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Top 10: All-Time German Cars

Top 10: All-Time German Cars

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Some countries are known for building fast cars, some are associated with brilliant engineering, and other countries’ vehicles are exceptionally durable. Today, with few exceptions, German cars embody these three qualities. 

This makes perfect sense when you think about it: After all, Germany is the birthplace of the first patented automobile, Karl Benz’s Patent Motorwagen of 1886. It stands to reason the country would be responsible for some of the most significant cars in history. So, let’s check out 10 of them.

Ironically, these all-time German cars don’t all necessarily embody the speed/engineering/durability trifecta, but at the very least they have laid the groundwork. With each model on this top 10 all-time German cars list the year of homeland introduction is noted as well as the most desirable year(s) to own.

Number 10

Trabant - Credit: Wikimedia Commons



Ridiculed early and often for its crudeness, the Trabant kept millions of Eastern Bloc citizens occasionally mobile and warded off mosquitoes, thanks to its smoky two-stroke engine. The rules of communist engagement meant that people literally had to wait years to take delivery on these plastic-bodied cars. Since the fall of communism, Trabis (especially the P 601 cars of 1963-1989) have become cult icons. Yet, neither that nor the Trabant 1.1, a modest improvement with a four-stroke engine, was enough to keep the factory humming past 1991. Craptacular as they were, they still made an impression as all-time German cars that lives on today.      

Number 9

1976 VW GTI - Credit: VolkswagenVolkswagen GTI


The early 1970s weren’t great years to be in product planning at Volkswagen. The Beetle was losing momentum and anticipated replacement models were flops. Salvation came in 1974, with the arrival of the Golf. Enthusiast types within VW realised the potential for even greater greatness and added power to this all-time German car, and launched the European-market GTI in 1976. The GTI’s success spawned the Hot Hatch movement and plenty of contenders, each out to prove performance and economy, could coexist. Five generations on, the GTI is still a fun drive.

Number 8

BMW 597 - Credit: Wikimedia Commnos

BMW 507


One of the most famous and influential BMWs also nearly sunk the company. In the years following World War II, Max Hoffman began importing European cars to the U.S. Having considerable influence with the manufacturers he represented, he convinced the Bavarians to build a convertible for 1957 that could go toe-to-toe with Jaguars and the like. Exceptionally high production costs resulted in the 507’s premium target price of £2,500. And even then BMW lost money with every 507 built. Production ended in 1960, but the 507’s virtues resonated within the company for years to follow, influencing milestone cars like the 1500, M1 and even the more recent Z8.

We're not done yet; there are more all-time German cars to check out...

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