These cars are the gold standard. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic vehicles to ever come off the assembly line.
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00:00In fact, the M1 is arguably the world's first truly sensible, usable, European mid-engined exotic.
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic vehicles to ever come off the assembly line.
00:14But this is such a special car. It's so rare, they only built over 150 of them, around 150.
00:21Number 20. Toyota Supra MK4.
00:25The first generation of the Toyota Supra dates all the way back to the late 1970s.
00:30It could be argued, however, that the MK4 model that arrived in 1993 broke the proverbial mold.
00:39There was an increased focus on performance this time around, more than ever before in fact.
00:44The MK4 was lighter and shorter, with a design that was perfect for road racing.
00:48Elsewhere, this Supra was also powerful and efficient on the road, a masterful meeting of planning, engineering, and execution.
00:56This was indeed the real deal.
00:58Number 19. Jaguar E-Type.
01:01There were a number of Jaguar models that were considered for this list.
01:04The C-Type certainly comes to mind, but it's the Jaguar E-Type that ultimately makes our cut.
01:09These models were produced between 1961 and 1974, and are remembered today as a perfect storm of sorts.
01:15It was just groundbreaking, and I think it's always been something that people have lusted after.
01:20These cars looked great, handled wonderfully, were well-constructed, and were even priced right for their day.
01:26The Jaguar E-Type possesses a legacy of excellence that's difficult to deny,
01:31while their beautiful lines and sleek design lend them the reputation as one of the most gorgeous cars to ever roll off an assembly line.
01:38No car before ever caused such a stir, and no car has since, really.
01:45Number 18. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe.
01:48The Chevy Corvette is a name that's virtually synonymous with cool.
01:52The second-generation Stingray Coupe that was produced from 1963 to 1967 are practically outstanding, however,
01:59thanks to an increased focus on handling to coincide with horsepower.
02:02The 1967 Stingray in particular arrived lightweight and with all of the various upgrades that Chevy tinkered with over the course of four years.
02:11The end results were an iconic American sports car that could seriously move, while also embodying power and great looks.
02:18They say that a classic never goes out of style, and that old adage definitely applies with the Chevy Stingray.
02:24Number 17. Ferrari Daytona.
02:26It's a clashing name, sure, but the Ferrari Daytona was something of a rock star within the car world.
02:33That's because variations of this car have appeared on everything from television shows like Miami Vice,
02:39to movies like A Star Is Born, and album covers from artists like The Carpenters.
02:44Here was a car that virtually defined the Ferrari brand during the 1970s.
02:49A speedy and efficient sportster with tons of get-up-and-go, with a look that never skimped on style.
02:55There's a reason after all why the name Ferrari is a legend, and it's in part to cars like the Daytona.
03:01It's absolutely sublime.
03:07Number 16. Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.
03:11Italy's Alfa Romeo brand is another brand with a number of iconic cars to its name.
03:15The eight-cylinder Competizione was totally killer, but it's the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale that just might be one of the best examples of the company's excellence.
03:24There are many people who would say this is one of the greatest looking cars ever made.
03:28The 33 Stradale was fast with a capital F, with the very word itself, Stradale, translating from Italian into the phrase, road-going.
03:36This car wasn't cheap, but those that could afford the 33 Stradale from Alfa Romeo received a car with dangerous curves that could go, go, go.
03:45Number 15. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
03:47The Firebird brand from Pontiac produced four different generational models of the Trans Am over the course of over three decades.
03:54The Firebird continues the F-car reputation of being the best handling car made in America.
03:59Today, the car is remembered as perhaps the definitive American muscle car.
04:04The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was a loud, fast, and powerful car that fed into American drivers' hunger for performance and speed.
04:12Kit from TV's Knight Rider was one of the coolest Trans Ams to ever hit the road.
04:15Further solidifying the brand's iconic status.
04:20All those guys did a nice job. There's not a ripple on it.
