Eras
A century of European automotive heritage, decade by decade
1920s
The birth of the automobile as we know it. Lancia invented the monocoque with the Lambda. Mercedes built the supercharged SSK. Bentley won Le Mans. The foundations of European automotive engineering were laid in this decade.
1930s
Speed and elegance. The Mercedes Silver Arrows dominated Grand Prix racing. Bugatti built the Atlantic, possibly the most beautiful car ever made. Ferdinand Porsche designed the Volkswagen. The golden age of coachbuilding reached its peak.
1940s
Rebirth from ruins. Post-war Europe rebuilt its car industry from bombed-out factories. Porsche built the first 356 in a sawmill in Austria. The Citroen 2CV and VW Beetle began motorizing nations. The Jaguar XK120 became the fastest car in the world.
1950s
The sports car era begins. The Mercedes 300 SL introduced fuel injection and gullwing doors. The BMW 507 nearly bankrupted its maker. Ferrari and Jaguar battled at Le Mans. Porsche's 550 Spyder became James Dean's last ride.
1960s
The golden age. Enzo Ferrari called the Jaguar E-Type the most beautiful car ever made. Lamborghini invented the mid-engine supercar with the Miura. The Ferrari 250 GTO became the most valuable car in history. The MINI won Monte Carlo three times.
1970s
Extremes and crisis. The Lamborghini Countach defined the supercar silhouette. The oil crisis threatened the performance car. BMW launched the 3, 5, 6, and 7 Series in a single decade. Lancia and Porsche battled for rally supremacy.
1980s
Turbo power and Group B. The Ferrari F40 broke 200 mph. Audi's Quattro revolutionized all-wheel drive. Group B rallying pushed technology to lethal extremes before being banned. The BMW M3 dominated touring car racing across the world.
1990s
The last analog era. The McLaren F1 became the greatest car ever built. The Porsche 993 was the last air-cooled 911. The Audi TT brought Bauhaus to the road. The BMW Z8 channeled the 507. Pagani built the Zonda in a village workshop.
2000s
Supercars and SUVs. The Porsche Cayenne saved the company. The Ferrari Enzo used F1 technology. The Bugatti Veyron broke every record with 1,001 hp. Audi proved it could build a supercar with the R8. The Lamborghini Gallardo made exotics accessible.
2010s
The hybrid revolution. The Holy Trinity of LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 proved electrification could enhance performance. The Lamborghini Aventador carried the last pure V12. BMW's i3 and i8 previewed the electric future.
