The most iconic cars of all time
The top 3 according to 40 votes from people: Ford Model T (1908) · Volkswagen Beetle (1938) · Porsche 911 (1963). (Updated Jun 27, 2025.)
The cars that changed motoring and pop culture. The top five follow the 1999 'Car of the Century' vote by 132 motoring journalists; the rest are the models that appear again and again in experts' iconic-car lists.
Top 20
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1
Ford Model T (1908)
Voted Car of the Century; the moving assembly line made it affordable and put the world on wheels.
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2
Volkswagen Beetle (1938)
21.5 million built, the best-selling car of a single design ever.
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3
Porsche 911 (1963)
Rear-engined sports car still in production, fifth in the Car of the Century.
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4
Mini (1959)
Alec Issigonis' transverse-engine small car, second in the Car of the Century vote and Monte Carlo winner.
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5
Aston Martin DB5 (1963)
James Bond's car in Goldfinger.
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6
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (1954)
The 'Gullwing', fastest production car of its day with fuel injection.
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7
Volkswagen Golf GTI (1976)
The car that defined the hot hatch.
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8
Citroën DS (1955)
Hydropneumatic suspension and space-age design; third in the Car of the Century.
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9
Ferrari 250 GTO (1962)
Only 36 built; the most expensive car ever sold at auction until 2022.
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10
McLaren F1 (1992)
Gordon Murray's three-seat supercar, fastest production car in the world for years.
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11
Ford Mustang (1964)
Created the pony car segment; a million sold in 18 months.
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12
Range Rover (1970)
The first luxury off-roader, exhibited at the Louvre as a work of industrial design.
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13
Land Rover Series / Defender (1948)
The go-anywhere British workhorse built for 67 years.
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14
Jaguar E-Type (1961)
Enzo Ferrari reputedly called it the most beautiful car ever made.
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15
Lamborghini Countach (1974)
Marcello Gandini's wedge, the poster on every 1980s bedroom wall.
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16
Audi Quattro (1980)
Brought four-wheel drive to rallying and dominated the World Rally Championship.
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17
Toyota Corolla (1966)
The best-selling car nameplate in history, over 50 million sold.
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18
Chevrolet Corvette (1953)
America's sports car, in production for over 70 years.
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19
Tesla Model S (2012)
The electric saloon that proved EVs could be desirable and fast.
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20
Fiat 500 (1957)
Dante Giacosa's tiny Cinquecento that motorised post-war Italy.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (3)
The Citroën DS still looks futuristic today.
Jaguar E-Type, they say even Enzo Ferrari called it the most beautiful car ever made.
The Mini, a revolution in packaging.