There are few things more exciting than taking a spirited drive in a Sports Car. You feel at one with both the machine and the road while running through the gears and enjoying the sound of the engine revving. When everything perfectly comes together, it can be a sublime experience.There are certain vehicles that immediately come to mind when the word "sports car" comes up. This genre of automobiles is vast, including models with V-8 engines with lots of torque and vehicles with high-revving four-cylinder engines. Let's take a look at ten vehicles that define this exciting automotive segment. Some of them are no longer available new, while others are still in showrooms today.To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article came from the automakers' websites and TopSpeed's previous reporting about these models. The list ranks the vehicles by our opinion of the most important sports cars in automotive history. MG MGB Affordable Fun 1967 MG MGB Roadster in green parked on drivewayBefore the Mazda MX-5 Miata became the obvious choice for an entry-level sports car, the MGB held this honor. The model first arrived in the United States in 1962 and lasted here until 1980. It was never a performance powerhouse but offered buyers an affordable two-seat roadster for taking a brisk drive.The MGB was an unfortunate victim of the changing safety and emissions regulations in the U.S. during the 1970s. Early models featured chrome-plated bumpers, which provided a high-class exterior appearance. However, the car eventually adopted rubber at the front and rear, which never looked as good as the original setup.Part of the MGB's beauty as a sports car was its simplicity. Its four-cylinder engine wasn't especially powerful but was potent enough to excite drivers for decades, even today. Plus, they weren't mechanically complex, making it easier for owners to keep them on the road. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Speed And Comfort Everrati Mercedes-Benz W113 SL rearWhat does it mean to be a sports car? The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has always had a fairly powerful engine under the hood while allowing drivers to lower the vehicle's roof to enjoy a relaxing cruise. Inside, occupants have every luxury they could ever want, such as the brand's novel Air Scarf system for keeping you comfortable while the top is open by blowing warm air from vents in the headrest.The SL isn't the type of sports car that you take to the track to set a new lap record. While there's plenty of performance potential, this vehicle is better for an exciting drive with the roof open at dawn or dusk. Shelby Cobra English Design With American Flare 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Mark II in blue and white parked in studioThe early sports cars from English brands such as Austin-Healey, MG, and Triumph gave Americans a taste of what was possible from driving a simple and nimble vehicle. Carroll Shelby redefined the concept when he took the AC Ace and modified it to fit a Ford V-8 under the hood. The result was the Cobra, and it quickly became an iconic sports car.The recipe was simple. Shelby found a lightweight British sports car and fitted the biggest V-8 engines the company could make a deal for. Initially, the powerplant was a 260-cubic-inch unit, but it soon grew to 289 cubic inches. Later, a 427-cubic-inch V-8 provided even more power.The Cobra has withstood the test of time. Today, particularly nice examples can change hands for millions of dollars, such as one going for $13.75 million in 2016. Plus, companies such as Superformance produce licensed replicas that provide the thrill of driving an original Cobra for a more affordable price. Acura NSX Redefining The Supercar 1999 Acura NSX ZanardiThe 1991Acura NSX showed what a modern supercar could be when it arrived. At the time, competitive models from Ferrari and Lamborghini were beautiful but suffered from issues like awkward ergonomics and temperamental engines. The NSX solved both of those problems at a competitive price against its challengers.The NSX's 3.0-liter V-6 made a fairly modest 270 horsepower (a later 3.2-liter unit bumped the figure to 290 hp), but everything about the car exploited its power. The manual gearbox even had the ideal ratios for extracting the most from the engine. The chassis also featured an extensive use of aluminum to keep weight down. The result was a supercar that anyone could admire.Today, the NSX is gaining value on the secondhand market. For example, Broad Arrow Auctions recently sold a gorgeous 2003 NSX-R for an astounding $1,049,659. The average 2001 example in good condition is currently worth $109,000, according to Hagerty's valuation. Lamborghini Countach The Wedge 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Front AngleClose your eyes and think of a sports car from the 1980s. We bet you're thinking of a wedge-shaped vehicle slicing through the air. Models such as Chevy Corvette C4, DeLorean, Lotus Esprit, Mazda RX-7, Porsche 944, and more exemplified the styling of the decade.Despite debuting in the late 1970s, the Lamborghini Countach was influential in the shape of performance models for over a decade after its arrival. The sharp shape looked