1. Nissan GT-R

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Nissan introduced a high performance car in 1969 popularly known as Skyline GTR. It was created to maintain Nissan position in the competitive races in Japan. Later on, the model became a legend because of its power and looks. The current Nissan GT-R was introduced in 2007, believed to be the carry forwader of the aura of very famous model Skyline GTR. This powerful machine races to more than 60 mph in less than 3 seconds with Horsepower of 530 PS.This model also showcased many new technologies from Nissan company. The model has large fan following and various clubs spread across the world.

2. Nissan Murano

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The crossover from Nissan, Murano struck the market by storm with its new look, very different from traditional SUVs. Murano is a sharp looking, sporty and impressive car with daring design.

Murano was introduced in 2002 as a first cross over by Nissan. Sales of Murano started in the United States in 2003 and 2004 in Europe. The Murano launched in 2011 facelift surrounded around grille, LED tailligths, wheels, interior upgrades etc. There are four version of this model: S AWD, SV AWD, SL AWD,  LE AWD. Nissan has a convertible version of Murano too.

3. Nissan Sunny

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SUNNY is one of the best selling cars from Nissan till date. Known as Pulsar in Europe, it is a small car launched in 1966. The car has many names, differing based on region of sales and the version. Total combined sales of different verions of Sunny (Pulsar & Sentra) was nearly 16 million.

Nissan SUNNY is still produced mainly for Indian sub continent targetting mid size segment.

4. Nissan Z-Car

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Z-car is a series of cars from Nissan, which started from 1969. It is positioned as the car with high performance and design at lower price. In fact, it is one of the best selling, and long lived sports car model across the manufacturers. In this series, Nissan currently has 370Z, the sixth generation Z-car. The model comes with 332 horspower and powered with DOHC V6. Available as coupe or a roadster, its one of the stylish, two seater sports car model available in the market.

5. Nissan S15

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Based on Nissan S platform, S15 is one of the best drifting cars from Nissan. The car is powered by SR 20DET, 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. Because of its rear wheel drive, it provides amazing drifting experience.  It is one of the most common drift vehicles in the US that not only delivers best performance but also has good looking features.The new S15 is expected to hit the market in some months.

6. Nissan Xterra

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Based on the truck platform, Xterra is a complete off road package. The SUV’s rugged off road capability, coupled with high power and torque delivers best driving experience for off-raod as well as on-road adventures.

It is powered by 4.0 liter 265 horsepower  V6 engine boosting high performance.  Further, the vehicle also offers plenty of utility and space, which is required by off roaders. Xterra is very popular among younger population who are interested in sports utility vehicles with four wheel drive option.

Nissan Xterra comes in three variants: X, S, and off-road-focused PRO-4X models.

7. Nissan Leaf electric vehicle

Launched in December 2010, ‘Leaf’ is a 100 percent electric car by Nissan. It is one of the very few mass produced electrical vehicles in the world. Recently, Kelly Blue Book, one of the largest automotive vehicle valuation companies in the US, has named Leaf as ‘the top green vehicle of 2011.

The amount of publicity ‘Leaf’ has got is majorly due its superior electric specification and the ‘Nissan’ brand name. There are currently around 500 of these cars on road, but the number is expected to grow exponentially in the coming days with the huge build up of booking list of more than 20,000 resversation for the vehicle.

Nissn Leaf is one of the most fuel effecient electrical vehicle available today in the market. It provides approximately 100 miles per gallon equivalent mileage. Only Chevy Volt comes near  with  93 miles per gallon equivalent, while others are way below with less than 50.

8. Nissan Micra

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A supermini from Nissan, Micra’s was launched in 1982. In many countries it is known as Nissan March. Affordability, quality and drivability are the unique selling propositions for this model. Small wheels, short wheelbase, compactness helps to achieve this.  Because of easy city movability, the model is popular among students, old people, etc. Global sales of Micra have crossed more than 6 million.

The current fourth generation Micra is built in India, Mexico, China and Thailand and exported to more than 160 countries. The new Micra DIG-S is equiped with 80 horsepower.

This iconic city car was recently launched in india in both diesel and petrol versions.

