1 minute
Share on
What is the most iconic car of all time? It’s far from a simple question, with plenty of discussion… and probably arguments too. But surely, with the help of FJ client’s and online audience, we should be able to get to settle the debate. So that’s what we did, polling a fanbase who are experts in classics, to find out once and for all.
From a shortlist of 50 models and over 1,300 votes cast, below we reveal spots 12-7:
Ford’s Escort MkI was a success story that the badge up for an additional five generations. Offered with a variety of engines, it was Ford’s work with both Cosworth and Lotus that really put the Escort on the international scene, having arrived at the end of 1967.
A rallying legend, Ford’s compact family car looked fantastic, and has arguably only improved with age. You can get an Escort MkI in four-door saloon, three-door estate, or even a van, but for most, it’s the two-door saloon that is thought of when discussing the model, either parked outside their family home, or very sideways along a gravel track in the middle of a forest.
Why do you love it? Here's what you had to say...
Widely regarded as the first supercar, Lamborghini definitely got the formula right straight from the off. A mid-engined two-seater, with V12 power and rear-wheel drive, it ticks all the boxes for a supercar. And then there’s the styling... even today it looks frankly sensational.
Arriving in 1966, the Miura firmly put Lamborghini on the map, from taking on the nearby Ferrari powerhouse, to starring in the opening sequence of The Italian Job, the Miura’s low-slung style was perfectly suited to Italy’s Sixties successes. Fewer than 800 were built, before the Miura was replaced, with the rarity value only helping its iconic status.
Your thoughts were...
There can surely be few greater juxtapositions in the classic car world than a Morris Minor following a Lamborghini Miura. But that’s the great thing about this debate; each model is taken on its own merit, not on how fast it is, or practical etc. As such, according to the voting public, a Morris Minor is (slightly) more iconic than a supercar from Lamborghini.
The vehicle credited with helping Britain get back on the road after the Second World War, its low cost, practicality, and variety of body options meant it proved popular with a variety of buyers. With Alec Issigonis part of the design team, the importance of a good driving experience was instilled early on in the development, meaning the Morris Minor is surprisingly fun to drive.
Some of the reasons you picked it as your number 10 slot were...
A perfect combination of British sportscar handling and American brute power, the AC Cobra is one of the most popular classics both sides of the Atlantic. Run off an idea from American racer Carroll Shelby, British manufacturer AC shipped rolling cars – minus engine and transmission – to the US where they were fitted with a 4.3-litre Ford V8, and later a 4.7-litre unit.
Perhaps the most famous version however is the Cobra 427, using a Mk III chassis, springs all-round, and Ford’s 7.0-litre V8, it made for a monster; and proved successful on the track too. Becoming more famous than the Ace on which it was based, the Cobra was only produced for five years, but made quite an impact on the world in that time.
What did you think of the AC Cobra?
Few cars rewrite the rulebook as the Quattro from Audi did. The original – the Ur-Quattro – went on to become the name for all of Audi’s four-wheel drive models, and also revolutionised rallying. Loosely based on a coupe-version of the Audi 80 of the time, the Quattro came about when chassis engineer Jörg Bensinger realised that even low performance all-wheel drive military vehicles could out-perform two-wheel drive models in the snow.
By creating a high-performance all-wheel drive car, Audi paired a turbocharged 2.1-litre five-cylinder engine initially, with Audi’s four-wheel drive system. Over the years, the engine capacity was increased, a Sport version was created, and the coupe destroyed rivals in anything other than dry roads… and that’s all the production car version. The rally machine saw manufacturers scrabbling to catch up, with the top level of the sport featuring all-wheel drive ever since.
A few of your thoughts were...
VW’s Beetle remains one of the most popular models in history, with more than 21 million produced over a 65-year production period. The distinctive styling and rear-mounted air-cooled engine, gave it a character that endeared it to literally millions, with the Beetle regularly appearing as a star of screens both large and small.
Designed pre-WWII, the Beetle – and Volkswagen – owes its success to a British Army Major, Ivan Hurst, who was given responsibility for determining what to do with VW’s Wolfsburg plant. He decided to build a few Beetles, primarily for military use, and the rest is history. Even the Beetle’s ‘successor’, the Golf, couldn’t actually shift it from the production line, and the Beetle went on to become a global icon.
The Volkswagen Beetle was voted for by you because...
The most famous ‘big Healey’ from the firm, the 3000 was an open-top two-seater or 2+2 in the classic British sportscar style. Over the years, Austin-Healey developed the model to become closer to a grand tourer, differentiating it from the likes of the MGB, the 3.0-litre roadster might have become a British classic, but its success was actually in the United States.
Introduced in 1959, within a five years, more than nine in ten built were exported to the United States. The 3000 became an important part of the British automotive industry’s resurrection post war, and it had the style and performance to tempt in buyers used to larger, more ‘comfortable’ models Stateside.
Your thoughts on the Austin-Healey 300...
Stay tuned as next week we’ll be revealing the final 6 spots taking us to our winning Iconic Car for 2024!
Once driven by Sean Connery, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 has supposedly
The 20th anniversary year for the Goodwood Revival will see a £200m gr
A 1958 Ford Zephyr that lived an ordinary life in Portsmouth for almos
Who doesn't love looking through images of classic cars? Well, this Christmas view the top 10 classic car specialists to follow on Instagram this year!
