It might feel like we are in a world becoming ever more sterile. Cars are not as exciting as they once were, so we increasingly look to the past for excitement and fun.
Modern vehicles conform to the same design principles, and designers don’t push the boundaries of their abilities.
To counter this, we have come up with this list of vintage cars that will get your heart racing. These are some of the best classic cars based on looks and performance and are bound to generate excitement.
Toyota 2000GT
The stunning Toyota 2000GT was a major departure from the Japanese cars before it. Toyota produced the 2000GT from 1967 to 1970 as they looked to rival cars such as the British Jaguar E-Type. They more than succeeded, as the 2000GT gave European manufacturers, including Ferrari, a massive wake-up call.
Under the hood, the 2000GT had either a 2.0 or 2.3-liter inline-six, producing up to 148 hp. Its sporty design was much more outlandish than previous Japanese cars, and at first glance, you could mistake it for an E-Type. One of the rarest forms of Toyota 2000GT is a 1967 example tuned by Carroll Shelby, which sold for an astonishing $2.54 million at auction in 2022.
BMW M1
The BMW M1 nearly didn’t happen after the Italian manufacturer’s financial struggles caused its original partnership with Lamborghini to fall through. BMW took over the M1 in its entirety in 1978, and later that year, production commenced after the testing of seven prototypes.
The M1 had a 3.5-liter M88/1 inline-six under the hood with 273 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, enough to push it to a top speed of 165 mph. Dallara produced the car’s tubular steel space frame chassis, and the fiberglass body was one of the most striking ever to grace a supercar. The M1 would also race in its own one-make series, the BMW M1 Procar Championship.
Lamborghini Miura
Before its financial difficulties, Lamborghini introduced the world to the very concept of the supercar. In 1966, it debuted the Miura, the car that took the fight to arch-rival Ferrari. The design by Marcello Gandini was sleek and stunning, and the supercar had a big 3.9-liter V12 under the hood.
Upon its debut at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, the press and public reacted favorably to the Miura. Today, the Miura is one of the most excellent classic cars ever. Its mid-engine layout and sleek design gave us the supercar, and even in 2024, it still looks fast and elegant. Few cars have captured the imagination quite like the Miura.
Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing
You are not human if your heart doesn’t race at the sight of a Gullwing Mercedes 300 SL. When it launched in 1954, the SL 300 was the fastest production car in the world, with a top speed of 163 mph.
The 300 SL’s origins lie in the W194 racing car. For this new version, Mercedes added a mechanical direct fuel injection system that increased the power of the three-liter overhead camshaft straight-six. The Gullwing doors are one of the 300 SL’s most notable features, which few cars have replicated since.
Ferrari 250 GTO
Perhaps it suffers from overhype. However, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most valuable, desirable, and well-loved classic cars ever. Between 1962 and 1964, Ferrari produced just 36 250 GTOs, and buyers needed personal approval from Enzo Ferrari and his North American dealer, Luigi Chinetti.
The 250 GTO was to compete in Group 3 GT racing against the Shelby Cobra, Aston Martin DP214, and Jaguar E-Type. Under the hood was a Tipo 168 Comp V12 engine with 296 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque, a race-proven engine from the 250 Tesa Rossa Le Mans winner. As of 2024, the highest value recorded for a 250 GTO was for 1963 chassis 4153GT, which sold at a private sale for $70 million.
Aston Martin DP214
One of the Ferrari 250 GTO’s key rivals was the exceptionally beautiful Aston Martin DP214. Aston produced the DP214 to race in Group 3 GT, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The DP214 is also exceptionally rare, as Aston Martin produced just two examples of the GT car.
Under the hood, it had a 3.9-liter Tadek Marek inline-six engine, allowing the car to set a top speed of 186.4 mph down Le Man’s famous Mulsanne Straight. Sadly, one DP214 was tragically destroyed in an accident during practice for the 1964 Nurburgring 1,000 Km, killing driver Brian Hetreed. The other DP214 survives to this day, under the ownership of Simon Draper, with its value estimated to be in excess of seven figures.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
Any Lancia would be worthy of a place on this list, but the Delta HF Integrale represents a significant milestone for Lancia. The car won Lancia its final World Rally Championship title, as it won six on the spin from 1987 to 1992, with that 1992 the very last for Lancia and the Integrale.