9. Nissan Altima

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Altima is one of the affordable sedans from Nissan. This flagship sedan is one of the top selling models for Nissan across the globe. The value offered by this model to its customers in terms of desing, features and performance made it one of the top selling models.Recently, it is crowned as best selling sedan in the United States. The car was first introduced in 1992 and totally redisgned model was launched in 1998. It is considered to be the continuation of Nissan’s Bluebird model that was started in 1960s.

Currently, Altima is available in coupe and sedan body styles and three verions, 2.5, 2.5 S, 3.5 SR.It comes with two engine types, one with 175 horsepower and other with 270 horsepower.  This fourth generation model also comes as a hybird version.

10. Nissan Qashqai

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Launched in 2007, Qashqai is emering as one of the top selling cars for Nissan. The compact crossover SUV, is known as Dualis in some countries. The car was named after an Iranien desert dwelling normadic tribes. The car offers ruggedness, space, and comes with an advanced electronic four wheel drive system.

The 2011 model of Qashqai comes with new exterior and interior designs and new front shape, among other facelifts.

1. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

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If you are hunting for some classic Chevrolet cars then 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible fits among the top Chevrolet cars. This car did take some of the features from the 1953 Bel Air model which got good response, but this convertible soon received the reputation of being the Hot One. The outer styling was crisp and clean and soon 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible became popular compare to Ford and Plymouth cars. The V8 engine used in this car with long stroke design produce 162 horsepower. On the front it had full length grille and had a nice tailfin at the back. This classic car also had chrome headliners, spears on front fenders, window moldings, and full wheel covers from chrome.

2. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop Sport Coupe

The performance of 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air soon became popular all over the United States and therefore Chevrolet decided to roll out hardtop sport coupe two years later which also made history. This car has Super Turbo Fire V8 engine that can produce 283 horsepower due to mechanical fuel injection. It still remains one of the most popular cars in the sport category. No doubt, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop Sport coupe is among the top Chevrolet cars.

3. 1959 Chevrolet El Camino

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When Ford decided to capture the market with Ford Ranchero, Chevrolet decided to offer something better to the consumers and therefore they launched Chevrolet El Camino in 1959 which is a coupe utility. Although, it was released two years after Ford Ranchero it soon became popular because of the style factor and interesting features like Safety Girder X frame design and fuel coil suspension which made the drive easier for the drivers compare to that of Ford. It was also popular with people who wanted hybrid pickup trucks for their work.

4. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

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The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro still remains one of the top Chevrolet cars and there are many consumers that still drive this car with all their love.  This car was launched to compete Ford Mustang and it did well. Chevrolet decided to roll out Chevrolet Camaro because it was the era of muscle cars. It was available in coupe and convertible. It still remains inspiration for some of the latest Chevrolet models.

5. 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle

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Chevrolet Chevelle is considered among the best classic Chevrolet cars that are designed for those who are looking for mid-size automobile. Chevrolet decided to provide more options to the consumers in terms of body style and therefore 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle was available in coupe, convertibles, sedans and even station wagons. It was very much on the same lines as Chevrolet El Camino the extra options available for the people made it among the popular and top Chevrolet cars.

6. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray

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There have always been people who love the design and performance of the car and for those Chevrolet decided to come up with 1953 Chevrolet Corvette better known as Sting Ray. This car had independent rear suspension which was introduced for the first time and V8 engine which was optional. The popularity of 1953 Chevrolet Corvette grew like wildfire and it made its place in the top Chevrolet cars of all time.

7. 1978 Chevrolet Bruin

It is always considered that pickup trucks do not have much style factor but Chevrolet decided to prove that wrong and launched Chevrolet Bruin in 1978 which is still considered as heavy duty truck. The Bruin was followed by Brigadier and they both had 9500 series cab which was much more stylish then the other trucks in the same range. This car was also known as frontier beast and the series was given military rank names because they were heavy duty designs made for superior performance at all times in all weather conditions.

8. 1975 Chevrolet Chevette

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Small cars began to do well when people realized that they have spend too much on maintenance of bigger cars. Hence, Chevrolet decided to launch Chevette in 1975 and it soon became the bestselling car in the United States for two years. This car created a lot of buzz in the automobile market and it was popular in South America too. The car had small OHC gasoline inline four engines which could produce 53 to 70 horsepower and it was good for family car.

