The Ultimate List of the 100 Greatest Cars in American Automotive History
This list is the be-all and end-all of the 100 greatest cars. It’s so comprehensive and definitive that you’ll never need to read another list again. Each car here has made a significant impact on American automotive culture, regardless of whether it was actually sold in the U.S. Some of these cars are even racecars that have reshaped how we view automobiles.
Greatness in this list isn’t about sales success; it’s about a car’s legendary status and influence. We’ve included cars that enthusiasts cherish, as well as everyday vehicles that have left a lasting imprint on our lives. No one-offs or flying cars, except maybe the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427. So grab a drink and dive in!
100. 1997 Acura Integra Type-R With hand-ported heads, an 8,000-rpm redline, and the finest handling front-drive chassis, the Integra Type-R is the epitome of the sport compact.
99. 1991 Ford Explorer A staple of the 1990s, the Explorer popularized the SUV as the family vehicle, setting a trend that continues to this day.
98. 1993 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Though not a top-seller, the Supra Twin Turbo was the first import that could be modified to achieve (and endure) 1,000 horsepower, making it a legend in car culture.
97. 1968 Datsun 510 This unassuming Japanese car could outpace Porsches in SCCA races and offered BMW 2002 performance at half the price.
96. 1984 Toyota Corolla AE86 A humble rear-drive car that introduced the world to drifting, renowned for its simplicity and its potent 1.6-liter DOHC engine.
95. 1992 Hummer H1 Not practical on the road but unmatched off-road, the H1 remains the ultimate SUV, from war zones to posh neighborhoods.
94. 1986 Lamborghini LM002 With a V12 engine from the Countach, this bold, luxurious SUV set the stage for high-performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5 M.
93. 1986 Acura Legend The car that demonstrated Japanese manufacturers could build genuine luxury vehicles, deserving respect on the global stage.
92. 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII This iteration of the Evo brought high-performance rally capabilities to the U.S. market, redefining expectations for affordable performance.
91. 1963 Jeep Wagoneer This vehicle combined 4×4 robustness with luxury, inventing the family SUV category. Its 30-year production run set a standard.
90. 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo A return to form for Nissan’s Z cars, the 300ZX Twin Turbo reestablished sports car excellence with its 300-horsepower engine.
89. 1995 BMW 7 Series (E38) The E38 7 Series combined luxury and performance, proving that a full-size sedan could be as engaging to drive as its smaller siblings.
88. 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG With a 604-horsepower turbocharged V12, the S65 AMG turned the luxury sedan into a high-performance marvel.
87. 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500E/E500 Mercedes collaborated with Porsche to create the 500E, a 322-horsepower sedan that ignited the performance sedan wars.
86. 1988 BMW M5 The first M5 took a regular BMW sedan and transformed it into the ultimate sport sedan, starting a legacy that continues today.
85. 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z A muscle car icon of the 1980s, the IROC-Z featured striking 16-inch wheels and could compete with the best in showroom stock racing.
84. 1939 Lincoln Continental Edsel Ford’s vision of the American luxury coupe, the Continental introduced the “personal luxury” car concept.
83. 1968 Toyota Corolla The Corolla made its U.S. debut two years after launching in Japan and has since become the best-selling automotive nameplate.
82. 1930 Cadillac V16 Only 4,076 of these opulent cars were made, but they set the standard for Cadillac as the world’s leading luxury car manufacturer.
81. 1979 Mazda RX-7 At a time when sports cars were thought to be extinct, the RX-7’s rotary engine and simple design reignited passion for the category.
80. 2003 Bentley Continental GT With a 6.0-liter W12 engine and bold design, the Continental GT marked Bentley’s revival under VW’s ownership.
79. 1950 Volkswagen Type 2 The VW microbus offered affordability and versatility, becoming a symbol for hippies, surfers, and the Summer of Love.
78. 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 During GM’s financial struggles, the 638-horsepower ZR1 showed that the company could still produce a world-class sports car.
