Ferrari F40
year 1987
It's my all time favourite supercar and in my opinion the best looking Ferrari ever made. It was built to be as simple as possible. With its obsessive weight saving, the car was just 1100 Kg heavy, with doors that weight only 1.5 Kg each! A figure that is completely impossible to achieve today thanks to all the technology put in modern supercars..
The F40 came to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the prancing horse and it did it in a very proud way. A number of 400 F40's was initially planned for production, but the car met such a huge succes that finally a total of 1311 were built.
Tech. Spec. (*):
Engine: 3.0 L Twin Turbo V8
power: 478 Hp (at 7000rpm)
weight: 1100 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 4.1s
top speed: 324 km/h (203mph)
(*) source: Ferrari official website
Mercedes-benz CLK-GTR
year 1997
Born essentially for racing needs, only a total of 25 road going CLK-GTR's were made. And that's what makes it so special and so rare. Despite its name, the car doesn't have that much in common with the mass produced CLK coupe, exept maybe headlights and tailights..When it comes to styling, the front and rear fenders make the line of the car so pure especially when both sides meet in the rear spoiler in the coupe version.. Exquisite!
Power comes from an AMG 6.9L V12 engine that produces 612 hp, the same engine is still serving as a basis for the ultra exclusive track focused Pagani Zonda R.
Tech. Spec. (*):
Engine: Mercedes-Benz AMG 7.3L V12
power: 612 Hp (at 6800rpm)
weight: 1545 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 3.8s
top speed: 320 km/h (200mph)
*source: several
Mclaren F1
year 1992
Now we are going to talk about a car that has defined a new standard for supercars, a car that stayed unbeaten in terms of performance for more than ten years, a car with a lot of history in motorsports..
The F1 came with the same philosophy as the F40: being the purest driver's car or more exactly as Mclaren has described it: «the finest drivers’ car ever built, or ever likely to be built».
The F1 wighted just 1140 Kg and with its BMW powered V12 that produced 627 hp, it had one of the lowest power to weight ratios. That helped it have a top speed of 386,7 km/h (240,1 mph) which remained unbeaten for more than ten years.
When it comes to styling, the F1 is well known for its central driving position and its butterfly doors. Even today, the design of the car still looks as fresh and pure.
The Mclaren F1 was a perfect basis for a race car, it won numerous races including the 63rd edition of the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans.
106 Mclaren F1's were made.
Tech. Spec. (*):
Engine: BMW 6.1 L V12
power: 627 Hp (at 6150rpm)
weight: 1140 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 3.2s
top speed: 386 km/h (240mph)
(*) source: several
Porsche Carrera GT
year 2002
Carrera GT means one thing for me: one of the most beautiful sounds that have ever came out of a V10. It's also one of the best looking supercars that have appeared in the 21st century.
The 5.7 L V10 produced 612 hp and the car weighted 1380 Kg, which is unfortunately not a big deal compared to the F1 and the F40, but is relatively light compared to modern supercars..
The Carrera GT is known for being a bit hard to handle which makes it a proper driver's car. However, it's commonly admitted that it's confortable enough to be an everyday car.
1270 of them were made from an initially planned 1500 production run.
Tech. Spec. (*):
Engine: 5.7 L V10
power: 612 Hp (at 6150rpm)
weight: 1380 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 3.9s
top speed: 330 km/h (207mph)
(*) source: several
Pagani Zonda F
year 2005
The Pagani Zonda is just one of the most interesting supercars that have appeared in the last decade in terms of performance and design. It combines the pureness of Italian design and the exellence of German engineering. The design of the car makes it stick perfectly to the ground at high speeds. The 7.3L Mercedes-Benz AMG powered V12 gives the car endless acceleration, and what a sound!
One of the other things that make me respect the Zonda is its lightness, the car weights just 1230 Kg.
Tech. spec. (*):
Engine: Mercedes-Benz AMG 7.3L V12
power: 602 Hp (at 6150rpm)
weight: 1230 Kg
naught to 100 km/h (62mph): 3.6s
top speed: 345 km/h (216mph)
(*) source: Pagani official website
Now i want to talk for a while about the ultimate Zonda: the Zonda R:
The Zonda R shares only 10% with the F version and is completely track focused. It was designed to be the ultimate Zonda with no restrictions on power or regulations. That makes it not road legal... However, there is an homologated version for the road and it's called the Zonda Cinque for those wish to drive this beauty on the public roads. Oh wait! they are all sold.
