Karl Benz — The first automobile was built by Karl Benz (1886; Germany). A one-cylinder internal-combustion engine propelled this three-wheeler at 13 km/h (8 mph). Karl Friedrich Benz, for whom an alternate French spelling of Carl is used occasionally, (November 25, 1844, Karlsruhe, Germany – April 4, 1929, Ladenburg, Germany) was a German engine designer and mechanical engineer, generally regarded …

M.G. TC Midget — The M.G. TC Midget (1947; England) had a 4-cylinder, overhead-valve, twin-carburetor, 1,250-cc engine, running board, and wire-spoke wheels. The MG T series of cars (including the TA, TB, TC, TD, and TF) was a basic body-on-frame sports car produced from 1936 through to 1955. It was replaced by the MGA. The TC was the first postwar …

Jaguar XKE Coupe — The Jaguar XKE coupe (1961; England) was a high-speed, sleek sports car powered by a 6-cylinder, 265-hp, 3.8 liter engine. The Jaguar E-type or XK-E is an automobile manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1974. The E-type revolutionised sports car design, with performance, handling and looks ahead of its time. It was priced well below competing …

Hispano-Suiza — Hispano-Suiza open touring car (1920-30; France) had a light-alloy, 6-cylinder engine and the first servo-assisted 4-wheel brakes. Hispano-Suiza was an originally Spanish and then Spanish-French automotive and engineering firm (actually, from 1923 on, two different companies) best known for their cars, engines (including world famous aviation engines) and weapons designs in the pre-World War II period. Today they …

Ford V8 Roadster — The Ford V8 Roadster was developed to meet the increasing consumer demand for more speed and comfort. Ford was the first company to introduce the one-piece V-8 engine block. The Model B was a new Ford automobile produced in model year 1932. It was an updated version of the Model A and remained largely unchanged until …

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL — The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL coupe (1953; Germany) had “gullwing” doors that opened upward and a 6-cylinder, 175-hp engine with fuel injection The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a series of luxury automobiles. SL, meaning “Sport Light”, or in German, Sport Leicht, first appeared on the 1954 300SL ’Gullwing’ so named because of its upward-opening passenger doors. The Mercedes-Benz …

Ford Mustang — The Ford Mustang (1964; United States) was so popular that over one million cars had been sold within two years of its introduction. The Ford Mustang is an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company, originally based on the Ford Falcon compact. The first production Mustang rolled off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, …

Ford Model T — The Model T Ford (1908; United States), also known as the “Tin Lizzie”, was the first mass produced automobile The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Ford’s Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. The model T set 1908 as the historic year that …

Porsche 911S — The Porsche 911S (1967; Germany) used a high-performance overhung rear 6-cylinder engine and independent wheel suspension. The Porsche 911 (pronounced as nine eleven) is a sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. The famous, distinctive and durable car has undergone continuous development since its introduction in 1964. Mechanically it is notable for being rear engined …

Ford Fiesta — The Ford Fiesta (1978; Europe and the United States) is one of the subcompact automobiles that was introduced in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis. The Ford Fiesta is a mid-class supermini car designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe, and also manufactured in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa. …