Commendably addicted PHers may remember that we ran a story back in August on '
the 100 greatest cars of all time
'. Or, more accurately, the '100 greatest cars of all time according to the Americans'.
It was compiled, the folks at Inside Line informed us, to "reflect a vehicle's direct contribution to American car culture". Inevitably it threw up some, er, interesting results, and some lively debate on our very own forums.
So heated was the debate, in fact, that PHer Matt Fullwood (aka 300bhp/ton) felt that PH should create its own list, using broadly the same ethos as Inside Line, but tweaked for a British angle: "Greatness, for the reason of this list, is defined by a vehicle's direct, significant contribution to British automotive culture, taking into account other World markets."
Finally, after much debate, many nominations, more than one forum thread on the subject and a lot of blood, sweat and spreadsheets, 300bhp sent the list over to PH Towers. And here it is, the 100 Greatest Cars Of All Time, according to PistonHeads.
We've listed the top 10 first, followed by the countdown in its entirety. The comments on the cars are were made by PHers during voting, as 300bhp asked those nominating a car to explain exactly why it was a worthy choice. Enjoy...
(Thanks to 300bhp/ton for all the hard work)
10: Ford Mustang (first generation)
"While maybe not the technically the first pony car, it did spearhead the pony car market. Offered a fantastic mix of performance, looks, options and a bargain price."
"Ask almost anyone (in the UK as least) to mention the first American muscle car to come to mind it'll be this, the quickest selling car of all time." |
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9: AC/Shelby Cobra
"The car that directly influenced the 70mph motorway speed limit, due to 180mph+ testing on the M1 motorway in 1964! - An utter legend of a car."
"A lithe British chassis with big American muscle V8 engine produced one hell of a race car and one hell of an icon."
"If not the Lotus 7, is this perhaps the most copied car ever?" |
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8: Mazda MX-5 (Mk1)
"The ultimate British (sic) sports car, which brought a reliable two-seater back to the everyday people. A brilliant little car that does exactly what it says on the tin, with superb steering and handling which makes it as fun as anything on a public road."
"Does not pretend to be anything more than what it is yet people continually compare it with motors infinitely more expensive. The World’s best selling sports car." |
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7: Ferrari F40
"Poster pin-up for many a small child and car nut alike.
"It was also the first supercar to top 200mph, the ultimate driver’s machine. The epitome of supercars and surely the greatest Ferrari ever."
"Fast. Light. Perfect." |
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6: Lotus/Caterham Seven
"No frills back-to-basics perfection and shows you don’t need 500hp for fun. The original race car for the road, a lesson in minimalist motoring, offering potential superbike speed and pace, but with a proper seat."
"It's like the car's wired into your body; the 7 surely has the best steering & handling of any road car ever.
Is it also the most replicated car design ever?" |
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5: Audi Quattro
Perhaps the greatest rally car of all time, bringing AWD to rally cars for the first time. Rallying wouldn't be what it is today without this car.
"Truly a great everyday car which perfected 4WD for road cars, it made 4WD mean more than just tractors. There would be no Subaru Impreza WRX and no Mitsubishi Evo without this." |
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4: Jaguar E-Type
"One of the most beautiful cars ever built (especially in roadster form), was quick and relatively affordable to the masses. A beautiful design. A style icon and one of the best cars this country had produced."
"Affordable compared with rivals from Ferrari or Aston Martin. Simply stunning." |
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3: Porsche 911
"Everyone knows what it is despite it having been through more image and model changes than almost any other car. It’s still the everyday supercar, so useable in all weathers and still relatively practical."
"Bloody-minded German determination to make a rear-engined car handle. Goes hard, sounds great."
"Such an iconic car in many ways recognised the world over and there have been so many wonderful versions, and all with a wonderful and extensive racing pedigree." |
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2: McLaren F1
"It may not be the fastest anymore, but it’s still the greatest, defining the modern hypercar where it held its top speed record for quite a long time. You also can't fault the fastidious attention to detail and the designer’s idea of automotive perfection. Gold leaf lined engine ay. Is there anything cooler?"
"An iconic British car dedicated to performance and not watered down by marketing tosh." |
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1: Mini (BMC, Austin, Morris, Rover)
"Issigonis's ingenuity changed car design for ever with one of the first transverse-engined FWD cars. The formula for all everyday cars since."
