The \"European Car of the Year\" competition has long been a benchmark for the entire industry: over half a century, its laureates have included the Fiat 124, which became the basis for the VAZ-2101, the Volkswagen Golf, and the Toyota Yaris. But once, the organizers decided to raise the bar even higher and determine not just the best car of the year, but the best car of the entire 20th century.
The task turned out to be much more difficult: dozens of experts from different countries spent several years analyzing cars that really influenced the development of the automotive industry.
From 700 to 5: The Path to the Top
Work on the project began in 1996. Initially, the list included more than 700 models, representing all eras and schools of automotive engineering. The complete list, alas, has not been preserved, but it is known that 25 nominees remained in the final.
The evaluation took place in two stages — with the help of an Internet vote and decisions of a professional jury. As a result, five cars received the title of the best, each deservedly earning a place in history in its own way.
5th Place — Porsche 911
A sports icon that has hardly changed over the decades. The Porsche 911 has become the standard for combining power, handling, and everyday practicality. It is equally at home on the race track and in city traffic.
The characteristic silhouette with a sloping rear and rear engine placement has become the hallmark of the brand. It was the 911 that transformed Porsche from a niche sports car manufacturer into a global symbol of automotive perfection.
4th Place — Volkswagen Beetle
The legendary \"Beetle\" is a true symbol of the era. This modest hatchback gave millions of people the opportunity to get behind the wheel for the first time. Created as a car for the people, the Beetle became the basis for the mass motorization of Europe.
Despite its simple design and modest characteristics, the model was popular for decades. The classic generation was produced until 2003, after which it gave way to the more modern Polo and Golf.
3rd Place — Citroën DS
A French sensation of the mid-20th century. In 1955, the Citroën DS caused a revolution: hydropneumatic suspension, adjustable ground clearance, swivel headlights, and an aerodynamic body — all this looked like science fiction.
The car caused such a sensation that more than 12,000 cars were ordered on the first day. Over twenty years, one and a half million copies were produced. Yes, the complex design required special maintenance, but the DS will forever remain a symbol of engineering courage and French design.
2nd Place — Mini
Small but mighty. The tiny Mini hatchback proved that a compact car can be both comfortable and dynamic. Engineers did the impossible — they placed four seats and a trunk in a body just over three meters long.
The Mini became an icon of the 1960s, a favorite of youth and a movie hero. Its principles — front-wheel drive and transverse engine placement — subsequently became the standard for the entire class of compact cars. Today, a whole line of models is produced under the Mini brand, which are part of the BMW concern.
1st Place — Ford T
The winner was the car that started the era of mass automotive production. The Ford T did not just become popular — it changed the very philosophy of production. It was Henry Ford who introduced the assembly line, thanks to which the assembly of one car took only an hour and a half.
The Ford T made cars accessible to millions, and its black color was not a design whim, but a technological solution: this paint dried faster, speeding up production. Thanks to it, a real automotive revolution began.
The \"Car of the Century\" competition became a kind of summing up of the 20th century. Each of the winners changed the industry in its own way — whether it was mass production, technology, design, or engineering philosophy.
Today their names are known to everyone — Ford T, Mini, Citroën DS, Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911. They are not just cars — they are milestones in history, without which it is impossible to imagine the modern automotive industry.
