msn's 100 "hottest" cars

[Bubba1]

MSN’s hottest 100 cars of all time. Can’t help it, I love these lists. Shockingly (that’s sarcasm) the 240SX did not make the list.

100. Jaguar XJS
99. Chevy Camaro 1st gen.
98. Lotus Esprit
97. TVR Griffith
96. 1959 Cadillac – ‘da big fins
95. Bugatti Type 57
94. Noble M12, M400
93. Dodge Viper
92. Mercedes 540K
91. Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1969-70)
90. Volvo P1800
89. VW Karmann Ghia
88. Ferrari 360 Modena
87. Nissan GT-R
86. Chevy Corvette (1953-1962)
85. Alfa Romeo Spyder (1966-69)
84. Jaguar XK (2006-present)
83. Lamborghini Diablo
82. Hudson Hornet
81. Ford Thunderbird (1955-57)
80. Audi S6 (2012)* really? 1995.5 is a better car
79. Lamborghini Reventon (only 20 made)
78. Austin Healy 3000
77. BMW M1
76. Honda S2000
75. Lotus Elise
74. Ferrari F40
73. Jaguar SS100
72. Triumph Spitfire
71. bmw z8
70. Talbot Logo T150 CSS (1938)
69. bmw 8 series
68. Lincoln Continental (1961-69)
67. TVR Tuscan (1999-2006) not avail in us
66. Datsun 240Z
65. Ferrari Testarossa
64. Triumph TR6
63. Lexus LFA
62. Morgan Plus 4
61. Lamborghini Gallardo
60. Aston Martin DB6
59. Lotus elite 1958-63
58. Lamborghini Aventador
57. bmw 3.0csl
56. Porsche 356
55. Mazda RX-7 FD
54. Ferrari F50
53. TVR Tuscan (1967-71)
52. Koensigsegg Agera
51. Triumph GT6
50. Audi R8
49. MG MGA
48. Acura NSX
47. Bugatti Veyron
46. Porsche 911 RUF”yellow bird” 1987
45. Austin healey 100
44. Ferrari Enzo
43. BMW M6 1987-89
42. Ferrari F430
41. Jaguar Xk120
40. pagani Zonda
39. Ferrari F550 Maranello
38. Aston Martin DB4
37. Auto Union Type C 1936-7
36. Pontiac firebird Trans-am (1970-81)
35. Porsche 959
34. Jaguar XKSS
33. McLaren MP4-12C
32. Toyota 2000GT
31. Ferrari America
30. Mercury Coupe (49-51) as in ‘da lead sled
29. Lotus Evora
28. Ferrari 458 Italia
27. TVR Griffith 200
26. Porsche Carrera 2.7 RS (1973)
25. Aston Martin One-77
24. Ferrari 275
23. Jaguar C-type
22. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
21. Maserati 3500 GT
20. Duesenberg Model J
19. Mercedes Benz SSK
18. McLaren F1
17. Ferrari 288GTO
16. BMW 507
15. Aston Martin DB9
14. AC Cobra (1961-67) Shelby
13. Alfa Romeo 8c competizione
12. Aston Martin DB5 (Bond car)
11. Ford GT 40
10. Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing
9. Ferrari 246 Dino
8. Lamborghini Miura
7. Chevy Corvette C2
6. Porsche 550
5. Jaguar E-type
4. Ferrari 300 P4 – my dream car.
3. Jaguar XJ13
2. alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
1. Ferrari 250 GTO

Looking over the list, looks like I’ve driven 38 of the listed cars.

Thoughts. I disagree with lotta of these cars.

1. The original Maserati Ghibli, which oozed sex appeal, should be on the list
2 De Tomaso Mangusta s/b on there- if not that, then at least the less stylish Pantera
3. The only Aston Martin that should be on that list is the DB5
4. There are a few TVR's on the list. Interesting cars, but not what I'd call hot
5. Surprised the Studebaker Avanti was not on the list
6. The BMW E30 M3 s/b be there before the 8 series.
7. I’m guessing the author owns a 2012 Audi S6. S/B Sport Quattro, or at least an ur-quattro. If I hd to choose an S6, then the 1995 was better than the 2012 in just about every way.
8. Replace the Diablo with Countach. Although not as good a car, the countach was more iconic.
9. Replace the testarossa with Daytona. Much better car. I’d also deep six the 360 Stradale and replace it with the 250GT (coupe or Lusso)
10.Replace the Austn Healy 100 (the better 3000gt is on the list), replace with the Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird.
11. Dump the Ruf yellow bird, a tuner car, and replace it with the Carrera GT.
12. I'm sure there will be Miata owners that feel cheated, though the FD RX7 is on the list
13. The auto union choice was dumb. its a formula one car, not available to the public.

[frapjap]

Man, they didn't even include the Corolla S.

[Bubba1]

Man, they didn't even include the Corolla S.

a crime...

[sx moneypit]

[Desert Rat]

No Hellcat. No modern GT500. Very few vintage US muscle cars (Hemi Cuda / SS454 Chevelle's at a minumum should be on there). WAY too many Ferraris.

