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10 Most Iconic Cars Of All Time

Whether you're a know-it-all car geek or a complete stranger to the car world, there are a handful of cars you can immediately identify and know of. Why is that, though? See, throughout history, some cars had such a monumental role they played in society, everyone grew familiar with them. Sometimes it's due to the historic significance they had, other times it was due to them being highly innovative, but more often than not, it's due to these dream cars starring in blockbuster films.

Now, it is worth mentioning that Hollywood depicts some of our favorite cars to be much more than they actually are. For example, remember the Lotus Esprit? Well, in reality, the Esprit is a junkyard-worthy classic car... Nonetheless, despite these cars being over-glamorized, they remain sports cars that are forever icons.

But there's one other reason why cars become iconic. Albeit a niche reason, it's because they had a long-lasting impact on our lives. Of course, everyone's experiences aren't the same, but for some reason, many of us share the same feeling we had when had that experience. Take for instance the first time you saw a convoy of classic cars parked or a red Ferrari. Time stopped for a moment, our jaws dropped, and the smile couldn't get slapped off our faces, no matter how hard Will Smith tried. But we digress.

So, let's have a look at some of the most famous cars ever built that will remain icons until the end of time.

10. Ford Model T

It's difficult to drive, a drag to maintain, and awfully slow, yet the Ford Model T remains one of the most important cars of all time, if not the most. It might not be the first car ever built, but Henry Ford himself pioneered the automotive production process as we know it today with the Ford Model T. Released in 1908, the Model T revolutionized the world.

Powered by a ridiculously weak 20-hp four-cylinder engine, the Model T had a top speed of only 45 mph. Yet, the Model T still sold like hotcakes since it was the first relatively affordable automobile the average individual could afford.

9. Toyota Mk4 Supra

Hands down, the Fast and Furious saga is single-handedly responsible for the Toyota Mk4 Supra's rise to fame. Featuring the legendary 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six 2JZ-GTE engine, the Supra was respectably quick from the factory. With up to 320 hp for USDM models and an "alleged" 276 hp for JDM models, the Mk4 Supra with a 6-speed manual transmission could do 0-60 mph in as little as 4.6 seconds.

Despite its factory performance figures, auto enthusiasts praise the Supra for its unbelievable aftermarket potential. Apart from cosmetic upgrades, the Mk4 Toyota Supra's 2JZ-GTE engine can handle up to 1,500 whp with the proper modifications. Thanks to its near-bulletproof engine, the Toyota Supra is one of those cars that last 500,000 miles with proper care.

8. Jaguar E-Type

Often referred to as the most beautiful car ever made, the Jaguar E-Type overshadows even the most beautiful American cars ever made. Powered by a range of different straight-six and V12 engines throughout 1961 and 1974, the E-Type is equally powerful as it is gorgeous to look at.

The E-Type's design is the result of legendary automotive designer Malcolm Sayer, and throughout its three different generations, the Series 1 E-Type (also called the XK-E) remains the most sought-after. Back in the day, a new 1961 E-Type cost just $5,670, but nowadays, these sell for far beyond six figures.

7. Bugatti Veyron

In 2005 Bugatti unveiled one of the world's most talked-about supercars in history, the Veyron. Hiding behind the driver and passenger of the Veyron sits a gargantuan 16.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine that spews out 1,001 hp and 992 lb-ft of torque. When first released, the Veyron set the new top speed record for production cars by clocking in at 253 mph.

Two years thereafter SSC built the Ultimate Aero which barely overtook the Veyron's initial record by less than 3 mph. Unsurprisingly, Bugatti wasn't delighted, so they built the most hardcore version of the Veyron, the Veyron SuperSport. Its W16 engine put out 1,200 hp and 1,106 lb-ft of torque and achieved a top speed of 267 mph. The Veyron's record-breaking streak was so impactful that many people still believe that it's the fastest car in the world; which simply just isn't true anymore.

