Whether they carry soft and curvy styling or a more aggressive and edgy look, several Italian sports cars have proven what they're capable of. Starting in the '50s, Italians introduced some admirable examples of performance cars we still admire today.
A large, powerful engine wouldn't help much if the mechanical components were of cheap quality, the chassis too heavy, and the aerodynamics neglected. And that is why these Italian sports cars came to life as if they were a craftsman's masterpieces, careful attention paid to their smallest component and fully embodying what they were designed to do; racing... but with style. Here are the most outstanding Italian cars that, for some reason, have been revolutionary.
8 The Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
The Lancia Aurelia B20 Coupe was introduced in 1951 (one year after the sedan) and it featured something that, at that time, was definitely unique: a V6 engine. In fact, the new Lancia was the first Italian production car to feature a V6 engine.
This very model is a 1953 third series Aurelia with a 2.5L V6 engine and 118HP, making this car one of the best performing commercial coupes of its time. Also, the clean and gentle lines inspired Pininfarina to design the memorable Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider a few years later.
7 The Lancia Delta HF Integrale
The Lancia Delta HF Integrale is the sport version of the Lancia Delta, intentionally designed to participate in the World Rally Championship, in which it competed from 1988 to 1993, obtaining 5 constructors' world titles and 35 victories.
Under the squared and marked lines of the hood, there is a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with more than 200HP in its commercial version. The numerous victories in WRC competitions clearly helped make this visionary car a legend.
6 The Lamborghini Countach
There are two factors that identify the Countach as revolutionary from what people had seen before. The first concerns the mechanics, the Countach boasts an unseen engine solution, with the typical Lamborghini V12 mounted in front of the rear axle but in a longitudinal position, with the gearbox in front, so that the weight is moved towards the center.
The second factor is that the Countach features an innovative design, made up of ruler-shaped angular lines and a super low body (just over a meter in height). The car is also very light, thanks to an aluminum body. Also, this is the first Lamborghini model ever to adopt the famous "Lambo doors" and pop-up headlights.
5 The Maserati Ghibli Spyder
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and characterized by its low and sharp front, The Maserati Ghibli Spyder was largely appreciated, so much that it sold more than its direct rivals: the Ferrari 365 Daytona and the Lamborghini Miura.
Introduced in 1969, this model was produced only in 125 units. In 1970, the Ghibli SS went into production, powered by a new 4.9-liter, 335HP V8 that allowed it to reach 280 km/h. In addition to high performance, the SS also offered luxury features such as an adjustable steering wheel, power steering, leather seats, tinted and electric powered windows, reclining seats with headrests, a clock on the dashboard, and air conditioning. The rare Ghibli Spider SS was only produced in 25 units.
4 The Ferrari 250 GTL
The Ferrari 250 GTL or 250 GT/L is a luxury sports car presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1962 and produced from 1962 to 1964, during which 350 units were built. Designed by Pininfarina, this is an outstanding example of how a sports car packed with a furious V12 can be comfortable as well as fast. In fact, some luxury sports cars today, like the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, follow the same ideals the guys at Ferrari had some 60 years ago.
Despite being a pure GT, the very first Ferrari 250 GT Lusso ever produced (chassis number 4213GT) was used in competitions such as the Targa Florio and Tour de France Automobile alongside two other 250 GT Lussos. These 3 cars were later named 250 GT/L Competizione. It was one of the many cars owned by American actor and race car driver Steve McQueen.
3 The Lancia Stratos
The Lancia Stratos is a sports car produced by Lancia from 1973 to 1975. It was designed by Marcello Gandini for Bertone and equipped with a V6 Ferrari Dino engine and gearbox specifically to dominate rally competitions. From the second half of the 1970s, the version prepared by the Lancia HF Racing Team, the Stratos HF, was highly successful and became a rally legend. This car was a game-changer because there were no other cars with a similar futuristic design involved in rally races.
The small number of units built and the fact that the car was used in all types of races (even in rallycross, certainly unsuitable for a collector's car), make the Lancia Stratos one of the most sought-after models by collectors all over the world.
2 The Lamborghini Miura
The Miura represents a huge turning point in the sports car world. With its mid-mounted V12 engine and low and stylish body, the two-seater Lamborghini anticipated the current standard of a sports car. Notably, at its debut, the Miura was the fastest production car in the world: With a top speed of 280 km/h and an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, the Lamborghini Miura set a new standard in the sports cars segment.
Only 475 units of the 350 CV Miura were produced. In 1968 the Miura developed into the Miura S with 370 hp and later into the Miura SV, which had wider mudguards and a greatly revamped 385hp engine with separate lubricating systems for the engine and gearbox.
1 The Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 was created to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary. Designed by Pininfarina, it was built with extensive use of composite materials. The refined high-performance mechanics combined with a first-class chassis gave the car excellent dynamics, very close to that of a racing prototype.
Enzo Ferrari passed away while the F40 held the speed record for road cars, managing to break the 200 mph barrier. The F40 was the "last turbo-charged Ferrari" for many years, until the more recent California T, introduced in 2014, took over as the latest turbocharged V8 Ferrari.