9. 1958 Chevrolet Delray

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There are some Chevrolet cars that have their own history and Chevrolet Delray is one such car. The 1958 Chevrolet Delray is also among the top Chevrolet cars because it has a unique waffle-like styling to it. The price factor also played an important role here because it was cheaper compare to Bel Air and Impala. The interior of the car was not much but on the outside Chevrolet Delray could look really exclusive which is why people began to buy it. Chevrolet also provided options to buyers that they could order any engine and transmission to fit into their Chevrolet Delray.

10. 1959 Chevrolet Impala

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Nothing can beat the style factor of 1959 Chevrolet Impala. It soon became the ultimate choice of the rich and famous. This car has unique outward tailfins which were very much in fashion at that time and Chevrolet decided to come up with the sport version of the same model. The car was very spacious and that won the heart of many people who wanted bigger that was spacious and extremely stylish.

1. 1937 Mercedes Benz W125

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There are many cars that might have style factor, but W125 was one of the earliest Grand Prix cars which Mercedes decided to launch in 1937. This car was definitely for those who enjoyed speed and performance and the car remained as the most powerful race car for more than 30 years. The car had supercharged 8 cylinders engine which could produce 595 horsepower with top speed of 268 mph which was definitely way ahead of the rest at that time. It still remains one of the most sought after cars in the Mercedes Benz range.

2. 1953 Mercedes Benz W120

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This Mercedes car might not be among the best looking cars under the Mercedes umbrella but it is definitely worth buying because it was one of the first cars that had small design made for consumers who wanted smaller cars with superior performance. The cars were sold under 180 model name and was under C Class era but eventually Mercedes decided to build an E class version of W120 which also became popular in the European market.

3. 1954 Mercedes W196

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Mercedes has been in to making of some of the top sports cars and they have been making many for Formula One. In 1954 they came up with W196 which won 9 out of 12 races and till date that car has been among the best classic Mercedes cars. The W196 has the first desmodromic valves and fuel injection engine that was created by Mercedes engineers. This car gained popularity during the World War 2 era and known for its aerodynamic aluminum body.

4. 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL

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In 1954, Mercedes came up with their two door sports car known as 300SL and it soon became the most talked about car. It has distinctive gull-wing doors which were very impressive. It soon became the most popular car in production and heavy demand for this car made it into the top classic Mercedes cars.  Many car critics called it as the sports car for the road.

5. 1955 Mercedes Benz 190SL

After the success of 300SL, Mercedes decided to have something similar on the same lines but for those who cannot afford the expensive 300SL. This is why 1955 Mercedes Benz 190SL was made and it was a two door grand touring convertible for the people who wanted to drive more rather than race their cars. The speed was cut down and more emphasis was given on safety and comfort. It did resemble with 300SL in styling, engineering, and detailing but it had a different frame which was smaller and hard than 300SL.

6. 1966 Mercedes Benz W110

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With the change of time, Mercedes decided to focus on what the consumers really wanted and therefore they launched W110 which is an estate car and it soon became the most popular of that time. This was one of the first cars under the Mercedes brand which went through number of crash tests to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. The safety features of the car made it popular in UK, Belgium and Germany.

7. 1968 Mercedes Benz W114

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This was the time when sedans were becoming popular and Mercedes decide to roll out their new sedans during this period. The W114 was among the first for Mercedes Benz S Class and it created a lot of wave in the market when these cars were launched. There were three different models available for W114 but all had similar four cylinder engines. These cars were also known as New Generation Mercedes cars and therefore it still remains among the top classic Mercedes cars.

8. 1979 460 G-Wagen

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While other car manufacturers were busy making regular cars, Mercedes decided to twist the competition with 1979 460 G-Wagen which gave birth to G-Class cars. This car was originally meant for military use, but then Mercedes decided to roll out the civilian model in 1979. It became popular with those people who love to drive off road and prefer military style cars. Although, none of the G Class models were sold in the US, buyers bought it through grey market. It is still considered to be a tough civilian car that can give out solid performance on and off road.

