BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos Which of these four iconic automobiles is the most important of all time?

View Poll Results: What is the most important car of all times? (choose one)
Ford Model T 66 80.49%
Volkswagen Beetle 13 15.85%
Fiat Cinquecento 0 0%
Tesla Model 3 3 3.66%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-01-2020, 10:58 AM   #1
GenXer
Major
United_States
1351
Rep
1,031
Posts

Drives: Like a bat out of hell.
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: here and there

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Which of these four iconic automobiles is the most important of all time?

Love it or hate it. What do you think is the most significant car of all times?
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2020, 11:00 AM   #2
GenXer
Major
United_States
1351
Rep
1,031
Posts

Drives: Like a bat out of hell.
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: here and there

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Ford Model T brought motoring to the masses with Henry Ford's ingenious assembly line and economy of scale but the VW Beetle brought motoring to the world.

I don't know of any family who has never owned at least one Beetle. In my family alone we had 7 of them.
5 original Beetles, 1 New Beetle and 1 New New Beetle Turbo.

Out of 40 vehicles I've owned in 30 years, 3 of them were Beetles.

Let's not forget the lovable Herbie, and all the dune bugs that are still running today.

It's too bad the Beetle has lost its appeal in the current generation but it's still near and dear to me.
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 2
vreihen1614882.00
Salty Dog3572.50
      03-07-2020, 01:29 PM   #3
stein_325i
Ring Leader of G8X Haters
stein_325i's Avatar
No_Country
25051
Rep
8,761
Posts

Drives: A Car
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: All-Around

iTrader: (0)

I would say the Mode S is more "important" regarding history, than the Model 3. While the Model 3 is the EV for the masses, it wouldn't have been as possible without the Model S being introduced and changing the EV landscape as we know it.
__________________
Current Garage: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580 / 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T / 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 350 / 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2020, 07:31 PM   #4
RM7
Brigadier General
RM7's Avatar
2870
Rep
3,445
Posts

Drives: Camaro SS 1LE
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alaska

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuastein55 View Post
I would say the Mode S is more "important" regarding history, than the Model 3. While the Model 3 is the EV for the masses, it wouldn't have been as possible without the Model S being introduced and changing the EV landscape as we know it.
Yep, Model S was the first electric car with practical range, as in more than 100 or 200 miles. While still not for everyone, it can meet most people's needs for an automobile most of the time and took the fantasy and science fiction of electric cars into reality. The Model T takes it from all the others on the list due to mass production/line manufacturing. Even though it was a pretty horrible design, it brought automobiles to the masses, rather than custom coachwork and hand-manufactured stuff that was prevalent at the time. Although the Beetle was a very popular car, I'm not sure it's influenced much afterwards, maybe Kia Soul, Nissan Juke, Scion, and a few others that try to be "fun and cheap".
__________________
Current: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE, 2023 Colorado ZR2. Former: BMW 428i Gran Coupe.
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2020, 07:51 PM   #5
1MOREMOD
-
1MOREMOD's Avatar
United_States
11815
Rep
23,187
Posts

Drives: Race car->
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: check your mirrors

iTrader: (5)

Mustang, jumps more curbs and kills spectators at will.
Appreciate 1
Salty Dog3572.50
      03-07-2020, 10:34 PM   #6
SoCal_NSX
Major
SoCal_NSX's Avatar
2363
Rep
1,356
Posts

Drives: 981CS/428/is250/JLU Rubicon
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Center of the Universe

iTrader: (1)

Original NSX
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 12:26 AM   #7
Feddersen
Lieutenant
Feddersen's Avatar
Denmark
451
Rep
469
Posts

Drives: X1 xDrive25i
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Denmark

iTrader: (0)

None of the above. For me it is the Cadillac Type 53.

This car was the first to place the pedals, gear shifter and hand brake in the places we are used to in all cars today. They simply defined how we should control the car and all car makers copied it since then.

Name:  cadillac-type-53.jpg
Views: 1203
Size:  88.4 KB

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Type_53
__________________
Appreciate 3
vreihen1614882.00
N54Yankee2706.00
      03-08-2020, 01:59 AM   #8
Zopissa
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: 2018 BMW F30
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Dalas, Texas, United States

iTrader: (0)

Why do we need to buy the most convenient flushing toilet? Simply because it is very important that you really find comfort and convenience in your bathroom. Convenient Height toilet provides safety to the users as it makes sitting down or standing up from the toilet to be extremely simple. But where to find them? Just look into this detailed Convenient Height Toilet reviewhttps://bestflushingtoilets.org/conv...oilet-reviews/ to know more.
__________________
..

