Germany certainly isn't known for being the most exciting European country. South Park even made a joke about Germans and their sense of humor. Despite being the creator of the Black Forest cake, and having some of the most gorgeous Gothic edifices such as the Cologne Cathedral, Germany is not the first destination that comes to mind when thinking about a vacation on the old continent.
Germany does two things perfectly: beer and cars. Names such as Gaffel Kolsch or Augustiner-Brau Edelstoff may remind you of the best Oktoberfest you have ever had. As far as cars are concerned, most brands are familiar and true gearheads know that some of these German cars were built to last. Sadly, some of them have completely disappered. Carmakers from the land of the schnitzel and currywurst should definitely consider bringing these classic cars back.
10 1958 VEB Sachsenring P240
The German automotive landscape is dominated by five major brands: Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche. Even if several other obscure brands are still available on the market, the five giants are by definition the icons of the German automotive industry. Similarly to the States following the end of World War 2, groups of people had a go at producing vehicles hoping to strike gold. Some were more successful than others.
The Sachsenring P240 used to be one of the coolest cheap European classics to buy and restore. The car is now a collectible from one of the darkest times Germany has ever been through. Produced between 1956 and 1959, the P240 is one of the remnants of the Cold War. Produced in Soviet-occupied Eastern Germany, the P240 was at the time considered a luxury car. Does it go against the very principles of Communism? Of course. Political ideologies aside, it would have nice to see an updated version of this classic roaming the streets of Berlin.
9 1966 Amphicar 770
It wasn't just American car manufacturers that came up with insane concept cars during the '50s and '60s. Back in Germany, engineers were still working on vehicles that could have been used on the battlefield.
The Amphicar 770 was apparently the first mass-produced amphibious car. As most amphibious vehicles, the Amphicar 770 is ridiculously slow both on land and on water. With that being said, the car looks somewhat cool and is a convertible. Volkswagen should bring it back and make it a limited edition. Most motorists will most likely shun it, but gearheads with a sense of humor would definitely consider buying something like the Amphicar 770.
8 1971 Opel GT
You may not know it, but you have seen Opel cars on domestic roads for decades. Back in the days, Saturn cars were basically badge-engineered Opels as General Motors acquired stakes in Opel back in 1929. The Great Recession of 2008 severely impacted General Motors' C-level employees, and the company decided to sell some of its Opel shares to PSA.
Opel is not known for its sports cars. In fact, the German carmaker never produced anything that came close to the monsters produced by Porsche or even Volkswagen. With that being said, Opel did release a phenomenal vehicle back in the late '60s. In 1971, Opel came out with another version of its legendary GT. The car is fitted with a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 83 hp. It would be nice to bring back the GT without ruining it like the 2007 edition.
7 1985 Bitter SC
The Bitter brand is quite peculiar. Unlike most German carmakers, Bitter is essentially a tuner. The company turns commonly sold vehicles into beast from the 7th layer of hell. Following several successes since its inception in 1971, Bitter released its own vehicles. It is fair to say that the vast majority of them are extremely attractive.
If you wonder why you have never heard of the Bitter SC, it is probably because you were mesmerized by cars such as the Lamborghini Countach. The Bitter SC is far from being a snail. Underneath the hood sits a healthy 3.9-liter inline-six engine that makes 200 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are quite respectable for the '80s. It is unclear what an modernized SC would look like. However, it is fair to assume that it would be equipped with a potent engine and may be as fast as an M3.
6 1990 Volkswagen Corrado
Volkswagen may be the producer of affordable cars in Germany, but the company never fails to release a true collectible every now and then. Back in the '70s, the car manufacturer produced the legendary Scirocco. The sports hatchback was such a hit that it was re-released in the late-2000s. While other vehicles such as the Phaeton were far less popular, they are still worth a fair amount of money. Volkswagen should take a look back at its lineup 30 years ago, and make the right decision.
There are several things people forgot about the Volkswagen Corrado. Most gearheads tend to forget that the Corrado is the very first car with a rear spoiler that atomatically deployed at 75 mph. On the other hand, most car fans know that the Corrado was made available with a 2.9-liter VR6 engine that developed 187 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. Would a updated Corrado rival the latest Golf R? It surely would.
