What is the best ever American designed car?

Miata is down on power like an American MG. Yeah it is a sportscar but the best American? That has to go to corvette. 50+ years of development and they always met the euro competition of its time for a fraction the cost. Since the C5 z06 vette has dominated club racing and competitive in all forms of pro racing developing the crazy transverse leaf suspension in a way porsche has done with its silly rear end 911.

 

Best car for its era, hitting the market perfectly: Model T.

As for best design for its era, I'd suggest a Duesenberg or a Packard.

 

I think most American cars are to big for European roads and maybe too thirsty for gas.

Sports cars built in this country I am sad to say not many.

The new C7 Corvette is an outstanding sports car. I think it is much better than my 458 as a drivers car. My 458 is my 3rd Ferrari and most likely my last Ferrari.

The new Comaro Z/28 is an awesome car. I think the handling is as good or better than any European car with the exception of the Audi R8s. But it is close, very close.

Not a true sports car, the new Hellcat is a pure joy to derive. I think it is more fun than the Adventador, of course on looks, there is no comparison.

I think American cars have caught the European offerings in some important ways. The Italians still have the most flair for industrial design.

best

Lee

 

Best ever American designed car would be the Jeep.

Since World War II, it has evolved into the current Jeep Wrangler.

A timeless 4WD utilitarian design.
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Mustang?

 

Duesenberg Model J


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I gotta go with my favorite the C2 (63 thru 67) corvette very advanced at the time and brought to perfection for the 1967 model year
It is a car that defines the American sports car there can't be many people that would not recogonize it as the corvette..
Although the the model J isn't bad

 

+a googol. Would add a Miller 91 as well, fwd and rwd. Think it's best race car, Duesenberg both road and race.
Here's a nice Miller and the original SWB pair
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I thing these Corvettes are a timeless industrial design. They are beautiful, fun to drive and reliable.

Hard to beat

Best

Lee

 

Current Z06 is probably the best-designed car for its price, and clobbers more than a few other cars with higher price tags. So for sports cars I would say it.

Agree the Duesey J for classic luxury. Not sure it would be possible for any maker today to replicate the production process they employed back then, maybe Bugatti is closest today.

 

The Model T was the process (cheap assembly line), not the car.

The Miata is a good candidate.

The Iacocca Mustang started a whole new type of car

The Iacocca Minivan started a whole new type of car.

Duesey is good.

Corvette? Maybe. Price or value has nothing to do with this thread.

Jeep? Maybe. Led to the Cherokees which led to SUVs... a new type.

 

Duesy had 6.9L straight 8 twincam 4valve heads and mercury filled crank counterweights in 1929.
265hp with one updraft carb. 320hp with gear driven centrifugal blower with water jacket, driven off center of crank. Twin carbs gave probably 345-355. Chassis lube on the fly. Hydraulic finned drums at all 4 wheels. In '29. Car could do 120 with light body on the 142.5 WB.
Predecessor won Indy 4 times in 20's.

Miller 91 won Indy 19 times in 20's 30's and I think into 40's. Could drive it home if you wished. Came front or rear drive.

Offenhauser motor deserves respect too, he was Miller's machinist.
Offys won first won Indy in 1935, last win was 1976. Same basic block and design.
From 1947 to 1964, Offys won Indy 17 years in a row.

Sorry for the tangent, but that race history is astounding. 65% win rate over 41 years.
No computers, modern metallurgy, nada.

Modern cars are amazing. But this stuff is legendary. What made US great.

 

Squeeze Cadillac in there before the Model T for the concept of interchangeable parts.

 

How about the GT 40 and the GT?

Joe

 

GT40 was a thinly disguised Lola. The current GT? Not by a longshot.
Put me down for the Duesy

 

1940 Continental

 

Fiero 2M4 - base model

 

1963-65 Buick Riviera had some really great styling.

 

Right there, I learned more about the duesy then I have ever known.

 

Of the current era of cars, in the midsize crossover segment which is the hottest segment the chev Equinox subjectively and objectively blows the competition away.
In its segment it's pretty much the best car

 

You should put your text in green... some won't know that you are being sarcastic, promoting this re-worked Suzuki/Vue as 'cutting edge'.

 

Need to start with the question--what do you mean by "best designed"?

1.) Most reliable?
2.) Best performance?
3.) Street race car?
4.) Performance to price ratio?
5.) Best looking?

Need some parameters here...