Which classic supercars had the best engines, and what made them so legendary? Here are 10 of the most memorable
The significance of supercars cannot be downplayed. Many believe they’re nothing more than glorified speed machines that are only available to the elites and the most wealthy, and while that is a fair point (to an extent), the narrative changes when you see them as examples of what humanity can achieve with engineering, rather than who it is specifically available to.
This becomes more rational when you consider classic cars. When we look back on some of the most fabled supercars of the 20th century, the fact that our species was able to make such dramatic leaps with engineering over such a short space of time explains a lot. And the perfect demonstration of this progress is the way the supercar changed throughout a 20 or 30-year period towards the end of the 1900s.
For the sake of clarity, let’s say that anything pre-2000s can now be considered a classic, and by that quota, we’re still spoiled for choice at which the best supercars of the 20th century are. In our list, we’ve also limited each manufacturer to just one entry, to avoid the more cliché manufacturers, like Ferrari or Porsche, dominating the list. So, here’s our pick of the 10 best supercars with the most notorious engines:
10 Acura NSX
Any list that involves the most significant supercars of the 20th century and doesn’t include the Acura NSX cannot claim to be honest or factual. Not only was the first-gen NSX built from the ground up by a number of key industry-related figures, like Ayrton Senna, but it was packed with technology and clever engineering that has meant that the Acura NSX is the father of all modern supercars – to enthusiasts, at least.
The NSX can trace its roots back as far as 1984, when a series of concepts and renders began to float around for a potential mid-engined competitor to the likes of Ferrari. Eventually, a 3.0-liter V6 engine was paired with a rear-wheel drive setup, providing a peak 276 hp through a five or six-speed manual transmission. The result was Japan’s first real supercar, which showed that the nation of Great Nihon was not here to play games.
9 Shelby Cobra
It does make us slightly sad that there are so many existing mimics of the Shelby Cobra, since this car is the legacy of one of the world’s greatest automotive minds. And with Shelby 482-powered contemporary classic Cobra replica five-speed examples going for around $60,000, many can afford to actually buy one. It takes away slightly from the exclusivity of Carroll’s pride and joy, but it in no way diminishes the truth: the Cobra was one of the defining supercars of the 20th century.
Not only does its design act as the perfect time capsule to transport you back to an era where racing was genuinely dangerous, but its Ford-sourced V8 block made the Shelby Cobra 427 one of the most macho classic cars ever made. The looks, the sound, and the unhinged character of the Cobra make it an icon that is instantly recognizable to even those that aren’t gearheads. What a car.
8 Lamborghini Miura
The car that effectively transformed Lamborghini, and is considered by many to be the world’s first ‘real’ supercar. The Miura defines the V12 engine, and everything brash and brilliant about it. In the Miura, the 430 hp 12-cylinder block was mounted transversely and left exposed for onlookers to witness in all its glory.
When it debuted, the Miura was the fastest production car in the world, by some margin, which is why it is considered to be such a trailblazer for modern supercars. We hope the Modenese firm brings the moniker back someday, and perhaps it will take some inspiration from this cool Lamborghini Miura concept, which is the iconic supercar revival we deserve.
7 Porsche 959
The car that took on the legendary F40, and very nearly won. But its original purpose was not to become one of the world’s finest road racers, because Porsche actually built the 959 to dominate the Dakar. It played host to a 444 hp 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six, and utilized a rear-engine, four-wheel drive layout.
The result was the world’s fastest production car, with a top speed of 197 mph, and is accredited with being one of the first performance-led all-wheel drive cars. It’s similar to the Audi Quattro in that sense, but as good as the Quattro was, it could not hold a candle to the 959 when raw pace was involved. Did you know that Godzilla, the Nissan R32 GT-R Skyline, wouldn’t exist without the Porsche 959? Talk about cross-cultural influence!
