George Orwell once wrote: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” We all know the famous line is satirical and deployed as a commentary on the principle of equality. In the context of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the remark is a veiled finger pointed at the hypocrisy of the ruling “pigs” class.
However, inequality is a fact of life that doesn’t have to be corrupted like the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The five human fingers are thankfully not equal, just as some cars are “more equal than others.”
Hidden in the massive stacks of automobiles produced throughout history are a comparative few that indisputably defined, redefined, shaped, and reshaped the industry. They are the greatest ever produced, and our mission here is to celebrate those “pigs.”
Ferrari 250 GTO
- Production Years: 1962-1964
- Highlight: Previously the most expensive car ever sold at auction
Any serious gathering of timeless greatness in the automotive industry is missing the nucleus without the Ferrari 250 GTO, a grand touring race car powered by the famous Tipo 168 Colombo V12. Originally designed and developed by none other than Giotto Bizzarrini, the 250 GTO could be correctly described as an evolutionary model of the 1952-1964 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB.
Marking its racing debut at the 12H of Sebring 1962, only a handful of GTs could keep up with the 250 GTO, namely, Jaguar E-Type, AC Cobra, and Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. Today, the Ferrari 250 GTO is second only to the Uhlenhaut Coupe as the world’s most valuable classic car.
Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing
- Production Years: 1954-1957H
- Highlight: One of the fastest production cars of its time
We’d need a long list to present all the reasons behind the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing’s timeless greatness. Simply put, the car is a masterpiece of automotive engineering and design. The distinctive gullwing doors blessed it with an instantly recognizable aesthetic appeal. Mercedes-Benz used this car to achieve the incredible.
It was the 1950s, and this 2-seat sports car could make 240 horsepower and achieve a claimed 161 mph top speed, thanks to the then-novel fuel-injected, 3.0-liter inline-six engine. Yes, the 300SL Gullwing was the first production car to feature fuel injection technology.
McLaren F1
- Production Years: 1992-1998
- Highlight: One of the fastest naturally aspirated production cars ever built
The McLaren F1 is one of the greatest because it brought several revolutionary technologies to the supercar table when it was born in 1992, most notably the central driving position. This was revolutionary because the F1 was not “another Mazda mono-posto,” even though it debuted nearly a decade before the Mazda. Instead, the driver is flanked by two passenger seats.
Also, McLaren built this car with carbon fiber for the monocoque chassis, ultimately helping the F1 achieve a record-breaking top speed of 240.1 mph to hold the title of the world's fastest production car for many years.
Toyota 2002 Supra
- Production Years: Mk4 Supra (1993-2002)
- Highlight: Known for its inline-six engine setup and excellent handling
The 2002 Supra, also known as the Mk4 Supra, will always retain its special place in enthusiast circles. This tuning and aftermarket darling gained widespread notoriety thanks to a turbocharged inline-six with impressive power and torque figures and the capacity to take significant power upgrades.
Yes, we’re referring to the 2JZ straight-six that came breathing naturally or turbocharged, mated to a 5-speed manual (6-speed with the turbocharged offering) and an optional 4-speed A/T. With this engine routing power to the rear wheels and a well-tuned chassis, the Supra was a natural city and track performer long before The Fast and the Furious movies cemented its place as one of the most revered sports cars of its era.
5. Benz Motorwagen
- Production Years: 1886-1893
- Highlight: The world's first motor car powered by an internal combustion engine
Patented by Karl Benz in 1886, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen is known as the world's first automobile. The Mercedes-Benz Group wrote on its website that the Motorwagen patent number 37435 might as well be “the birth certificate of the automobile.”
The three-wheeled motorized cycle may not look like much today, but omitting it from any serious list of the greatest cars ever produced is akin to a heinous crime. Despite its humble beginnings, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen laid the foundation for the modern automobile industry we know today.
Ford Model T
- Production Years: 1908-1927
- Highlight: Revolutionized car production with its cost-effective assembly-line method
It’s safe to say that the general public and societies around the world have Henry Ford and his revolutionary Model T to thank for the expansion of the automotive industry to include all classes of society. The automobile was a luxurious acquisition exclusive to a privileged few before Mr. Ford decided to change the narrative.
Thanks to Mr. Ford’s introduction of assembly line production techniques, the Model T fundamentally changed how people lived and traveled by making cars affordable and accessible to the masses. The assembly line drastically reduced manufacturing costs and allowed Ford to mass-produce the Model T at an unprecedented scale.
Volkswagen Beetle
- Production Years: 1936-2003
- Highlight: Built and known as The People’s Car in Germany
Few cars are as popular as the Volkswagen Beetle, also known as the “Bug” or “Type 1.” Introduced in 1936 (full-scale production began in 1938), the Beetle is loved and dearly missed since it was discontinued in 2003, despite its somewhat sinister origins as part of Nazi-sponsored consumer goods like the Volksempfanger.
Ferdinand Porsche designed the Volkswagen Beetle under the direction of Adolf Hitler as part of the “People's Car” project. But it's hard to hate a car with a successful blend of practicality, economy, and versatility. By the time it was over in 2003, Volkswagen had sold some 23 million Beetles globally.