9. 1979 Mercedes W123

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This was the first Mercedes with turbo diesel production and it soon became popular because consumers were looking for something that can help them buy better cars at low price. This car had a good performance record and to top it all it had automatic transmission. The car was also available in saloon and coupe body styles and therefore consumers had a good option on their hand and they decided to buy this car which had a perfect combination of style and performance.

10. 1979 Mercedes W126

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Mercedes was always making what the consumers were looking for and therefore they kept making better sedans that were economical and fuel efficient. The W126 is just an example of what Mercedes were trying to achieve at that time. It is officially the best S Class car that has aerodynamic body and fuel efficient engine. It is spacious from inside and it is the first car that had airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and traction control. It is also the longest running S Class car and therefore it is rated among the top classic Mercedes cars that you should buy if you love collecting classic cars.

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Bugatti: The 8 Cylinder Touring Cars, 1920-34 has been penned by Barrie Price & Jean-Louis Arbey, and comes Veloce, the publisher of automotive books. This book is a part of a series of publications from Veloce on various Bugatti models, each being a collector’s item for car enthusiasts with invaluable and detailed information. The other models covered in this series include the more familiar competition versions, as well as the lesser known models like Types 28, 30, 38 and 38A, 44 and 49. Though these models were perhaps not as famous as their more lithe counterparts, they were labeled just as commercially successful by the manufacturer, had appeared in competitive events, and possessed an extensive range of coachwork. The royalties from the sales of the series are passed on to the Bugatti Trust. This foundation is dedicated to studying the life and works of Ettore Bugatti, and keeps alive his efforts to achieve excellence in the aesthetics of automotive engineering design.

Bugatti: The 8 Cylinder Touring Cars, 1920-34- Best One In The Series

The text of this book is in English and easy to follow, while the innumerable black and white photographs help the reader fully comprehend the intricacies of the manufacturing process, as well as the history of these vehicles. The primary focus of these photographs is the bodywork of different kinds that are fitted in these Bugatti models, ranging from the elegant horse-drawn carriage like fiacre, to the tourer and saloon. Given the age of some of these photographs the quality may be mixed, but they do an excellent job of providing wholesome support to the text on topics such as technical appraisal and development. The photographs come with captions in English and French, and a word of caution here – the translation is not of the best quality.

Coming to the subject matter of the book, it offers a comprehensive study of the medium sized touring cars manufactured by Bugatti. This extensive range was built during the fifteen year period that followed the World War 1 (1914 – 1918). In-depth information along with illustrations is provided on aspects of development and design, ably supported by photographs of chassis and components, starting from the Type 28, and ending with the Type 49. Understanding these contents of the book is crucial for anyone who wants to gain insight into the manufacturer’s long and unique presence in the automobile engineering field, since the cars shown in this book represent the typical Bugatti design and style, as well as the bulk of production.

The reader will discover detailed and intriguing information on more than one hundred and fifty car designs from Bugatti, explained through text as well as with the help of more than two hundred mainly contemporary photographs. There are many photographs in this book that have never been published before, which gives the book an added edge. In-depth information is provided on the works of a number of coachbuilders spread across the length and breadth of Europe. These works were built upon these chassis, and are explained with the help of illustrations. Also, there are tables that depict their market position vis-à-vis other makes and models in the market, which were in competition with the ones from Bugatti. What makes the book an interesting read is that it also includes a study of the performance of cars manufactured by competitors, as well as a vital survey spread over eight decades, which outlines the fall and rise in values.

Here is a list of top ten classic cars to widen your knowledge and assist you in choosing the right one –

Ford Model T 1927

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The original model of Ford was primarily produced in the year 1907, but it literally struggled with various up-gradations until 1927, when it was launched as Model T. This was the first ever luxury car and amazingly met the standards of classic vintage cars. It must be mentioned that the car was awarded with the title “Car of the year” in 1999, and till date, it is one of the most sought cars.

Chevrolet Corvette 1953

Chevrolet Corvette was the first ever two seater convertible sports car unveiled in the year 1953 by General Motors. With the perfect combination of affordability and raw power, the company had rolled out 300 cars featuring white exteriors, red interiors and black canvas roof top, out of which 200 models are still known to exist. You will be pleased to know that each model was hand built and came with 6 cylinder engine and automatic two speed gearbox.

