1950s
There were lots of great classic cars that we released in the 1950s. The Citroen DS, Aston Martin DB4, the Advanced Corvette Chevrolet and even the Mercedes 300SL Gull-wing. But one car stands tall amongst the rest, which is remarkable as it’s so small.
It’s the Mini.
Originally produced by British Motor Corporation and now owned and produced by BMW it’s been a car of the people since 1959. Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis. It was the car most families could afford at the time and was able to use 80% of its space despite being so small. With the relaunch in 2001, it has gone on to be just as iconic, if a little bigger and expensive.
It has such a rich history as a car of the people and in the motorsport world (winning the Monte Carlo Rally on 3 occasions), it’s hard to see passed the car that was voted the 2nd best car in history after the model T Ford.
1960s
Which one to choose? The Miura? The 911? What about the Shelby Cobra? Or the Aston Martin DB5? GT40, Ferrari 250 GTO, VW Beetle the list goes on, but I think there is only one and that’s the Jaguar E-Type.
Is there any car more synonymously liked with a decade then the E-Type?
In an era that broke away from convention and fully explored the outrageous, this car sits atop the pile of the plethora of cars that were launched in the time of free love and peace.
Made in Jaguar HQ in Coventry from 1961 to 1975 it is a triumph of art and engineering. Designed as a grand tourer by Malcolm Slayer, even the great Enzo Ferrari himself called it “the most beautiful car ever made”. With a claimed top speed of 150mph (huge for the 60s) the engineering sparked industry wide changes of how these types of car were made. Based on the D-Type which had won Le Mans in 1955, it’s gone on to be one of THE most iconic cars ever, used across film and television ever since. Most notably in Austin Powers and Mad Men.
1970s
This was a tough one to be honest. Through my research it was hard to find a universally stand out car from the 70s. Don’t get me wrong, there are obviously cars form the 70s that are memorable. Porsches, muscles cars, exotics. The Lamborghini Countach was launched in this decade, but I would argue that didn’t really come in to its own until the 80s. This era moved more toward the affordable family car and a lot of Japanese imports started to appear on our shores as they were cheaper and more economical. Looking at the UK market then its saturated with Cortinas, Escorts, Minis and the ever-nostalgic Austin Allegro…and why are they all brown?
It’s slim pickings to find a truly standout car such as the E-Type or Mini. So, if I can’t find a car, how about a type of car? And if we go that way, I would say muscle cars were big in the 70s. Thanks to the help of Hollywood and the surge in American TV shows it was probably the best time globally for these gas guzzlers. With Ford, Chevy, Pontiac and Dodge being the big hitters, everyone has their favourite to choose from. Mustangs, Superbirds, Camaros, Chargers, Corvettes and Challengers the list goes on. But If I had to choose one, the Chevy Corvette C3 would get my vote. Whilst I always had a soft sport for the Stingray, the C3 is just so cool. Not the most popular Corvette, this 7.4-litre V8 looked the business, sounded the business and was driven by astronauts. Need I say more?
1980s
As we start to move into the more recent history of cars, some of the cars in this decade are the still the most iconic of all time. Futurism was becoming more prevalent: technology was being invented at a faster rate and people were becoming more savvy about image. And you can see this in the cars in an obvious move away from the curves of the 60s and the power of the muscle cars of the 70s, to more nimble and lighter exotic cars that were more angular and dynamic looking. The decade of excess defiantly stepped away from affordable family cars and looking good was in.
And with that in mind how can it be any other car than the Lamborghini Countach?
I said earlier, is there any car more synonymous with a decade more than the E-Type and I think the Countach has a good case. First produced in 1974 to great fan fair, it wasn’t until the LP500 S and LP5000 QV, 1982 and 1985 respectively, that it was donning the bedroom walls of every boy. With a 5.2-;itre Lamborghini V12, used right up until the Murcielago, a body design looking like a fighter jet and the iconic scissor doors, this car is the 80s. It’s as 80s as New Coke, the Pepsi Generation, slick back hair, Cindy Crawford and that poster of the tennis girl, you know the one.
1990s
Are the 90s really 30 years ago? Wow.
Much of the 80s ideas of what a car should be carried over in to the 90s, but I would say this is the decade where car brands and designers became a bit more astute about the cars they designed. Even Lamborghini toned it down a bit with the Diablo for the Countach. With Japanese imports becoming more normalized, there were some great cars in the 90s. The Nissan Skyline R-33 GT-R, the Ford Escort Cosworth, the Toyota Supra, the absolutely bonkers Jaguar XJ220 and not mention the Ferrari F50 and aforementioned Diablo.
