Sunday 19 December 2010

No10 - Ferrari 250 GTO

No10 - Ferrari 250 GTO
The 250 GTO was designed to compete in GT racing. It was based on the 250 GT SWB. Chief engineer Giotto Bizzarrini installed the 3.0 L V12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa into the chassis from the 250 GT SWB and worked with designer Sergio Scaglietti to develop the body. After Bizzarrini and most other Ferrari engineers were fired in a dispute with Enzo Ferrari, development was handed over to new engineer Mauro Forghieri, who worked with Scaglietti to continue development of the body, including wind tunnel and track testing. Unlike most Ferraris, it was not designed by a specific individual or design house.

Ferrari 250 GTO - Test Drive

No9 - Ford Mustang

No9 - Ford Mustang
The iconic Ford Mustang is a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A.The Mustang created the "pony car" class of American automobile sports car-like coupes with long hoods and short rear decks and gave rise to competitors such as GM's Chevrolet Camaro, AMC's Javelin, and Chrysler's revamped Plymouth BarracudaIt also inspired coupés such as the Toyota Celica and Ford Capri, which were exported to the United States.The Mustang is Ford's third oldest nameplate in production and has undergone several transformations to its current fifth generation.

Ford Mustang - Jeremy Clarkson


No8 - Porche 911

No8 - Porche 911
The Porsche 911 (pronounced as Nine Eleven, German: Neunelfer) is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998. Since its introduction in autumn 1963, it has undergone continuous development. The basic concept has remained little changed throughout its evolution.


Porche 911 - Frankfurt Motor Show (2010)

No7 - Mercedes-Benz 300SL

No7 - Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a roadster manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The designation SL derives from the German Sport Leicht, or Sport Light — and was first applied to the 300SL 'Gullwing' named also after its gullwing or upward-opening doors. The term SL-Class refers to the marketing variations of the vehicle, including the numerous engine configurations spanning five design generations. The 300SL roadster succeeded the Gullwing in 1957. The 4-cylinder 190SL was more widely produced with 25,881 units, starting in 1955. Cars of the open SL-Class were available as a coupe with a removable hardtop or as a roadster with convertible soft top or with both tops. Production for the 190SL and 300SL ended in 1963.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL - James May Test Drive

No6 - AC Cobra

No6 - AC Cobra
The AC Cobra, also known as the Shelby Cobra, is an Anglo-American sports car that was produced during the 1960s. Like many British specialist manufacturers, AC Cars had been using the smooth, refined Bristol straight-6 engine in its small-volume production, including its AC Ace 2-seater roadster. This had a hand-built body with a steel tube frame, and aluminium body panels that were made using English wheeling machines. The engine was a pre-World War II design of BMW which by the 1960s was considered dated. Bristol decided in 1961 to cease production of its engine and instead to use Chrysler 331 cid (5.4 L) V8 engines.

AC Cobra - AutoCar Test Drive


No5 - BMC Mini

No5 - BMC Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car-makers. The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent to its German contemporary, the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity in North America. In 1999 the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th Century, behind the Ford Model T.

The Mini - Italian Job


No4 - Jaguar E-Type


No4 - Jaguar E-Type
 The Jaguar E-Type (UK) or XK-E (US) is a British car manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring. A great success for Jaguar, over seventy thousand E-Types were sold during its lifespan. In March 2008, the Jaguar E-Type ranked first in Daily Telegraph list of the "100 most beautiful cars" of all time. In 2004, Sports Car International magazine placed the E-Type at number one on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.

Jaguar E-Type - BBC Top Gear
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No3 - Fiat 500

 
No3 - Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa. Launched as the Nuova (new) 500 in July 1957, it was marketed as a cheap and practical town car. Measuring only 3 meters (~10 feet) long, and originally powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 redefined the term "small car" and is considered one of the first city cars. In 2007 Fiat launched a similar styled, longer and heavier front wheel drive car, the Fiat Nuova 500.



No2 - VW Golf MK1

Like its predecessor the Volkswagen Beetle, the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 has proven to be influential. In continuous production since 1974, the Golf was one of the first widely successful front-wheel drive hatchbacks. In the USA, the Morris Mini, Honda N360 and Fiat 128 saw only limited success, but it was the Rabbit, along with the Honda Civic that sparked another generation of European-derived front-wheel drive American compacts, such as the Dodge Omni, Escort and Cavalier.


 

VW Golf MK1 GTI - BBC Top Gear

 

No1 - VW Beetle

No1 - VW Beetle
The number 1 position has to go to the true "peoples car" the Volkswagen Beetle, also known as the Volkswagen Type 1, was an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen (VW) from 1938 until 2003. With over 21 million manufactured in an air-cooled, rear-engined, rear wheel drive configuration, the Beetle became the worldwide longest-running and most-manufactured automobile of a single design platform. The Beetle had been officially designated as the Type 1 and was marketed in Europe by the designations 1100, 1200, 1300, 1500, or 1600 — denoting its engine size. The model became widely known in its home country as the Käfer, German for "beetle", and the model ultimately took the same nickname in English.

VW Beetle - Guinness World Record for Engine Change