Europe was at the center of the last Industrial Revolution. One product that greatly influenced this transition is the discovery of the multiple uses of oil. The way people used to move around changed drastically. Within a 100-year span, cars went from being reserved for the elite to becoming mainstream.
As European carmakers perfected the art of car manufacturing, a decent number of vehicles got to hit the tarmac. As time went by these turned into classic cars and their value went through the roof. Even if their price tag can often be as high as a beachfront property, every gearhead should own one of these classic European sports cars.
10 Electric Feel
One of the most iconic German-made cars is by far the 911. For decades, the 911 has been capturing the attention of gearheads worldwide. As the 911 became Porsche's iconic vehicle, tuners such as Rauh Welt Begriff and Singer started turning these amazing sports cars into absolute beasts.
This electric 911 is the kind of modified European car gearheads would love to take for a spin. Forget about the flat-six engine. It is gone. Instead, the 911 is powered by a Tesla electric system that churns out 700 hp to the back wheels. The coolest part about this Porsche may be the electric conversion, but the interior is equally awesome.
9 A Purist's Nightmare
To most people, it feels like Lamborghini has been around for over a hundred years. As the company released some of the most beautifully crafted supercars, most people assume that the company has been around for as long as cars became more mainstream. The Miura is in fact Lamborghini's very first huge success.
Purists will definitely perceive this wide-bodied Miura as an atrocity. Though this Miura may be off-putting to some gearheads, it is quite a remarkable piece of work by Liberty Walk. On top of being widened, the car is slammed to the ground and fitted with a Nissan R34 engine.
8 American Baguette
French cars are well-known for being awful. They are usually fitted with engines that are as powerful as the ones found on battery-powered RC cars. That being said, brands like Citroën may release an absolutely stunning vehicle once every 30 years. The Citroën GT is the meanest French supercar ever made.
The Citroën DS was once the French President's official car. The car was widely popular and was briefly marketed in the US. This 1964 DS is equipped with an LS1 V8 that produces 400 hp. This DS was listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $115,000. That is one expensive French car.
7 Restomod?
There is not a time when the name Ferrari does not come up in a conversation about supercars. The Italian company is among the most exclusive and respected car brands in the world. Ferrari built up its reputation by releasing increasingly fast and sporty vehicles, decade after decade.
It is fair to say that Ferrari cars should be left in their original condition. However, the idea of a perfectly restomodded classic Ferrari sounds great. This 308 GTS built by ATS Racing is fitted with a turbocharged 308 Quattrovalvole powerplant that churns out 570 hp. That is about twice more than the original output.
6 British Monster
It is quite hard to think of a more emblematic British car than the Jaguar E-Type. The car was featured in the James Bond movie Casino Royale released in 1967. It is well-known that MI6 agents only get into car chases with some of the nicest cars. This E-Type should be featured in the next James Bond movie.
This '74 E-Type Series 3 saw its original V12 increased from 5.3L to 6.1L, thus increasing the power to 288 hp at the wheels. The interior has been completely restored and includes some of the most modern bells and whistles. This custom and modernized E-Type is worth every penny.
5 Outlaw
To most gearheads, Lancia is one of those Italian carmakers that did not release a large number of outstanding vehicles. However, when the company hit the nail on the head, it sure came up with some astonishing cars. The Lancia Delta is the most popular, but others such as this Aurelia are quite respectable.
The Lancia Aurelia is a '50s car. As a result, it would require a lot of transformation to turn it into a complete beast. The original 2.0L V6 produces 100 hp. It was replaced by a much more potent V6 that develops 170 hp. This Outlaw Lancia is a very fascinating vehicle.
4 When Old Meets New
BMW released tons of amazing cars during the 1980s and 1990s. The company and its subsidiary BMW Motorsports came up with the M-Series. While the M-Series was redesigning the scene, more luxurious BMWs were targeting a much more exclusive clientele. The original 8-Series has the sort of '90s European sports car designs that only got better with age.
This 836 CSL seems to have been only slightly modified. That is far from the truth. The humongous engines usually found on the original 8-Series are nowhere to be found. Instead, the S38B36 from the E34 M5 is nestled under the hood. The engine delivers 315 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Enkei rims and the polished exhaust tips give the car a very street-racer look.
3 Not Your Father's Merc
Mercedes-Benz is one of the German carmakers that has been at the forefront of innovation. When looking at the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe, it is clear that the company hires only the most skilled and creative individuals out there. The 280SL may not be as "avant-garde," but it still is a gorgeous vehicle.
Built the company Mechatronik, the 2.8L M130 inline-six was replaced by a much more potent 4.3L M113 V8 from a W202 C43 AMG. That is 302 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque on a car that size. This little convertible must sound like a true devil. This is by far one of the coolest restomodded Mercedes-Benz out there.
2 Celebrity
BMW did make some very interesting cars in the 1970s. From the 2002 to the M1, the company was doing everything it could to position itself in markets usually dominated by cars with larger displacement. As time went by, these European bullets became classics. It did not prevent professional tuners from giving it a much-needed facelift.
This restomodded 3.0CS was built by SpeedKore, the company best-known for its carbon fiber Charger and Challenger Demon. The original 3.0L M30 inline-six for the 3.8L S38 inline-six engine found on the E34 M5. Consequently, the power was increased to 300 hp, which is quite sufficient for a modded German car belonging to Robert Downey, Jr.
1 Frenchie
The brand Alpine is a mystery to many gearheads worldwide. The small French company created some extremely light and powerful perfect for hill climbing. In fact, Alpine cars have been participating in the Monte Carlo race for decades. This particular Alpine is quite an oddity, but it sure is awesome.
This twin-turbocharged Alpine GTA is nicely modified. The 3.0L now produces around 350 hp, which far more than the original 200 hp the car originally develops. Based in Germany, its owner is a huge fan of classic French cars and allegedly planned on taking the power of this GTA to 600 hp.