Top 10 Greatest American Cars of All Time
In honor of Independence Day, we're bringing back this 2015 story on the greatest American cars of all time. Did your favorite make the list?
America may not have invented the automobile. That honor goes to German engineer Karl Benz and his Patent Motorwagen of 1886. But America quickly made the automobile its own. By 1904 the United States led the world in automobile sales and production, and by 1913 80 percent of all the cars made in the world were made right here. American automakers — there were 253 of them active in 1908 alone — were pioneering new technologies and new vehicles at an astonishing rate.
So as we celebrate the Fourth of July, why not celebrate the 10 greatest American cars of all time? You can define greatness is many ways, but these are all automobiles that were hugely influential in terms of their technology, design, engineering, and their impact on society and popular culture. These are machines that changed our world.
There are other cars that are perhaps equally deserving of inclusion on this list. So let the arguments begin. If you think we've missed an all-time great, let us know.
Ford Model T
Henry Ford's Model T was produced for 19 years, from 1908 to 1927, and almost 15 million were made, with prices falling from $825 to $260 by 1925 as Ford refined the mass-production process. But the Model T was more than just a car. It put America on wheels and so changed the way Americans worked, the way they lived, and the way they played. Shopping malls, motels, planned suburbs with affordable housing, well-paid manufacturing jobs, and an emerging middle class eager to enjoy the perks of prosperity — this was modern, 20th-century America, and the Model T helped create it all.
Ford Model 18
Launched in 1932, the Ford Model 18 was the first mass-market car in the world with a V-8 engine, and created a paradigm for American cars that continues to this day. In the 1930s Ford V-8s were prized for their performance—gangster John Dillinger wrote to thank Henry Ford for building "as fast and sturdy a car as you did"—and after World War II they formed the backbone of the nascent hot rod movement, being cheap, plentiful, and easy to modify for extra performance. With '32 Fords—Deuce Coupes—still regarded as the most desirable of all hot rods, this is a car that's remained a pop-culture icon for more than 80 years.
Duesenberg Model SJ
Also launched in 1932, the Duesenberg Model SJ was the antithesis of the cheap and cheerful Fords and Chevys most Americans drove through the depths of the Depression. The Duesenberg SJ was, simply, a hand-built, money-no-object supercar, the 1930s equivalent of a Bugatti Chiron. With their twin-cam, four valves per cylinder, supercharged straight-eight engines, Duesenberg SJs were said to be capable of 104 mph in second gear and 140 mph in top; in 1934 a lightweight roadster averaged 135 mph for 24 hours on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Just 36 SJs were built between 1932 and 1935. Gary Cooper and Clark Gable owned the only two short-wheelbase SSJ Duesenbergs ever built.
Jeep MB
"The Jeep, the Dakota airplane, and the landing craft were the three tools that won the war," claimed Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Supreme Commander during World War II. More than 700,000 Jeeps had been built by the war's end, giving Allied troops overwhelming superiority of movement on the ground. Post-war, the tough, nimble, go-anywhere Jeep enjoyed a second, more peaceful career as a recreational vehicle, establishing the nexus between capability, style, and functionality that still underpins 21st-century car buyers' love affair with crossover vehicles. The Jeep is the car that saved democracy. And it was the seminal SUV.
Oldsmobile "Rocket" 88
Rock 'n' roll began with a song about a car: Elvis Presley was still driving a gravel truck when 19-year-old Ike Turner walked into a tiny studio owned by Sam Phillips in Memphis in 1951 and recorded "Rocket 88," a paean to the fastest American sedan you could buy at the time, the Oldsmobile 88 powered by the 135-hp Rocket V-8 engine. Launched in 1949, the Rocket-powered 88 was America's first muscle car, proving almost unbeatable in stock car racing through 1951. The record "Rocket 88" was an unexpected hit, and the royalties enabled Phillips to start Sun Records, the label that gave musicians such as B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and, of course, Elvis their starts.
Chevrolet Corvette
Making its debut in 1953, the Corvette is 10 years older than Porsche's 911, and every bit as iconic. Like the Rolling Stones, the Corvette has had a patchy track record—the asthmatic 165-hp C3 of the mid-'70s is the equivalent of disco-era Mick and Keef phoning it in. But when it's been good, the Corvette has been breathtaking. The beautiful Bill Mitchell-designed C2 Sting Rays, particularly the fuel-injected 327s with four-speed manual transmissions, were arguably better cars than the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, while today's mid-engine C8 is a true high-performance sports car with leading-edge technology and performance equaling that of rivals costing two or three times the price.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang not only created a new automotive genre—the ponycar—but was also one of the first cars designed for a specific demographic. When Ford's Lee Iacocca realized the first wave of baby boomers were coming of driving age, and that they would want to drive something very different from the big, soft land yachts their parents loved, product planner Hal Sperlich proposed wrapping mundane Falcon mechanicals in sporty sheetmetal. The Mustang proved an overnight sensation, with more than 1 million sold in the first 18 months of production. But performance that truly matched the style wasn't really unlocked until the Shelby GT350 appeared in 1965, establishing the formula that has kept the Mustang alive for more than 50 years.