And Karman Ghias are sh!tbox bugs with an even worse looking body.

And of course, list fails without an '85 base model 300ZX...lol

[Bubba1]

Ha. I questioned the Karmann Ghia too, as I never considered it "hot" either. It was cheap, not particularly sporty, beetle based, horrifically slow (unless driven off a cliff), and VW sold a zillion of them so it got annoying to see so many of them. But if you stand back and really look at the car, it's actually a nice looking design, and one of the few that look good from most angles. From a visual standpoint and the bigger fact that it was once popular, I can almost understand why the author put it on the list. But after driving them, I gotta agree with you, it should not be on any hot list.

I also agree with you about the Hellcat (an amazing car, that few people realize does a lot more than shred tires).

[BusyBadger]

not particularly sporty, beetle based, horrifically slow (unless driven off a cliff)

I'm disappointed given the pics I've seen of a Young Bubba in the Nader Nemesis. Put a Corvair engine in the Ghia and it'd be screamer. If you want to stay true to The Fatherland you can always use an engine from a 914, VW built them so it's a natural progression.

Full disclosure, my first car was a Ghia, it was long on looks and short on power. I'm a little surprised we haven't seen the boys in Wolfsburg try to bring it back into production, especially given the appeal of the similarly styled Audi TT.

[Bubba1]

I'm disappointed given the pics I've seen of a Young Bubba in the Nader Nemesis. Put a Corvair engine in the Ghia and it'd be screamer. If you want to stay true to The Fatherland you can always use an engine from a 914, VW built them so it's a natural progression.

Full disclosure, my first car was a Ghia, it was long on looks and short on power. I'm a little surprised we haven't seen the boys in Wolfsburg try to bring it back into production, especially given the appeal of the similarly styled Audi TT.

That's so true, many dune buggies in the 60's ran VW chassis with Corvair motors. I freely admit that my old much maligned Monza required a minute hand on the stopwatch to measure 0-60, but the Ghia required the hour hand. But performance was not what the Ghia was about. It was stylish, solid, simple, and economical. A beetle for those that didn't want to be seen in a beetle. It was a nice little car, but I'm not so sure it belongs on a hot list.

I don't see the Wolves of Wolfsburg ever bringing back the K-G. Being light, simple, inexpensive and fixable by anyone is contrary to Veedub's current quest for world domination of building complex, technological terrors designed to keep you a slave to their dealers.

[OriginalWheelman]

54. Ferrari F50



42. Ferrari F430



22. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano



4. Ferrari 300 P4



Hottest cars indeed.

[Bubba1]

LOL.

[Jesda]

[MinisterofDOOM]

How the Hell are the Ferrari 250 GT/E (the prettiest of the 250s and thus all Ferraris and by extension all cars of all types, brands, and varieties) and the Lamborghini Espada not on that list? I demand restitution!

Espada > basically whatever you're thinking of right now that's not a 250 GT/E or an E-Type.

I do support the choice of the MP-4/12C over the 650S, since despite being a lesser variant it is much nicer looking.

[Bubba1]

The 250GTE is kinda represented on the list with the Ferrari America. The '64 330 America had the 250GTE body with the Superamerica's 4 liter V12 instead of the 250's 3 liter. The problem with the 250GTE wasn't so much its looks, (it was gorgeous, though the 250 GT Lusso was generally regarded as sexier. it's more that back when the GTEs were newer, they were considered Ferrari's "family" car, because it was a 2+2 with a real trunk plus they sold a lot of them. Hardcore Ferrari purists felt a real Ferrari can only have 2 seats, which hurt the GTE's value. It was not until R&T did an article in the 80's naming the 250GTE (and especially the 330 America) the "best value V12 Ferrari's for the money" did they finally get noticed by the American public and more respected. In fact, another reason you don't see so many 250GTE's around despite Ferrari building a lot of them is because before that article got published a lot of folks bought them cheaply , replaced the GTE bodies with red fiberglass 250GTO bodies and voila, instant GTO clone with a real Ferrari 3 liter V12 and sold them for significantly more money than if they left it original.

I liked the Espada too, but I don't think it was ever "hot" like the Miura or Countach. It was a sexier looking car than the 250GTE, and it had useable rear seats. I actually test drove an Espada many many years ago, and liked it enough to ask my father to check it out. He poo-poo'ed the idea of trading his car for one. The Ferrari was a reliable, well made, fast, luxurious car that did everything extremely well. Take it on a long trip, carve a canyon, take it to the grocery store, or flog it at a track, there was never any drama. The Espada on the other hand, like most other Lambo's of that era, was beautiful looking, but fragile and finicky. More of a car to seen in rather than to take on a long trip or carve canyons. Gotta have AAA to own one and you best live near a dealer/trusted mechanic as they will definitely break down and need to be towed. If you'll notice, you can still buy an Espada cheaply, and the Ferrari's of the same era are expensive. There's a reason for that.

[Jesda]

This is the pinnacle of the Ian Callum look.

[Bubba1]

I agree. Stunning. I see it's on the list.

[mcheddadi]

talk about quality ! lol