Last edited by Zopissa; 04-14-2020 at 05:37 AM..
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 05:53 AM   #9
Moisture
Private
26
Rep
87
Posts

Drives: 2015 Mazda 6, 2020 Lexus NX300
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Last time I sat in a Tesla model S the interior ergonomics, fit/finish and material quality was the most disappointing crap I've ever seen in my life. I would be dissapointed if my $30,000 Mazda was that bad. We're talking about a 100k car here.
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 10:03 AM   #10
bucketfoot
Captain
bucketfoot's Avatar
United_States
1056
Rep
818
Posts

Drives: 2020 Toyota GT86
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Centennial, CO

iTrader: (0)

As the owner of multiple bugs over the years (regular and Baja) I had to vote with my heart, but my head would have said the Model T
__________________
This post sent using 100% recycled electrons.
Appreciate 1
GenXer1351.00
      03-08-2020, 11:16 AM   #11
GeeRam
Major
GeeRam's Avatar
United Kingdom
195
Rep
1,317
Posts

Drives: X5 40d SE
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Berkshire,UK

iTrader: (0)

None of them...

While Ford started the mass production of vehicles with the Model T, its not a car as we know it today because of its controls, and arguably, the Model A was a more significant car.

The Beetle, well, err, if it hadn't been for a British Army Major, the Beetle would have never have seen the light of day post WW2.

The Fiat 500.....its no more important than the Mini, arguably less so.

As for the Muskmobile...............seriously
__________________
2017 X5 4.0dSE ~ Atlas Cedar:Ind.Amaro Brown Merino&Piano Blk, Sport Auto, DHP, Comfort seats, Cold weather pack, HK audio, Electric towbar, Sun protection glass.
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 12:14 PM   #12
GenXer
Major
United_States
1351
Rep
1,031
Posts

Drives: Like a bat out of hell.
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: here and there

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeeRam View Post
None of them...

While Ford started the mass production of vehicles with the Model T, its not a car as we know it today because of its controls, and arguably, the Model A was a more significant car.

The Beetle, well, err, if it hadn't been for a British Army Major, the Beetle would have never have seen the light of day post WW2.

The Fiat 500.....its no more important than the Mini, arguably less so.

As for the Muskmobile...............seriously
So it's the British's fault for both the Beetle and the Tesla

The Cadillac was the first car to have "modern" controls which we take for granted.

The Mini was significant for the UK and the Fiat for Italy but it never went to the East or the US like the Beetle

Tesla is still questionable but Elon Musk did raise awareness of our energy consumption and set up an enormous infrastructure that might outlast his car company.

Last edited by GenXer; 03-08-2020 at 12:28 PM..
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 01:05 PM   #13
RM7
Brigadier General
RM7's Avatar
2870
Rep
3,445
Posts

Drives: Camaro SS 1LE
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alaska

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Moisture View Post
Last time I sat in a Tesla model S the interior ergonomics, fit/finish and material quality was the most disappointing crap I've ever seen in my life. I would be dissapointed if my $30,000 Mazda was that bad. We're talking about a 100k car here.
The lack of knobs and switches bothers some people.
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2020, 02:31 PM   #14
GeeRam
Major
GeeRam's Avatar
United Kingdom
195
Rep
1,317
Posts

Drives: X5 40d SE
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Berkshire,UK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by GenXer View Post
The Cadillac was the first car to have "modern" controls which we take for granted.
Indeed, and Herbert Austin took that concept and applied it to the Austin Seven making it the first car for the masses that was like that, so maybe the Seven was more important than the Caddy?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GenXer View Post
The Mini was significant for the UK and the Fiat for Italy but it never went to the East or the US like the Beetle
So......

Mini was more than significant for the UK, as the Issigonis transverse engine/fwd layout pretty much defined the layout of almost all future small cars....including the Beetle's successor, the Golf.
The layout was even the inspiration to the Lambo engineers that designed the Muira!!