Bentley Continental R 1952

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Launched in the year 1952, Bentley Continental R debuted in the Motor Show at London as a luxury car. For those individuals who could afford the vehicle with its expensive price tag, Bentley Continental R was a must possession. Features such as 4.5 liter engine, leaf spring and independent suspension made the drive smooth and luxurious.

Jaguar E type

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Jaguar E type literally made everyone go heads over heels when it was launched in the year 1961. Though it has been several decades since the launch, the vehicle is still regarded as an icon. The long flowing body, smooth upper curves, and sophisticated headlamps, are few features of E type, which are till date hard to beat.

1952 Chrysler D Elegance

Featuring exotic looks and amazing performance, this car is simply beyond the term “excellent”. Engineering division of the company was behind the exotic styling of the vehicle; whereas a custom builder from Turin had hand crafted the metal body with the help of plastic models and drawings.

Chrysler ThunderBolt 1941

Chrysler Thunder Bolt is unquestionably one of the most unique cars, as only 6 models of the car were manufactured in the year 1941. All the models featured distinct color schemes and trims. The most exclusive feature of the car which separates it from the crowd is its push button feature. Simply pressing a button opened up the windows, doors and the deck lid without any deliberate effort. You will be pleased that 4 models out of the 6 are still known to exist.

Corvette Sting Ray 1969

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This car is actually the true definition of a classic stylish car. Though we are several decades ahead of time, the vehicle still rules over hearts of many. Various features such as big block engine, disc brakes, split suspension, innovative style split rear window and exhaust pipe at the side contribute massively in making the car as one of the best classic cars of the era.

1954 Pontiac Bonnevilla special

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Unveiled at the General Motors Monorama in the year 1954, the two seater sports car simply gathered a lot of votes at its launching. The famous designer – Harley J Earl had designed the car, whereas Paul Gilland and Hommer LaGassey had hand built the vehicle. Sunken headlights covered with glass, twin louver rows on the fenders, and two dashing silver streaks on the hood, were the most significant features of the vehicle.

Porsche 911 1964

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Needless to be mentioned but Porsche was and is considered to be one of the best auto brands. This model is a bigger and better form of Porsche 365. The company claimed this model as a 4 seater car, but it could comfortably accommodate only two adults, and was used in this manner only. It must be mentioned that till date, this car is one of the most sought cars among the classic car lovers.

Camaro SS 1969

Camaro SS was launched by the Chevrolet Company in the year 1969. The vehicle was given a sporty appearance along with aggressive looks. A new metal sheet body, completely redesigned grill, deep set headlights and various significant design changes made the car quite popular and flooded the company with orders.

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Ferrari cars have always been popular since the advent of the company. However, no Ferrari car has captured such attention and fantasy of car owners as Ferrari 246 Dino. Launched in the year 1969, Ferrari 246 was a complete ecstasy from all aspects.  The layout of the engine, appearance, performance, sound, handling, and of course, the overall visibility made the vehicle as one of the cars which could be easily kept as a household’s only car.

Ferrari 246 Dino had evolved out of the primary Ferrari 206GT, which was launched in the Turin Show in the year 1967. 206GT was quite impressive as it was made to ride on the traditional chassis along with independent all round suspension and concentric dampers and springs. However, the feature of full leather seats, alloy body and alloy engine made the car wear an expensive price tag and only 152 car samples were sold. As a result, the company introduced a better version of the car – 246 Dino in the year 1967 following the theme of 206GT.

Ferrari 246 Dino

Here are the detailed specifications of Ferrari 246 Dino.

Ferrari 246 Dino Bodywork

Ferrari 246 Dino was unquestionably a much prettier car than the previously launched models and for this, all thanks goes to the aerodynamic bodywork made out of steel, which was adopted to make savings.  However, the overall styling of both the models was quite similar with the only difference being that 246 Dino featured pressed panels of steel in place of the alloy body featured by 206GT. Another difference which could be seen was in the inches of the wheelbase. 246 Dino featured a longer wheelbase of 2.1 inches or 53mm than the 92.1 wheelbase found in 206. The weight of the vehicle was 1080 kgs or 2380 pounds.

