12 impressively designed antique car models that were once popular

The strong development of the automobile industry is evidenced by the appearance of a series of increasingly modern versions of cars and fierce competition. However, classic cars still occupy a certain position in the market because of their unique designs, especially impressive for men.

The highlight of classic cars is the diversity in design. These versions are a witness to the history of the development of the automotive industry.

1. Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger classic car is considered a symbol of the American "muscle car" (also known as Muscle car, referring to a segment of mid-sized sports cars with large engine capacity) and became famous when it appeared regularly in many movies such as: Fast and Furious, The Dukes of Hazzard,...

The first generation of Dodge Charger was officially born in 1966. A special feature on this version is the interior with a center console extending from the front seats to the rear. The design is inspired by the Chrysler 300 of the 1960s - 1962. Although the Dodge Charger was born, it was not intended to compete directly with the performance of the Pony cars. However, the inclusion of Chrysler's famous 426 Hemi V8 engine has made the Dodge Charger a much-loved model.

In addition, the hood contour and grille are made of embossed metal, completing the headlight unit. The taillight cluster at the rear with the prominent chrome "CHARGER" lettering is considered one of the designs and features not seen on Chrysler vehicles since 1942. The interior is equipped with:

Wood grain imitation steering wheel.
The rear seats and the center armrest at the back can be folded forward to create ample space for the luggage compartment.
The lights, doors are covered with vinyl and decorated very aesthetically.
The control panel does not use ordinary light bulbs, but instead is equipped with luminescent electricity for lighting.
Classic Dodge Charger cars use a three-speed manual transmission and four engine models. With design and ownership features, this car version has brought the manufacturer a total production of up to 37,344 units when it was introduced in 1966. In subsequent generations, the classic Dodge Charger car has many new improvements to better suit the needs of users.

2. Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was conceived from a racing sports car called the W194 and has no plans for mass production. In 1951, the company Daimler-Benz (founded in 1926 by the merger of two pioneering German automobile companies, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz) decided to participate in a competition, and the production plan was also for this purpose. In 1952, this sedan set a record in major races, bringing many impressive successes. After that, W194 continued to be upgraded to a new version, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, which added a mechanical direct fuel injection system, a rear-axle transmission and 16-inch wheels.

The body of the car is made of Elektron magnesium alloy, which reduces weight, while supporting better movement and acceleration. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was also present at the New York International Motor Show in February 1954 and received a lot of positive feedback. Some outstanding features in the Mercedes-Benz 300SL include:

Impressive and meticulous "bird wing" opening door design, providing the correct opening angle as well as ensuring the hinge works smoothly.
The body design is capable of reducing aerodynamic drag.
Balanced car size, dynamic design.
The frame system has good rigidity and bearing capacity.
Using 6-cylinder engine, directional injection system.
Luxurious interior, bringing comfort to users.

3. Aston Martin DB5
Aston Martin DB5 classic car was produced in 1963, is one of the British luxury car models. DB5 is the famous James Bond car in cinema, specifically the James Bond movie Goldfinger. This version is designed based on the framework of the previous DB4 series but with many improvements to the chassis system. In addition, the DB5 expands to a 4L engine, producing a large capacity of up to 282 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque.

Specifications:

Fuel supply: three SU carburetors.
Power: 282 bhp (286 PS; 210 kW) at 5,500 rpm, 210 bhp (213 PS; 157 kW) Net.
Torque: 288 lb-ft (390Nm) at 3,850 rpm.
Weight: 1,502kg (3,311lb).
Design:

All-aluminum engine.
Standard equipment: Reclining seats, power windows, wool carpets, double fuel tanks, oil coolers, chrome wheels,...
The body of the car is made of magnesium alloy, manufactured according to advanced techniques.
The entire interior of the cabin is decorated with leather, including the fire extinguisher.

4. Shelby AC Cobra
The Shelby AC Cobra was successfully produced in 1964 by Carroll Shelby. This model became a surprise version because it was equipped with a large engine capacity of up to 362kW (485 hp; 492 PS). This is an extreme sports car model, so it is not equipped with various equipment. Vehicles do not have a roof like conventional cars, instead there is a tarp and plexiglas side windows to prevent rain. The highlight of the Shelby AC Cobra is its powerful engine, impressive roaring sound, creating attractiveness for the driver.

