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Car models may span generations, but their design is constantly evolving, with new innovations by certain trailblazing vehicles paving the way for changes to occur in both form and style.
More than anything, cars are a reflection of culture and the national zeitgeist.
Every year has had a new car emerge which added its own flair to the auto industry.
Here are the coolest cars from each year between 1950 through 2018.
No decade of car design is ever the same. Models may span generations, but their design is constantly evolving, with new innovations by certain trailblazing vehicles paving the way for changes to occur in both form and style.
Over time, specific brands differentiate themselves from the competition, usually with a new vision of what a car can look like and how it can improve the driving experience. Think about the effect of the 1980 Audi Quattro, as it pioneered four-wheel-drive and its boxy shape paved the way for a new modernity to emerge in automotive bodies.
More than anything, cars are a reflection of culture and the national zeitgeist. For example, the BMC Mini, which defined 1960s British pop-culture, or to the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, arguably the greatest "muscle car" ever made by an American automaker.
Going one step further, watch how your mind is immediately brought back to the 1980s when you take one look at the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Ferrari F-40. Simply put, cars are capstone statements for their times.
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Similarly, cars can also point to changing consumer patterns and emerging societal trends. For instance, the 2010s were an era when plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt and all-electric vehicles like Tesla's Model X appeared in the market, demonstrating a new eco-conscious shift as the ramifications from climate change became an increasingly prominent force in our lives.
Every year a new car has emerged which added its own flair to the auto industry.
For those seeking to go on a time-travel odyssey, take a look below at nearly 70 years of automotive history, as we profile the coolest cars from each year between 1950 through 2019.
1951: Land Rover Defender Series I — The original Land Rover Defender was born in Britain as a response to the popularity of Jeeps in the United Kingdom
1961: Lincoln Continental — There are few cars as "American" as the Lincoln Continental, with the fourth-generation '61 version showcasing a four-door convertible.
1962: Studebaker Avanti - A personal luxury coupe built between June 1962 and December 1963, the Studebaker Avanti saw fewer than 6,000 produced.
1964: Aston Martin DB5 — A classic car from the British luxury carmaker, the Aston Martin DB5 was featured in the 2012 James Bond film "Skyfall" — but Bond first drove it in 1964's "Goldfinger."
1966: Lamborghini Miura — A car that changed the sports-car design game with its mid-engined, two-seat layout, the Miura was originally supposed to be limited to just 30 units.
1968: Dodge Charger — Notice the large front-end hood, which captures the use of Chrysler's B-body platform, an innovation that Chrysler used on its models from 1966-1978.
1969: Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II — A muscle-era sports car, the Cyclone Spoiler was developed by Mercury, with two NASCAR drivers providing input.
1971: Jaguar E-Type Series 3 — Introduced in 1971, the E-Type was ranked first in a 2004 "Most Beautiful Cars of All Time" list by the Daily Telegraph, with four times as many votes as any other car.
1974: Triumph TR7 — A unique blend of European styling and that American power under the hood, the Triumph TR7 was praised for its spacious two-seat interior when it was released.
1976: AMC Pacer — American Motor Corporation may have folded 30 years ago, but the '74 Pacer still captures attention, with its large glass windowpane and round front-end shape.
1977: Pontiac Trans Am — A true American original, the Trans Am "Firebird" became famous for its role in Burt Reynold's classic film "Smokey and the Bandit."
1978: Porsche 928 — Just look at those pop-up headlights. Classic.
1979: Buick Riviera — This classic sixth edition of the Riviera featured front-wheel drive, which was still rather novel in those days.
1980: Audi Quattro — A car that truly changed the game in both design, as it differed sharply from the previous models on this list, and function—the Quattro pioneered four-wheel drive.
1981: DeLorean DMC-12 — Made famous by the "Back to the Future" movie series, the DeLorean DMC-12 had no paint, as the body was made from stainless steel.
1982: Lotus Espirit Turbo — With its aerodynamic angles, it's not surprising the Lotus Espirit Turbo was featured in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only."
1983: Lamborghini Countach LP500S — Countach models are all impressive, but probably the coolest thing about them was the upward-opening "scissor doors" that defined certain 1980s sports cars.
1984: Corvette C4 — Notice the change of style here as we enter the '80s. The C4 exemplified this with its sleek, angular look. It was the first Corvette convertible seen in a decade.
1986: Buick Grand National Turbo — Nicknamed the "Darth Vader Car" because of the popularity of the "Star Wars" films, the all-black Grand National is still really cool looking.
1987: Ferrari F40 (tie) — Similar in design to the Countach, the F40 is truly legendary. It set a record by shattering the 200-mph mark, becoming the world’s fastest production car at that time.
1987: Porsche 959 (tie) — With adjustable suspension and intelligent four-wheel-drive, the 959 was considered "the most technologically advanced car of its era."
1989: Lancia Delta Integrale — A car specifically designed for rally-cross racing, the '89 Delta Integrale won the San Remo Rally in Italy that same year.
1990: Honda/Acura NSX — This Japanese-produced sports car stunned audiences when it first came out with an all-aluminum monocoque body, forged pistons, and titanium connecting rods.
1991: Dodge Viper SR1 — No car said "Welcome to the '90s" quite like the Dodge Viper, especially with its powerful V10 engine and five-speed manual transmission.
1994: Toyota Supra —A cool and sleek sports car out of Japan, the mid-90s Supra rose to prominence when it was driven by Paul Walker in 2002's "The Fast and the Furious."
2001: Honda S2000 — Featuring an F20C inline 4 engine specifically produced for the S2000, this sports car's release was targeted to match Honda's 50th birthday.
2002: Enzo Ferrari — Named after the company's eponymous founder, the 2002 Enzo Ferrari was a true luxury sports car, with the 400th Enzo selling for $1.1 million at an auction.
2006: Chrysler 300 SRT-8 — The 300C SRT8's monster V-8 engine boasted 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. It was an old fashioned muscle car in a family sedan era.
2007: Audi R8 — Fast and beautiful, the R8 had an aluminum skin and channeled 420-horsepower through a V-8 engine.
2010: Lexus LFA — Lexus entered the sports car market with the LFA in 2010 and the results were a hit. A Lexus executive recently said, "The LFA is an icon now and possibly always...It is a car we can reference for another 25 years if we choose."
2011: Chevy Volt — Bringing us into the electric vehicle era, the Volt is a top-selling plug-in hybrid and was named 2011 Green Car of the Year, 2011 Car of the Year, and 2011 World Green Car.
2012: Tesla Model S — A car that truly broke the mold, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk created an all electric car that drove like a luxury sedan and also gained 270 miles per charge.
2013: McLaren P1 — This plug-in, hybrid sports car considered a successor to 1993's McLaren F1, packed 903 horsepower and could go from 0-60 mpg in 2.8 seconds.
2014: BMW i8 — With its carbon-fiber chassis, BMW's plug-in hybrid was surely different, as an electric motor powered the front wheels and a gasoline engine drove the rear ones.
2016: Tesla Model X — Tesla's second major all-electric car, the Model X was an eye-catching crossover SUV that could be had with a 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system.
2018: Tesla Model 3 — The car that may make or break Tesla, the Model 3 has been called "completely brilliant" and features "high-caliber semi-self driving."
