When it comes to classic sports cars, Italy provides one of the best diverse portfolios worldwide manufacturing some of the best classic sports cars from Italy of all time.
In the 20th century, sports cars had a special place in the hearts of Americans, Germans, French, and British, but they were much more special to Italians. Why? The answer can be traced to their many attributes, including their sleek designs, powerful engines, and the timeless innovation they carry under their hoods.
This article will examine the best 10 classic Italian sports cars that have helped shape the automotive landscape today.
10 Best Classic Italian Sports Cars of all time
We carefully picked these vintage Italian car brands based on their built-in value and the significant impact they made on the classic car industry.
Lancia Stratos
The rise of the Lancia to the top started in the mid-1960s when Fiat took over. Having taken over the National and European race scene, Lancia needed to come up with the Stratos to stay atop the highest rallying status after the 1972 world title. The Stratos was the first car crafted purposely for racing.
The car prioritizes function over form by offering unique features like the short wheelbase and panoramic windshield. The Stratos was Ferrari-powered to boast performance, thanks to the 2.4-liter V6 from the Fiat Dino 246.
This empowered Stratos with supremacy, and it won three titles consecutively from 1974 to 1976. The Lancia Stratos changed the racing sport, thus pushing the boundaries of Italian sports cars to a new level.
Lamborghini Countach
Following Miura’s footsteps, the Countach sent shockwaves through the industry in 1971 and 1974 as concept and production cars, respectively.
In the Countach, the C12 was also mid-mounted but made to align longitudinally with the gearbox in front. Besides, the upward opening of the doors was a standout feature that stole the show. The car is significant for Lamborghini as its basic layout remains a crucial piece of the maker’s identity, both in style and mechanical features.
Fiat 124 Spider
The Fiat 124 was previously a family sedan or wagon; however, it’s more famous as a coupe and a convertible. This showcased Fiat’s long history of manufacturing a wide range of different cars under a single model.
In the U.S., the 124 Spider became one of the most successful Italian imports. It defiled the ongoing safety crisis when many automakers stopped building new convertibles to continue selling them in America until 1985.
Since nobody messes with Italian design, the 124 Spider’s suspension was raised higher to meet the minimum headlamp height requirements in the United States.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Alfa Romeo has had dozens of genuine iconic sports cars, each of which has left an indelible mark on Italy’s automotive history. However, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale stands out.
The 33 Stradale is a street-worthy Alfa Romeo 33/2 prototype with a new design, including a low, voluptuous body and butterfly doors. The car combines the abilities of a road and race car.
About five of the 18 chassis produced became the most influential concept cars introduced between the 1960s and 1970s. The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is currently one of the most beautiful sports cars ever made.
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Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura was Ferrucio’s first car and was a direct response to Ferrari’s V12 grand tourers.
The Miura looked great but was not revolutionary due to its semi-monocoque naked chassis with a transversely mid-mounted V12. This era launched the beginning of the modern supercar’s reign, thus transforming the world of sports cars.
Ferrari 250 GTO
Arguably, the Ferrari 250 GTO is the most valuable classic car in the world and the most advanced Italian sports car in the 1960s. The build and craftsmanship commenced in 1962 and continued until 1964 to meet the homologation requirements of the FIA’s Group 3—the highest GT class.
The car was not only used for its intended purpose—racing—but also adopted by private users. It enjoyed profound racing success, making it sought-after by collectors due to its dominance in the GT golden era.
Fiat Abarth 595
After WW2, Italy had to balance the need for an economic rebuild and the shortage of raw materials. This era led to the production of the Fiat 500 in 1957. Carlo Abarth collaborated with Fiat during this era, and in his workshop, the Fiat 500’s power was enhanced from 13 to 21 hp.
However, major changes didn’t come until 1963, when the engine’s displacement was upped to 593 cubic centimeters. This led to the birth of Fiat Abarth 595, which became the foundation for all major breakthroughs, including Abarth projects with Fiat.
When the company was sold in 1971, the 500 Nuova was re-introduced with modern features, with the 595 making a powerful comeback and cementing its place among the best classic Italian sports cars.
Maserati A6 1500
The alphanumeric “A6” stands for Alfieri Six-Cylinder, and it repeatedly appeared on some very different cars powered by straight-6 engines.
The A6 series assembly started before the war and was completed in 1947. It’s a sleek coupe characterized by a long hood. In its three years of production, 61 series were built and upgraded to the A6G 2000, A6GCS/53, Maserati A6G/54, and the A6GCM single-seater.
The A6 series also led to the introduction of the 3500 GT. Despite the difficulties, this model made Maserati compete with the best names in the industry even today.
Cisitalia 202
The Cistalia brand was established in 1946 by Piero Dusio, However, due to the harsh economic situation resulting from the post-WW2 in Italy, the brand didn’t reign for long.
Cisitalia is regarded as one of the most prestigious Italian automotive firms, even though it didn’t etch its name in the enthusiast’s list. The 202 model was viewed as a road car and a race car.
The car set a standard for generations of Berlinettas and Barchettas with its fluid, sculptural body, long hood, and short cabin. It didn’t take long before the car’s design took the attention of global recognition when the 202 model was included in MoMA’s 1951 exhibition – the 8 Automobiles.
Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport
The Alfa Romeo is a perfect example for every Italian automaker. It has a 1.5-liter straight-6 powered engine to compete in all races.
The 6C 1500 Sport has appeared in numerous races and was driven by upcoming aces who needed to prove their capabilities to the evolving racing world. Ferrari Enzo was one of them, and he established Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 as an Alfa Romeo racing team.
The 1500 Sport made Alfa Romeo a motorsport authority and also assisted in establishing what would become the world’s most-recognized sports car manufacturer.
We hope you’ve enjoyed the ride to this very end. If you’re considering one of these timeless Italian cars, you may opt for a used car to save you thousands of dollars. However, this doesn’t come without its challenges, including the difficulty of verifying the specifications and accessing the vehicle history. To be sure you’re investing in the right car, use a classic car VIN decoder to erase all doubts and buy with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Italian fastest touring car?
The BMW E30 M3 was widely regarded as the most successful touring car. It dominated touring car racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning numerous championships in Europe, North America, and Asia.
What is the difference between a V8 engine and a V12 engine?
The differences are in thermal efficiency, brake power capacity, and compression ratio.
Thermal efficiency: V8 Engine: 29% to 40%; V12 Engine: 50%
Maximum braking capacity: V8: 10,000 hp; V12: 19,300 hp
Compression ratio: V8: 13.7:1; V12: 9.5:1
What does the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso mean?
The 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso was the final model in the 250 GT series in pure road car form. It continued in production until the latter part of 1964, when 350 cars had been produced. The car made its debut at the 1962 Paris Salon.