5 2001 BMW Z8
Back in 1990, BMW started getting seriously worried by cars coming out of Japan. In an effort to rival the Mazda Miata MX-5, the Bavarian carmaker released the E30-based Z1. The car was revolutionary and paved the way for several outstanding Z cars. Though the Z3 M will remain one of the most valuable Z cars ever made, nothing comes close to James Bond's Z8.
Designed by Henrik Fisker, the BMW Z8 is by far the most sought-after Z-badged car. The BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough was not just a prop. Production went ahead with the top-line Z8 fitted with the 4.9-liter V8 that produces 395 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This Z8 remains until today the best roadster ever made by BMW. A similar Z8 in mint condition goes for about $200,000 these days. Let that sink in for a minute. Though the Z4 is quite remarkable, it will never be as astonishing as the Z8.
4 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche is known for being the ultimate high-end German carmaker. Thanks to cars such as the 356, the 959, and the 911 GT2 RS, Porsche has maintained its status as the hegemon. With that being said, Porsche used to be in a dire financial situation. The company was saved thanks to the highly controversial Boxster. In the years following its revival, Porsche released a couple cars that would become emblematic.
There are several truly emblematic Porsche cars. It would be tough for the vast majority of true Porsche fans to pick one out of the lot. Over the last 15 years though, one Porsche car really stood out: the Carrera GT. Unlike most Porsche, the Carrera GT does not come with a flat-six engine. Instead, the Carrera GT is fitted with a 5.7-liter V10 that develops 603 hp and 435 lb-ft of torque. It may not be the fastest Porsche car ever made, but the Carrera GT sure is one-of-a-kind. The Carrera GT crash video that was circulating on social media last year will break your heart.
3 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722S
Mercedes-Benz is a remarkable carmaker. Since the 1950s, the German carmaker has been producing some instant hits. From the 300SL Gullwing to the outlandish CLK GTR, there is not a single decade in which Mercedes-Benz failed to deliver. In the late 2000s, Mercedes hit the scene with a plethora of Ferrari-killing machines. Some of them are now worth millions of dollars.
There is no such thing as a cheap McLaren 722S in mint condition. Back in 2018, a 722S was sold for a staggering $1.45 million. This high price tag can be explained by the fact that only 150 units were made. The roadster is simply gorgeous. The side exhausts give the car an even more aggressive look. The best part about the 722S edition is the powerplant. Originally, the 5.4-liter V8 makes 617 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. The power output was increased to 641 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque on the 722S. It is tie for Mercedes-Benz to bring back the monsters of the late 2000s.
2 2011 Audi RS6 Sedan
Audi may be owned by Volkswagen, it does not change the fact that the carmaker churns out one masterpiece after another. Back in the '80s, Audi shook up the scene with its all-terrain turbocharged Sport Quattro. The car was a huge hit on and off the track. Years later, Audi released the legendary RS4. The company never failed to produce cars that wealthy car aficionados would love to take for a spin.
The 2011 Audi RS6 is the type of German sports sedans that are now surprisingly cheap. For a little less than $80,000, it is possible to find a RS6 sedan in terrific condition. It is important to remember that the RS6 comes with a monstrous 5.0-liter V10 that makes 572 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The RS6 is essentially a super grocery getter with a power output similar to the one of a supercar. Though the RS6 still exists, the sedan version was retired back in 2011.
1 2015 BMW i8
BMW is known for coming up with really avant-garde vehicles. The BMW 1M, for example, was one-of-a-kind. The collaboration between BMW and Lamborghini led to the creation of an instant classic. In the most recent years, electric cars have been pushed by most prominent carmakers. Though the Toyota Prius really started the trend, car companies like Tesla proved that it was possible to have a stylish and sporty electric car.
The i8 was sadly discontinued in 2020. For some mysterious reasons, the car received tons of negative critics. When looking closely, the i8 is essentially a tamed Acura NSX. The combination of the turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-three powerplant and the electric engine produces at best 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. What is there not to like about that, you may ask. BMW may have retired the i8 in order to release something even more breathtaking. Only time will tell.