Ford GT
Henry Ford II thought he had a deal. Nine months of negotiation were over, and on July 4, 1963, he was planning to be in Maranello, Italy, signing a $10 million deal with Enzo Ferrari that would give Ford Motor Company a half share in the storied Italian sports car maker. A Ferrari-Ford sports car was already being planned, with an Italian V-12 engine in an American chassis. But the deal never happened—Enzo Ferrari pulled out at the last minute. An enraged Henry then authorized the development of the Ford GT40, with the express goal of humiliating Enzo's blood-red racers in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Which it did, convincingly, in 1966. The icon inspired two generations of successors, including the latest Ford GT powered by a twin-turbocharged V-6.
Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Town & Country, and Dodge Caravan
Others had toyed with the concept, notably VW's Microbus of the '60s and Lancia's 1978 Megagamma, but it was Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich—the same team who'd made the Mustang happen at Ford 20 years earlier—who at Chrysler in 1983 revealed the perfect combination of size, seating, and drivability that came to define a new segment-busting family vehicle, the minivan. Within a decade almost every mainstream automaker offered a minivan in the U.S., making traditional station wagons obsolete. The segment has declined in recent years, but the basic formula established by Chrysler remains the definitive one: front drive, sliding side doors, and a highly flexible seating package for seven or eight passengers.
Tesla Model S
The mere fact the Tesla Model S exists at all is a testament to innovation and entrepreneurship, the very qualities that made the American automobile industry the largest, richest, and most powerful in the world. We've not yet become a nation of bankers or burger-flippers. America can still make things. Great things. But what marks the Tesla Model S as one of the all-time great American cars is that it has single-handedly changed the tenor of the conversation about electric vehicles. The Model S made electric cars cool for auto enthusiasts. How? It's good-looking and quick. Very, very quick. In Plaid guise, we clocked the Model S at just 2.07 seconds to 60 mph. That's monumentally impressive—the quickest production vehicle we've ever tested, and an American-made EV at that.
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The double whammy of increasing fuel and vehicle prices has a lot of SUV shoppers not knowing which way to turn. A more efficient modern ride could ease the pain at the pump, but with inflation and rising borrowing costs, many are delaying big-ticket purchases like new cars. Expanding a search to include slightly used SUVs with strong fuel economy might be the way to go if you're looking for an alternative.Knowledge is power, and in our methodology below, you'll find how we came to our tally. Most of the SUVs on this list are subcompact and compact crossovers, but a single midsize offering also managed to qualify. All received an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 27 mpg or greater, and a couple of the entries can be found priced from roughly $15,000. Keep reading to find out which used SUVs under $30,000 have the best fuel economy.About MotorTrend's methodology: The Buyer's Guide recognizes how important a used car purchase can be, which is why we take this so seriously. Our methodology considers many of the same factors in our new-car rankings system, starting with value. The experts at IntelliChoiceconduct extensive research to assess long-term value on 3-5-year-old vehicles, which means our picks start at the 2018 model year. IntelliChoice considers resale value, the cost of insurance, maintenance costs, fuel costs, and more. We prioritize models receiving a Good or Excellent IntelliChoice used-car value rating. An above-average J.D. Powerquality and reliability rating is also a plus. Any vehicle we recommend must have earned anIIHSTop Safety Pick award or NHTSA overall five-star safety rating, and have some used-car inventory with under 80,000 miles (the upper limit on many automaker CPO programs).
February Update: The U.S. Postal Service Rejects EPA PleaA statement released by the U.S. Postal Service announced the organization would move ahead as planned with its procurement deal with Oshkosh Defense's In the Postal Service's announcement, Postmaster DeJoy did offer that the current procurement plan does already include 5,000 battery-electric vehicles, and that aspect of the program could be expanded with additional funding provided through internal means or congressional budgeting. However, DeJoy says "the process needs to keep moving forward" with the current plan—which has satisfied all of its strictly legal requirements that do not include the EPA's audited requests. DeJoy previously claimed additional BEV procurement would require up to $4 billion in additional funding.The nature of the deal with Oshkosh Defense also allows the Postal Service to shift its procurement powertrains as orders are delivered, not placed, so if funding for the more expensive BEV next-gen delivery vehicle is approved by the U.S. Congress in the future, then the Postal Service can update the order to fulfill more BEVs. From the statement: "The NGDV contract is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, meaning the Postal Service will have the ongoing ability to order more NGDVs over a fixed period of time, in this case 10 years."Mark Guilfoil, Vice President for Supply Management at the U.S. Postal Service said, "We thank the federal agencies, including the EPA, for their input. [...] After thorough review and study we determined that EPA's request for a supplemental EIS and public hearing would not add value to the Postal Service's already year-long review. It is also important to note that a supplemental EIS and public hearing are not legally required."It's important to highlight the true value of these new vehicles for the Postal Service, despite their many efficiency shortcomings, which is how much more comfortable they're meant to be for workers. From the Postal Service: "The search for replacement vehicles for the Postal Service's delivery fleet, which started in 2015, resulted in the purpose-built NGDVs that will deliver air conditioning and heating, improved ergonomics, and some of the most advanced vehicle and safety technology — including 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, air bags, a front-and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning, and automatic braking." This story was originally published February 3, 2022, and has since been updated to reflect developments in the USPS' purchasing of new trucks. The rest of the original article continues below. How Bad Is the New Mail Truck?Why Is the EPA Arguing Against the New Trucks?A Measured Warning