04:24Alas, nothing lasts forever, and the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am faded off into the sunset in 2002.
04:31Although diehard fans will always have their memories.
04:34I can't believe this. A car that talks back to me.
04:46Number 14. DMC DeLorean.
04:50It's perhaps the easiest softball entry on this list.
04:54A car whose easily distinguishable look and design forever cemented it within the 1980s cultural zeitgeist.
05:00Let's forget for a moment that the DMC DeLorean was never known for its performance or quality craftsmanship.
05:05Good lord.
05:09Let's also ignore the chaotic history behind former General Motors man John DeLorean and the company that bore his name.
05:16Instead, the DMC DeLorean lives on forever thanks to its inclusion in one of cinema's most beloved films, Back to the Future.
05:23Let's see if you bastards can do 90.
05:27The vehicle's gull-wing doors frankly made it seem more futuristic than it actually was, but you know what?
05:33We wouldn't want it any other way.
05:36I mean, it's relatively controllable, but on the public road? Good god.
05:41Number 13. Shelby Mustang GT350 and GT500.
05:45A number of specific models come to mind when considering the enviable legacy of the Shelby Mustang.
05:50This collaboration between Shelby American and the Ford Motor Company hit particular pay dirt with their GT500 and GT350 models from 2007 and 2015, respectively.
06:01It is a likable car. It's a good-looking car. The power is always intoxicating.
06:08The GT500 received the distinction of portraying the new kit for NBC's brief reboot of Knight Rider.
06:14Please step away from the car, or I will be forced to take defensive measures.
06:17Meanwhile, its third-gen model from 2020 and beyond showcased even more speed, power, and torque.
06:23The GT350, for its part, was tailor-made for the track, featuring ace handling and sleek design concepts that looked great as they whizzed by you at blinding speeds.
06:34All the work the engineers have done really pays off when you're here in the driver's seat.
06:38Number 12. AC Shelby Cobra 427.
06:41Shelby American returns once again with the AC Cobra 427 from 1965.
06:47This classic muscle car tried and succeeded in combining the American desire for power and speed with a European look and precision handling.
06:56The end results were tailor-made for this swinging decade of change, and the AC Shelby Cobra 427 delivered the goods when it came to harmonizing style and substance.
07:05There were so many replicas out there, it's fascinating to see one exactly as it left the factory.
07:12There was over 400 horsepower under the hood of the 427, yet this Cobra hugged the roads like an old friend, burning rubber ahead of the competition.
07:21Said quite simply, the AC Shelby Cobra 427 was badass.
07:26Maybe one of the most badass cars to ever be produced, full stop.
07:30Number 11. Lancia Stratos.
07:35Rally racing is the name of the game when it comes to the Stratos from Lancia.
07:39What else might one expect from the Italian race car market, one of the most famous in the entire world?
07:44The Lancia Stratos was a dominant force on the racetrack, hugging corners and winning awards with speed and precision.
07:50It doesn't really matter that this wasn't a car you'd see every day.
07:53The Lancia Stratos meant business, and demanded that you get out of the way, or risk eating their literal dust.
08:00This is one of the best cars ever made.
08:03Number 10. Aston Martin DB5.
08:06It is arguably the dream car of the 1960s.
08:10Yes, it's that Aston Martin.
08:13Designed by Carrozzeria Touring's Superleggera, the DB5 was the first of its kind.
08:18Yes, it's that Aston Martin.
08:21Designed by Carrozzeria Touring's Superleggera, 1,059 DB5s were built between 1963 and 1965, with the overwhelming majority of those being 2x2 coupes.
08:32123 were convertibles, but rarest of all was the Shooting Brake or Wagon model, which was made for Aston boss David Brown himself.
08:39Regardless of body shape, the DB5 was powered by a 4-liter, triple-carbureted, straight-six with a top speed of 143 miles, or 230 kilometers per hour, and a 0-60 mile per hour time, 8 seconds.
