The 20th century was a time of enormous industrial progress. Perhaps no other invention symbolizes this era of progress better than the automobile. The invention of relatively affordable, widely available automobiles transformed the United States and later the world. At the end of the 20th century, an international award called the Car of the Century (COTC) was given, in which a list of 700 automobiles was narrowed down to the five most influential cars of the century.
Here is a look at the top five finishers in the Car of the Century contest.
1. Ford Model T
The Ford Model T finished in first place as the most influential car of the 20th century. The iconic vehicle was mainly designed by American Childe Harold Willis, with input from Hungarians Joseph A. Galamb and Eugene Farkas. Ford was able to produce and sell the Model T at an affordable price due to the company’s efficient production process, which used assembly lines rather than individual assembly. The highest-selling car in history for decades after its inception, 15 million Model T’s were sold. It wasn’t until 1972 that the Volkswagen Beetle surpassed it in sales.
Manufactured between 1908 and 1927, the Ford Model T is regarded as the first affordable automobile by historians. The Model T changed transportation in the United States forever, as it was the first car that was accessible to the American middle class. The Model T’s influence extended beyond the auto industry. While it was a transformative moment for making affordable individual transportation a reality for millions of Americans, it was also a symbol of the rise of the middle class and the United States’ transition into a modern superpower.
2. Mini
The original Mini (not to be confused with the Mini Cooper of the early 2000s) was voted the 2nd most influential car of the 20th century. Originally manufactured by the British Motor Corporation, production later transitioned to successors British Leyland and the Rover Group. The original Mini’s run was from 1959 through 2000. There were several different variations on the market, including the performance versions of Mini Cooper “S” and Mini Cooper. The two models were successful race and rally cars, earning four straight victories in the Monte Carlo Rally between 1954 and 1967. Italy also had its own Mini, which was sold under the name Innocenti.
The Mini was a pop culture icon in the 1960s United Kingdom. The traverse-engine and front-wheel drive layout saved considerable space, which freed up about 80 percent of the vehicle’s floorplan for passengers and luggage. This layout was extremely influential for the next generation of automakers. Countless other manufacturers essentially copied this design, such as Honda with its 1967 N360, Nissan with its 1970 Cherry, and Fiat’s 1971 127. This layout was also eventually adapted for use in larger subcompact auto designs.
3. Citroën DS
In production between 1955 and 1975, the Citroën DS was a French auto that was available in three options: fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations. All versions were front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive cars. While the DS was on the expensive side, Citroën also produced a more affordable model called the Citroën ID.
The DS was famous for its aerodynamic and futuristic body design, as well as its innovative technology and high marks in handling, braking, and ride quality. It was the first mass-production vehicle outfitted with hydropneumatic suspension and disc brakes, which would both become popular in the decades following its introduction. The car was styled and engineered by Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni and French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre. Along with its popularity in the consumer market, the DS was a competitive rally racing car for almost its entire 20-year production period. It took down several major victories on the racing circuit between 1959 and 1974.
4. Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle’s origin story isn’t pretty, as it was originally produced in Nazi Germany. However, the Beetle was transformed into an international civilian vehicle shortly after World War II ended, in the late 1940s. The Beetle was extremely influential for its rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. While this layout only accounted for 2.6 percent of continental Western Europe’s auto production in 1946, that figure skyrocketed to 26.6 percent by 1956, due to the Beetle’s influence.
Beetles were built mostly for the British military in 1947, when Volkswagen transitioned completely to civilian Beetles. Chromed bumpers, hubcaps, body, and running board trim were introduced this year as well. The Beetle surpassed the Ford Model T as the most widely produced car of all time in 1972 when Volkswagen produced number 15,007,034. Car number 16 million was produced the following year, and total production eclipsed 21 million by 1993.
5. Porsche 911
Rounding out the top five is the Porsche 911, which has been in continuous production since 1964. While the car has obviously gone through several evolutions through the decades, the core concept remains the same. Porsche developed the original 911 as a more powerful, larger, and more comfortable replacement for the Porsche 356, which was the company’s first model.