Top five favorite sports cars
This week we asked our Facebook fans about their favorite sports cars, the streamlined two-seaters that make your heart race: Symbols of freedom, a need-for-speed and impeccable style. We heard about your loves, and now it’s time to get in, buckle up and rev the engine. Here are our top five favorite cars for spirited driving.
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra: Weighing in at only 2,550-pounds with 800-horsepower (in some trims) screaming from the rear-wheels, the Super Snake has a totally insane power-to-weight ratio. Any vehicle attached to Carroll Shelby’s name is iconic, and the Cobra has always been a recognizable favorite. If you are looking for creature comforts, go elsewhere. But if you are looking for raw power, nostalgia and have deep pockets, this one is worth a drive.
1961 Jaguar E-Type: It’s a streamlined crowd-drawer that looks even better speeding around the track, and it was one of the best and, somehow, least expensive cars in its class. The car oozes style and has plenty of power: 265-horsepower for a joyous ride. Not only that, but the E-Type was released in 1961 to extraordinary praise, and a man famous for beautiful machinery, Enzo Ferrari, referred to it as “The most beautiful car ever made.” That’s good enough for us!
1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT: Its soft, flowing lines call out to every driver, “Come on, let’s go fast! I dare ya.” And fast it will go: the Dino accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.7-seconds. While many sports cars have rigid angles and harsh lines, the Dino stands out from the rest. It was Ferrari’s first mid-engine road car, (and a V-6 at that!) and after production ceased in 1974 it had become one of the brand’s best-selling models at the time.
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS: When it was released, it was the most powerful 911 with a larger engine (2.7-liters) that produced 210-horsepower. And why not? It was built to meet homologation requirements so Porsche could enter into the FIA Group 4 class, and the handling was improved ober run-of-the-mill 911s by adding stiffening the suspension, adding bigger brakes and widening the rear wheels.
1970 Datsun 240Z: Although some may argue, the Z-car isn’t just a vehicle for everyday transportation; it has been raced successfully in the FIA, ARRC and SCCA. It was a well thought-out, more affordable sports car of its time, and the makers crammed every bit of modern technology in it that they could while keeping an eye on the bottom line. Examples of its high-tech components include the powerful 2.4-liter single overhead-cam inline six-cylinder and fully independent suspension — being cool isn’t just about looking good.
