10 of the Greatest American Cars in History

There was a time when American cars ruled the roads. While today one can talk about cars from Japan, Germany, and Korea, half a century ago the center for the automobile universe was Detroit, Michigan. This was the mecca where some of the best American cars of all time were manufactured. This was a time when Ford and General Motors led the world in innovation in the car industry. Some of the classics that evolved in that era included the Corvette, Camaro, Challenger, and Mustang, among many others.

Whether it was their groundbreaking design, unique engine features, or powerful capabilities, the best American cars embodied the uniquely American sensation of driving freely on the open highways with the music blaring loudly. Yes, some of the best American cars of all time thrived in the era of rock and roll.

As we enter a new era of electric vehicles, American innovation is again leading the way with cars from Tesla and the Rivian. But today, we look back at some of the iconic cars of yesteryear.

The Buick Riviera was GM’s first luxury car for the masses, and it was an instant hit. The car was sleek, sporty, and powerful. The first four generation Buicks were large, comfortable, and offered a great ride, but by the 1980s and 1990s, the car had been downsized. The Buick Riviera remained on the market for more than three decades but with gas prices going sky high in the 1990s, high production costs, and competition from other manufacturers, the Buick Riviera was slowly phased out.

The Cadillac Coupe DeVille was first introduced in the late 1950s by Cadillac. It was a car that you either loved or hated. With a sweeping body style that dominated the cars of the 1970s, its slab design and distinctive tailfins paved the way for four decades of Cadillacs. It remained one of the largest sedans on American roads, but reliability was a problem. The last Cadillac Coupe DeVille was released in 2005 and still retained its long and low profile, but it was cumbersome and not fuel-efficient.

The Chevy Camaro is one of the most well-known and best American cars developed in the 1960s. The car was hurriedly designed and produced to counter the Ford Mustang. The first two generations of Camaro failed to compete well with other sportier cars, like the Mustang, and it took another 20 years before the car became reliable. The Camaro also competed with the Firebird, which was also produced by Chevy’s Pontiac division. By the end of 2000, nearly five million Camaros had been sold.

The Chevrolet Corvette had a lukewarm reception when it was first introduced in 1953. The Corvette was developed by Chevrolet to compete with British sports cars. At that time, Chevrolet was in a financial rut and decided that one way to increase car sales was to develop a sportier car. The first Corvette with its 3.9-liter engine and fiberglass body did not catch on because there were not enough buyers for expensive cars at that time. The Corvette underwent a series of transformations in the 1950s and 1960s and soon it caught America’s attention. The third generation Corvette was an elegant, powerful car that became popular among the younger generation. Over the decades, the Stingray became a popular car in the movies and TV shows and won dozens of awards for aesthetics, design, handling, and performance. Unlike many iconic cars that have vanished, the Corvette still has life. In 2023, the C8 Z06 will make its debut.

The Ford Model T (aka Leaping Lena and Tin Lizzie) was first made in 1908. It was one of the first affordable cars for middle-class Americans. Besides the low price, the car was reliable, offered a quick way to get around, and it quickly became the most sought-after car in the early 1900s. Even though it had a short lifespan of about 20 years, nearly 15 million were sold. With the era of auto modernization occurring at a rapid pace, the Ford Model T ceased to exist after 1928.

The Lincoln Continental used to be a medium to a full-size luxury car designed more for aesthetics and style rather than drivability. The first Lincolns were made just before the start of the WWII and offered Americans an imitation of a European-style luxury car. It went on to become one of the best American cars of all time. In a span of over 55 years, 10 generations of Lincoln Continentals were made. The manufacture of the Lincoln Continental marked the peak of many sophisticated designs in American car history. By the 1980s, gas prices had skyrocketed, and downsizing was the norm. Production of the Continental ceased in 2020.

The Eldorado was a luxury convertible car made by Cadillac in 1952. Later models had the distinct body shell and were known to be prohibitively expensive. The Eldorado was one of the best American cars, and top models for Cadillac during the rock and roll era. With its V12 engine, it had enormous power but was also known to be a gas guzzler. The Eldorado maintained its elite standing for 12 generations because it offered a luxurious and comfortable ride. It performed well as a personal luxury car until 2002, but competition from other European luxury cars eventually led to its demise.

The Dodge Charger was built in 1966 as a luxury personal car with muscle. It was an upscale pony car designed to compete with the likes of the Mustang and Ford’s Mercury. The first few generations did not do well because the design was poor, and the rear seating was uncomfortable. Over the decades, however, the Charger went through numerous modifications and the seventh generation of Dodge Charger still exists and is doing well today. The Charger was very popular during the 1970s and 1980s among the middle class as it signified power, wealth, and style.

The Oldsmobile might not be at the very top of anyone’s best American cars list, but it is an underrated honorable mention. It was a GM car that was originally developed by the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. It was the first high-volume gas-powered vehicle and remained a top-selling car in the early 1900s. All told, close to 35 million Oldsmobiles were made, of which 14 million were built in Michigan. The Oldsmobile was a family sedan, spacious and fun to drive. The most celebrated was the Oldsmobile Rocket with its V8 engine. The biggest negatives of the Oldsmobile were the large blind spots and the shallow roof. It underwent many facelifts over the decades, but by the 1990s, the public had lost interest in this American icon. Competition, rising labor costs, and declining sales led to its shutdown in 2004.

The Ford Mustang is undisputedly one of the best American cars of all time. It was first introduced in 1965 and, despite being developed on a tiny budget, the car was a hit. On the first day, 22,000 Mustangs were sold, and this ushered in a new era of power cars by Ford known as “Pony cars.” Currently in its sixth generation, the Mustang is the fifth best-selling Ford car of all time and one of the best American cars of all time. The Ford Mustang was styled as a convertible and a sports coupe. The entry and quick success of the Mustang led to the development of many competitors, including the Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and the Dodge Challenger, but the Mustang outlasted all of them, chiefly because it was well made.

The 1960s and the 1970s were the heyday of American automakers and many other iconic cars were made, including the Duesenberg, Jeep, Gran Torino, Monte Carlo, and many others. Most were big cars with powerful engines designed for the open highways, but, with time, there was a demand for smaller and more compact cars. Slowly, competition from Europe and Asia led to the diminishment of a significant portion of the American car industry.

Palm Beach Auto Sales Outlet knows about cars. To learn more about the luxury cars of today, call us at (561) 465-8296 or visit our showroom.