GT-FORUMS GREATEST CAR OF ALL TIME( by top gear)
- Thread starter Quattro
- 37 comments
- 1,578 views
- 89,259
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
What ARE you talking about? The poll isn't for the car you can go out and buy that's the best, but the "Greatest Car of All Time"...
The Land Rover is there because it's very existence changed the face of off-road motoring - every other 4x4 since the Land Rover has drawn on the experience and engineering OF the Land Rover - including the Hummer.
The Black Cab is there as a symbol - and partly as the only car you can use when you're absolutely blathered, want a shag and want to get home all at the same time.
The McLaren F1 is there for what it currently represents - the pinnacle of technology.
The Ford Mustang is there because it changed the shape of sports cars - it was the very first car to offer an options list, amongst other things.
The E-Type is there for it's design beauty - very few cars before or since have come close to the looks (although it drives like an arse).
The FIAT 500 is there as a representative of post-war prosperity - the car was available in so many variants at such a cheap price, and it was the gateway to modern, cheap motoring in Europe - as the man said "rarely has any car been so right for so many people at the same time".
I'm not sure why the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost is there... Something about 2nd division footballers?
No it's there because of the hand-crafted opulence - it set a new benchmark for luxury motoring, and had features on it which only now are becoming standard on most road cars - air conditioning, electric windows etc.The Audi Quattro speaks for itself - it completely revolutionised the sport of rallying. Anyone who drives a 4WD car (car, as opposed to Land Rover) owes their driving experience to this car - it was the first road car to feature permanent 4WD. This means all you Impreza, Lancer, Skyline owners.
The Citroen DS I just don't know about. I mean... steering-linked headlights is about the only thing I can think of. There must be some reason why this is in... Help me out here
This poll is directly from a television programme - don't complain at the poll poster, complain to the BBC.
Cano
Premium
- 20,758
- Cephiro
The DS Citroen was very technologically advanced for its time. it had hydropneumatic height regulable suspension, the design of its chassis make them STABLE... i mean it, STABILITY is an understatement, I have seen these things ride on three wheels. they had some decent power to back all that up. some of them touched 300 horses. and 'sides, the car was WAY bizarre and strangely designed, but even like that, it wasnt ugly. it was interesting and a BIG breath of fresh air.
Cano
but, alas, I COMPLETELY agree with punk rock. I vote the VW bug here, even if it isnt on the poll. that, or the model T ford. those two are REALLY the greatest cars of all time.
Cano
but, alas, I COMPLETELY agree with punk rock. I vote the VW bug here, even if it isnt on the poll. that, or the model T ford. those two are REALLY the greatest cars of all time.
- 335
I would choose between the McLaren F1 and the Audi Quattro.
I would of chosen the Ford Mustang, but since it does not state which model, I'm asssuming the first couple they made. The first couple models ford made in the Muscle Car era were pretty bad compared to the other Muscle car's in the market at the time. It wasn't until later on in their later models that they began to improve.
I would of chosen the Ford Mustang, but since it does not state which model, I'm asssuming the first couple they made. The first couple models ford made in the Muscle Car era were pretty bad compared to the other Muscle car's in the market at the time. It wasn't until later on in their later models that they began to improve.
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
As Famine said, the cars in the poll were all influential in their own way, and the idea is to try to pick the one that you think has had the greatest impact on motoring.
They all have their different traits, and I was really caught between the Quattro and the F1 too. I didn't vote in the end, but had just made up my mind to vote for the Quattro when the poll closed.
My father had the 5th Quattro ever to be sold to a private owner in the UK. I was like 8 at the time, and it had a profound influence on me. When he sold it three years later, I was so upset I cried. Mind you, he had had a couple of big accidents in it!
Actually, since my Mum has owned both a Fiat 500 and an E-Type in her lifetime, and my Uncle had a Land Rover, our family has had four of the top ten cars!
They all have their different traits, and I was really caught between the Quattro and the F1 too. I didn't vote in the end, but had just made up my mind to vote for the Quattro when the poll closed.
My father had the 5th Quattro ever to be sold to a private owner in the UK. I was like 8 at the time, and it had a profound influence on me. When he sold it three years later, I was so upset I cried. Mind you, he had had a couple of big accidents in it!
Actually, since my Mum has owned both a Fiat 500 and an E-Type in her lifetime, and my Uncle had a Land Rover, our family has had four of the top ten cars!
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
No. It was given to her as a 21st birthday present by my father. I don't know what happened at the end of its life.
- 944
I am really suprised the Mustang made in there at all. I can think of two Amercian manufacutred cars that had more impact and influence on the automotive industry in the United States than the Mustang.
1. Corvette. Production began in 1953. It appitmised the performance car industry from the word go. By the time the first mustang rolled off the assembly line in late 1964 the Corvette had already impacted in a major way in the high performance street and racing scene.
2. Cadillac. When others were focusing on building and competing in the "hotrod" scene they went after the luxury car in direct competition with Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Lincoln, and oldsmobile.
Famine I would disagree with you on parts of your Audi quotation. While Audi "may" have been the first or one of the first to mass produce a 4wd 'car' the theory and permanant 4wd concept for a road vehicle was thought of and produced much earlier by willy's in the form of the Jeep. The very one used during WWII. The use of a 4wd vehicle for street use was realized with the advent after Rover made it reality. The Audi quattro was a brillant concept and when it went into production did influence the automotive "car" industry but it would have had little to no effect or direct influence on the impreza, EVO, Skyline GTR by the time they were produced. Rally and more so the Delta influenced the EVO and Subby, while touring car racing influcenced the GTR. While the EVO and subby share a simular type of 4wd system the GTR is completely different.
1. Corvette. Production began in 1953. It appitmised the performance car industry from the word go. By the time the first mustang rolled off the assembly line in late 1964 the Corvette had already impacted in a major way in the high performance street and racing scene.
2. Cadillac. When others were focusing on building and competing in the "hotrod" scene they went after the luxury car in direct competition with Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Lincoln, and oldsmobile.
Famine I would disagree with you on parts of your Audi quotation. While Audi "may" have been the first or one of the first to mass produce a 4wd 'car' the theory and permanant 4wd concept for a road vehicle was thought of and produced much earlier by willy's in the form of the Jeep. The very one used during WWII. The use of a 4wd vehicle for street use was realized with the advent after Rover made it reality. The Audi quattro was a brillant concept and when it went into production did influence the automotive "car" industry but it would have had little to no effect or direct influence on the impreza, EVO, Skyline GTR by the time they were produced. Rally and more so the Delta influenced the EVO and Subby, while touring car racing influcenced the GTR. While the EVO and subby share a simular type of 4wd system the GTR is completely different.
Oh, right - you're the 'BMWs suck, Audis rule' guy.
Well, I have two things to say to you:
- Blind love (and hate) of manufacturers is stupid. It's akin to blind love of God, and blind love of political parties. You can do it if you want, but don't argue with me about your biases.
- I'm only kidding. Please, everybody, quit taking everything I say seriously.
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Obviously, the particular study that came up with that conclusion contains value proportional to its sample size.
The E34 M5 contributed little to the ongoing design capability of the automotive industry at large. It didn't, for example, bring 4WD to road cars (Quattro), or disc brakes, aluminium suspension (DS) into common usage. Nor did it (and here's the one with which you might take issue) conclusively prove exactly what could be done if engineers put their minds to it (F1, E-Type, Silver Cloud). It didn't mobilise a generation (500, Mustang), and it doesn't get people home when they're too bleezing to remember their own name.
The E34 M5 was a good car, but was some way from enduring greatness.
