http://www.nitrobahn.com/nitro-barn/...-italian-cars/ 10. 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B was launched in 1937 after scoring the second successive victory at the Mille Miglia. The car is essentially a de tuned version of the companys most successful race car. The car was powered by a supercharged eight cylinder engine displacing 2905 cc. The engine produced 180 horsepower, enough to propel the car to 109 mph. It was an evolution of the highly successful 2.3 liter engine Maserati introduced in 1931. The cars classic looks are attractive even by todays standards. Many 8Cs have been restored back to itheir earlier glory and have won laurels at many exhibitions including the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. 9. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was launched in 2007 model year as a limited-edition car. It was based on a concept car first displayed at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show. The name and the design of the cars have many references to the Alfa Romeos between 1930s and 1950s. The car is powered by a 450 horsepower, 4.7 liter V8 engine that was derived from the 4.3 liter engine made by Ferrari for the F430. Only 500 examples were made, making this car one of the rarest modern day cars. The most outstanding aspect of the car is its remarkable styling. 8. Maserati Bora The Bora was a sports coupe produced by Maserati between 1971 and 1978. It was powered by a V8 engine, displacing 4.7 liter engine that produced 310 horsepower and was capable of propelling the car to up to 175 mph. Maserati had laid great emphasis in making sure the engine was refined and civilized. The car was surprisingly comfortable and quite in the cabin for an Italian super car, equipped with a lot of creature comforts to pamper the driver. The flamboyant design was penned by the famous Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro for Ital design. In its eight years of production, only 524 Boras were made by Maserati. 7. Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS The 308 GTB was made by Ferrari between 1975 and 1985, and comprised the lower spectrum of range of cars it made. It came with a mid mounted 3.0 liter V8 engine that generated 255 horsepower. The car was capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 mph in just 6.5 seconds. Even though the engine displacement, number of cylinders and the power output of the car were lower than the expected Ferrari standards, the Pininfarina-styled body and the dynamic abilities of the car more than covered up its short comings. The lower power output actually made it a more forgiving car to drive, increasing the appeal of the car as an entry to the world of Ferraris. A targa topped version called the GTS was also on sale. Around 12,000 examples were produced by Ferrari, making this also the most popular car even made by the company. 6. Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos was made between 1972 and 1974. It was the first car ever to be designed from start for the sole purpose of rallying. The body had distinctive proportions, taking the shape of a wedge to maximize the available traction. Only 492 cars were built, just above the number specified for homologation for participation in the World Rally Championship. The car was powered by a V6 engine sourced from Ferrari Dino that produced 190 horsepower. The Stratos was phenomenally successful in its initial WRC championships, taking consecutive titles from 1975 to 1976. This Italian car is regarded as a high value collectable car due to its stunning looks, rally success and the sheer rarity of the road legal models that were made. 5. Alfa Romeo Spider The Spider was a part of Alfa Romeos arsenal from 1966 right up to 1993. The Pininfarina-styled car is widely regarded as an all-time design classic. The first-generation models made between 1966 and 1969 were fairly modern cars. They even had front and rear crumble zones for safety. A1570 cc engine generating 109 hp powered this roadster. The second generation was sold between 1972 and 1982 and was visually and mechanically similar to the first generation except for the larger and more powerful engine. The third generation was sold between 1983and 1980 while the fourth and final generation was produced between 1991and 1993. 4. Lamborghini Murciélago The Murciélago was the first car made by Lamborghini after it was taken over by Audi. It started a era for Lamborghini, where razor sharp styling and performance were blended with a cozy interior and tamable handling. The car featured four wheel drive system along with advanced traction control systems that this car easy to drive by Lamborghini standards. The Murciélago was launched with a 6.2 liter V12 engine that pumped out 571 hp. The engine was later upgraded to a 6.4 liter unit that developed 640 horsepower. The most extreme Murciélago was launched in 2009 called the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. The car generates 670 horsepower, enough to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. 3.Ferrari 250 GTO The 250 GTO is one of the rarest Italian sports cars in the world, with just 36 examples ever made. It was made by Ferrari between 1962 and 1964 as a homologated version of its touring car. The car is widely revered as the greatest Ferrari road cars of all time for the success it achieved of the racing arena. The car was powered by a 3.0 liter V12 engine that generated 300 horsepower. The car is a prized possession among collectors, with auctions fetching in excess of 15 million pounds and continues to rise with time. 2. Lamborghini Countach The Countach was made by Lamborghini between 1974 and 1990 and is one of the best looking Lamborghinis ever. The iconic styling of the car was futuristic for its time and was carried over to the later models like the Diablo and the Murcielago. The car was designed by Marcello Gandini, the same person who designed the Lancia Stratos, and featured a wedge shaped styling with razor sharp details. The production of the car started with a 4.0 liter V8, with the displacement increasing to 5.2 liter by the end of its production. 1. Ferrari Enzo Ferrari The Enzo Ferrari was named after the companys founder and marked the 50th anniversary of its first Formula One victory. The car is packed with technologies Ferrari borrowed from its Formula 1 car and stands out as the ultimate Ferrari ever made. It featured a 6.3 liter V13 engine that developed 650 horsepower. The blistering performance was tamed down by a Formula One derived electronic differentials and carbon ceramic brakes. It was the first road car to feature F1 style sequential transmission with paddle shifters. Only 400 examples of this car were ever made by Ferrari, and even though it is a relatively new car, it fetches typically in excess of one million dollars. Ferrari has launched a non-street legal factory maintained version of the Enzo called the Ferrari FXX, that features 800 horsepower and even more Formula 1 technology.
