911 Turbo Porsche Carrera GT Shelby Cobra 427 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Racing Cars
Lotus 49 Bugatti T35 Porsche 917 Cooper T45 / Cooper Climax Porsche 935 Plymouth Superbird / Dodge Daytona Ford GT40 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Shelby Cobra 289 / Daytona Coupe Mini Cooper Audi Quattro Auto Union V16 / Type C / Type D Chaparral 2J Brabham Cooper Indy Car Blower Bentley Porsche 956 / 962 Jaguar D-type Audi R8 / R10 Modern F1 car Henry Ford's 999 Land Speed Record Car Spirit of America Land Speed Record Car Watson-Offy Indy Roadster 1926 Miller 91 1972 Gurney Eagle 1977 Lotus 78 WRC Group B Mercedes-Benz W154 McLaren MP4/2 Maserati 250F Miller 122 Lotus 25
Icons
Porsche 911 Volkswagen Beetle Ford Model T Austin Mini Shelby Cobra Chevrolet Corvette Willys Jeep CJ 1959 Cadillac Eldorado 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Aston Martin DB5 1932 Ford V8 Jaguar E-type 1957 Chevrolet Ford Mustang Chrysler Minivans BMW 3-series Jeep Cherokee Duesenberg J/SJ Bugatti Royale T Stretch Limousine American pickups Jeep Wrangler BMW M3 Mercedes-Benz SL Ford F-150 Cadillac Coupe de Ville GM EV1 Ferrari 250 GTO Cadillac Series 62 Packard Twin Six
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eurostar
New User
| Posts: 2
| Joined: 09/06
Posted: 08/07/07 11:53 AM
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too many significant cars are missing; the entire exercise is a little futile to begin with anyway and I can't figure out why you bothered. In any case, some Lancia models are missing from your various short lists. The very significant Lancia Lamda and Lancia Aprilia from your technical Marvels shortlsts, the Lancia Stratos from your Supercar listing and the Lancia D50 from your racing cars listing. And where is the Fiat 500 from your icons list? I would have also added the various Tatras as Tech mMrvels, surely the equal of a Tucker...greetings from Switzerland!
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FlyingT
New User
| Posts: 7
| Joined: 09/06
Posted: 08/07/07 03:59 PM
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Somewhere the original 240Z must be listed. That car put the Japanese auto industry on the map in the USA.
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englitrob
New User
| Posts: 3
| Joined: 04/07
Posted: 08/08/07 11:08 AM
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I fully agree. Vintage Japanese cars are no where to be found on this Euro-centric list, or cars like the long running line of Z's, the Toyota Supra or Acura NSX (first all-aluminum car). Toyota didn't supplant GM one the back of the Prius.
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Posted: 08/09/07 07:46 PM
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I don't see how the Acura NSX couldn't have made the list somewhere. Whether in supercars, or technologically marvelous, or racing even. It was the reason Ferraris are as good as they are today: they had to step it up big time or they could see they were gonna get beat at their own game by the *** And what about the AC/Shelby Cobra? Come on guys, the Corvette would never have lasted without some good ole' Blue Oval competition! And where was the original GT40 in the racing category? It easily shoulda' beaten the Auto Union thing for a spot on the list. Easily. Most of the selections were good, but there were definitly some glaring omissions.
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Posted: 08/09/07 07:49 PM
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They must have edited out the slang word for Japanese on my post above. oh well, you get the message.
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FlyingT
New User
| Posts: 7
| Joined: 09/06
Posted: 08/12/07 01:25 PM
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Actually, the Shelby Cobra is mentioned twice.
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FlyingT
New User
| Posts: 7
| Joined: 09/06
Posted: 08/12/07 01:27 PM
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On second count, the Cobra is mentioned 3 times.
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Posted: 08/12/07 03:32 PM
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The Bugatti Veyron has no business being on the list at all. It's not so much a technological marvel, but rather an excercise is wretched excess of already existing technology, and there is no category for that. The 1886 Benz Patentwagen was an interesting technological experiment, but hardly marvelous or even remotely practical. It's always been one of those highly overrated achievments, one which Mercedes-Benz continues to cash in on. It's no Model T.
The 1955 Cadillac with air-conditioning, and even ol' the Prius top these cars for their accomplishments.
As for driver's cars, I think most of the choices were very sound, especially the E30 M3 and Lotus Elan. The one exception being the Ferrari F430 - in no way trumps say, a Lotus Elise or Exige as a driver's car, because the F430 is not pure and essential enough, unlike the other four choices. As such, it's a glaring mistake in that category, and a total popularity vote.