Porsche 911
- Production Years: Since 1964
- Highlight: The Quintessential Sports Car with legendary performance
First introduced in 1963 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, the 911 has since become one of the most popular, easily recognized, and longest-running nameplates in automotive history. In that time, the 911 has undergone numerous updates and iterations but has never veered from its essential characteristics: A rear-mounted, flat-six engine, precision handling, and a timeless silhouette.
It’s hard to dislodge a car with countless racing and championship trophies to its name. The 911’s fans are so loyal some will never buy another sports car brand. It ranked ahead of notable performance cars in a JD Power poll for the best cars of the 20th century.
Chevrolet Corvette
- Production Years: Since 1953
- Highlight: The first mass-produced American sports car
When the National Corvette Museum says that the Corvette was born as an icon, we remember the car’s immediate cultural impact upon its birth in 1953. As the first mass-produced American sports car, the Corvette shared plenty in common with the Ford Model T, offering an affordable alternative to European sports cars.
As a testament to this enduring legacy, the 2025 Corvette ZR1, arguably the most powerful Corvette ever made, is hundreds of thousands of dollars cheaper than European supercars with a similar, if not less power. The Corvette also boasts notable success in motorsports, including prestigious races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
BMW 3 Series
- Production Years: Since 1975
- Highlights: A famous blend of excellent handling, performance, and luxury
If we stepped back a few years, would we be wrong to praise the BMW 2002 (02 Series), which is the progenitor of the 3 Series, for introducing America to the concept of a “sport sedan”? The 3 Series is a testament to how much BMW has refined the concept with consistent, attractive styling, enviable engineering, precise handling, and cutting-edge technology, whether in a sedan, coupe, convertible, or estate variant.
Considering BMW isn’t exactly the poster child of reliability, the 3 Series is a huge cornerstone for any respect accorded the brand around the world. It has become one of the best-selling models in its class,
Audi Quattro
- Production Years: 1980-1991
- Highlight: A Legendary AWD system
In the 1980s, the Audi Quattro revolutionized rallying with its all-wheel-drive system. The legendary rally-inspired sports coupe wrote its name in the history of the world’s greatest cars as one of the first road cars to offer all-wheel drive (AWD) as a standard feature.
The Quattro was the one to beat in racing events like the World Rally Championship (WRC), thanks to the AWD system motivated by a turbocharged inline-five engine. It won the WRC title in 1982 and 1984. The original Audi Quattro has since retired in 1991, but its influence can still be seen in Audi's current lineup of performance-oriented vehicles.
Lamborghini Miura
- Production Years: 1966-1973
- Highlight: Considered the world’s first supercar
Introduced in 1966, the Lamborghini Miura is credited as the first to earn the “supercar” designation, changing the game with a mid-engine layout and stunning design. Named after the Spanish ranch famous for its fighting bulls, the Miura upped the ante with a revolutionary design penned by the late Marcello Gandini.
You couldn’t miss those “eyelashes” headlights even if you wanted to. Beneath the Miura’s passionate exterior lay a transversely mounted, mid-mounted V12 engine that belted out a massive 430 horsepower. The car continues to inspire enthusiasts and designers as a canvas for Italian craftsmanship.
Ford Mustang
- Production Years: Since 1964
- Highlight: Iconic American muscle car with a rich cultural significance
Like the Corvette, the Mustang had an immediate cultural impact upon its birth in 1964 as a compact, affordable sports car made in America for America. Six decades later, the Mustang remains true to its traditional styling and powerful performance.
The long hood, short deck, and aggressive stance still capture the imagination of muscle car enthusiasts worldwide. Now available in various body styles, including coupe, convertible, and fastback, the Stang's performance credentials have also evolved with multiple engine options, from inline-six engines to V8s.
Aston Martin DB5
- Production Years: 1963-1965
- Highlight: One of the most beautiful cars ever made
It might seem that the DB5 owes its popularity to the James Bond film series, where it first appeared in the 1964 film “Goldfinger” as the 007's favorite car. However, it’s unlikely the car would’ve been any less famous without the James Bond films. The world could never have failed to notice the DB5’s timeless, elegant design and exceptional performance.
Cradling a 4.0-liter inline-six engine, the grand tourer was good for 286 horsepower, which later rose to 330 horsepower with the revised DB5 Vantage engine. Aston Martin has since produced modern interpretations of the DB5, but the original, designed by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, remains highly sought after by collectors.
Nissan Skyline GT-R
- Production Years: 1969-2002
- Highlight: The “Godzilla”
Thanks to its glorious performance and storied motorsports exploits, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, particularly the R32, R33, and R34 generations, enjoys super-loyal, cult-like fans, especially among Japanese car enthusiasts and tuners.
The GT-R name showed up for the first time in 1969 as a variant of the Nissan Skyline sedan but gained widespread notoriety with the arrival of the R32 Skyline GT-R in 1989.
The GT-R displayed outrageous racetrack dominance with 50 victories racked up between 1968 and 1972, 49 of which were consecutive triumphs in the Japanese race circuit.
“Godzilla” is a fitting nickname bestowed on the Skyline GT-R as it trampled and chewed up all on its part in the Japanese Touring Car Championship, where it won all 29 competitions entered, as well as took home the series title consecutively from 1989 to 1993.