77. 1986 Ford Taurus This car saved Ford with its groundbreaking design, showing that America could build a modern front-wheel-drive sedan to compete with the best.
76. 1936 Cord 810/812 Innovative with hidden headlights and unique design, the Cord 810 and 812 set trends that would influence automotive styling for decades.
75. 1953 Ford F-100 The first stylish pickup that garnered a true following among enthusiasts, stretching the classic design definition.
74. 1946 MG TC American servicemen fell in love with this spindly British sports car during WWII, leading to a wave of British sports cars in the U.S.
73. 1951 Ford Country Squire The quintessential family wagon from the 1950s through the 1980s, complete with its iconic fake wood paneling.
72. 1955 Chevrolet Corvette V8 It wasn’t until the third year of production, with the introduction of the small-block V8, that America’s sports car truly found its stride.
71. 1964 Ford GT40 Built for racing but also a fantastic road car, the GT40 famously beat Ferrari at Le Mans for four consecutive years.
70. 1968 Jaguar XJ6 So beautiful and successful that its design remained largely unchanged for 41 years. Perhaps Britain’s only great car from the ’70s and ’80s.
69. 1948 Jaguar XK120 The XK120 was the fastest car available at the time and set new standards for performance and design.
68. 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost This car proved that a vehicle could be both mechanically superior and a piece of art, defining luxury for the era.
67. 2010 Porsche Panamera The four-door that other manufacturers feared Porsche would build, combining practicality with unparalleled performance.
66. 1970 Range Rover Initially a more capable Land Rover, the Range Rover quickly became the standard for luxurious SUVs.
65. 1941 Jeep MB The military Jeep MB, developed into the civilian CJ and eventually the Wrangler, set the stage for four-wheel drive vehicles.
64. 1955 Chrysler 300 With a 300-horsepower Hemi V8, this coupe dominated NASCAR and foreshadowed the muscle cars of the next decade.
63. 1934 Chrysler Airflow An aerodynamic pioneer, the Airflow was the first to feature an aerodynamic unibody design, influencing car manufacturing for decades.
62. 1963 Aston Martin DB5 Thanks to James Bond’s Goldfinger, the DB5 became the most famous car, sparking dreams of high-tech, gadget-filled cars.
61. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Roadster A combination of engineering brilliance and timeless design, this supercharged car was the ultimate pre-war exotic.
60. 1984 Chrysler Minivans These vans redefined family transportation and became a staple for generations, rescuing Chrysler from the brink of bankruptcy.
59. 1976 Porsche 930 The 911 Turbo was the performance icon of the 1970s, bringing turbocharging back into the spotlight.
58. 2011 Nissan Leaf The Leaf was the first mass-produced electric car from a major manufacturer, proving the viability of electric vehicles.
57. 1982 Ford Mustang 5.0 This car kept the spirit of hot-rodding alive in the 1990s with its powerful 5.0-liter V8 engine.
56. 2005 Bugatti Veyron With 1,001 horsepower, a quad-turbo W16 engine, and a top speed of over 250 mph, the Veyron set new standards for hypercars.
55. 2002 Subaru WRX The WRX transformed Subaru’s image from a brand for professors to one of cool, high-performance rally-inspired vehicles.
54. 1977 Lotus Esprit The Esprit was a groundbreaking mid-engine GT that lasted 27 years, even transforming into a submarine in James Bond films.
53. 1962 Shelby Cobra 260 and 289 Carroll Shelby turned the dull AC Ace into a legendary sports car with the addition of a small-block Ford V8.
52. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 By fitting a massive Ford 427 V8 into a newly designed chassis, Shelby created one of the fastest cars ever made, still produced today.
51. 1975 Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS This mid-engine, V8-powered car revitalized Ferrari’s lineup and became a bestseller, saving the brand in the 1970s.
50. 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 With a high-tech, 375