6. BMC Mini

Let's get something out of the way first. Most people remember the BMC mini as either the Austin Mini or Morris Mini-Minor. Well, that's because Morris and Austin were both owned by BMC at the time, but we digress. The BMC Mini changed the compact automotive commuter segment forever and found its way into a multitude of films too.

Powered by a tiny four-cylinder engine that sent its might to the front wheels was a new thing at the time. This meant that automakers could evidently create smaller cars that cost less to produce. In turn, this meant more sales, but from a driving point of view, this meant that the Mini had a tight turning radius and albeit slow, could compete against much more powerful cars by taking tighter corners and having a lighter curb weight. Furthermore, the original Mini garnered its fame from the classic " The Italian Job" film and starring as the main character's weapon of choice in the hit BBC comedy, "Mr. Bean" .

5. Ford GT40

The Ford GT40's existence is due to both passion and vengeance. Throughout the '60s, Ford tried their utmost to dethrone Ferrari at the 24 Hour of LeMans races, but they never could get the edge over the Italians. On top of that, there was quite a feud going on between Ford and Ferrari regarding ownership matters as well. Ford's answer to this never-ending battle? The Ford GT40.

Built in conjunction between Caroll Shelby, Henry Ford II, and Phil Remington, and driver by Ken Miles, in 1966, Ford finally beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of LeMans. They didn't just reign victorious over the Ferrari, but they embarrassed them by securing first, second, and third place at the end of the race. There was also a film made about this event called Ford Vs Ferrari.

4. DeLorean DMC-12

Arguably the most famous movie car of all time, the DeLorean DMC-12 is one of the most overrated cars of all time... however, it remains one of the most iconic too. Powering the DMC-12 is no fancy schmancy V12, but rather a naturally-aspirated 2.8-liter V6 shared by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo at the time.

With only 130 hp at its disposal, the DeLorean DMC-12 did 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds. So much for "time-traveling speeds" huh... Nonetheless, the DeLorean DMC-12 will forever be one of the most iconic vehicles of all time, and we'll never stop lusting after one.

3. Porsche 911

Very few cars have a such distinct silhouette as the Porsche 911. Since its launch day in 1964, all 911s that came after it followed the same overall design language with the coupe side profile, circular headlights, and perky rear end. On top of that, all 911s embody the same overall engineering philosophy too.

What engine do most 911s have? For the most part, a Porsche 911 features a flat-six engine, whether that be naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Even more impressive is the fact that every 911 is rear-wheel-drive apart from the few all-wheel-drive high-performance models of course. If you were to ask us, we'd say that the 911 will never show its true age.

2. McLaren F1

Powered by a BMW-built F1-derived engine - and we're not talking about modern-day 850-hp 1.6-liter V6 F1 engines - the McLaren F1's name sure does suit it form fittingly. When released in 1992, the McLaren F1 had only one goal in mind... to be the best car ever built. And when looking at the bigger picture, we'd say that McLaren hit the nail on the head. Not only was the F1 a marvel to look at, but it was also a piece of automotive brilliance and the perfect example of what a hypercar should be.

Thrusting the McLaren F1 all the way up to 240 mph was a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 with 618 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This meant that the McLaren F1 was the fastest car in 1994, and it held this record for more than a decade before losing its crown to the aforementioned Bugatti Veyron. However, the McLaren F1 still holds the title for the fastest car ever with a naturally-aspirated engine.

1. Volkswagen Beetle

Created by a certain someone whose name shall not get mentioned (also known as Adolf Hitler) and built by Volkswagen, the Beetle is the most recognizable car in the world. That's due to everyone having some sort of attachment to the car, whether it be that your family owned one, or one of your friends did, everyone knows exactly what the Beetle is - no wonder it remained in production for nearly 30 years.

Although Beetles are notoriously difficult to drive, painfully slow, and nowhere near as luxurious as even the cheapest car on sale today, we still love them, and will forever and always.

Sources: Car and Driver, Jaguar, Tuning Pro, Supercars.net