5. Porsche 356
Porsche 356 appeared around the years 1948 - 1949 in the collection of Porsche Konstruktionen. This sports car was originally designed by Ferry Porsche, the son of the co-founder of the Austrian factory. This car version is produced based on driving experience inspiration from Alfa Romeo, BMW and Volkswagen Cabriolet. However, Ferry Porsche's goal was to create a model that was lighter, with more horsepower, than the cars of the time.

Upon completion, in 1948, the Porsche 356 entered the race at Innsbruck and finished first in its class. The first cars were sold mainly in Germany and Austria. In the early 1950s, the Porsche 356 became famous and conquered car enthusiasts because of its good handling, aerodynamics and outstanding engine power.

6. Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type is a sports car produced by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. This version is inspired by the D-Type racing car of the same company, which won three years in a row (1955 - 1958). In 2004, Sports Car International magazine highly rated the E-Type among the sports cars in its segment in the 1960s. In March 2008, this classic car model continued to be on the list of The Daily Telegraph. In addition, E-Type also appeared in many popular comic books such as Diabolik, Austin Powers movie and other Mad Men TV series.

This version is considered an icon of the automotive world. Top speed is 150 mph (241km/h). In addition, the design is also very unique with a single structure, disc brakes, racks, gears and front and rear suspension are all independent.

7. Boss 429 Mustang
The Boss 429 Mustang is recognized as one of the most valuable and rare "muscle cars" available today. In 1969, this version was designed with the goal of competing with the 426 Hemi engine from Chrysler in the NASCAR Grand National Championship. The Boss 429 was built as a Mustang Fastback, limited production to meet the requirements of the competition.

The engine of this version is upgraded from the Ford 385 engine. Specifically, the Boss 429 Mustang uses an engine with an aluminum cylinder head, with a hemispherical combustion chamber. These headers use separate cooling circuit for the block and head to reduce hot spots. In 1968, Boss 429 began to be produced at the Ford Rouge factory with many new improvements, especially the construction of a larger and more powerful engine.

8. Volkswagen Beetle
The classic Volkswagen Beetle was produced by Chief Engineer Ferdinand Porsche and his team from 1930 to 1938. However, due to the influence of World War II, civil Beetles were only really produced in significant numbers in the late 1940s. This version was later internally named Volkswagen Type 1 and marketed as Volkswagen. Subsequent models were called Volkswagen 1200, 1300, 1500, 1302 and 1303 respectively. In which the former three showed the displacement of the engine, the latter two had numbers taken from the model number.

9. Volvo P1800
The P1800 became famous when it was driven by British actor Roger Moore in the television series The Saint, which aired from 1962 to 1969. The original idea arose in 1957 when Volvo wanted a sports car to compete with other brands in the US and European markets. Design work was carried out by the son of technical advisor Helmer Petterson - Pelle, under the tutelage of Pietro Frua. The first three prototypes were built from September 1957 - January 1958 and launched in September 1958: P958 - X1, P958 - X2 and P958 - X3.

In December 1957, Helmer Petterson drove the X1 to Osnabruck and intended the first cars to hit the market in December 1958. However, in February 1958, due to some customer problems, this plan was discontinued.

In January 1960, after much effort, the car was presented to the public for the first time at the Brussels Motor Show. In September 1960, the P1800 model was officially sold.

10. McLaren F1
In 1985, a British businessman and his racing car enthusiast friend Ron Dennis founded the McLaren Group. The original F1 version was just a show car at exhibitions, but after its introduction, this sports car has conquered car enthusiasts around the world.

This classic car model is very rare and difficult to own. From 1992 to 1998, the number produced was only 106 units. F1 has a three-seat design, in which the driver's seat is placed in the middle. The car is light in weight, only about 1,138kg thanks to the production of a carbon fiber frame.

11. Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1975 to replace two versions, Dino 246 GT and GTS. This model has a V8 F106 AB engine with four Weber 40DCNF carburetors, two chokes and a single coil ignition.

The highlight of the 308 GTB/GTS is its completely glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) body design, so the vehicle weight is very light, only about 1,050kg (2,315lb). By June 1977, this model was converted to a steel body, resulting in an increase in overall weight by about 150kg (331lb).

12. Austin-Healey 3000

The Austin-Healey 3000 was a sports car produced from 1959-1967. The bodywork was manufactured by Jensen Motors and assembled at BMC's MG Works in Abingdon, along with the group's other MG models.

During production, the Austin-Healey 3000 transformed from a sports car into a dynamic and unique convertible. In 1963, 91.5% of these 3,000 models were exported, mainly to North America. The Austin-Healey 3000 also enjoyed great success in European racing and is still featured in vintage car competitions today.