Few car manufacturers are the same, with the exception of those directly based on another (Acura and Honda for example). Usually, each country has something special about their vehicles: Germany with their high-quality engineering, Britain for luxury, and America for their muscle. However, what about Italy?
As far as their reputation goes, many see Italy as the supercar/hypercar capital of Europe. Throughout the generations, several manufacturers have popped out of Italy, only to then blow the rest of the world away with their cars. To illustrate just how great of an impact Italy has on car culture, here are ten of the greatest Italian cars ever produced, ranked…
10 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Compared to their previous reputation of being unreliable, slow, and difficult to maintain, Alfa Romeo has worked hard to change that image. With their newfound spirit and resources, Alfa has made one of their best cars to date: the Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Although it may be quite a mouthful to say, the Giulia QF is definitely worth every penny. The design queues are exactly what you’d expect from a long-time Italian carmaker and its speed rivals those of Audi and BMW. Not only does the Giulia represent a new leaf for Alfa, but also what the Italian company is capable of in the current year.
9 De Tomaso Pantera
When people think about legendary Italian vehicles, the first thing that’d probably come to mind would be Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. These brands, of course, are certainly outstanding, however, some of the greats become forgotten over time; evidenced by the De Tomaso Pantera.
The De Tomaso brand, unfortunately, no longer exists. Yet, when they were around, they created some cool vehicles, particularly the Pantera. In terms of looks, the Pantera almost resembled an American car with hints of European styling throughout. Nowadays, Pantera’s are highly sought after with few understanding its true value/history.
You’d be especially lucky to get your hands on one of these bad boys!
8 Lancia Delta Integrale
In motorsports, few new racecars can be both taken on track and driven home like the good ole days. With ever-changing regulations, new aerodynamics, and improved safety, taking a racecar on the road isn’t always the best idea. The exception to this, though, can be found in classic rally racing.
One of the coolest classic Rallycross racers is the Lanica Delta Integrale. When in competition, the Delta was superb, flying through courses and winning series after series. Not to mention the fact that the Delta is a jaw-dropping car (especially with a Martini Racing paint scheme). Either way, getting an opportunity to drive one of these rally legends would be a dream come true for countless car lovers.
7 Ferrari 458
Towards the end of the 2000s, Ferrari had come up with their successor to the well-known Ferrari F430. Like the previous model, it would have a naturally aspirated V8 with the usual Ferrari styling. Except, this Ferrari would revolutionize the supercar world.
Of course, this is a reference to the Ferrari 458. The 458 is, arguably, what lit such a huge fire under the likes of McLaren, Mercedes, Lamborghini, and so many more. The 458 was incredibly fast, great looking, and very hard to beat. As a result, the 458 became known as one of Ferrari’s best supercars to date.
6 Bugatti EB110 SS
You may think to yourself, “Bugatti? They’re not Italian!” You’d be correct, as they are French. However, back in the ‘90s an Italian designer acquired Bugatti. Eventually, this would lead to the creation of the EB110 Super Sport.
The EB110 SS was unlike any of Bugatti’s previous models. Before then, Bugatti had mostly been under wraps with no new cars. Thankfully, though, Italy ended up helping to revitalize one of the greatest car brands of all time.
5 Lamborghini Countach
Lamborghini is, of course, known for the flamboyant styling. Most of their vehicles are aggressive looking with sharp lines and a figure that could hang on anyone’s wall. They’ve had several beautiful cars, but the one that really started it was the Countach.
Back in the ‘70s, designers were so blown away by the Countach that they ended up naming it what they exclaimed (Countach meaning “Wow” in Italian). The car was certainly jaw dropping, even by today’s standards. Although it had no aerodynamic capabilities and was very cramped inside, the Countach is still viewed as one of Lamborghini’s all-time greats.
4 Maserati MC12
When looking at the current state of Maserati, it may be hard to believe that they once dominated racetracks around the world, when, in fact, they have a long history of doing so. To pay tribute to this heritage, Maserati created to MC12 for both the road and the circuit.
The Maserati MC12 was a competitor to the Ferrari Enzo in a manner of speaking. Both were released at similar times with similar power figures, except one became way more well known. Regardless of its passing from people’s minds, the MC12 is (perhaps) Maserati’s greatest sports car
3 Pagani Zonda
When talking about great Italian cars, you can’t neglect to mention Pagani Automobili. Since the late ‘90s, Pagani has helped pioneer what a supercar is capable of. First, though, they started with the Zonda.
Pagani has a history of not being able to let go of the past, especially in regards to the Zonda. Whenever you think the last one’s been made, another gets released. Either way, the Zonda is still a competent and good-looking sports car that changed how people saw the supercar/hypercar industry. There’s no doubt that, thanks to the Zonda, Pagani will be around for a long time.
2 Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40: the Crème de la Crème, the best Ferrari ever made. At least, that’s what many Ferrari enthusiasts believe. But, what really makes the F40 so special?
For starters, the F40 was a revolutionary piece of technology; allowing its passengers to travel in excess of 200 M.P.H. and crush lap records around the world. Not to mention the fact that the F40 is drop-dead gorgeous. All of this combined, and since it was Enzo Ferrari’s last Ferrari before he died, makes the F40 a legend in the car community, now and forever.
1 Ferrari 250 GTO
If you’ve ever scrolled through any articles about expensive cars before, you’ve probably seen the Ferrari 250 GTO before. It’s a classic Ferrari racecar that can drive on the road too. Oh, and they usually cost over $40 million.
Yes, you read that correctly: $40,000,000 and more. These Ferraris are the most expensive cars in the world for their rarity, pedigree, history, and racing success. In terms of desirability, you’d not be alone in wanting this vehicle, as just about everyone shares that sentiment. Although only people as rich as sin can afford this car, it’s still an amazing thing to behold.