15 of the Greatest Sports Cars Ever Produced
Henry Ford put Americans on the road beginning in the early 20th century with the utilitarian Model T. Those who drive for the thrill of it wanted something more, even in the early days of automobiles impeccable engineering, stunning design, ease of handling, and above all, speed. Whether you call them supercars or pony cars, sports cars have a mystique all their own
We have compiled a list of the 15 greatest sports cars ever produced and given the many choices, we exercised editorial discretion to pare the list down.
Our list contains some of the auto industry’s more storied vehicles; cars that bring out the gearhead in all of us. Car makers worldwide have constructed many vehicles with singular styles and features to fulfill our varied sports car fantasies.
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
The Aston Martin became moviegoers’ dream car when a tricked-out model (with machine guns, oil slick ejection, and bullet-proof shield) was driven by James Bond in the film “Goldfinger” in 1964.
Earlier models, beginning in 1963, could reach up to 153 miles per hour and go from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds, which was an impressive feat for a car of its day.
BMW M3 GTR
Unlimited Revs said the BMW M3 GTR is the only car to have won more titles than the Porsche 911. It debuted in 2001 and was the first BMW to feature a V-8 engine that generated 444 horsepower and could accelerate to 60 miles per hour in an eye-popping 3.3 seconds.
You needed a healthy bank account to get one; the price tag for the BMW M3 GTR was $265,000.
Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4
The mid-engined Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 was designed and developed by the Volkswagen Group in Germany and made by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. in France.
It was produced from 2005 to 2011 and can generate 1,000 horsepower, zips to 60 miles an hour in an eyeblink of 2.46 seconds, and its speed tops out at 253 mph. Behind its power is an 8.0 L (488 cu in) W16 quad-turbocharged engine.
Chevrolet Camaro
One of America’s quintessential muscle cars, the Chevy Camaro announced itself in 1967 as a pony car to rival the iconic Ford Mustang. There have been six generations of the Camaro since its arrival 57 years ago, and its makers have not hesitated to embrace style trends.
Described as chiseled, stylish, and dependable, the six-cylinder-powered Camaro sold 220,000 units the year it debuted. An exclusive Camaro series had a 350-cubic-inch V-8 with 295 horsepower. Chevrolet has produced nearly 5 million Camaros since they debuted.
Chevrolet Corvette
Nothing says “American sports car” quite like the sleek, high-performing Chevrolet Corvette. The vehicle has been in gearheads’ consciousnesses for over 70 years and is in many car collectors’ garages, including the nation’s commander-in-chief.
Constant updates in lightening its weight, improving the mechanics, and staying true to its style are reasons why nearly 3 million. This beast is powered by a 7.0 L engine that produces 460 horsepower.
Ferrari 250 GTO
There have been many great Ferrari models. However, the Ferrari 250 GTO that debuted in 1962 has been called the greatest Ferrari of all time. The Ferrari 250 GTO was built by a group led by renowned automobile engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. The vehicle’s sleek lines were designed based on research done in wind tunnels. Only 39 were ever made.
It was powered by a 3.0 L V12 or 4.0 L V12 engine, and the Ferrari 250 GTO could produce 300 horsepower and go from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds. Wireless mogul Craig McCaw bought one in 2012 for $35 million, at the time the most expensive car ever sold.
Ford Mustang
The Mustang was the vehicle that made Ford executive Lee Iacocca an industry legend. Introduced at the New York World’s Fair in 1964, it became a cultural phenomenon, heralding American youth’s quest for independence on the open road.
The Mustang’s allure is enduring; now in its seventh generation, it is the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. More than 10 million vehicles have been sold. The 1964 model had 271 horsepower and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 7.5 seconds.
Ford Shelby GT500
The Ford Shelby GT500 was made via a joint venture between a special vehicle team at Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and famed car driver Carroll Shelby. The car was launched in 2006.
Considered the mightiest Mustang ever built, the Shelby GT500 was juiced by a 5.4 L supercharged V8 engine, which generated 500 horsepower and flashed to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. It could cover a quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at 106 miles per hour.
Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type was produced from 1961 to 1975. The British sports car with the clean lines revolutionized the high-performance end of the car industry in the 1960s.
The vehicle had two engines that outfitted the Series 1 — the 3.8 L and the 4.2 L. With its powerful 4.2 L engine, the Jaguar E-Type could dash to 60 miles per hour in 7.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 137 miles per hour.
Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is known for its iconic wedge-shaped design, created by the Italian design house Bertone. It was one of the last models made under the supervision of brand founder Ferruccio Lamborghini. Legend has it that the name originates from the Piedmontese term “contacc!” — a phrase of awe uttered by a styling assistant who first saw its design.
The vehicle was distinguished by its array of vents, wings, scoops, and periscope-style rear-view mirror design. It was first designed in 1974 and reached America in 1982, where it found considerable favor. The first Countach was powered by a 370-horsepower V-12 engine. The car goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in as few as 4.5 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 185 mph.
Mazda RX-7
You’ve probably seen the Mazda RX-7 on the movie screen in the Fast and Furious films and in the video game Gran Turismo. Japan’s car makers dipped their toe into the sports car segment of the industry in the late ’70s with the Mazda RX-7.
It was a two-seater with a rotary engine that generated just 100 horsepower in its first year, which increased in later models. The company produced three generations from 1978 to 2002, selling more than 800,000 worldwide.
McLaren F1
According to Auto Express, the McLaren F1 became the fastest production car in the world in 1998. The vehicle could reach a top speed of 242.8 miles per hour and accelerate from zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
The two-door McLaren F1 was constructed from 1992 to 1998. It was a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. It was bolstered by a 6.1 L V12 engine, which was capable of generating 627 horsepower and speeding from zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz SL
When the Mercedes-Benz SL was introduced in 1954, it was a two-seat coupé sports car outfitted with its unique gull-wing doors. It was the first production car to feature fuel injection and could reach a top speed of more than 160 miles per hour.
The SL was powered by a 3.0 L overhead cam straight-6 engine that generated 212 horsepower.The car eventually became a luxury roadster that is still in production today.
Porsche 911
The classic and easily recognizable Porsche 911 has not changed much in the 60 years since it’s been on the road. More than 1 million 911s have been sold since its debut.
The Porsche model is known for its signature boxer rear-engine design. The 911 featured an air-cooled, six-cylinder engine that produced 130 horsepower and could generate speeds of up to 130 miles per hour.
Shelby Cobra
The Shelby Cobra combined British and American engineering and design skills to create one of the 1960s’ iconic sports cars.
Its parts reportedly came from different cars: the steering rack from the VW Beetle, the disk brakes from Jaguar, and the 4.7 L or 7.0 L 7.0 V8 engine from Ford. The Cobra produced 425 horsepower and could reach 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds.