On this most "American" of days you've got Car and Driver celebrating American car companies, and Jalopnik tearing them down.
As such I'm going to take the easy way out and ask the simple question that doesn't try to validate current American automotive efforts (or lack thereof):
What is your favorite American model of all time?
And please, no "Well, the Camaro was made in Canada, so it is really American?" cop-outs, please. You know what I mean -- Domestic brand, domestic nameplate sold in domestic dealerships. And yes, the Chrysler Crossfire fits that bill, even if it's a re-bodied Mercedes-Benz SLK built in Osnabruck, Germany -- so pick it if you want (you freak!).
I wish I could be more creative with my picks, but if you know anything about me you already know what's coming.
My all-time favorite American car is the Ford GT (old and new). Race heritage, beautiful looks, outstanding performance, yadda, yadda, yadda. You know the drill so I won't waste your time on this one.
Other highly honorable mentions on my list include the Plymouth Superbird. Race heritage, maybe not "beautiful" looks, but certainly unique, plus excellent performance for it's day, etc. Seeing a pattern here?
I'm also a fan of Duesenbergs, with the Model Js being the performances stand-outs. Reasons why? See above.
A 1968 (not to be confused with a 2008) Ford Mustang GT500KR makes my list as the best car to wear a "Mustang" badge. Don't care that they're not "real" Shelbys by some folks' estimation.
Finally, a 1973 Pontiac Firebird Super Duty
(preferably Formula over Trans Am) could find room in my crowded garage...if I could afford one.
So there are my Top 5. Only one of them was produced in the 21st Century (sort of).
Here's hoping the second 100 years of American automotive production gives me more models to put on this list.
By blackadder5639
on July 4, 2008
08:57 AM
Since I wasn't born here and American cars weren't popular in Africa before the 1990s, I can only talk about recent models.
I have to say I'm very impressed by the Cadillac CTS and the Escalade, as well as the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade hybrids. And, oh, the new Cobalt SS.
Well done, GM!
By hondacura4
on July 4, 2008
09:27 AM
"And yes, the Chrysler Crossfire fits that bill, even if it's a re-bodied Mercedes-Benz SL built in Osnabruck, Germany -- so pick it if you want (you freak!)."
You forgot a letter as its based of the Mercedes SLK, not the SL.
Im not a huge old car fan but I do however like and respect a few from many manufacturers. Please forgive me as Im not too familiar with older domestic vehicles trims, models and years. I like the following domestic vehicles for one reason or another.
1) Chevrolet Camaro (late 60's early 70's)
2) Ford GT (for the same reasons as the author)
3) Ford Mustang GT350 Fastback (Eleanor)
4) Lincoln Contitental convertible (1965)
5) Corvette (excluding the 1974-82 models)
6) Buick Gran National (1987 = Intercooled)
7) Buick Lesebre (Wildcat)
8) Pontiac G8 GT
9) Buick Riviera (1962-69)
10) Chevy C/K10 series pickup (1967-72)
By iskch
on July 4, 2008
09:32 AM
Karl, happy four of July. My picks for great american cars:
Chevy: 70 Chevelle 454, 63 Corvette Stingray, 08 Corvette ZO6
Ford: 66 Mustang fastback, 69 Ford Torino GT, 05 GT, 56 thunderbird
Dodge: Viper GTS, 70 Cuda, Dart GTX 340
AMC: AMX 401
By blueguydotcom
on July 4, 2008
09:53 AM
65 Corvette
58 Corvette
69 Camaro
That's it. The 65 Vette is easily one of the sexiest shapes ever put on the road. Of course Mazda took that shape and improved it even more with their last generation RX-7.
By verdi942
on July 4, 2008
09:59 AM
'37 Packard 120; '39 LaSalle coupe; '53 Lincoln convertible; '57 Chrysler 300C; '65 Lincoln Continental; That's 5.
By jordanw
on July 4, 2008
11:45 AM
Happy 4th to you all!
GM: 67-69 Camaro and Firebird, 77 Pontiac Trans-Am, C1 and 2 Corvette, Buick GNX, 1955 and 57 BelAir, 1959 Caddy Eldorado, 2009 Caddy CTS-v
Ford: 56 TBird, 65-69 Mustangs
Mopar: Plymouth Prowler, Dodge Viper
Duesenberg! (What magnificent cars!)
By ahightower
on July 4, 2008
12:07 PM
1993 Corvette ZR-1
2009 Corvette ZR-1
By otaku18
on July 4, 2008
08:56 PM
Duesenberg for sure.
Ford Gt
Corvettes (older and Z06)
Tbird (older, new one is ok)
Mustangs (in various forms are great)
The new Caddy CTS is a very nice car. And screw jalopnik I'm very fond of my fusion its not a completely brilliant design but behind the CTS its the best looking sedan made in the states
By 1487
on July 5, 2008
05:09 AM
C6, CTS, 2001 Aurora, 300M Special, 300 SRT-8, 2010 Camaro, Enclave, SVT Focus/Contour.
By yankeez
on July 5, 2008
10:08 AM
Hmmm, there are so many, it's taken me awhile to compile my personal list of favorite American cars of all time, so here it is!
1975 Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch - Classic American styling, replete with vinyl roofs, stand-up hood ornaments, whitewall tires - LTD handling styling cues in a compact size. Very cool!
1973 Chrysler Newport - Man, what a beast! Big-block Chrysler V8 power, a battering ram for a front bumper, a hood big enough to land a helicopter on, and let's not forget the Chrysler trademarked upside-down speedometer needle. Freakin awesome!
1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Brougham sedan - Remember the first Robocop movie? How many of you knew that THIS was the car that the 6000SUX was based on? What other kind of car could hold such an honor? That alone is reason enough to make it on my "Best American Car of All Time" list!
1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback (HAS to be red) - Ever since I saw James Bond do a barrel-roll jump over a river with one of these in The Man With the Golden Gun, I knew right away I just had to have one of these!
1983 Pontiac T1000 (the Pontiac version of the Chevy Chevette) - This car was so great, it inspired the name of the new terminator model in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (and made the term "liquid metal" a household term). Plus with great gas mileage and classic American subcompact styling, it's a shame Pontiac couldn't keep this car in production, as it was way ahead of its time. With near $5 gallon for gas, I'm gonna start a grass-roots petition to bring this car back! Who's with me?!
By george2040
on July 5, 2008
11:24 AM
Some of my favorite American cars were old models my relatives owned in the past.
1967-1970 Mercury Cougar based on the 2nd generation Mustang.
1964-1966 Chevrolet C-10 Pickup and related Surburban Caryall. Distinctive indentation along the entire length of the truck and coil springs front and rear.
1965-1970 Chevrolet Impala. Distinctly American. Piloting the USS Impala down a rural highway with a vast expanse of hood and trunk sheetmetal in view is a very different experienct than driving current high beltline short overhang cars.
American cars built today are much, much better transportation appliances than the models listed above, but they are no longer distintively American. Hard to imagine anyone carefully restoring a 2008 Impala 30 or 40 years from now and driving it in a Independence Day parade.
By bepperb
on July 6, 2008
07:28 PM
How can I possibly top the Buick Enclave that's already been mentioned?
By bepperb
on July 6, 2008
07:42 PM
1957 Chevrolet perhaps?
By karjunkie
on July 7, 2008
12:28 PM
This is a trick question. When you think of a favorite, you inevitably think of five more favorites! However, I would rank the 1963 Corvette split-window coupe as the most beautiful contemporary american car. If I go back further into the Deusenberg era, I'd have to pick the Cord 810/812 models of 1936 and 1937. They were so groundbreaking with their flip up headlights and beautiful modern (for the time) coachwork that they eclipsed the Deuseys and everything else of that era.
By tiruvan
on July 8, 2008
06:34 AM
1969 Ford Mustang (Shelby)
2004 Cadillac CTS
2004 Chevy Suburban
2008 Chevy Corvette
2000 Chevy Camaro
By ddastardly
on July 8, 2008
10:21 AM
Here are my favorites:
1914 Model T Softtop Tourer...for trips to the beach
1968 Buick Riviera...for evenings out on the town
1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 Convertable...for trips to the desert
1973 Ford County Squire...for trips to Home depot
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Convertable...for investment purposes.
By gurple
on July 15, 2008
04:58 PM
1964 Corvette Stingray-and yes I owned one back in the day. So I'm speaking from experience.