Ridiculed early and often for its crudeness, the Trabant kept millions
of Eastern Bloc citizens occasionally mobile and warded off mosquitoes,
thanks to its smoky two-stroke engine. The rules of communist engagement
meant that people literally had to wait years to take delivery on these
plastic-bodied cars. Since the fall of communism, Trabis (especially
the P 601 cars of 1963-1989) have become cult icons. Yet, neither that
nor the Trabant 1.1, a modest improvement with a four-stroke engine, was
enough to keep the factory humming past 1991. Craptacular as they were,
they still made an impression as all-time German cars that lives on
today.
The early 1970s weren’t great years to be in product planning at Volkswagen. The Beetle
was losing momentum and anticipated replacement models were flops.
Salvation came in 1974, with the arrival of the Golf. Enthusiast types
within VW realised the potential for even greater greatness and added
power to this all-time German car, and launched the European-market GTI
in 1976. The GTI’s success spawned the Hot Hatch movement and plenty of
contenders, each out to prove performance and economy, could coexist.
Five generations on, the GTI is still a fun drive.
One of the most famous and influential BMWs also nearly sunk the
company. In the years following World War II, Max Hoffman began
importing European cars
to the U.S. Having considerable influence with the manufacturers he
represented, he convinced the Bavarians to build a convertible for 1957
that could go toe-to-toe with Jaguars and the like. Exceptionally high
production costs resulted in the 507’s premium target price of £2,500.
And even then BMW lost money with every 507 built. Production ended in
1960, but the 507’s virtues resonated within the company for years to
follow, influencing milestone cars like the 1500, M1 and even the more
recent Z8.
Number 7
Mercedes-Benz 450 SE/SEL
1972
Among the few successful big-engine cars to thrive during the
gas-starved '70s, the Mercedes-Benz 450 SE and long-wheelbase SEL of
1972-1980 were among the company’s first “long-legged” sedans -- able to
cruise at triple-digit speeds for hours without mechanical complaint or
upset to the serenity among the cabin’s five occupants. Even today, a
450’s properly tuned 4.5-litre V8 feels strong and responsive under all
conditions, especially the '78-'80 cars that feature improved fuel
injection -- the rare 6.9-litre edition, even more so. Handling is not
only impressive for a car from the era, it also feels as well-connected
as some new sedans (though the bus-sized steering wheel is an
anachronistic throwback). Known internally, and to Benz
fans, as the W116 series these all-time German cars set the stage for
the modern S-Class and more than a few wannabes in the process.
Number 6
Audi R8
2008
Like Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagen in
The Godfather,
Audi’s adoption into the VW family over four decades ago has seen the
orphan rise to prominence in the family. Not content with producing
competent sedans and wagons, Audi went to the mattresses and launched an
unprecedented mid-engine supercar: the R8. Basking in the glow of its
debut model year, the R8 is simply remarkable in nearly every respect
imaginable. It stands to have lasting impact too -- perhaps even greater
than the BMW M1. A possible addition to, or replacement for, the
current V8 is a V12 turbo diesel. If that comes to pass, it will only
enhance the R8’s instant-legacy status.
Number 5
Porsche 356
1948
Not only was the 356 Porsche’s first model, it was one of the first
sports cars on the road. Developed by Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, it
featured a rear-engine layout with Volkswagen running gears (designed by
Ferry’s father, Dr. Ing h.c. Ferdinand Porsche). That’s not saying
much, but compared to the few existing competitors of the day, it was a
blast and continually improved through the end of its run in 1965. Along
the way, more than a few were modified and raced by celebrities and
everyday guys alike, quickly establishing Porsche’s
image around the world and enabling the automaker to capitalise with
even greater race and road cars. Today, many agree the later 356C of
1964-1965 is the best to own and enjoy.
Number 4
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
1955
Easily the most coveted Mercedes-Benz of all time, our friend Max
Hoffman deserves the credit for the SL’s existence. The preeminent U.S.
distributor of European cars in the post-war years, Hoffman’s influence
led Mercedes to develop a road-going version of their racing SL. The
resulting coupe of 1955-1957 was a stunning success. Visually
distinctive for its roof-hinged “gullwing” doors (necessitated by the
tubular chassis), it was incredibly fast for its time and could top 160
mph. The 300SL Roadster of 1957-1963 was no slouch either, but the
original gullwing model catapulted Mercedes’ duality of performance and
elegance together.
Number 3
BMW 2002
1968
Ever wonder how the sports sedan movement began, or what led up to the beloved BMW
3-Series? This is it: the BMW 2002 of 1968-1976, a must-have in our
list of all-time German cars. As an evolution from the “new class”
sedans earlier in the decade, the innocent-looking 2002 amazed drivers
with sports-car responsiveness and handling. Things only improved from
there with the 2002tii, and these 1972-1974 cars are the most desirable.
However, overall, any 2002 would be fun to drive and show off,
especially since BMW has widely acknowledged this as the inspiration
behind the new 1-Series.
Number 2
Volkswagen Beetle
1938
Twenty-one million people can’t be wrong, can they? Few other cars have
had such an impact on the world as the original People’s Car, the
Volkswagen Beetle, whose production only ceased in 2003. Chances are, if
you didn’t own one of these all-time German cars, you know someone who
did. So what was it about this car, anyway? It was crude, slow, noisy,
freezing in the winter, and unbearably hot in the summer. Don’t ask
us. If you’re uncontrollably drawn to the Beetle and have no desire to
arrive anywhere early, purists tend to favour the 1967-1972 sedans and
convertibles.
Number 1
Porsche 911
1964
As the 1960s gained momentum and the need grew for a replacement of
Porsche’s 356, Butzi Porsche probably had little idea he was designing a
successor that would last over 40 years. Not only is the 911 model
name alive and well today, but you can park a 1964 and a 2008 next to
each other and see distinct similarities. Every step of the way, the 911
has been a benchmark of what cars -- and not just sports cars -- can
accomplish, if in a somewhat unconventional manner. If you want the best
interpretation of reliability and performance, the current 997 series
of 2005 and newer will suit you well. For classic air-cooled engine
clatter and arguably more character some still prefer the 1987-1997
models.
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