The 11 Most Unique Classic Cars Of All Time
Photo by Ulf Meyer on Unsplash
For more than a century, automobiles have turned heads and dropped jaws. Sometimes this happened as soon as the wraps were taken off, and occasionally these positive reactions took time to develop. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the dozen most unique classic cars.
We’re applying our own meaning to the word “unique.” To us, this can apply to a rare vehicle that’s highly sought after by collectors as well as to a breakthrough but popular car that forever changed the auto industry. You’ll see examples of both.
And keeping with the traditional definition of a classic car, we’ve covered vintage vehicles at least 25 years old.
1963 Aston Martin DB5
Photo by Ulf Meyer on Unsplash
Does the car make the movie, or does the movie make the car? The answer is forever debatable regarding the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 and Goldfinger, the third film in the long-running James Bond franchise. The DB5 is arguably the epitome of British automotive engineering from that era (followed closely by the Jaguar E-Type). Only 1,059 DB5s were built between 1963 and 1965, making them highly coveted by collectors. An original Goldfinger DB5 is worth an estimated $25 million, and in 2020 Aston Martin sold 25 reproductions (with all the gadgets) for $4.6 million each.
1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante
Bugatti Type 57 Atalante 1936 by Ramgeis– CC BY-SA 3.0
Among the most unique classic cars of all time is the Bugatti Type 57 Atalante. Just ten were built for 1935 (the Great Depression impacted Europe, too). This masterpiece is rare and almost priceless, with a value exceeding $3 million. While most cars of the 1930s (even expensive ones) were primarily about transporting people, Bugatti’s aerodynamic bodywork emphasized speed over practicality. Flowing fenders and a low-slung roofline coupled with state-of-the-art engineering still make this car desirable in the 21st century.
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1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Photo by Yousef
What conveys a message of luxury and upscaleness changes with the wind. However, in the 1950s in America, this meant oversized tail fins and yards of chrome. No vehicle conveys this meaning more than the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. What truly made this car so popular was that it looked like a Cadillac but was priced like a Chevy. General Motors couldn’t build them fast enough. What’s also notable is that Chevy offered the car in eight body styles with variations of the coupe, sedan, convertible, and station wagon.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Photo by Sebastian Pichard
Although the Corvette had been cruising drive-ins since 1953, the first year (1963) of the second-generation version transformed “America’s sports car” into a streamlined screamer. Its aggressive looks stood out among the bland and slab-sided cars that dominated the early 1960s. Meanwhile, subtle touches like air vents on the front fenders mimic stingray gills, reinforcing the Corvette’s secondary moniker. What also separates the 1963 Corvette from its successors is being the only model year with a memorable split rear window.
1981 DeLorean DMC-12
Image by digitalskennedy from Pixabay
Here’s another case of a car and movie colliding to impact popular culture and automobilia. The bold styling and stainless steel skin helped distinguish the DMC-12 from other 80s sports cars, but a lackluster engine and dubious build quality doomed the effort. However, the Back to the Future movie trilogy helped resurrect the DMC-12 in enthusiasts’ eyes.
1968 Dodge Charger
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Although the Dodge Charger first appeared in showrooms in 1966, the second generation launched in 1968 with the unforgettable Coke bottle exterior. Its long and lean body proved to be the perfect shell for a host of V8 engine options. The combination required Dodge to build three times more Chargers in 1968 than originally planned.
1965 Ford Mustang
1965 Ford Mustang by MercurySable99– CC BY-SA 4.0
Few vehicles have altered the automotive landscape like the Ford Mustang. Launched in April 1964 as a 1964.5 model (but these got registered as 1965s). The Mustang combined sporty looks and an affordable price tag and created a legacy that’s still strong. In fact, the Mustang is Ford’s longest-selling nameplate still in production, with the sixth-generation snagging the title of the world’s best-selling sports car. The release of the official 1965 model year saw the introduction of the fastback Mustang, a silhouette as iconic as the car’s horse logo.
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1990 Mazda Miata
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miataby Elise240SX– CC BY-SA 4.0
Mazda can’t take credit for inventing small and zippy roadsters, but the automaker gets applause for improving the recipe with the Miata debut in 1990. The trouble-prone British roadster got reborn with reliable Japanese engineering in an affordable package. While you can still find the Miata in showrooms, the earlier examples are highly desired by Mazda loyalists seeking cheap-to-fix and fun-to-drive sports cars.
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1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Photo by Justus Menke
The 300SL Gullwing is best known for its bird-like doors that open upward rather than outward like a traditional automobile. At the same time, a curvaceous exterior helps this Mercedes slice through the air easily. But beneath these innovative looks is a tubular space frame that reduces weight while increasing strength, an approach still used in high-end cars today. Equally impressive is that the 300SL achieved a top speed of 161 mph, a remarkable accomplishment 70 years ago.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1970 Plymouth Barracudaby allen watkin— CC BY 2.0
The original Plymouth Barracuda gets bragging rights as the first pony car, beating the Ford Mustang to market by two weeks in 1964. However, that effort was nothing more than a gussied-up Plymouth Valiant economy car. Yet, the third and final generation of the Barracuda debuted for the 1970 model year with muscular styling and an engine bay to match. Along with a handful of other cars from the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Barracuda established the benchmark for the golden age of muscle cars.
1976 Porsche 911
You can’t deny the iconic status of the Porsche 911, which debuted in 1963. Its rear-engine design and sleek shape helped establish the German automaker as one of the preeminent producers of high-performance sports cars. And while every Porsche 911 year is significant, we’re partial to 1976 on our list of unique classic cars. This is when the Carrera 3.0 got introduced with wider rear wheel flares and the signature whale-tail rear spoiler. It’s a look that can still be found in 21st-century examples.
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