Beautiful workmanship, true charm, and a sense of freedom with a touch of nostalgia characterize the best classic cars, and it’s difficult to put into words why. As any vintage cars fan will tell you, nothing beats the thunder of the engine or the scent of the leather when you’re lucky enough to even get close with one of your favorite antique autos. What about the joy of discovering a well-kept, seldom-seen model? Unbeatable.
These luxury cars are a history lesson in a car, and they tell a tale even before you sit down on the aged leather or run your finger across their beautiful paintwork.
While driving these vintage automobiles is half of the excitement, admiring them is another. You may admire these sorts of older cars and old-fashioned mechanics whether you’re an obsessive car collector or a window shopper with a strong interest in the most costly cars.
The 21 Best Classic Cars Of All Time
- Aston Martin E-Type
- Jaguar E-Type
- Chevrolet Corvette
- BMW 3.0 CSL
- Lamborghini Miura
- Porsche 911
- Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead
- Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing
- Acura NSX
Aston Martin DB4
The Aston Martin DB4 is one of the best classic cars and also a famous workhorse and the forerunner of James Bond’s getaway car. “The DB4 is a thoroughbred that is never ruffled,” adds Hagerty. “I’d be willing to drive one across the country. It’s no surprise that James Bond preferred the DB5.” Because they’re in scarce supply, befriending a collector could be your best shot if you want to drive one.
Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type, considered as “the most beautiful automobile ever produced” by Enzo Ferrari, is a classic sports car stalwart from the 1960s. McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, the world’s leading supplier of collector vehicle insurance, says, “If you only drive one automobile from this list, this is the one.” This British driving icon still has plenty of verve–it can reach speeds of up to 150 mph and brakes better than other automobiles of the era. In Kenilworth, England, you can pay for a day of driving Jaguar classics at the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience program.
Chevrolet Corvette
BMW 3.0 CSL
This is the car to track down if you have any sort of race-track fantasies. BMW brought four models to the United States when it came in 1975, including the 3.0 CSL coupe. The vehicle won the 12 Hours of Sebring event that year and won Daytona the following year, driven by racing veterans Brian Redman, Sam Posey, and Hans Stuck. The two victories validated BMW’s performance credentials in the United States. The 3.0 CSL pioneered a number of technology that would subsequently be used in other BMW models, including the first-ever four-valve six-cylinder engine and an early anti-lock braking system. BMW’s BMW Classic Center in Munich offers a behind-the-wheel experience.
Lamborghini Miura
Only a few automobiles have had such an impact on the automotive industry as the Miura. The sportscar manufacturer’s two-seater revolutionized the concept of a sports car with its core V12 engine and intriguing body.
As evidence, the Miura was the world’s fastest production car when it debuted: with a peak speed of 280 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 6.7 seconds, the Lamborghini Miura set new benchmarks in the sports car market.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 symbolizes vintage driving at its finest, especially prior to its 1974 rebuild. Hagerty notes, “There’s beauty in the early 911.” “It’s a very well-made machine that provides one of the most authentic driving experiences of any sports car ever created.” Even for today’s standards, 1st 911s have enough power and can compete on the racetrack. On eBay, you may even find one in perfect condition.
Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead
The first Silver Dawn drophead debuted in 1949 and was decommissioned in 1954. It was modeled on Rolls-first Royce’s full-size automobile after WWII. The name was chosen to symbolize the start of a new age in the globe. The Dawn, which was just a bit smaller than pre-war automobiles, aided the British custom automaker in reintroducing driving craftsmanship while also taking the firm into the contemporary era. Only three of the original 28 dropheads remain in the United States, and they’re all held by private collectors. After a 60-year break, the automaker is reintroducing a successor model.
Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing
The Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing, one of the earliest postwar luxury vehicles, was the fastest production automobile of its period when it was released in 1954. The SL 300 was the world’s first series-production automobile with direct fuel injectors with a top speed of 160 mph. “No one anticipated Mercedes to do anything like that,” explains Constantin von Kageneck, a historic automobile marketing expert at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California. Though only about three-quarters of the original SL 300s are still in existence, many of them are still in the hands of their original owners. Visit the Classic Center or a car museum like the Petersen in Los Angeles to observe one.
Ferrari 250 GTO
Between 1962 and 1964, Ferrari produced just 39 of these beautiful race cars, making them incredibly rare. “In terms of cost and prestige, the 250 GTO is undoubtedly the holy grail,” Hagerty adds, “but the truth is that just a handful of individuals in the world will ever get the opportunity to actually drive one.” At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance two years ago, an older model sold for $38 million at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge sale. If that’s out of your price range, any 1960s Prancing Horse with a V12 engine is deserving of a spot on the list.
Acura NSX
The NSX was Acura’s halo model from 1990 to 2005, and it’s still going strong. “While it may not be as flashy as its European counterparts, the Acura NSX demonstrated to the rest of the world that supercar performance and everyday driving manners can coexist,” adds Hagerty. “It gives you the confidence to keep pushing, braking later, and turning harder. It’s possible that it’s the most underappreciated vehicle on our list.” Its successor, the new Acura NSX, will be available to consumers later this year, and it is expected to reignite interest in the original. Because Acura only produced 9,000 first-generation NSX automobiles, locating one online is simple.
Shelby GT350
This high-performance descendent of the Ford Mustang, commonly known as the Cobra, was a late-sixties sensation. The Shelby GT350 was a true racer for the streets, thanks to Ford’s V8 engine. “When you get in it and start the engine, it not only rumbles loudly, but it also shimmies side-to-side and up-and-down,” Hagerty adds. “And that’s just while it’s parked. It jumps and roars when you press the gas pedal.” You’ll immediately realize why Carroll Shelby is regarded as a driving genius of the twentieth century. Visit a high-end antique automobile auction house, dealer, or specialist broker to get behind the wheel of a vintage Cobra.