08:53Base models could boast 282 horsepower and 280 pounds per feet of torque, but the less common Vantage variant had a full serving of 315 horsepower pulling on the reins.
09:05This is quite possibly the most famous car in the world.
09:10Number 9. BMW M1
09:13But in 1978, an unlikely name threw their hat into the ring with a car that has since become as exotic and legendary as anything with a horse or bull on the hood.
09:22This unique beast of the BMW family, the M1, is also among the rarest.
09:27Birthed from a brief union between BMW and Lamborghini, the M1 was intended to be BMW's ticket to on-track success and a race car for the streets.
09:36Like a Lambo, the M1 was mid-engined, but that engine was a 3.5-liter, twin-cam, fuel-injected straight-six rather than Lamborghini's pride, the V12.
09:47It may have half the cylinder count, but with 273 horsepower and a top speed of 162 miles, or 260 kilometers per hour, it was no slouch.
09:58Turbocharged, full-racing versions, meanwhile, could hit a stately 850 horsepower.
10:03Simply get in, turn the key, and drive.
10:07Number 8. Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
10:11I am not a car. I'm much more than that.
10:16In striving to create a racing car, Porsche managed to create one of their most iconic and desirable cars of all time.
10:22Using the 911 as its base, every inch of the car was dedicated to racing, from the beefier brakes, wider rear end and rear wheels, and stiff suspension, to the hate-it-or-love-it ducktail spoiler.
10:34It was also lightweight, at just 2,370 pounds, or 1,075 kilograms.
10:40The sport lightweight version, meanwhile, was, naturally, lighter still, at 2,150 pounds, or 975 kilograms.
10:47This, combined with a fuel-injected 210 horsepower, 2.7 liter, six-cylinder engine, made the Carrera RS a rocket.
10:55And at just shy of 1,600 units, it's a rare and legendary rocket at that.
11:00Come and catch me, if you can.
11:03Number 7. Lamborghini Countach, made from 1974 to 1990.
11:08The Countach kick-started the entire wedge-shaped revolution.
11:11This car looks this shocking today. Imagine what it looked like back in 1971.
11:18Powered, initially, by the same four-liter engine as the Miura, Lamborghini continued improving the power plant until it became a fuel-injected, 5.2 liter, 414 horsepower, fire-breather.
11:29The final take on the Countach, the 25th anniversary model, had a still respectable 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, and a top speed of 183 miles per hour, or 295 kilometers per hour.
11:42With its sharp lines, scissor doors, and optional massive rear wing, it looked fast, even when parked, and was instant pin-up material.
11:50Your sense is being bombarded by so many other things, that you just don't notice how fast you're going, really.
11:56Number 6. Ferrari F40.
11:59By the mid-80s, Ferrari had pretty much perfected their mid-engine, rear-drive, go-fast recipe, and that perfection came in the form of the F40.
12:07This was the last car blessed by Enzo Ferrari.
12:12Powered by a twin-turbo, 3-liter, 471 horsepower V8, the car was the last one personally approved by founder Enzo Ferrari.
12:20Made of a mix of Kevlar, carbon fiber, and aluminum, the F40 was a stripped-down, low-weight, high-power machine, built with the goal of breaking the 200-mile-per-hour barrier.
12:31Coated with just enough paint to hide the carbon fiber weave, the F40's body was shaped not only for style, but for aerodynamics, and to channel cool air to its vital organs.
12:42In the end, Enzo's legacy has been cemented in this supercar masterpiece.
12:47Number 5. McLaren F1.
12:50With its unusual center-forward driving position and an ultra-sleek design, the McLaren F1 was always going to be an attention-getter, and it had the goods to be more than just a head-turner.
13:01Using expensive and unlikely materials for weight relief, including gold, magnesium, Kevlar, carbon fiber, and titanium, the F1 was a true car-to-car masterpiece.
13:15The F1 was not only lightweight, it was near-perfectly balanced. It was also seriously fast.
