The twentieth century was the golden age of automotive development. Having gone from primitive carts, by the end of the century the car had become the fastest, most comfortable and the most popular form of transport. For 100 years, many models were produced, but only five of them were awarded the honorable title of Car of the Century.
The ranking was compiled in December 1999, based on the votes of journalists and experts from more than thirty countries.
Porsche 911
Porsche is a great German company that has produced many great cars. But it is known primarily for the Porsche 911 sports coupe.
In the early 1960s, the Germans had high hopes for their new model. And they were justified! Instead of the planned 15 years, the 911 of the first generation was produced almost without changes for 25 years. At that, even at the end of the life cycle, the demand for it was huge. And only new requirements on safety and ecology, forced to complete the production of the car.
Be that as it may, after the Porsche 911 of the first generation, named Classic, seven more followed. Thus, the Porsche 911 is produced until now, and retaining the traditional rear-motor layout and opposition engine.
The most mass-produced sports car, it ranks fifth in the Car of the Century ranking.
Volkswagen Beetle
Another car from Germany in this ranking is the Volkswagen Beetle. The car was developed in 1938, on the personal instructions of Adolf Hitler. But the production could be organized only after the end of the war.
Volkswagen Beetle - became the most massive car in history. The secret of its popularity is quite simple. Germans managed to create a simple, reliable, and most importantly cheap car. With minimal changes Beetle was produced until 2003.
A magnificent car and a deserved fourth place in the Car of the Century rating.
Citroën DS
For some it will be a surprise to see this car in third place. But those who are at least a little bit interested in cars will understand why it has taken such a high position.
Meanwhile, the Citroen DS is an outstanding car. The French managed to create an advanced car with a great design that was ahead of its time for a long time. The DS was the first production car with swivel headlights and disc brakes on all wheels. In addition, the proprietary hydropneumatics suspension provided unprecedented comfort and handling.
For its cutting-edge construction and design, the DS, or as it was affectionately called ‘The Goddess’, was awarded third place by journalists.
Mini
The Mini is a compact small car from the United Kingdom. It was created by British Motor Corporation in 1958.
Mini engineers had a very difficult task: to develop the most compact, but at the same time a full-fledged 4-seater car. But despite all the difficulties, they succeeded. Moreover, thanks to the original layout, the saloon occupied 80 per cent of the total interior space of the car. In other words, the Mini was small on the outside and big on the inside.
After the start of sales in 1959, the Mini was instantly popular. It was reliable, affordable and didn't take up much space in the car park. So it was perfect for post-war Europe.
To build on its commercial success, in 1961 BMC produced a special Mini Cooper, with a powerful engine and disc brakes.
The Mini turned out to be an outstanding car with a rich history, so a well-deserved second place.
The car of the century - the Ford Model T
Even a person far from cars has heard about the Ford T. It changed the automotive industry forever with its mere appearance. Thanks to the use of the assembly line and optimization of production, it was possible to reduce the cost of the car, making it affordable for many people of average income. In addition, the Ford T allowed the US to become the leading automotive powerhouse, at least in the first half of the 20th century.
Meanwhile, it can't be said that the Model T was the most advanced car at the time. But it didn't need to be, it was simple and reliable. During 19 years of production, 16.5 million Ford Model T cars were produced.
