Best Cars by Year - 1900 to 1909

The 1900s saw the automobile transition from a novelty for the wealthy to a more common mode of transportation. Mass production techniques, like those pioneered by Henry Ford, began to make cars more affordable, while innovations in design and engineering improved their reliability and performance. This era laid the groundwork for the automobile's widespread adoption and its profound impact on society in the 20th century.

Best Cars by Year - 1910 to 1919

The 1910s were a decade of rapid innovation and growth for the automobile, with mass production significantly increasing affordability and accessibility. This era saw the rise of iconic models like the Ford Model T, advancements in engine technology, and the development of key features like electric starters and headlights, further solidifying the automobile's place in modern society.

Best Cars by Year - 1920 to 1929

The 1920s roared with automotive advancement, as car ownership boomed and designs shifted from purely utilitarian to stylish and comfortable. Closed-body sedans gained popularity, and technological innovations like electric starters and improved braking systems became commonplace. This era saw the rise of iconic manufacturers like Chrysler and the emergence of the "muscle car" concept.

Best Cars by Year - 1930 to 1939

The 1930s, despite the Great Depression, saw significant advancements in car design with a focus on streamlining and integrated styling, exemplified by cars like the Chrysler Airflow. While the economic downturn impacted sales, innovation continued with the introduction of independent front suspension and more powerful engines, laying the groundwork for the modern automobile.

Best Cars by Year - 1940 to 1949

Early in the 1940s, carmakers were forced to build tanks and airplanes for the war effort. Early in 1941 it also became clear that production of passenger cars would need to be cut to save materials for defense purposes. The back half of the 1940s had cars created from odd parts left from the war as well as ground up machines that took advantage of the newfound consumer optimism and were made by re-energized carmakers.

Best Cars by Year - 1950 to 1959

The 1950s cars became lower, longer, and wider. The early 1950s saw the rise of chrome on cars, as an increasingly opulent society flourished in the United States. Many of the automobiles of the time were designed by stylists who took their influence from the transport industry in general and therefore used ideas from both planes and trains prevailing during that time.

Best Cars by Year - 1960 to 1969

The 1960’s automobiles belonged to a distinct decade of automobile history with the advent of economy, muscle and pony cars. The 1960’s saw the American automobile industry consolidating into the Big Three: General Motors, FordChrysler and American Motors. In Europe we saw the continued development of brands that began to get noticed globally.

Best Cars by Year - 1970 to 1979

1970s cars were forced to adapt to the reality of the gas crisis, hence the need to design cars that are capable to conserve gas, compliance to the Clean Air Act, and vowing to consumer advocacy groups’ demand for safer automobiles. In the 1970s, Americans shifted their attention to smaller, more reliable, high-mileage foreign imports. In fact, more than a million imports were registered by 1969. American automakers were slow to respond.

Best Cars by Year - 1980 to 1989

The eighties took things to the next level in term of automotive design, quality and performance. The U.S market has also changed, with American automobiles being outsold by imports, notably Japanese cars. They learned what they had from American plants, absorbed the technology and then adapted it to fit their own society. In Europe we saw racing drive the development of amazing road cars.

Best Cars by Year - 1990 to 1999

After the extraordinary supercars of the eighties, many supercar manufacturers entering the nineties asked “how on earth do we follow that?” At the same time, manufacturers of everyday cars said “how do we go after the enthusiast market?”. Both groups said “let’s go racing”. The result was the golden era of the performance and sports car markets globally.

Best Cars by Year - 2000 to 2009

At the turn of the millennium, the supercar was in a good spot. The internet bubble was making instant millionaires and providing justification for a higher education. Furthermore, cars like the McLaren F1 set the bar tremendously high for the decade ahead. The 2000s gave us some great new design. At the forefront of these are carbon-fiber cars like the Enzo, Carrera GT and SLR. It also gave us a totally new car, the hypercar.

Best Cars by Year - 2010 to 2019

A decade where the once-unthinkable became reality. Electric cars went from fringe curiosities to performance powerhouses, connectivity transformed vehicles and autonomous driving technology began to reshape our perception of what a car could be. We witnessed the rise of hybrid hypercars like the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, the dawn of electric hypercars like the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista

Best Cars by Year - 2020 to Present

The 2020s have been a whirlwind of innovation for the automotive world, a decade where the lines between science fiction and reality have blurred. Electrification has taken center stage, with hypercars boasting mind-bending horsepower figures and track-focused weapons rewriting the rules of performance. Yet, amidst this technological revolution, the passion for driving thrills, visceral experiences remains stronger than ever.

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