"A true British icon and the most iconic British car of all time which is also a hoot to drive, is compact, economical and a fun practical car for the masses - and it was in The Italian Job!" |
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| Fiat/Abarth 500 (current) |
100th |
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| Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato |
99th |
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| Toyota Supra Turbo MK IV |
98th |
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| Jaguar SS100 |
97th |
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| Jensen FF |
96th |
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| Metro 6R4 |
95th |
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| TVR 'S' |
94th |
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| Toyota 2000 GT |
93rd |
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| Rover SD1 |
92nd |
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| Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost |
91st |
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| Renault Espace |
90th |
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| MG/AH Spridget |
89th |
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| Lamborghini Diablo |
88th |
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| Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (s197) |
87th |
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| Citroen Traction Avant |
86th |
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| Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2009) |
85th |
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| Bentley Speed Six |
84th |
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| Austin Healey 3000 |
83rd |
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| Renault Clio Williams |
82nd |
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| Renault 5 Turbo |
81st |
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| Jaguar MK2 |
80th |
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| Lotus Cortina |
79th |
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| Lamborghini Murcielago |
78th |
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| Jensen Interceptor |
77th |
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| Jaguar XK120 |
76th |
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| Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda |
75th |
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| Bentley Continental GT (including C) |
74th |
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| Morris Minor |
73rd |
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| Mercedes W124 |
72nd |
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| Jaguar XJ |
71st |
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| Ford Capri |
70th |
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| Dodge charger |
69th |
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| Benz Patent Motorwagen |
68th |
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| Aston Vantage V8 (classic) |
67th |
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| VW Mk2 golf GTI |
66th |
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| TVR Chimaera |
65th |
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| Porsche 356 speedster |
64th |
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| Mercedes S Class |
63rd |
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| Jaguar D type |
62nd |
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| Honda Integra Type R (DC2) |
61st |
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| Toyota Landcruiser |
60th |
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| Mitsubishi EVO |
59th |
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| MG MGB |
58th |
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| Mercedes 300SL Gullwing |
57th |
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| Fiat 500 (Original) |
56th |
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| Blower Bentley |
55th |
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| Jaguar XJ220 |
54th |
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| Ariel Atom |
53rd |
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| TVR Sagaris |
52nd |
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| Porsche 959 |
51st |
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| Pagani Zonda |
50th |
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| Ford Focus (MK1 & 2 including RS and ST) |
49th |
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| Austin Seven |
48th |
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| London Black Taxi |
47th |
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| Willys-Overland Jeep |
46th |
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| TVR Griffith |
45th |
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| Lotus Elan |
44th |
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| Lotus Carlton |
43rd |
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| Ford Transit |
42nd |
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| Ford Sierra Cosworth (including RS 500) |
41st |
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| Rolls Royce Phantom |
40th |
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| Honda NSX |
39th |
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| Ford Escort MK1 |
38th |
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| Ferrari F355 |
37th |
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| Citroen 2CV |
36th |
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| BMW E30 M3 |
35th |
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| Subaru Impreza Turbo (all variants) |
34th |
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| Peugeot 205Gti |
33rd |
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| Aston Martin DB5 |
32nd |
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| BMW 3 series |
31st |
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| Nissan GT-R (R35) |
30th |
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| TVR Cerbera |
29th |
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| Ferrari 288 GTO |
28th |
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| Land Rover Range Rover |
27th |
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| Lancia Stratos |
26th |
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| Ferrari 250 GTO |
25th |
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| VW Beetle (classic) |
24th |
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| Citroen DS |
23rd |
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| BMW E39 M5 |
22nd |
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| Nissan Skyline (R32, R33 & R34) |
21st |
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| Lamborghini Countach |
20th |
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| Bugatti Veyron |
19th |
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| Lancia Delta Integrale |
18th |
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| Lotus Elise |
17th |
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| Land Rover Defender |
16th |
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| Land Rover (original Series) |
15th |
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| Ford Model T |
14th |
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| Lamborghini Miura |
13th |
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| Ford GT40 |
12th |
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| VW MK1 Golf GTI |
11th |
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| Ford Mustang (first generation) |
10th |
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| AC/Shelby Cobra |
9th |
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| Mazda MX-5 (Mk1) |
8th |
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| Ferrari F40 |
7th |
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| Lotus/Caterham 7 |
6th |
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| Audi Quattro |
5th |
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| Jaguar E-Type |
4th |
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| Porsche 911 |
3rd |
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| McLaren F1 |
2nd |
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| Mini (BMC, Austin, Morris, Rover) |
1st |
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