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This Is Our Definitive List of the 103 Coolest Cars of All Time

These are the hottest vehicles ever made. Hop in.

By and Popular Mechanics Editors
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Popular Mechanics; Michael Schäfer

People have been enjoying the art of the car—everything from how they’re made, to how they look, to what’s under the hood—since the invention of the first vehicle. (Whether you consider that to be Leonardo da Vinci, Henry Ford, or Karl Benz is another story for another day.)

➡ You love badass cars. So do we. Let’s nerd out over them together.

Since our love of old models, new innovations, and futuristic concepts runs deep, we’ve compiled the definitive list of the coolest cars to ever hit the pavement. The only hard requirement for making the cut? At least one fully drivable model had to have actually been created.

Got a need for speed? Scratch that itch right here. 👇

1

Shelby GT500CR (2020)

the 2020 carbon fiber shelby mustang gt500cr
Classic Recreations

This $298K beast is perfect for the classic car enthusiast who loves modern features and has a ton of disposable cash they’re itching to spend.

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This contemporary iteration of Mustang’s iconic Shelby is comprised of a carbon fiber body and comes in a limited run of 25 cars. Automobile reports that this new model is about 600 pounds lighter than the standard GT500CR and is powerful with a “claimed” 810 hp engine.

2

Bentley EXP 100 GT (2019)

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This electric concept car is stunning and was designed to explore “how grand touring could look in 2035,” according to Bentley. The interior of the EXP 100 GT looks like a luxurious spaceship—to be honest, the whole car looks otherworldly—and is expected to deliver everything from autonomous driving to employing the use of AI to read your biometrics and adjust cabin temperature. This is all in addition to features like “air curation,” which brings in fragrances “from the natural world while keeping city pollution out.” Fancy.

3

Bugatti Chiron (2016)

98th european motor show
Sjoerd van der Wal//Getty Images

The Chiron comes in four different models (the Sport, Pur Sport, Sport 110 Ans, and the Super Sport 300+) and starts at a cool $3 million.

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Bugatti designed it to be a speed demon by outfitting it with “intelligent air intake management to improve aerodynamics” in addition to helping enhance “the cooling efficiency for engine and brakes.” Translation: it goes fast—250+ mph fast.

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4

Jaguar XJS (1975–1996)

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The successor to the iconic E-Type, the XJS was a great-looking car in its own right. In production for more than two decades, it became one of the most recognizable models from Jaguar.

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5

Chevrolet Camaro (1966–1969)

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The original Camaro set many young hearts aflutter. With muscular, purposeful styling and power to spare, the ’60s Camaro became an instant classic.

6

Lotus Esprit (1993–2004)

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Despite going through some awkward “wedge” phases in its early days, the Esprit hit its stride with the early ’90s S4 variant.

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By the twin-turbo V-8 generation, it had evolved into a legitimate exotic.

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7

Ford GT (2005-2006)

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The reincarnation of the Ford GT40 was so cool that it's one of the only cars of the past 10 years that hasn't depreciated—in fact, it's worth more now.

8

Cadillac (1959)

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The entirety of ’50s automotive fashion in America can practically be summed up in the ’59 Cadillac. Huge, heavy, and comically over-styled, it’s a classic from a bygone era—and highly desirable in today’s collector market.

9

Bugatti Type 57 (1934–1940)

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Shortly before World War II reached a fever pitch, French maker Bugatti enjoyed considerable recognition for its gorgeous Type 57. A total of 710 were ultimately produced.

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10

Noble M12 M400 (2004–2007)

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You may never have heard of Noble—it’s not a huge name. Its M12 sports car, however, was a huge performer, and a favorite among track-day enthusiasts.

11

Dodge Viper (1990–present)

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If macho can be sexy, then the Dodge Viper has appeal to spare. Designed to be brutally fast, uncomplicated, and eye-catching, this low-tech superstar from Detroit hit instant fame.

12

Mercedes-Benz 540K (1935–1940)

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The 540K marked a distinct change in style from its predecessor, the 500K. The new model featured sleeker and curvier bodywork, along with a larger, more powerful straight-8 engine.

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13

Ford Boss 302 Mustang (1969–1970)

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Afraid of losing its “pony car” crown to the archrival Chevy Camaro, Ford created the Boss 302 variant of the perennially popular Mustang to underscore the importance of legitimate performance over maximum power.

14

Volvo P1800 (1961–1973)

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Yes, it’s true: Volvo once made a sexy sports car. The P1800 was Volvo’s successful attempt to recover from its previous P1900 sports car, which had failed miserably.

15

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (1955–1974)

89. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (1955–1974)

The Karmann Ghia was a surprisingly popular experiment for VW. The sporty coupe was built largely from the existing Beetle model, but featured bodywork by Italian designer Ghia and German coachbuilder Karmann.

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16

Ferrari 360 Modena (1999–2005)

88. Ferrari 360 Modena (1999–2005)

The 360 Modena replaced the aging 355 as Ferrari's bread and butter mid-engine sports car, bearing a free-breathing V-8 and eye-catching looks.

17

Nissan GT-R (2009–Present)

87. Nissan GT-R (2009–Present)

The GT-R is an automotive wonder not only for its looks, but also for its uncanny ability to use high technology to shame exotic supercars that cost many times as much as the Nissan.

18

Chevrolet Corvette (1953-1962)

86. Chevrolet Corvette (1953–Present)

The first generation Corvette is the most significant American car ever created. Its stunningly original design and impressive performance, not to mention its potent fuel-injected engines, proved once and for all that America could compete in the sports car arena.

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19

Alfa Romeo Spider (1966–1969)

85. Alfa Romeo Spider (1966–1969)

While the Spider has evolved through various iterations over the years, it’s the original “Series 1” generation of the ’60s, famous from the movie The Graduate, that tugs the heartstrings of enthusiasts.

20

Porsche Carrera GT (2004-2007)

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It’s a V10 racing engine, a manual transmission, two seats and no stability control. The last of the truly untamed supercars.

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James Tate
Contributing Editor

James Tate has been writing about cars professionally since 2004, but the obsession took hold before he could stand. He's a Luddite at heart, so it's the tactility and driving experience of yesterday's cars that really grab him, but an appreciation for engineering sustains his interest in the modern stuff. Tate’s writing has appeared in Road & Track, Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Autoweek, and others. 

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