Ferrari 246 Dino Engine and Performance

The call for more power was replied by the introduction of standard 2.4 liter – 2418 cc, V6 powerful engine. In addition, the motor installed in 246 Dino was sixty five degree, four overhead campshaft, iron engine block along with alloy heads, and a compensation ratio of 9.0:1. The European motor embedded in the vehicle enabled it to achieve a maximum force of 195 bhp @7600 rpm and an amazing torque of 166 feet – pound @ 5500 rpm. The company claimed that the vehicle could blast from 0mph to 60mph in just about 6.8 seconds with the top speed being 146 miles per hour. However, in a test conducted after few years, it was revealed that the vehicle achieved the top of speed of 151 miles per hour and this report worked very much in favor of the vehicle. It must be mentioned that mileage of the vehicle was also efficient as it stood at 17 mpg.  Needless to be mentioned, but the excellent engine and amazing performance made the car a huge success and the company created a new sales record.

Ferrari 246 Dino Price

The price of Ferrari 246 Dino at the time of launching was kept as 5486 pounds. However, with the launch of newer models, the price tag also underwent a change.

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As there is a wide range of classic cars in the market, the fact cannot be denied that choosing to buy a classic car is not an easy task. One must gather complete knowledge about the history of these cars, as well as few useful tips on purchasing and maintaining them.

Today, we are going to review one of the best classic cars, which stand completely out from the crowd in all aspects – Jaguar E type 1965. You will be delighted to know that car has been addressed as one of the beautiful cars manufactured ever by “Enzo Ferrari”.

Jaguar E type

The very first sports car – Jaguar E type, when was driven to Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show in the year 1961, the response it received was simply out of imagination.  The company was instantly flooded with orders as nothing else was available that could match the looks, styling, performance and pace at the price of a price tag of $3400 only. As expected, few upgrades followed and Jaguar E type was revealed in the year 1965. Let us now look at the detailed specifications of the vehicle –

Jaguar E type Body Work

Jaguar E type 1965 followed almost identical styling and body work of that of the original E type Jaguar which was launched in the year 1961. Its flowing long voluptuous envelope body was accentuated with upper flowy upper edges, and graceful swelled head lamps. Unlike the first 300 cars produced in the year 1961 which featured flat floors, and external latches on the bonnet, E type 1965 featured the twin latches provisioned inside the car cabin, improved seats, taller roof line, and dished out floors providing more leg space.

Jaguar E type Engine and Performance

Jaguar E type 1965 was given a 4.2 liter engine in place of 3.8 liter found in E type 1961 to achieve better torque and performance. However, the horsepower remained the same. The horsepower which the vehicle could achieve was a force of 256bhp at the rate of 5500 rpm. And as mentioned earlier, the torque of the vehicle was enhanced and it increased from 230 feet – pounds to 283 feet- pounds.

The vehicle was imparted 2+2 coupe, upgraded wheel base which were nine inches longer than the ones used previously, and optional automatic transmission. You will be pleased to know that the performance of the vehicle was simply amazing though quick acceleration and high top speed were not among the list of top priorities.

The company claimed that the vehicle could easily blast out from 0 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour within as little as 7.3 seconds. The fuel economy of the car was also quite efficient as it stood at 14.5 mpg. Other significant features of the vehicle which must be mentioned are completely synchronized four speed manual gear box and four wheel disc brakes.

Jaguar E type Price

Though the upgraded version of the two door medium sedan featured quite innovated features including enhance engine and performance, not a much of difference was reflected  in the price of the car. Jaguar E type 1965 was priced only $66 more than the 3.8 version which was priced at $3400.

Chevrolet Corvette

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It was Harley Earl, who unveiled the idea of building a class apart sports car which would change the world of sports car forever. After several months of frenzied work, the sports car was ready by January 1953 which nobody had ever seen before. Close to the ground, lean, curvy, rocket ship tail lights, sexy, and just enough space in the cock pit for two adults. The sports car was named as “Chevrolet Corvette”. Let us now take a look at the detailed specifications of the car.