Sequoia trees are thought to be the oldest living things on Earth, so it's appropriate that Toyota's full-size SUV is named for them: The soon-to-be-outgoing Sequoia dates from 2008, and over the three thousand years—okay, 13—it's been on sale, we've watched it slip from first to last in comparison to its competitors. Finally, it looks like a new Sequoia sapling is born: Toyota has revealed the 2023 Sequoia, with a few surprises that make it feel like an SUV for the ages.If you think the current Sequoia is a bit too plain—and certainly if you think it's too old—the new one should address your concerns. Up front, the new Sequoia shares its curves and creases with the all-new 2022 Tundra pickup truck. Out back, they've been re-interpreted a bit, with a fenderline crease that starts just ahead of the rear door handles and continues straight back to the taillights. It's less doughy and anonymous than the old model, more aggressive—traits backed up by what's under the hood.So, What's Under the Hood?For those keeping score in the Toyotaverse, the new Sequoia one-ups the (also Land Cruiser-based) Lexus LX600 in the power department. While both large SUVs share a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6, the Sequoia's is hybridized, assisted by an electric motor. With 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, it thus bests the Lexus by 28 hp and 104 lb-ft. The hybridized six is an era away from the old Sequoia's 5.7-liter V-8, which made a paltry—by comparison—381 hp and 401 lb-ft. While we have yet to see official efficiency numbers, we can't imagine the Sequoia's hybrid powertrain won't improve on the LX's 19-mpg fuel economy; it's guaranteed to be better than the old Sequoia's mid-teens mpg.And doesn't that meaty hybrid sound like it has boat-towing power? Oh, you betcha. Toyota says the new Sequoia will tow up to 9,000 lbs, a 22% improvement over the outgoing Sequoia despite giving up two cylinders to its V-8. A Tow Tech Package, which (among other things) steers the trailer in reverse, helps alleviate some causes of towing apprehension.Don't Say Land Cruiser... Speaking of the Land Cruiser—which we swear we were just a minute ago—we found a possible explanation to the demise of Toyota's former flagship SUV (other than its relative lack of sales): The Sequoia will be available in a new range-topping Capstone trim, as recently announced for the Tundra pickup, pushing it into the old Land Cruiser's price turf. With 22-inch chrome wheels, two-tone black-and-white semi-aniline leather, and open-pore walnut wood distinguish this model from lesser Sequoias, which include Platinum, Limited and SR5 models.Another quick aside: The Sequoia shares its basic bones with the new Tundra, of course, but also with the newest Land Cruiser sold globally. While it is not a replacement for the iconic Land Cruiser 4x4, which is renowned for its off-road prowess, it is at least related to that SUV.To help fill in the void left in its lineup by the Land Cruiser and to build on the previous-generation Sequoia's off-road offerings, Toyota will once again offer a TRD Pro model, which includes Fox internal bypass shocks, a forward skid plate, multi-terrain drive modes, and Toyota's Crawl Control mode, which maintains a slow, steady speed uphill or down. You'll find plenty of TRD badging inside and out, and this version is only available with four-wheel drive.If the TRD Pro is too, uh, pro for you, SR5 and Limited 4x4 models can be had with a lighter-duty TRD Off-Road package with a locking rear differential, specially-tuned springs and Bilstein shocks, unique 18-inch wheels, as well as the terrain modes and Crawl Control from the TRD Pro package. SR5 models are also offered with an on-road-tuned TRD Sport package with 20-inch wheels, TRD-tuned springs and shocks, and aluminum pedals. Two-wheel drive is standard and part-time four-wheel drive is optional on all on SR5, Limited, Platinum, and—surprisingly—Capstone trim levels. The Sequoia once again utilizes a fully independent suspension, though since 2008 more competitors have added this feature in place of a more traditional (and pickup-truck-like) live rear axle, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.Safely In Modern TerritoryAs with other Toyota models, a full safety and driver-aid package is standard, including collision detection with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and correction, automatic high beams, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistance with automatic braking.Inside, the Sequoia is just as new and fresh-appearing. Also, like before, the dashboard and steering wheel are essentially carryover from the Tundra pickup. There is an available large (14-inch!) central touchscreen, chunky air vents, and an available digital gauge cluster. What's important here is that nothing looks like it was designed in 2007—a key step forward.Toyota will build the Sequoia at the same San Antonio, Texas, plant that assembles the Tundra. We'll have pricing and fuel economy data as we get closer to launch, which will come when the weather gets warm; Sequoias are scheduled to arrive at Toyota dealerships this summer. We're looking forward to seeing how this modernized old tree branches into the full-size SUV space, which is now chock full of relatively new contenders, including the recently redesigned Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and all-new Jeep Wagoneer.
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