Yes, these are Italian cars, and most of them have notable design features, but I would not place many of them onto a "Top 10" list. I see a lot of "flash" here, and little regard for subtlety or class. Where is the Lancia Aurelia, or the Ferrari Lusso, or the De Tomaso Mangusta? Perhaps I would prefer a "Top 50" list....
I'm hard pressed to accept 2 out of this list........one of the "Alltime 10 Worst Top 10 Lists" IMHO...... Tritone
There's a LOT to disagree with there. And the Enzo #1? Puhleeeeeeeeeeeze! That thing looks like one of those insects that got into the radioactive material in a 50's schlock sci-fi thriller. Form may follow function, but that don't make it purrty......
Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Ferrari 250 GTO Ferrari 288 GTO Ferrari 250 GT SWB Lamborghini Miura Lamborghini LP400 Lancia Stratos Lancia Aurelia B20 Maserati A6 GCS/53 Pinin Farina Berlinetta Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
I didn't know that the 308 could accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in 6.5 seconds. And I didn't know that the Enzo had a V13 engine. There are a few other "clunkers" in there.
Post-war, in alphabetical order... Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione De Tomaso Vallelunga Ferrari 250 Lusso Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Iso Grifo Lamborghini Miura Lancia Aurelia Spider Lancia Flaminia Zagato SS Maserati A6 G/54 Zagato Maserati Khamsin
Pre-war, in alphabetical order... Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Zagato Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Touring Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 MM Roadster Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Touring Fiat Topolino Isotta-Fraschini 8A Lancia Aprilia Lancia Astura Lancia Lambda Maserati V4 Zagato
Another silly list with a few good cars on it. The ENZO is not one of the 500 bestlooking, although its performance is amazing.!! Thank you Jim for pulling the ugly body off one of them and giving us the P4/5. Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 24th 2010
Everyone's different (and based on the above lists, a couple of you are REALLY different), but here's my go on post-war Italian cars for beauty, in no particular order: Lamborghini Countach LP400 Lamborghini Miura Maserati Ghibli Spider Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider (750) Ferrari 308 GTB Ferrari 288GTO Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Alfa Romeo TZ2 Ferrari 250GT SWB Ferrari 275 GTB/4 In any case above where both US and Euro-spec cars were available, the Euro-spec car is prettier by far and should be considered representative.
if there's NO Lamborghini Miura then the guy who did it is either a teenager (Enzo 1) or totally clueless
Good lord, not even close. Clearly written by a younger guy who has seen fewer than 10 Italian cars in his life. Even among the Alfas there are many better choices. Murcielago?! No Miura?!! LOL...
Two of my cars did not make anyone's list! Lancia Thema 8.32 - Only Ferrari powered car with four doors, only F powered car with front wheel drive, and a top speed of 140 mph. Also the only Ferrari 8 cylinder quattrovalvole engine with a 90 degree crank.....oh what a glorious sound....nothing....I mean nothing else on the planet like it! Fiat/Bertone X 1/9 - a baby Ferrari for the masses....and the masses loved it. Mid-engine, sublime handling....anemic power plant. Beev
Cisitalia 202 Iso Grifo Mangusta Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Ferrari 288 GTO Ferrari 250 GT SWB Lamborghini LP400 Maserati Ghibli Spider Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider (750) Ferrari 206 Dino