But it only really comes down to two cars.
The Ferrari F40 and the McLaren F1.
I have a massive soft spot for the Ferrari. It’s one of my two favourite cars ever, but it must go to the McLaren. Whereas the Ferrari had shown us what a car could be, the F1 moved it on leaps and bounds. Designed by Gordan Murray, who was the man who designed the infamous Brabham F1 Fan Car in the 70s, it was like nothing we’d seen before. Epically gorgeous looking with hardly a straight line on the body work. Gull wing doors not really seen since the Mercedes 300SL and three seats with the driving position in the middle, just like its name sake, it was truly a masterpiece in every way.
Produced from 1992-1998 it remains one of the fastest, if not the fastest, naturally aspirated cars of all time. With a top speed of 240mph and a price of £540,000 when new, you’d have to up your dosh by almost 1000% or more to buy one, as prices are now between £16-20 million. And you’d probably be buying it from Elon Musk, Jay Leno or most famously Rowan Atkinson.
2000s
So, as we move closer to the modern day, we start hitting the big boys of recent automotive history.
There were A LOT of cars to choose from launched in the beginning of the new millennium. Right off the bat we have the Mercedes SLR, a monster of a car. The Lamborghini Murcielargo, a modern take on the Countach. We have some old boys getting a makeover with new versions of the Mini, Fiat 500 and GT40 all being released in this 10-year period. The Zonda, the Porsche Carrera GT, and how can we forget the Ferrari Enzo?
But hands down it must be the Bugatti Veyron. The absolute pinnacle of what a production car could be at the time.
Launched in 2005 after 4 years of production, it was conceived in the 90s. VW, after the purchase of the Bugatti brand, decided to build a successor to the EB110. After a couple of years of designing and presenting concept cars at various motor shows, in 1999 they unveiled the Veyron at the Tokyo Motor Show. Fast-forward to 2003 and the first roadgoing version was made and then it went into production in 2005. It takes its name from Pierre Veyron, who was a Bugatti development engineer, test driver and company race driver, who won the 1939 Le Mans with Bugatti.
With an 8-litre, yes 8-litre, Quad turbocharged W16 engine producing 987bhp and 1184bhp for the Super Sport version it was an earth mover. It amazing that they’ve improved on it with the Chiron. It’s a 253mph, or 267mph for the Super Sport, behemoth that is as comfortable as your Mercedes S Class. A true marvel of engineering and what can be achieved in a car.
2010s
We are almost bang up to date now as we enter the last decade of this list. The world changed a lot in the last 10 years. Cars became more refined, less pollutive, more economical as we looked at big industrial industries like automotive production and the effect it had on our planet. Lots of manufactures moved towards hybrids and electric cars to reduce their carbon footprint and be more amenable to the ever more environmentally and financially aware consumer. We saw super cars with smaller engines, bodies built from more environmentally friendly materials. Consumer cars were becoming more affordable and economical with manufacturers reengineering engines to get more bang for your buck. Race cars using hybrid and electric technology.
And with all that in mind, the best car of the 2010 must be the Tesla Model S.
Launched in 2012 and named after one of the greatest minds of the 20th Century, Nikola Tesla, it was an instant hit. By 2018 it had sold over 250,000 units and was second only to the Nissan Leaf. It has the biggest range, 402 miles, of any fully electric car and was the first production car to have autopilot. Whilst not the first autonomous car, it was the first to have it in full production and as an option for the consumer. Having the system on there cars, Tesla say it has reduced accidents involving Tesla models by 40%.
It’s also no slouch. With a power output of up to 615 kW (825bph) it will be more than enough to satisfy most “petrol heads” and will beat almost anything off the line with its launch control. I suggest watching some Tesla launch YouTube videos to see what I’m talking about, truly amazing.
The Tesla has set a new standard of what cars will be in the near future, until Hydrogen finally takes over. The electric revolution is well underway, and we will all have to move to it in one way or another. Tesla have positioned themselves as THE go to electric car so we WILL see more and more of them on our roads. And for the impact it has had and continues to have the Model S is the best car from the 2010s.
So, who knows what will be the best car of the 2020s? The Ferrari SF90? The Maserati MC20? Or perhaps a new Fiesta will be, I mean it's consistently Britain’s best-selling car and I myself have the ST-3 version being delivered at the beginning of this year, making it my third one I’ve owned.
With technology, environmental awareness and manufacturing process all improving rapidly, who know was the next 10 years will produce, but I’m excited to see.
Keyword: Each decade’s most iconic car for the last 60 years