Koenigsegg CCX
year 2006
Koenigsegg, the fresh founded Sweedish company that came to make one of the craziest, fastest, most good looking, radical supercars in the last dacade: the CCR. And now it even did better with the astonishing CCX.
The styling of the car is very unique especially when it comes to the design of the driver and passenger cabin. It is also well known for its ingenious vertically opening doors
Thanks to its low weight, 1280 Kg, and to the 806 Hp coming from the in house developped 4.7 L V8, the CCX can reach a top speed of nearly 395 km/h (245mph).
Tech. spec. (*):
Engine: Koenigsegg 4.7 L V8
power: 806 Hp (at 7000rpm)
weight: 1280 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 3.2s
top speed: 395 km/h (245mph)
(*) source: Koenigsegg official website
Ferrari 250 GTO
year 1962
Tech. Spec. (*):
Engine: 3.0L V12
power: 300 Hp (at 7400rpm)
weight: 880 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): -
top speed: 280 km/h (175mph)
(*) source: Ferrari official website
Jaguar E type
year 1961
Even if the Jaguar E type wasn't that expensive or rare as a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL or a BMW 507 roadster, it still is one of the most good looking Jaguars ever made. And due to the large number of E types that were produced over the years, there were different versions. Starting from the 3.8 L six cylinder powered series I to the V12 powered series III.
And i'm not the only one who admits that the series I was better looking than the later versions. It can be distinguished by its front grille and its glass covered headlights. You can recognize the series III by its highly modified front air intake that provides better cooling for the new V12. However fitting the E type with a V12 didn't make it that much sportier than its older sisters due to the extra weight of the new engine. Tech. spec. (*):
Engine: 3.8 L six cylinder (series 1)
power: 265 hp
weight: 1315 Kg (FHC: Fixed Head Coupe)
1256 Kg (OTS: Open Two Seater)
1402 Kg (2+2)
naught to 97km/h (60mph): 7.1s
top speed: 240 km/h (150mph)
(*) source: several
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
year 1955
The 300 SL is one of the most iconic models in the history of Mercedes-Benz. It's unbelievably beautiful, powerful and innovative.
The 300 SL had a complicated tibular frame which made it lighter and improved its handling. It also featured stunning gullwing doors which are still inspiring the latest supercar coming from Mercedes-Benz sporty division: the AMG SLS gullwing.
Thanks to its performance and rareness, the 300 SL is one of today's most expensive and seeked classic cars.
Tech. spec. (*):
Engine: six cylinder
power: 215 hp
weight: 1295 Kg
naught to 100km/h (62mph): 10s
top speed: 260 km/h (163mph)
(*) source: several
BMW 507 Roadster
year 1956
Many describe the 507 roadster as the most beautiful vehicle made by the Bavarian automaker and i think i'm one of them. I really respect today's BMW's and in my opinion, they really deserve to be called "ultimate driving machines". But when it comes to styling, i think none of them matches the 507.
Despite being an exellent car, the 507 came at a time when BMW had deep financial problems and it didn't meet the success the firm was expecting from it. And that was essentially due to high production costs. Finally, only a total of 251 BMW 507's were built
Tech. spec. (*):
Engine: 3.2L V8
power: 150 hp (at 5000rpm)
top speed: 205 km/h (129mph)
(*) source: BMW official website
Some of you may have noticed the abscence of the infamous Bugatti Veyron or some other iconic supercars. I just want to say that i have a huge respect for the Veyron and its capabilities, as well as cars like the Aston Martin DBS or the Lamborghini Murciélago and an endless number of Ferraris and other supercars... But each one of the cars cited above have something that captured my attention more than the others...
I hope you liked my little presentation and i will be glad to know your opinion about this little article. and let me know your list!
I did my best to gather the most correct technical data, facts and numbers. However, if you spot some incorrect informations please let me know.
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