Road and Track's 51 Coolest Cars from the Past 50 Years

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30)
02/19/2014 at 16:24 • Filed to: Road and Track

Not sure if it was posted yet, but in the latest issue of R&T, there is a pretty solid list of the coolest cars of the past 50 years. Obviously some are going to be arguable, but that's just a matter of opinion. Some pictures below, but not all 51 cars are represented.

1960s

-Eagle Mark 1

-Mazda Cosmos

-Lola T70

-Corvette C2

-Ferrari 330 P4

-Ferrari Dino 206 GT

-Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale

-Matra Djet

-Shelby Cobra 427

-Shelby GT350R

-Jaguar E-Type Coupe Series 1 4.2

-Lincoln Continental

-Oldsmobile Toronado

-Alfa Romeo Spider

1970s

- Citroen SM

-Chapparal 2J (Video courtesy of Caswell)

-The Chrysler Wing Twins (Dodge Daytona & Plymouth Superbird) "My mom owned one and loved it." -Sam Posey

-DeTomaso Pantera

-Lancia Stratos

-Ford Bronco

-Lamborgini Countach LP400

-Pontiac Trans Am

-Lotus 78

-BMW 2002tii

1980s

-Ferrari 288 GTO

-Ferrari F40

-AMG Hammer

-Audi Sport Quattro S1

-Saab 900 SPG

-Buick GNX

-Ruf CTR "Yellow Bird"

-BMW M5 E28

-BMW M3 E30

-Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO

-Porsche 956

1990s

-McLaren F1

-Dodge Viper

-Mazda Miata

-Thrust SSC

-Panoz Esperante GTR-1

-Mazda 787B

-Williams FW14B

2000s

-Caterham 7 (I think this is cheating)

-Lotus Elise

-Corvette C6.R

-Cadillac CTS-V Sport wagon

-Ford Mustang Boss 302

-BMW I8

-Corvette C7

-Ford GT

-Tesla Model S

Overall, pretty solid. Pick up this month's issue of Road and Track for descriptions and explanations on each pick, along with some pretty cool info. Not sure if this was posted yet, but if so, apologies to whoever was first.

DISCUSSION (25)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:26

Idiotic list.

Not a single Montego on it...

For Sweden > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:26

No Daytona Coupe

No original Boss

No Volvo P1800

No Aussies

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:27

Oh kinja...

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > For Sweden
02/19/2014 at 16:28

I am in agreement. However, besides the Toronado and maybe a couple others, which would you swap those in with? I think the answer here is there really is no right answer, but its a good effort.

Brian Silvestro > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:29

Overall I'm happy with it, E28 M5 was included so that's good.

For Sweden > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:32

Swap out new Boss for old Boss

Swap out Caterham for something Aussie

Swap out Dino 206 for Daytona Coupe

Swap out Saab 900 SPG for Volvo P1800

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/19/2014 at 16:33

Honestly the only Ford intermediate I'd ever remmeber of fitting on a list like this would be the Torino King Cobra.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:33

Very US-centric but still a solid list.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > For Sweden
02/19/2014 at 16:33

Let's also not forget:

No Audi RS-anything.

No E46 M3.

No McLaren P1.

No Porsche 911/944/GT3...Really no Porsches.

No Muira. (?)

And on and on.

Bad Idea Hat > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:35

You know, I'm glad someone finally gave the Lola T70 some love.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > For Sweden
02/19/2014 at 16:37

Having never driven either, I think I'd definitely leave the SPG over the P1800. Not as reliable and not quite as good looking, but played a key role in Mass Turbocharging, is decent enough looking, and was pretty damn quick in its day.

The others are reasonable though. Basically, the entire list could be argued for weeks until we had our own. I'd suggest we made an Oppo top 50 cars, but it would basically end up looking like a scrapyard.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Bad Idea Hat
02/19/2014 at 16:38

After I saw one in person, it can only be described as majestic.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
02/19/2014 at 16:39

I think we both know the point I'm making.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/19/2014 at 16:41

Indeed, just making a serious comment on a not-so-serious statement.

Enginerrrrrrrrr > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:43

Quite surprised by the Ford Bronco pick, but hey I love the Bronco and won't argue.

Also...no porsche 917?

Audi R10?

Porsche 959?

And how come they put the F40 in the 70's?

Otherwise excellent, list.

Bad Idea Hat > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 16:43

It's never on anyone's must haves list, and it's a shade less rare than the 917 and the Ferrari 512S, but it could take just about whatever engine you wanted to bolt into it, and it was extremely reliable. It raced in ever race series that it could.

It even found its way into movies, as a police car in THX 1138 and as a sacrificial stunt car in Le Mans (and others, I think).

Good, solid car with a surprisingly larger history than most of its contemporaries, but unfortunately consigned to bottom shelf of history.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
02/19/2014 at 16:44

If we take it serious, the lesser known Montego/Torino based Mercury Cyclone CJ was kind of cooler in my opinion.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Enginerrrrrrrrr
02/19/2014 at 16:53

Whoops, good catch. That was my mistake.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 17:16

No Lancia 037? I am disappoint.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
02/19/2014 at 17:27

I assumed that was just because they already had the Stratos, but then I realized there's several Fords and even more Corvettes. So...

Casper > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 17:35

What a shit list.

Justino6969 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/19/2014 at 20:45

Damn that 2J took off.

dean_acheson > For Sweden
02/24/2014 at 16:45

For those of us that have an old one, and a new one, just having one on the list works, since it's the same concept, 40 years apart.

RX > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/25/2014 at 14:04

Just got the mag, (or just went through the mail) I actually think this is one of the best lists of this sort ive seen. Yeah everyone has a different opinion, but if I were to build a garage of say 10 cars or so cars, I think at least 7 or 8 would be from this list.

MrZoglog > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/27/2014 at 20:53

I don't mind this list. But I was only looking at one entry :D