like it would slice through the air. The scissor-opening doors offered access to the tight cabin.Beyond the stunning design, a longitudinal V-12 was in the engine bay behind the driver. The earliest examples packed a 3.9-liter powerplant, and the displacement later increased to 4.8-liter and 5.2-liter capacities. Some variants were able to hit 60 miles per hour in as quickly as four seconds. Jaguar E-Type The Beauty Driver's side profile of a red Jaguar E-Type Coupe.The classic proportions of a sports car are a long hood, a small passenger compartment, and a short rear deck. The Jaguar E-Type (or XKE, depending on the year) stretches that appearance to an almost comical degree. The front end is so long compared to the rest of the body. Still, this is an iconic design. The weird proportions are somehow perfect for this car, though. Decades later, there still hasn't been a car that looked anything like the E-Type.Most E-Types used an inline-six engine. However, later models got a V-12. Today, you can even get one as an EV. Restomod builders, such as ECD Automotive Design and Electrogenic, are restoring these sports cars and giving them a modern powertrain for a fresh take on these classic machines. Dodge Viper MORE POWER! 1994 Dodge Viper SR 1 in red parkedSports cars have always been a niche market. Most folks with families can't live day-to-day in a two-seat vehicle or even one with a massively cramped rear bench. With that in mind, the Corvette never had too many serious competitors from American automakers. The Shelby Cobra was there in the 1960s, and the Dodge Viper took up the mantle in the 1990s.From its very start, the Viper was a vehicle of excess. It launched with a gargantuan 8.0-liter V-10 that pumped out 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual sent the power to the rear wheels, and there were no modern features like traction control or stability control. The only thing controlling the car is the driver's brain and body.When the Viper launched, it was only available as a roadster. In 1996, Dodge added the GTS coupe to appeal to buyers who preferred a sports car with a roof. The car was briefly out of production from 2010 to 2013, but a new generation arrived with modern amenities, such as navigation, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and traction control. Dodge discontinued the Viper once again in 2017, and the automaker hasn't revived it since then. Mazda Miata Simplicity Perfected 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT - DrivenThe Mazda Miata is arguably the best entry-level sports car ever made. It can't keep up with other vehicles on this list, but that doesn't make it any less exciting because everything about the vehicle is so engaging.The original Miata was essentially a homage to the Lotus Elan. Both models were convertibles with pop-up headlights and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Mazda quickly replaced the powerplant with a 1.8-liter unit, though. Since then, the car has evolved into a slightly more upscale machine without abandoning its purist roots.The latest news suggests that a new Miata is on the way. It reportedly adopts a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine – the biggest powerplant in the model's history. The vehicle would reportedly retain a manual gearbox. Porsche 911 Rear-Engine Hero Porsche 911 GT3While the Porsche 356 established the brand as a world-class sports car producer, the 911 really put the company on the map. It debuted at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale in the United States in early 1965. After building some fantastic production versions and finding lots of success on the track, the vehicle became an icon.In the 1990s, the 911 made the massive (at least for Porsche fans) change to using a water-cooled engine, after being air-cooled up until then. The company also began building turbocharged versions in the late 1970s.Today, Porsche offers a massive range of 911 variants, including convertible and Targa bodies. A new GT2 grade is now on the horizon with a rumored output of at least 750 horsepower. It looks like the model's legacy is secure for years to come. Chevrolet Corvette The Icon C6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, front 3/4The Chevrolet Corvette is the epitome of an American sports car. It combines a powerful V-8 engine (other than the 1953 and '54 models with an inline-six as the only available powerplant) with styling that begs for attention on the road. The 'Vette has stuck around through good and bad times. For example, the 1975 and '76 examples offered a base model producing just 165 horsepower from a 5.7-liter V-8. Meanwhile, the upcoming ZR1 makes 1,064 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-8.The Corvette has the nickname "America's sports car," and it's hard to argue with that description. With over 70 years of history, there's no other performance vehicle with that kind of legacy in this country.Plus, the 'Vette is a dream car that most folks can reasonably think about owning. While not inexpensive when new, the Corvette undercuts the price of many of its European competitors. There are also plenty of examples on the used market that can fit nearly anyone's budget.