The car of the century
12/10/2024
In 1999, just in time for the end of the century, a jury of 132 car specialists from 33 countries selected the "car of the century".
In a pre-selection process, thousands of possible candidates were narrowed down to 100 vehicles, from which 25 pre-finalists were then selected. However, there were 27, because a public vote added the AC Cobra and two cars with the same number of points came in 25th place.
In the pre-final (alphabetically) were finally:
- AC Cobra
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
- Audi quattro
- Austin Seven
- BMW 328
- Bugatti T 35
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
- Citroën Traction Avant
- Citroën 2 CV
- Citroën DS 19
- Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
- Fiat 500 Topolino
- Ford Model T
- Ford Mustang
- Jaguar XK120
- Jaguar E-Type
- Mercedes-Benz S/SS/SSK
- Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
- Mini (all types)
- NSU Ro 80
- Porsche 911
- Range Rover
- Renault Espace
- Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
- VW Beetle
- VW Golf I
- Willys Jeep
The Ford Model T won the poll, with the following places going to the Mini, the Citroën DS, the VW Beetle and the Porsche 911. Three of the top five were still being built at the time of the poll (Mini, Beetle, 911)!
I wonder if this list of the best would look the same today? And which car would our Zwischengas readers have voted number 1? Feel free to comment!
Incidentally, not only cars were chosen, but also people. Giorgetto Giugiaro was named Designer of the Century, Ferdinand Porsche Car Designer of the Century, Henry Ford I Car Entrepreneur of the Century and Ferdinand Piëch Car Group CEO of the Century.
Further information on this election episode shortly before the turn of the millennium was published in Automobil Revue at the end of 1999 .
