GM picks its own top 10 cars of the past 100 years

Posted Tue Aug 26 2008 12:14 PM by Nelson Ireson

The Internet, and America in particular, loves top 10 lists. Whether they're favorite cars or simply reasons to vote, top 10 lists fuel many a spirited watercooler discussion. General Motors' most recent addition to the cultural phenomenon is no different, with a few odd choices for its own favorite 10 vehicles of the company's first 100 years.

For instance, The 1964 Pontiac GTO, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air and 1953 Chevrolet Corvette are all no-brainers. But cars like the oddball 1950 Saab 92 or the conspiracy-theory favorite 1996 EV1 electric car make for a clearer picture of GM's intent in compiling the list. Small and efficient are a theme, but so too are powerful and technologically innovative elements such as the V16 engine in the 1930 Cadillac V16 and the electric-start-pioneering 1912 Cadillac.

Taking a 10-slice cross-section of any company with a history as varied as GM's is a difficult thing to do with any accuracy, but the company has managed to choose a list of vehicles that not only outline what has been done in the past, but also outlines what is to come. The Volt plug-in hybrid, Corvette ZR-1 and all-new Camaro are in many ways the modern-day equivalent of many of the cars on that list.

General Motors Top 10 vehicles of the past 100 years:

1. 1950 Saab 92

2. 1964 Pontiac GTO

3. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette

4. 1996 EV1

5. 1936 Opel Olympia

6. 1927 LaSalle

7. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

8. 1930 Cadillac V16

9. 1910 Cadillac Model 30

10. 1912 Cadillac

Via: The Detroit Free Press

Reader Comments

Tue Aug 26 2008 12:57 PM
Chris says

yeah the 1912 should be high up there.. it's how cadillac became synonymous with luxury... no more broken hands and lost teeth
Tue Aug 26 2008 1:44 PM
Strada Auto Store says

The Corvette and Shoebox Chevy are iconic. Thanks for the information.
Tue Aug 26 2008 2:49 PM
oldscoob says

the saab 92 as number 1. did the one weirdo who made this list get fired? or was he just japanese american..being what they be...
Tue Aug 26 2008 8:13 PM
OMAR says

@ oldscoob:

lol, you are such an ignorant racist, and you really know nothing of GM design,

check Larry Shinoda, he designed many many icons including some of the best designs ever to come out of GM,
Tue Aug 26 2008 10:00 PM
HECTOR says

Honestly I wipe my crevasse with this list. I wonder how they could leave the Escalade EXT out of it!
Wed Aug 27 2008 12:03 AM
dcars says

It is an interesting list and I think Bob Lutz had a lot to say what cars are on it. I know Bob L. owns a Lasalle, but the Saab?

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