"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
03/29/2015 at 21:48 • Filed to: None | 2 | 24 |
Most modern sports cars have a relatively short shelf life. They last about 5-8 years before the public loses interest or technology marches ahead and a new platform is created. But these cars defy that trend.
Fiat 124 Spider
1967-1985: 18 years
This one lived so long that it actually outlived the company that made it! When Fiat left the US, it was sold as a Pininfarina until 1985.
Austin Healey Midget/MG Midget
1958-1980: 22 years
Yes, the early frogeye bodystyle was changed in 1961 but the mechanicals and structure remained largely unchanged during the entire run. By the end of the run, in 1980, the MG Midget was thoroughly outdated.
Alfa Romeo Spider
1966-1993: 27 years
How long did the Spider last? lets put it this way: It lived long enough to compete with the Austin Healey 3000 when it was introduced and the twin-turbo FD RX-7 when it was phased out. What a run!
Porsche 911
1964-1985: 25 years
OR if you count the 964 and 993 as the same basic design
1964-1998: 34 years
Ahhhh yes, the Porsche 911. It was destined to top this list. Though the initial generation "only" lasted until 1985, facelifted versions carried on until 1998 giving the "classic" 911 an amazing 34 year run that isn't likely to ever be topped.
What cars can you guys think of?
ALSO: Honorable mention to the C3 Corvette for a 14 year run!
not for canada - australian in disguise
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:51 | 0 |
Duh.
CB
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:52 | 0 |
The Fiat 124 Spider: aka who keeps giving Malcolm Bricklin money to make more silly automotive decisions.
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> not for canada - australian in disguise
03/29/2015 at 21:54 | 0 |
Eight year run isn't that much... But if you count the NB it's 16 years which is decent.
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:55 | 1 |
Where's my MGB?
SVTyler
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:55 | 3 |
Under the skin it's a bit different now but the Plus 8's been around since 1968.
not for canada - australian in disguise
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:55 | 0 |
If you mean one generation, pretty much every car on this list doesn't actually count, it's 25 years for the whole run of the MX-5/Miata, beating the 124 and Spridget.
SonorousSpeedJoe
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:57 | 2 |
The first-gen NSX entered production in 1990 and stayed in production until late 2005.
traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:57 | 0 |
By no means is it a sports car, but
1973-1991
whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:58 | 0 |
With the exception of the 911, all of these cars were produced far longer than the cars actually worked for.
Boxer_4
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 21:58 | 1 |
The X1/9 made it 17 years if you include the ones built by Bertone.
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> not for canada - australian in disguise
03/29/2015 at 22:01 | 0 |
Huh? I broke it down by generation here. I class a generation as sharing the same mechanical bones and chassis. The longest running sports car name is probably the Corvette but we're talking generations here.
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> Boxer_4
03/29/2015 at 22:01 | 0 |
Ohhh good one!
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
03/29/2015 at 22:02 | 0 |
It definitely deserves an honorable mention for lasting from 1962-1980 (I think)
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:03 | 0 |
That's correct.
not for canada - australian in disguise
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:03 | 0 |
woops, guess im a dumb
traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:06 | 2 |
After 13 tries back-to-back, Kinja won't accept the picture. Sooo.
THE COUNTACH LASTED 16 YEARS!
JR1
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:10 | 2 |
Any love for the Model T Raceabout? 08-27 or 19 years. I think this is an early form of a sports car.
carcrasher88
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:17 | 0 |
The Series 2 Lotus Elise (2001-present) isn't far behind, it's technically been around for 14 years now.
The W20 Toyota MR2 was around from 1989 to 1999, ten years.
So was the Mk4 Supra (1992-2002) and the S2000 (1999-2009).
And, generally speaking, the Ferrari Testarossa was around for 12 years, using the same general body, with occasional cosmetic and name changes.
Lotus built the Seven themselves from 1957 to 1972, 14 years.
Oh, and Wikipedia classifies the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Typ 14) as a sports car, and that was around from 1955 to 1975 (German production ended in 74, but continued in Brazil until 75), 20 years.
Suuuubaru
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:26 | 1 |
Studebaker Avanti II. (1965-1991)
http://www.classic-car-history.com/avanti-car-his…
Joe6pack
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 22:31 | 0 |
I think you mean 1989. The 911 got a transmission change in 1987, but the cars sold up through 1989 were the same basic design as in 1964. I think there may have been some 1989 964s, but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/29/2015 at 23:21 | 0 |
Fox-body Mustang was around for 14 years.
cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
> Suuuubaru
03/30/2015 at 08:36 | 0 |
Didn't they stop making them for a bit? I didn't know they made them continuously.
Slave2anMG
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/30/2015 at 10:22 | 0 |
MGB - 1962-1980
Triumph Spitfire - 1962-1980
Lotus/Caterham Seven?
Spridgets were so unchanged that the Bugeye bonnet will bolt onto any pre rubber bumper Spridget; not sure if the giant bumper supports will clear it on later cars.
Working purely from memory here...around 1964/65 the rear suspension got a fairly major change from quarter elliptic to half elliptic springs; front disc brakes c1967; dual brake circuit 1968; roll up windows 1965; changed from a top where the bows and fabric came completely off the car to the later style where bows and fabric stay on the car in 1967. Lots and lots of little stuff but apart from the Bugeye sheetmetal change, the quarter elliptic change and the roll up window change the A series cars were pretty much unchanged with the finest in 1950 technology. The 1975 change brought the big ugly bumpers, raised ride height and the Triumph 1500 engine...
And they're still a hoot to drive...
Round headlight enthusiast
> cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
03/30/2015 at 12:52 | 0 |
ah, turns out you're right, there was a gap year in '86. TIL