Chevrolet Corvette Body

During the first production year, a volume of 300 cars were produced. All the cars were essentially built from hand and as technologies evolved during the production cycle, each of this lot was slightly different from each other. The original and attractive body of the Chevrolet corvette was built out of innovative fiberglass, as the material can be easily made into complex shapes than the traditional tough steel material. However, all the 1953 models featured Polo white color exteriors, stunning red color interiors and soft tops made out of black canvas. The other significant features of the car was rocket rear fenders featuring tiny fins, sunken type of headlights covered by guards made of mesh stone, and the dazzling grille teeth running vertically. In addition, a shadow box housing was provisioned for holding the license plate. No exterior door handles were provisioned on the exterior body for a smooth finish, anybody could easily reach inside the car to release the door.

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible roof top

The most significant feature of the vehicle was its convertible top, which was not power operated, but it would fold neatly and cleanly beneath the flush fitting cover and enabled one person to manage the task efficiently.

Chevrolet Corvette Wheels

Besides the exceptional looks and excellent handling, Chevrolet corvette was given 102 inches wheel base with the overall length being 167 inches, width being 70.5 inches. The dimensions of the tires assembled were 6.70 X 15.  On the other hand, the total curb weight of the vehicle was 2,850 pounds.

Chevrolet Corvette Engine and Performance

In terms of performance, Chevrolet corvette was quite efficient. The vehicle was installed with a six cylinder 3.80 liter engine which achieved 150 horsepower @ 4200 rpm and a torque of pound-feet @ 2400 rpm along with powerglide – six speed manual transmission. You will be pleased to know that well tuned vehicle could easily accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour within 11 seconds and reached 105 miles per hour or 170 kms per hou in roughly 41 seconds.

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Chevrolet Corvette Price

The base price of Chevrolet corvette when the car was put on sale in the month of September 1953 was kept at $3498 though it was primarily decided by Harley J earl to market the sports car around $2000.

It must be mentioned that as only 300 cars were manufactured, not a single piece could reach the dealer and consumer directly. The cars went to various engineers for testing process. However, you will be pleased to know that around 200 Chevrolet corvette are still known to exist.

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Due to the overwhelming response received, the company was induced to introduce a new body in the year 1967. The new variant featured improved power train and flexibility in equipment, which enabled the company to counter the competition posed by Firebird by Pontiac and Dodge Charger.

Mustang GT 390

Featuring a great length, sense of richness and impressive looks, Ford Mustang 1967 still remains as one of the most popular and best vintage cars. Let us now take a look at the specifications of the vehicle which assisted it in achieving the fame.

Mustang GT 390 Body

Ford Mustang 1967 was quite similar to the originally introduced vehicle but the styling was refreshed, and it just got a little bigger enabling the vehicle to boast a massive overall look. The rear and the front end styling was made more pronounced while the core instrument panel offered large size gauges and thicker crash pad. Convertible, fastback, and hardtop body styles continued in the same fashion as the original vehicle. However, the front grille featured a large opening whereas the feature lines found on the side were led to much larger air scoops.

The taillight of the vehicle consisted of three vertical bulbs installed on each side of the concave panel whereas the gas cap was provisioned in the absolute center of the concave panel. A list of various standard safety features was also introduced in the vehicle. These included softer interior knobs, four way emergency flash lights, energy absorbing wheel and steering column. Side marker lights were also added to the vehicle.

Mustang GT 390 Interiors

Ford Mustang 1967 featured redesigned interiors. A new dashboard was installed, which had an integral air conditioning system and Rally pac. Two new options were also introduced in the vehicle – tilt away steering wheel and rear seats, which would fold down.

A list of optional features was made available. These included   glass rear windows which would fold down, cruise control, signal indicators for turning, pop open gas caps, wheel well moldings.

Mustang GT 390 Engine and Specifications

Though the first generation of Ford Mustang was based on the concept of Ford Falcon, but it was intelligently limited to the layout only. Ford Mustang 1967 unquestionably delivered top class performance as the car was fitted with special thunder bird engines, which were known for its amazing low – end achievement of torque.

The vehicle came with a great combination of big block 390ci engine and four speed transmission. The 390ci engine created a force of 320 horse power and employed a single 600 cfm four barrel Holley carburetor including manifolds and cast iron intake. You will be pleased to know that the car could blast from 0 mph to 60 mph in just about 11 seconds.

