SINCLAIR C5
This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most unusual vehicles ever to launch in the UK.
Masterminded by Sir Clive Sinclair, the electrically-powered tricycle failed to capture the public’s imagination and would become a symbol of failure in the 1980s.
Whether the Sinclair C5 deserves its place in the automotive hall of fame is a matter of opinion, but there should be no doubts over our choice of 20 cars that moved the game on.
Do these cars deserve a place in the automotive hall of fame? Read our arguments and decide for yourself
FORD MODEL T
The Ford Model T may not represent the genesis of the motor car, but it did - as Ford constantly reminds us - “put the world on wheels”. It was simple, affordable, durable and - thanks to a moving production line - revolutionised manufacturing processes. Over 15 million Model Ts were sold between 1908 and 1927.
AUSTIN SEVEN
The Austin Seven was - to paraphrase the vision of Herbert Austin - a decent car for the man who could only afford a motorcycle and sidecar. Launched in 1922, the Austin Seven spawned many variants and effectively formed the blueprint for what we consider to be the modern motorcar.
There’s also a strong argument that it played a huge part in the development of the Japanese car industry. Plus, it underpinned the original Lotus Seven.
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
The original Volkswagen Type 1 - more commonly known as the Beetle - was born in 1938 and would live on until 2003. By then over 23 million cars would have been sold, therefore surpassing the Ford Model T and being the first car to achieve 20 million units in the process.
LAND ROVER
The original Land Rover is notable for two reasons. Firstly, this was a monumental shift in direction for Rover, who - pre-war - had been producing high-end luxury cars.
To change direction and concentrate on an agricultural vehicle inspired by the Willys Jeep was a brave step. Secondly, it was very, very good. So good in fact that its direct descendent is still in production today. Just.
CITROEN 2CV
The Citroen 2CV was the result of one man’s vision of building a vehicle capable of mobilising rural France. The minimalist approach and general simplicity resulted in well over 8.75 million units being sold during a 42-year production life.
CITROEN DS
Another Citroen, but the DS is notable for different reasons. When it arrived at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, it was quite unlike anything else the world had ever seen.
Boasting fully independent and self-levelling suspension, the DS also offered fully powered brakes, steering and gear selection. The “Goddess” was one of the cars of the century.
A distinctly British choice (sorry to our international readers), but the “Black Cab” aka the Austin FX4 is a symbol of London. Up there with the red double decker bus, “Big Ben” and Tower Bridge.
It stacks up as a symbol of design and engineering, but for millions of commuters, tourists and day-trippers, it’s as much a symbol of mobility as it is a shelter from the rain.
MINI
Arguably the world’s first classless car and an absolute triumph of packaging. In order to meet the design brief of being able to carry four adults and their luggage, Sir Alec Issigonis turned the engine sideways, put the transmission underneath and sent power to the front wheels. It became the best-selling car in history before being retired in the year 2000.
JAGUAR E-TYPE
Talk about setting the right tone for the 1960s. It’s hard to imagine quite what it must have been like to see the Jaguar E-Type for the first time. Here was a fast, elegant, beautiful and cut-price sports car that was the envy of the world. Even today, Jaguar hasn’t been able to re-capture the magic. Perhaps it never will.
FORD MUSTANG
Does the Ford Mustang deserve a place on this list? Absolutely. For the first six months of its life it was the fastest selling car in history. As many as 22,000 were sold on the first day alone! It changed the shape of motoring for an entire country and became a national icon in the process.
FIAT 124
Wait, what? The Fiat 124? Well perhaps not specifically. But the Fiat 124 would - in a later life - morph into the VAZ-2101, known over here as the Lada 1200. It’s based on the third best-selling platform of all time and it provided wheels to residents behind the Iron Curtain. In less economically prosporous areas of Europe, it’s still heavily relied upon as personal transport.
RANGE ROVER
You can thank Charles Spencer “Spen” King for the original Range Rover and, in turn, the modern SUV. The idea was simple (in theory, if not in practice) - take the ability and dependability of the Land Rover and add refinement and performance. The Range Rover was born and the rest is history.
ALFA ROMEO ALFASUD
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud had the ingredients for the perfect small front-wheel drive car. It looked sublime, drove superbly and was brilliantly packaged. It would be ages before the rest of the world successfully copied the winning recipe, by which time many Alfasuds were already starting to rust away…
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
The Volkswagen Golf is notable for two reasons. Firstly, it allowed Volkswagen to break free of the Beetle’s shackles, thanks largely to Giorgetto Giugiaro’s inspired design. Secondly, it provided the foundations for the Golf GTI, the original and arguably the best hot hatch.
It’s difficult to believe the BMW 3 Series will be 40 this year. So ubiquitous has the 3 Series become that it’s perhaps hard to appreciate why it should be featured on this list. But in 1975, the BMW 3 Series became the benchmark for what compact saloons should look like and how they should perform.
MATRA-SIMCA RANCHO
A controversial choice, perhaps, but the Matra-Simca Rancho deserves its place on a list of motoring game changers, even if - like the Sinclair C5 that inspired this gallery - it failed to capture the public’s imagination.
In many ways the Matra-Simca Rancho was born ahead of its time - the original crossover. A car with the looks and interior packaging of a 4x4, but without the off-road talent. Deserves greater recognition than it gets.
By rights this should be the Lancia Megagamma, Giugiaro’s brilliant concept first shown at the 1978 Turin Motor Show. By concentrating on height and roominess, Giugiaro provided the blueprint for the MPV. Many people believe the Renault Espace got there first, but it was in fact the Nissan Prairie.
AUDI 100
The C3 Audi 100 - introduced in 1982 - was a technical tour de force. Lightweight and boasting a brilliantly screwed together interior, the Audi 100 also offered a wonderful five-cylinder engine. But it was the body development that stood out, with a record-breaking 0.30cd drag coefficient making it one of the most aerodynamic cars on the planet.
TOYOTA PRIUS
And finally, the Toyota Prius. Look, stay with us at the back. Though it might make your petrolhead blood boil, there’s a huge amount to admire about the Prius hybrid. Nobody should question Toyota’s unwavering commitment to the cause and although its full-life efficiency remains questionable, the Prius will go down in history as one of the sector’s true pioneers.
source: msn autos
http://www.msn.com/en-in/autos/news/game-changers-20-cars-that-shook-the-world/ss-BBhzBuv?ocid=mailsignoutmd
No comments:
Post a Comment