Across its rallying career, the Delta Integrale also won four driver titles: two for Juha Kankkunen in 1987 and 1991 and two for Miki Biasion in 1988 and 1989. The HF Integrale would win 46 WRC events, taking its first at the 55ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo and the final at the 34º Rallye Sanremo—Rallye d’Italia.
Volvo P1800
A classic Volvo might not sound like the most exciting car in the world, but the gorgeous P1800 reminds us just how good classic Volvos can be. Volvo produced the stunning coupe from 1961 to 1972, and under the hood, it has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 100 hp.
Volvo increased power to 120 hp in 1968 and added a 2.0-liter engine to the lineup that produced 118 hp. Volvo also produced a shooting brake version, the P1800 ES, which added more practicality to the car, and the P1800 remains one of the best cars the Swedish manufacturer has ever produced.
Honda S500
For years, Honda had established itself as a motorcycle manufacturer. However, the small Japanese manufacturer surprised everyone in the 1950s by entering the four-wheel market, and the S500 is arguably still one of its finest products. It was its first-ever passenger automobile and the second production Honda car following the T360 truck.
Honda’s motorcycle prowess came in handy when it developed the 531 cc DOHC inline-four engine, which utilized Keihin carburetors. This astonishing four-cylinder revved up to a 9,500 rpm redline and produced 44 hp. Honda had developed a sporty roadster with four-wheel independent suspension. Today, the S500 is a classic, and its value will only increase.
Porsche 356
Porsche was once famous for cars other than the 911. One of these was the Porsche 356, produced between 1948 and 1965. It was the German manufacturer’s first production car, preceding the legendary 911.
The 356 was a lightweight, nimble-handling car with a rear engine, rear-wheel drive, and two doors in hardtop coupe and convertible configurations. A variety of body styles would appear, one of the most famous being the 356 Speedster with its low windshield and lack of front bumpers. Under the hood was an air-cooled pushrod OHV flat-four engine, which made up to 70 hp, more than double that of the Volkswagen Beetle, the car the OHV was originally developed for.
Jaguar E-Type
No vintage vehicle list is complete without a look at the Jaguar E-Type. Jaguar first took the covers off the E-Type in 1961, and it was first launched in the United States as the Jaguar XK-E. It quickly became one of the most recognizable cars of the 1960s, and rumors persist that Enzo Ferrari called the E-Type “the most beautiful car ever made” on its debut.
The E-Type would also prove innovative. It employed a front subframe carrying the engine and front suspension and front bodywork directly bolted to the body tub, practices that were relatively new in the 1960s. Even today, few cars capture the magic and allure of the E-Type.
Aston Martin DB5
To many, the Aston Martin DB5 is the perfect James Bond car. But it was so much more than that; it was also the perfect Grand Tourer. The Db5 evolved from the previous series DB4, and under the hood, it had a DOHC straight-six 4.0-liter engine producing up to 325 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque.
The design of the DB5 is what makes it so recognizable. Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera designed the body of the DB5, and it remains one of the most incredible-looking vehicles of all time. Many consider the DB5 the finest Aston Martin ever produced, and in total, the British manufacturer made just 1,059 DB5s from 1963 to 1965.
Lancia Thema 8.32
The Lancia Thema 8.32 was the Italian manufacturer’s answer to the BMW M5. While conceived as a sports sedan, the Thema’s performance was closer to a fully-fledged sports car, thanks to the 3.0-liter Ferrari F105L V8 under the hood.
Lancia modified the Ferrari V8 to make it better suited for long-distance driving. The changes included adding a cross-plane to change the firing order of the smaller valves. Lancia sold the Thema 8.32 at $40,000, contributing to its poor sales. However, it remains one of the best performance cars of the 1980s.
