Throughout the history of the automobile, some cars have come along that have truly put a manufacturer on the map. Be it a supercar like the Lamborghini Miura or something more humble like the Citroen 2CV, they put their creators firmly at the public’s attention.
This list contains ten of those cars. We’ve selected them based on their cultural impact, which can sometimes be positive but sometimes negative, and, in some cases, the number of sales they have accumulated over the years.
Ford Model T
Few cars can claim to have had such an impact as the Ford Model T. Introduced in 1908, the Model T remained in production until 1927 and is considered the first mass-affordable automobile, finally unlocking road travel for the masses.
Over its production run, Ford produced over 15 million Model Ts, making it the most-sold car in history prior to the Volkswagen Beetle in 1972. Incredibly, this means a significant number have survived to become classic cars.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle project started before the commencement of World War 2. However, it was after the war that the car put its makers firmly on the map. The Beetle was designed as a “people’s car,” and while the war clouded that, it would finally fulfill its promise after hostilities ceased.
The Beetle was a basic, mass-produced, and affordable car that families could take advantage of. It had simple but reliable inline-four engines under the hood, and by the time production ceased in 2003, over 21 million had left the factories.
Citroen 2CV
The Citroen 2CV is another car of the people, and it would make its debut in 1948. The 2CV was conceived by Citroën Vice-President Pierre Boulanger, who wanted to mobilize the farmers still using horses and carts in 1930s France.
It soon became a huge cultural icon for France, retaining its basic design and shape until its production ended in 1990. Cheap to make, rugged, and reliable, Citroen had sold over 3.8 million 2CVs by 1990, and it has since become a hugely popular vehicle for classic car enthusiasts.
Lexus LS 400
The Lexus LS 400, which debuted in 1989, launched Toyota’s new luxury division and set new standards for luxury vehicles globally. What made the LS 400 so popular was that it directly challenged European rivals, undercutting them on price without compromising on luxury.
The LS 400’s power came from a 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8 engine that produced 242 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It was fast, with a top speed of 155 mph, but also incredibly quiet and comfortable. Even in 2025, some 36 years after its introduction, the LS 400 still feels high-end.
First Generation Honda Civic
The first generation Honda Civic wasn’t the Japanese manufacturer’s first production car, but it arguably was the one that made it a household name. The Civic benefited from lessons learned with the earlier Hondas N600 and 1300, with a new straight-four engine producing 50 horsepower and excellent standard features such as its power front disc brakes.
The Civic was one of the first Hondas sold outside of Japan. It soon made its mark in countries such as the United Kingdom, where it became a serious rival to Nissan and Toyota. The compact design and economical engine made it even more appealing after the 1973 oil crisis.
DeLorean DMC-12
The striking DeLorean DMC-12 put John DeLorean’s Delorean Motor Company on the map but for all the wrong reasons. The Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed car was DeLorean’s attempt at making the ultimate sports car, and it certainly stood out thanks to its stainless steel body panels and gullwing doors.
Sadly, the DMC-12 suffered from terrible build quality and a chronic lack of power. Its 2.85-liter Peugeot-Renault-Volvo engine made just 130 horsepower. The DMC-12 was also involved in the drug trafficking scandal surrounding DeLorean himself. By 1983, the car and company were no more.
Lamborghini Miura
The incredible Lamborghini Miura is widely seen as the world’s first supercar and the one that firmly puts the iconic manufacturer on the map. Unveiled in 1966, the Miura was powered by a 3.9-liter L406 V12 engine, with initial versions making 345 horsepower.
The Miura quickly earned high praise thanks to Marcello Gandini’s sleek design and the mid-engine layout. Unlike Ferrari’s rivals, Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted the Miura to be not only fast but also comfortable, something he felt was lacking in Enzo Ferrari’s cars.
Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT signaled to the world that Japan could indeed make a sports car to rival the best in Europe. Initially, Nissan and Yamaha collaborated on the project; the former pulled out, and Yamaha partnered with Toyota to finish it off.
The 2000GT had a stunning, sleek coupe design similar to the British Jaguar E-Type. Its power came from a 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter inline-six, producing up to 148 horsepower. Warning shots were fired when the 2000GT compared very favorably to the Porsche 911 of the day, and suddenly, rivals in Europe began to take Japanese cars much more seriously.
Aston Martin DB5
You could argue that the DB4 is the car that put Aston Martin on the map. However, the DB5 really made the company a household name, thanks to its starring role in the various James Bond films.
Launching in 1963, the DB5 was an incredible grand tourer with one of the best designs of any car of the era. Its power comes from a 4.0-liter straight-six engine making up to 325 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque. The body was designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, and it remains the most famous car Aston Martin has ever made.
First Generation Ford Mustang
By the mid-1960s, the muscle car scene was exploding, and Ford’s contribution to that was, of course, the first-generation Mustang. Launched in 1964, the first generation of the Mustang was instantly a hit thanks to its long hood and short deck design and, of course, thanks to Ford’s V8 power.
Ford would produce a myriad of Mustangs across the first generation. There was the Boss 429, boasting the huge 429 ci V8 that Ford had hoped to use in NASCAR. There was also the Mach-1, the name of which Ford took for its Mustang Mach-E electric crossover.
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