As for supercars, with all due respect to antique cars, because I love them, but seriously, how good was the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900?? The Acura NSX indeed deserves a spot, because it shook up the sportscar game, ( making Ferrari take notice to some extent I'm sure ) and remained fresh for many years. To this day it's still one of the best everyday exotics. The Lamborghini Miura, while very good looking, should probably hand it's medal to the Countach, which in a very long production run, established the reputation of the raging bull as that of a major lust mobile worldwide. Along with likes of the Ferrari Testarossa, and the later Diablo, the Countach symbolizes the hey day of the exotic supercar.
As for Icons, the Dodge Viper has proven to be a most worthy one, not only for the nation, but for Chrysler, probably on par with the K-cars, but obviously in a different way. And who could argue with the Corvette's place?
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Posted: 08/14/07 02:46 PM
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I feel that this was somewhat poorly conceived. First of all you have Driver's Cars and Supercars categories (like you could have a supercar that is not a driver's car) and then proceed to list at least 2 Supercars in the Driver's Car category (F40 and F430). It seems a bit arbitrary and convoluted. Also why do you have a racing car category? That is a totally different animal and should get its own list if you feel its important. And what about cars that are not available in the US for example I don't see the Nissan Skyline anywhere even nominated but I have heard that it was (or still is) an amazing car for many years. Also, your anti-Asian bias is just a bit too transparent. Not only did you neglect to include even one Asian car as a finalist but excluding the NSX just takes the cake!!! We all know that many experts have considered it one of the greatest cars of all time for its excellent feel, handling, driving postion, outward visibility, comfort, reliability, economy, sounds and overall design. Additionally, it was a milestone in the automotive world because it: was the first practical supercar, was one of the first (if not first) all aluminum unitbody production car, was the first rear engine supercar from Asia, was the first supercar made by a high volumn car company in many years and forced Ferrari to rethink its product designs. Finally, how did the Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and 959 not make it in the final list?
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socalruss
New User
| Posts: 4
| Joined: 08/07
Posted: 08/14/07 10:18 PM
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Yeah, Stanthe(Man?) We get your message loud and clear. This site has too much class and dignity to be publishing ignorant comments.
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Posted: 08/16/07 07:02 PM
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Wheres Volvo??? For me Volvo deserves to be included in the list...
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hammatime
Enthusiast
| Posts: 303
| Joined: 02/07
Posted: 08/18/07 04:23 PM
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I thought youdid a great job considering no matter what you did,you'd get hammered for it.
I especially liked the cars as the list progressed.
The Citroen has always been an incredible landmark in automobile developement to me.
Aerodynamics,suspension and brakes put it fourty years ahead of it's time.
Excellent job,fella's and ladies.
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DaveR
New User
| Posts: 2
| Joined: 08/07
Posted: 08/28/07 07:00 AM
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I had a 1957 and also a 1958 Dyna Panhard. These cars were great consisting of aluminum construction with an aircooled 2 cylinder engine of 750 cc's and 50 horsepower... a bit better than 1hp per cubic inch. Used to race these at Limerock in the imported sedan class. The only downside was winter heating the interior
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SamBlob
New User
| Posts: 1
| Joined: 09/07
Posted: 09/03/07 02:01 AM
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Might I suggest the Five Most Outrageous Cars of All Time? The five cars that most expressed the idea of TOO MUCH? If so, here they are:
1. Lamborghini Countach - the poster child of supercar excess... literally. Countach posters were about as popular as Chrissy or Farrah posters back in the day. The Countach was a truly horrible car, but at 185 mph, or looking like it was doing 185 when standing still, who cared?
2. Porsche 930 (original 911 Turbo) - this car looked and acted like a 911 on steroids: more muscular, more powerful, more aggresive, and a *lot* less stable.
3. Bentley 4 1/2-Litre Supercharged (Blower Bentley) - The 911 Turbo of the '20s and the ultimate image of British sports car masculinity. Too bad that it was unrefined, unreliable, and, apart form being fast and expensive, was just about everything a Bentley should not have been.
4. Shelby Cobra 427 / AC Cobra 7-Litre - I first read of this car in the same publication in which I first read of Arnold Schwarznegger and Strom Thurmond: the Guinness Book of Records. It was listed as the fastest accelerating road car. Like the Blower Bentley before it and the 911 Turbo after it, it's an example of "If enough is good, then too much must be better, right?"
5. Bugatti Type 41 "Royale" - The five "production" Royales had 12.7 litre locomotive engines, down from the more than 14 litres of the engine in the "prototype". Its hood ornament was an elephant; a sadly prophetic symbol of the white elephant the Type 41 would become. Its huge size, lavish specification, and puny production numbers made the Mercedes-Benz 770 (Grosser Mercedes) look like an economy car.
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