6 Jaguar XJ220
Britain’s first entry is a car that lacks none of the pantomime and outright insanity that you’d expect from a brand that adopts a big cat as its sigil. Like many of the other cars mentioned up to this point, the XJ220 has made it to our list because it held a record of sorts, or was a pioneer for a generation of cars that followed.
In this instance, the 6.2-liter V12 it contained drove the XJ220 to become the fastest production car for a near two-year span, and also allowed it to smash the then Nürburgring lap record with a time of 7:46:36 in 1991. Only 282 road-legal versions were officially made, making the super-rare Jaguar XJ220 a collector’s dream.
5 Bugatti EB110
While the Veyron has rightfully earned its place as one of the most legendary road cars ever made – not least because of its searing pace – it was not the car to announce Bugatti’s place at the table of elites. That surely has to be reserved for the Bugatti EB110, which went head-to-head with the aforementioned XJ220. In fact, these two 90s supercars were hugely underrated in their day.
More recently, the Veyron’s successor, the Chiron, managed to become the first road-legal production car to break the 300 mph barrier. However, none of its achievements would’ve been possible without the EB110, which is the genesis of the modern-day Bugatti hypercar. It owes most of its credentials to the 3.5-liter Bugatti quad-turbocharged V12 it was equipped with, which allowed for a claimed top speed of 220 mph. For reference, even the all-conquering Porsche 918 Spyder can’t match that.
4 Pagani Zonda
It’s strange to think that the Zonda actually qualifies for this list, but considering the very first production C12’s were made in 1999, it absolutely does. The Zonda is the car that put Pagani on the map, and truly cemented its place as one of the world’s most insane manufacturers. To prove just how fast these things are, check out this Porsche Carrera GT that doesn’t stand a chance against Horacio Pagani in a Zonda F.
Over the years, the Zonda adopted a number of Mercedes-AMG-sourced engines that varied in displacement and size, and toggled between the M120 and M297 V12 units. They are still made in very small numbers these days for exclusive orders, but the legendary C12 is where it all started. Long may the Pagani badge reign.
3 Ford GT40
A four-time Le Mans winner, and the brainchild of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles – perhaps the world’s most underappreciated jack of all trades. The GT40 was built to take on the might of Ferrari, and its authoritative 330 P4 race car. It’s safe to say, the GT40 sent both the car and its team scarpering back to Maranello with their tails between their legs.
The original car was even replicated for the 2019 on-screen adaptation, and it’s pretty interesting to read that the 1968 Ford GFT40 Le Mans movie car is the most expensive Ford ever. After months of testing and fine-tuning, the 4.7-liter V8 churned out 485 hp and contributed to an overall weight of just under 2,700 pounds. Its legacy as one of the all-time greats will never die.
2 McLaren F1
Record breaker, celebrity transporter and perhaps the most accredited supercar of the 20th century; these qualities come together to make the McLaren F1 the most special classic supercar around. It took trailblazing to new heights by smashing the world production car speed record with a 240 mph run, courtesy of its 6.1-liter BMW-sourced V12, before retiring as an Uber-exclusive toy that continues to be traded around in small numbers between the world’s wealthiest.
If the British brand was serious about competing for top speed crowns again, this 2023 McLaren F1 concept will reclaim the fastest car throne from Bugatti if it were to be brought to life. If not, that’s okay, because what it achieved with the F1 has stapled its name in automotive folklore for generations to come.
1 Ferrari F40
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We’re going to forget about purely restricting ourselves to comparing the F40 to classic supercars; we’d go a step further and say the F40 may just be THE greatest car ever, bar none. It’s often a unanimous decision that many arrive at, and while attempting to find an alternative to snatch the crown from the F40 may be argued, its achievements cannot.
Not only was the F40 the first car to hit the 200 mph mark, but its exclusivity can make a grown adult gurn like a child if they spot one. Looking back at the Ferrari F40 and what made it so special, the 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 no doubt played a significant role, and the fact that it is exposed and available to see just makes it tenfold more exciting. In our opinion, this is, without a doubt, the most incredible classic supercar with the most notorious engine.