13:22Using a 6.1-liter BMW V12, the standard F1 recorded a top speed of 231 miles per hour, or 371 kilometers per hour, a record speed that held until the arrival of the Bugatti Veyron in 2005.
13:36Even today, long after it entered production in 1992 and left it in 1998, very few cars can keep up with, let alone pass, the F1.
13:51Number 4. Mercedes 300 SL.
13:54Most road versions of race cars are turned-down lookalikes with a few intimidating badges and a lot less power.
14:00The 300 SL did things differently. It actually had a slightly more powerful engine than the racer it was based on.
14:07Where the carbureted racing version got 175 horsepower, the street-legal, fuel-injected 300 SL got 215 horsepower.
14:15And at 160 miles, or 258 kilometers per hour, it was the fastest production car in the world in 1954.
14:23Plus, with its old-world classy curves and its trademark gull-wing doors, the 300 SL was simply gorgeous, whether it was creeping up in your mirror, passing you, or parked in your driveway.
14:34Number 3. Ford GT40.
14:36Based in equal measure on the Lola MK6 and Henry Ford II's desire to beat Ferrari, the Ford GT40 was a legend from the first green flag.
14:53Using a blend of British engineering and American horsepower, the GT40 not only won Le Mans in 1966, it claimed second and third as well, for a full podium sweep.
15:03And it would carry on winning the annual race until 1970, due to its limited numbers, with just seven road-ready MK3s being built.
15:12GT40s can command an outstanding price on the collector's market, such as the $11 million paid for a 1968 model formerly owned by Steve McQueen.
15:22It isn't even as high as my legs.
15:25Number 2. Lamborghini Miura.
15:27This is the origin of Lamborghini as we know it today.
15:32Prior to the Miura, Lamborghini was known for making quick cruisers and grand tourers.
15:37After the Miura, they were known for sleek, bold designs and ridiculous amounts of speed.
15:43The exact type of car Ferruccio Lamborghini never wanted to make, the Miura was designed by his engineers when he wasn't looking.
15:50They didn't realize it at the time, but those seven impetuous young engineers were about to spark a revolution.
15:58It would be the last time a Miura failed to catch a look.
16:01Using Lambo's trusty 3.9-liter, 345-horsepower V12 and a then-revolutionary mid-engine layout, the Miura could achieve a 171 miles or 276 kilometers per hour top speed.
16:16With this, the Miura became the world's first true supercar.
16:20And in true supercar fashion, it was as pricey as it was fast, costing $20,000 in an era of $2,000 cars.
16:28As a car, it was flawed. But as a concept, it was truly a masterpiece.
16:35Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
16:391936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. A rare and OG supercar.
16:45Duesenberg Model J. Luxury personified.
16:48$2.15 million.
16:52Audi Quattro. Rally car excellence.
16:55Mercedes-Benz SSK. Pioneer of speed and performance from the Golden Age.
16:59And this car was built in 1928.
17:02This was also the first model year to carry the Mercedes-Benz logo on the radiator that we know today.
17:18If you're on your phone, make sure you go into settings and switch on your notifications.
17:24Number 1. Ferrari 250 GTO.
17:27While the 250 California was made for winding roads and warm Pacific days, the 250 GTO was made to savagely beat Cobras, Jaguar E-Types, and Aston Martins on the track.
17:37Based upon the short-wheeled base 250 GT, this 250 got an ultra-aerodynamic body and a Le Mans-proven 3-liter V12 loaded with six Weber carburetors.
17:49Less than 50 GTOs were built, and they were sold only to buyers personally selected by Enzo Ferrari himself.
17:56The $18,000 required to take Enzo up on his invitation proved to be an excellent investment.
18:02Today, GTOs can command millions, like the $38 million paid for Sterling Moss' former GTO.
18:09What's your dream car? Let us know in the comments.
18:13There are faults with it, but you look at it, and they just sort of aren't.
18:31Thanks for watching!