Austin Mini
American car enthusiasts know Mini for its 21st-century modern iteration from BMW after the German brand bought Rover in the ’90s. But the Mini’s story dates back to 1959 and it’s a very interesting one. Even though the British car industry is full of expensive and limited-production models, the Mini proved to be the most influential and timeless car. The reason for such praise is that the Mini is an immensely capable little car that influenced every car maker since (via ARO Online).
When it was first introduced in the late ’50s, the Mini featured an unusual concept of the transversely mounted engine with front-wheel drive. That was something no one had in those days. Fast forward 60 years and all front-wheel drive compact cars in the world have the same layout as the Mini. On the other hand, the Mini was the champion of usability since it was tiny from the outside but could seat five people on the inside. Even though it had just 34 hp from the factory, this little car won some of the world’s most prestigious races such as the Rally Monte Carlo thanks to its low weight, front-wheel drive agility, and precise handling.