The 10 Most Popular Sports Cars of All Time
In 2018, nearly 5.3 million cars were sold in the U.S. alone. That’s without counting all the cars that we registered before that date or the other cars that are currently on the road. These numbers don’t even start to scratch the surface of the massive scale on which Americans depend on their cars.
However, car enthusiasts will agree with the fact that not all cars are created equal. Some, like your Bentleys, are simply statements of the riches you possess while others, like your Porsche 911s, are made for pure enjoyment on the track and on the road. Even then, it can be said that car enthusiasts all favor their own car.
That’s why it’s so hard to put a list of the 10 most popular sports cars of all time. Nevertheless, it has been done in the following article.
Read on to see which cars made the list (in no particular order).
Most Popular Sports Cars
Without jumping right into the list, it’s first important to define what a sports car is. It sounds silly, but with so much variety in today’s cars, it’s a good thing to do. Sports cars are cars that are designed to travel at high speeds with superior handling and brakes in an effort to thrill drivers.
1. Ford Mustang
What popular sports car list couldn’t feature a Mustang? These cars are iconic because of their history. First conceived in 1964, the Ford Mustang has stuck around since and has not failed to impress everyone, from old to young.
Just a brief list of movies that feature Mustangs include I am Legend, Back to the Future II, 2 Fast 2 Furious, John Wick, and Bullitt. With so many iterations, there’s bound to be a Ford Mustang for everyone.
2. Mazda Miata MX-5
The MX-5 might slide on some sports car lists, but it remains a fan favorite for cultured car enthusiasts and old-timers alike. It originally debuted in 1989 and has gone through four major iterations, making it 30 years old.
What excites fans of the MX-5 is the nimble, easy-and-fun-to-drive nature that it brings to the table. The newest model also looks like absolute fire.
For more info on MX-5s, make sure to check out the wide variety of content available on the internet.
3. Ferrari F40
You’ve probably started to notice a trend in this list: legacy cars. The F40 is a classic sports car that never fails to excite car enthusiasts. It was built between 1987 to 1992 and continued to race until 1996.
Not only did the F40 boast a top speed of over 200 mph, but it was also the last car to be signed off by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988. The F40 is also famous for its analog approach to speed and power.
4. Nissan GT-R
The GT-R only came on the scene in 1969, shortly after Nissan took over Prince Motor Company in 1966. Prince had first made the Skyline their own in 1957. Since then, the GT-R has gone through several iterations, perhaps the most famous being the R34 Skyline GT-R.
The last major redesign for the GT-R came around 2010. The next major redesign may come in the form of the R50 GT-R.
5. Chevrolet Corvette
Just like the GT-R, the Corvette has also gone through numerous iterations. 1953 was when the first Corvette came out until the 1963 Corvette Stingray. The Stingray was more recently redesigned in 2014.
Regardless, the Corvette name is a name that resonates with old and young alike because of its popularity in American sports car culture. Star Trek, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast Five, Rush Hour, and Apollo 13 are just a few movies to showcase various iterations of the Corvette.
6. Ford GT
The Ford GT first came on the scene in 1966 when Ford decided to give Ferrari some competition. The GT went on to win the 24-hour Le Mans race between 1966 and 1969. The GT has gone through three different iterations throughout the years and, because of its hefty price tag of $450k, remains a rare sight to see on the roads.
7. Toyota Supra
How in the world did Toyota make into this list? The resurrection of Japanese sports cars bled over into this list. While the Supra first made its appearance as a spin-off of the Toyota Celica, the Supra soon made a name for itself.
The Supra just had to make the list because of the hype surrounding the newest update the Supra.
The first four generations of the Supra was first manufactured between 1979 and 2002. The latest update came in 2019. The Supra’s meager $50,000 price tag means that it’s still in the realms of affordability.
8. Acura NSX
Continuing in the same vein of resurrected Japanese sports cars is the Acura NSX. The latest 2019 NSX continues to impress in being one of the more affordable of sports cars on the market today The NSX debuted in 1991 but what may surprise readers is that Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna was part of the NSX’s engineering development.
Senna took the NSX for a drive and said the car was a little fragile. The engineering team took his advice to heart and ended up stiffening the chassis up by 50%. The NSX went on to become the automotive icon of the 20th century.
9. Porsche 911
Chances are you’ve heard of the 911 before. That’s because of its iconic look of two round headlights and its long history. The 911 came onto the scene all the way back in 1963.
Several generations and a mostly unchanged design have contributed to the Porsche 911’s popularity throughout the years.
10. Shelby Cobra
Inspired by legendary racer Carroll Shelby, the Shelby Cobra was first made in 1962. The original Cobra 427 was only produced 348 times but its popularity was largely due to the fact that it was the fastest American sports car for many years.
Vrooom, Vroom!
There you have it! A subjective, yet robust list of the 10 most popular sports cars of all time. Cars have been impressing since the mid-1900s and they will surely continue to impress for years to come, especially with the emergence of electric vehicles.