By Nathan Olesen
Over the years, vehicles have become a huge part of our lives. They enable us to get where we want to go in less time, and make our lives easier and less complicated in the long run. For some people, the interest in cars ends there. For most, a car is nothing but a tool used to get from point A to point B, and it doesn’t matter how quick it can do that, just as long as the person gets there on time. There are, however, some of us who think of a car as more than just a tool to get to work every day. Some of us think of cars as something that can create incredible memories, and, when designed properly, can inspire awe and wonder in the onlooker who gazes longingly at the spot behind the wheel, someday hoping to be there. This list shows some of the cars that can and have inspired this feeling in many people, and whose architects put all their time and effort into sculpting an iconic car that people will and have remembered for years to come.
1. Jaguar F-type Coupé (2014)
To start off this list is the Jaguar F-type Coupé. Jaguar, a company known for its beautiful, eye-catching sports cars, lives up to the expectations with this beautiful coupé.
2. Ford GT (2016)
As an homage to the original Ford GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford has created the 2017 Ford GT, a low, sleek, and powerful beast that has shattered records and has already proved itself by winning the 2016 Le Mans.
3. Aston Martin V12 Zagato (2011)
To celebrate 50 years of partnership with Zagato, an Italian coach-building and design center, Aston Martin unveiled the V12 Zagato, an elegant and striking model that is the standard at the British car-making company.
4. Porsche 918 Spyder (2013)
With the evolving interest in Hypercars, cars that are so powerful they have earned a new level of categorization, Porsche was under a bit of pressure to create something that could compete with other hypercars, and also live up to the expectations that are the norm for the German car company. They executed it masterfully. The Porsche is not only a thing of beauty, it also outperforms many of the competition, despite being a hybrid.
5. Bugatti Chiron (2016)
The French car manufacturer Ettore Bugatti, with the help of German car company Volkswagen, founded Bugatti with one goal in mind. Create luxurious, powerful, and fast cars for the small percentage of people that could actually afford them. He exceeded this goal with the Bugatti Veyron, breaking land speed records, and exceeded them again with the Chiron, shattering any hope from the competition as it reached an incredible top speed of 288-miles-per-hour.
6. Lamborghini Miura (1966)
Designed by Gruppo Bertone, an Italian car company specialized in car design, the Lamborghini was one of the most iconic Lamborghinis ever made, as it was believed to be the first two-seater, high-performance sports car.
7. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (1963)
The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, also know as the C2, has one of the most iconic and unique shapes in not only the entire Chevrolet lineup, but for every Corvette that followed it. This can also be attributed to the fact that it was the first time Chevrolet used a wind tunnel to design the shape of the bodyshell.
8. 1968 Pontiac Firebird (1968)
The Pontiac Firebird is a well-known car, most notably shown in the movie Smokey and the Bandit, but it has many models that span many years, from 1967 all the way to 2002. The 1968 model, though, is one that truly mastered the balance between power and elegance, and was a car that was intimidating and scary to those opposing it, but emitted a feeling of power and grace to those inside it.
9. BMW 328 Roadster (1936)
Nominated for “Car of the Century” in 1999, the BMW 328 Roadster was a car that was ahead of its time, winning more than 100 races in the year 1937 alone, including many famous ones such as Le Mans, the Alpine Rally, and the Mille Miglia.
10. BAC Mono (2011)
Briggs Automotive Company, a small British sports car company based in Speke, Liverpool, has created only one car. The BAC Mono. A little track car meant only for those with disposable income who wanted to have a little fun on the weekends, the BAC Mono won many awards for its finesse and meticulous handling, acceleration, and speed on the track, including three car of the year awards, and a “Best Drives” Award.