Mustang GT 390 Price

The original list price of the vehicle was kept at $4,281 with the optional features being available at extra cost.

The Myth of The Classics

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Coming over to the account of classic cars from 80’s, it will be pertinent to refresh our memory that everything about 80’s was hip-hop, funky and unorthodox. For instance, jazz and pops transformed into Disco, hotdogs into Big Mac, soda into cola and stripes into polka dots. The cars were no exception. When Toyota Corolla’s domestic models hit Asian markets; keeping a private car was no more a statesmen’s privilege. These were reliable, practical in dense traffic environments, yet economical to buy, keep and maintain. However, the best classic cars of this era were still a distant dream. By becoming a fictional character of “Knight Rider”, Trans American (aka Trans Am) and its driver David Hasselhoff emerged to be the most desired idols by early 80’s,

Then came the Lamborghini syndrome, which mesmerized the car lovers to new levels. This space-ship looking luxurious machine may have only been in the reach of Saudi Princes, but their replicas and stickers were popularly displayed on the school notebooks of teenagers. Toyota and Mazda once again set the tradition and introduced station wagons which brought a new dimension of practicality to comfort. Honda bounced back with hutch back / lift back models of ‘Integra’ and ‘prelude’ to miniaturize the sizes to fit-in the compressed road space requirements of Europe.

Photo by wikipedia

On the other hand, US market continued to be dominated by biggies like Caprice classics and Chevrolets, though Corvette, Mustang and Trans Am successfully created a class of their own. The Brit-hits Land Rovers and Renaults also customized their models as per the emerging trends.

German market also hailed to emerge as the STATUS automobiles throughout the world. The Mercedes Benz C-180, BMW 5 series and ‘less ancient looking’ Rolls Royce Classics provided a much needed respite to German automobile industry amid growing competition between Japan and USA. Towards the turn of the calendars, Mazda RX-7, Porsche 929, Nissan Bluebird, GMC Safaris and Crown state cars joined the race of being qualified as the Classic cars from the 80s.

Photo by wikipedia

Though some might not agree with the status ‘Best Classic Cars’ with otherwise ordinary-sounding cars mentioned above; nonetheless it was their direct or indirect contribution in the evolution of the 21st century cars that they stand qualified to join the prestigious club.

Not concerned about making it to the Classics cars from 80s or otherwise, Suzuki with its 800 and 600 cc models grabbed the major Asian markets also known as the emerging economies by not only exporting its cars all around the Pacific Ocean region but had also set the trend of outsourcing its automobile plants by installing the industry in the targeted countries of the South-Asian Subcontinent region. Thus broke the myth established by US biggies who primarily gauged the class of a vehicle by the number of its cylinders and the power it could generate; notwithstanding the environmental hazards and cost effectiveness factors.

Some of The Best Classic Cars

To revive the memory of some of the Classic cars from 80s, below is a list that mentions few of them:

• Rolls Royce Silver Spirit
• Audi Quattro
• Buick Grand National
• Cadillac Fleetwood
• Chevy Chevette
• Chevy Monte Carlo
• Dodge Aspen
• Chrysler New Yorker
• Ferrari Mondial
• Fiat Spider
• Trans Am
• Ford Mustang
• GMC Astro Van
• Honda CRX
• VW Golf
• Jeep Wagoneer
• Lamborghini Countach
• Lotus
• Mercury Topaz
• Nissan Datsun
• Plymouth Colt Vista
• Pontiac Fiero
• Porsche 944
• Renault Espace
• Suzuki Samurai

The 1980s had seen the birth of these best classic cars; out of these many had descended into the next century however there were a few which had been lost along the way.

The Forgotten Classic Cars

As is visible, the 1980s was indeed a momentous decade with regards to putting forward some of the best classic cars. But there were few machines which could not keep up with the race and hence our collective consciousness fails to recall them as one of the Classic cars from 80s. However since this article is paying tribute to the beautiful cars from that era, it is only befitting to at least mention the names of a few forgotten classic cars:

• Chevrolet Corvetter (C4)
• Ford Thunderbird
• Mercedes-Benz 190E
• Mazda RX-7