Just because a load of hippy's in the USA bought Adolf Hitler's KdF-Wagen doesn't signify it as being more important
__________________
2017 X5 4.0dSE ~ Atlas Cedar:Ind.Amaro Brown Merino&Piano Blk, Sport Auto, DHP, Comfort seats, Cold weather pack, HK audio, Electric towbar, Sun protection glass.
Appreciate 1
Salty Dog3572.50
      03-08-2020, 05:23 PM   #15
Salty Dog
Captain
Salty Dog's Avatar
3573
Rep
885
Posts

Drives: Austin Mini,MBGLK, Porsche 993
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

So the OP is on to something but I think his list of influential cars is a bit on the thin side. The Tesla's IMHO have no business being on the list, maybe someday but they haven't had nearly the impact of the Model T, the Bug, the Honda Civic, the Mini (original not BMW).....those cars actually had real and long lasting impact.
Appreciate 2
Conissah1574.50
kanovic456.00
      03-08-2020, 05:36 PM   #16
M5Rick
General
M5Rick's Avatar
58877
Rep
19,241
Posts

Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Southern England

iTrader: (0)

The Beetle for me, same config as a 911 and will always be known as the poor mans 911
Appreciate 1
GenXer1351.00
      03-08-2020, 06:33 PM   #17
RM7
Brigadier General
RM7's Avatar
2870
Rep
3,445
Posts

Drives: Camaro SS 1LE
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alaska

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Salty Dog View Post
So the OP is on to something but I think his list of influential cars is a bit on the thin side. The Tesla's IMHO have no business being on the list, maybe someday but they haven't had nearly the impact of the Model T, the Bug, the Honda Civic, the Mini (original not BMW).....those cars actually had real and long lasting impact.
Seems a bit ridiculous to deny the reality of the impact of the Model S. Before that, electric cars were science fiction and in no way practical. Now, I see them driving in Alaska every day. Seeing it for what it is, whether you like it or not, it's the start of something new that will continue. Would I buy one? Probably not. Do I deny the importance? Absolutely not. It's not a popularity contest.
__________________
Current: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE, 2023 Colorado ZR2. Former: BMW 428i Gran Coupe.
Appreciate 0
      03-09-2020, 08:04 AM   #18
freakystyly
Lieutenant Colonel
2870
Rep
1,758
Posts

Drives: F22 B58 6MT
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ontario

iTrader: (0)

Don't forget electric cars were around before the model T.
Appreciate 2
Conissah1574.50
Viffermike1753.00
      03-09-2020, 10:46 AM   #19
FuriouslyFast
Banned
United_States
857
Rep
407
Posts

Drives: Miss Daisy
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Seriously? Model T & this is not even a contest
Appreciate 1
Germanauto9665.50
      03-09-2020, 01:02 PM   #20
Viffermike
Colonel
Viffermike's Avatar
United_States
1753
Rep
2,942
Posts

Drives: '18 black-n-blue 718 Cayman
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Big D

iTrader: (0)

Yes, it is a contest. Most of Ford's innovations with the Model T apply not to automobiles or automobile manufacturing only, but manufacturing in general -- and others were working on similar mass-production efficiencies already in other realms. The Model T simply was first to market with many of them.

For me, the Beetle is, by far, the most important. Most sold, by a significant measure. Longest manufacturing run, also by a significant measure. First car designed and built 'for the masses' (as opposed to mass-produced). Most influential, particularly regarding ergonomic, functional, simple design (Seriously: Think about it. There would be no Fiat 500 or MINI without a Beetle ... and there would be a very different Japanese auto industry without it, either.)

And this is the case with most wartime innovations, honestly. We have jet airplanes because of the same era. And nuclear energy. And Jeeps: the forerunner to today's SUV.
__________________
--Life is a journey made more exciting with a fast car.--
--Helmets are for closers.--
<<Current: "Blackened" '18 NBM Porsche 718 Cayman ... Gone (but not forgotten): "Blackened" MG '15 228i M Sport w/aFe filter/scoop, Hertz drivers, P3Cars multigauge, other goodies>>
Appreciate 1
GenXer1351.00
      03-09-2020, 03:17 PM   #21
Conissah
Major
Conissah's Avatar
1575
Rep
1,049
Posts

Drives: 2018 M3
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Charlotte, NC

iTrader: (1)

Anyone that voted for the Model 3 is a fan boy, plain and simple.
Appreciate 3
Germanauto9665.50
Salty Dog3572.50
Viffermike1753.00
      03-09-2020, 04:09 PM   #22
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

Of the four, I would have to say the Model T. Tesla belongs in the conversation but it should be for the S, not the 3. The S marked the real beginning of the electric car market. The 3 is merely a followup.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:12 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST