Most influential cars of all time

[2o6]

Some cars trancend and influence cars even to this day.



What cars do you think have influenced cars and the automotive industry the most?

[ChrisV]

Model T. VW Beetle. Austin Mini (even more than the Traction Avant). Mustang. 240Z.

man, I can go on. Need to find some more time...

[sportyaccordy]

Biggest one I can think of is the 86 Taurus. Saved Ford from the brink and brought us out of the sharp edged era.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

As much as I hate to say this you have to give credit to the origanal Caravan.

[nickdrinkwater]

[chevyguy06]

Corvette.
Mustang-started the muscle car craze.
Caravan-The first mini-van.
Prius-Started the hybrid craze.
Explorer-did the same for SUVS.

[sportyaccordy]

Corvette.
Mustang-started the muscle car craze.
Caravan-The first mini-van.
Prius-Started the hybrid craze.
Explorer-did the same for SUVS.

Outside of the Corvette, pretty solid list. Interesting that the bulk of these cars are American.

[J86]

mine.

[Raza]

Corvette.
Mustang Pontiac Tempest GTO-started the muscle car craze.
Caravan-The first mini-van.
Prius-Started the hybrid craze.
Explorer-did the same for SUVS.

That sounds better.

[SVT666]

That sounds better.

It didn't.  It wasn't until the success of the Mustang that things started happening.  It may have influenced the Mustang, but the Mustang influenced everything else.

[Rupert]

WWII Willys Jeep.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What's funny about a Jeep? That was more influential tgan that shitwagon that nickdrinkwater posted. Oh heck, even a Ford Explorer was more influential than that.

Fiat 500

[Rupert]

What's funny about a Jeep? That was more influential tgan that shitwagon that nickdrinkwater posted. Oh heck, even a Ford Explorer was more influential than that.

Fiat 500

Now, if he'd posted a Series I/II...

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

It didn't.  It wasn't until the success of the Mustang that things started happening.  It may have influenced the Mustang, but the Mustang influenced everything else.

Yeah the Mustang invented the Pony car. But I give the GTO credit for the muscle car formula. Big engine in an everyday sedan. Just my .02

[MX793]

Corvette.
Mustang-started the muscle car craze.
Caravan-The first mini-van.
Prius-Started the hybrid craze.
Explorer-did the same for SUVS.

The Mustang started the pony car craze.  The first Mustangs were not muscle cars, they were too small.  In fact, there are only a handful of Mustangs that could be considered muscle cars at all (specifically the big block Mustangs like the GT500KR that showed up in the very late 60s and early 70s).  Even those are a stretch since the Mustang was not an intermediate sized car (nor was Camaro).  The GTO started the muscle car craze.

My list would be as follows:

Ford Model T
Ford Taurus
Dodge/Chrysler Caravan
Ford Mustang
The original Jeep
VW Beetle
Nissan 240Z
Austin 7
Jag E-type
Cadillac Model 1912 (not so much the car, but the technology it introduced)
Mazda MX-5 Miata

[JWC]

My list would be as follows:

Ford Model T
Ford Taurus
Dodge/Chrysler Caravan
Ford Mustang
The original Jeep
VW Beetle
Nissan 240Z
Austin 7
Jag E-type
Cadillac Model 1912 (not so much the car, but the technology it introduced)
Mazda MX-5 Miata

I'd pretty much pick the same except the Austin 7.

I'd add:
MG-TD
Chevrolet s10 Blazer
Jeep Grand Wagoneer

[Rupert]

S10 Blazer?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

S10 Blazer?

Started the small SUV craze. Then the Explorer (I think it was available with 4 doors first) took the ball and ran with it!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Bronco II, bitches

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Bronco II, bitches

Not as successful as the first S10.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Not as successful as the first S10.

Depends how many dumb rednecks you talk to.

[MX793]

I'd pretty much pick the same except the Austin 7.

I'd add:
MG-TD
Chevrolet s10 Blazer
Jeep Grand Wagoneer

You don't think the Austin 7 was significant?  It was very much akin to the Model T for the rest of the world.  BMW's first cars (the Dixi) were 7 clones built under license.  Lotus's first car, the Mark I, was based on the Austin 7.  Some of Nissan's early cars were also 7 clones.

[JWC]

You don't think the Austin 7 was significant?  It was very much akin to the Model T for the rest of the world.  BMW's first cars (the Dixi) were 7 clones built under license.  Lotus's first car, the Mark I, was based on the Austin 7.  Some of Nissan's early cars were also 7 clones.

Whenever I've read anything on the Austin, there is always a reference to the Model T's influence. 

[JWC]

Bronco II, bitches

It was a toss up between the two, but the Blazer won out because it was more comfortable, handled better, and had luxury touches.  It was those creature comforts that kept out vehicles like the original Bronco, Scout etc.  The S10 Blazer was a hit in suburbia and set the pace for the Explorer, Grand Cherokee, etc.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It was a toss up between the two, but the Blazer won out because it was more comfortable, handled better, and had luxury touches.  It was those creature comforts that kept out vehicles like the original Bronco, Scout etc.  The S10 Blazer was a hit in suburbia and set the pace for the Explorer, Grand Cherokee, etc.

Well, the Blazer was just influenced by AMC Eagles and Subarus, but silly GM didn't have a single decent car platform, so they had to use a pickup.

[Rupert]

Started the small SUV craze. Then the Explorer (I think it was available with 4 doors first) took the ball and ran with it!

I would point to the 1984 Cherokee for that, even though the Blazer is a year older...

[Payman]

VW Rabbit.

[Rupert]

Whenever I've read anything on the Austin, there is always a reference to the Model T's influence. 

But the Austin had its own influence, too.

[Rupert]

Early Toyota pick-ups.

[JWC]

I would point to the 1984 Cherokee for that, even though the Blazer is a year older...

The Cherokee became the most popular, but the Blazer was still the one  to emulate.

As far as the AMC Eagle and Suburu influencing GM's lineup, I'd point to GM's all-wheel-drive cars of the mid-eighties.