What Is the Greatest Italian Car of All Time?

How could you miss the 250 GTO? Recently sold for 70 million. Money isn’t everything, but it’s a reliable indicator of how much people value this car.

Hard to choose one but this is Ferrari 250 GTO . Miura would be the most beautifull, Lancia 037 the most genius, Diablo the most impressive, Maranello the most classy, Ferrari F40 the most raw .

For me it’s got to be Ferrari 512BB, Lamborghini Miura or Maserati Ghibli SS. Those are dream cars from top of the list althought there are so many contenders like F40, Stratos, 250GTO, Alfa 155 Ti DTM and so many others. I love Italy and their cars! 😄

Miura or 250 GT SWB for me

Can you tell me what is the Alfa Romeo featured in the photo, please.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Great is a difficult concept; greatest is so difficult as to be futile. But, I could not hold back from such a truly great question. I have thought about it at length. By choosing ‘greatest’, my choice is not the most beautiful (the Miura , the Ghibli SS, 33 stradale, or the 250 GTL). In fact, choosing the most beautiful would be an even harder exercise. It’s not the fastest. It’s no the most successful in racing. But, it has elements of all these things to achieve a conceptual whole that represents everything that Italian motoring has been. A composite of Italy’s best automotive achievements, including the practicality and appeal to not only appeal but to be enjoyed by lesser mortals without the assets of the Visconti, Agnelli or Marcello Mastroiannis. There can only be one contender. The first series Alfa Romeo Giulia – particularly in the 1969-1970 Super denomination. There’s a reason why Marchionne revived the Giulia name to launch the Alfa Romeo renaissance, doing it so brilliantly. Many Italian families have enjoyed a Giulia. They’ve seen it defend them from criminals as a police car (loved by the police officers who drove them). They’ve seen it race and win against much bigger cars (look at the record of the Giulia Ti Super). The Giulia had an engine that Ferrari could not have offered in a better or more sophisticated version. It had a five speed transmission and four wheel disc brakes, when much more expensive sports cars offered neither. It was a car whose driver could take the entire family out for a ling vacation trip from Italy to the northernmost tip of Europe (Nordkapp in Norway) and back (I know something about it, my father had three Giulias), still allowing for the occasional performance rode around a mountain or coastal road (Amalfi coast in a Giulia, been there done that). It was unbelievably aerodynamic – CX 0.33 or less. In short, as an Italian, the Giulia is the car that expressed the best of Italian technology, art and knowhow. It was a symbol of Italy’s post war optimism and unbelievable emergence from disaster. It told the world that we’re as good as the best. It gave me and give me pride. It’s as much as symbol of what Italy has done for the world as the Sistine Chapel, the Roman Forum or the Aqueducts that line the Roman roads that connected Rome to the World. Leonardo da Vinci, had he been alive at the time, would have driven a Giulia.

Very easy question for me, the Fiat 126p 😀

I propose to give Alfa Romeo some credit for providing such a fertile ground for the great drivers and designers that would now come to mind as the greatest classic car manufacturers – hence why I’m submitting this ultra rare Sportivo for consideration.

In terms of beauty, I’d have to say either the Ferrari 250GT Lusso, so well-rendered in video on this very site, or the 250GT California Spiders.

Picture failed. Iink: http://cdn.3oneseven.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1965-ferrari-275-gtb6c-scaglietti-longnose.jpg

I like the Ferrari 275 gtb/4 and the n.a.r.t spider. beautiful GT’s with 4 cams v12 🙂

Difficult question. Big the One italian car, I think it should be the Ferrari F40: awesome performance,unusual design and no electronics at all.

Pictures failed:(

The greatest must be the Fiat 500 Topolino. It put Italy on wheels, and it provided so much material for the artisans of the etceterini. Topolino parts are so much of the two most beautiful shown below, a Stanguelini, and a Bandin Saponetta

What a hard question. Lamborghini Miura, Maserati 3500 GT, Alfa Romeo Veloce Spider, and even the Pagani Zonda 7.3 S comes to mind (not a classic yet, but in time…). For me though, it can only be one car–1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. It doesn’t get more tasteful than that. It is the essence of the proper Ferrari sports car and therefore is the best Italian classic out there.

Greatest Italian car of all time? Depends on one’s criteria. If the criteria involves cars a teen-age boy might have had posters of on his wall, then Lambos have to be considered. If the criteria involves cars that have had successful racing heritages, Lambos don’t enter the conversation but Alfa’s, Masers, Ferrari’s and Lancia’s do. The same marques are in the picture if the car is something one could imagine racing or using as daily driver (meaning you can see out of it) and canyon carver.

For me the car that meets all these criteria is a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. This was a car that some owners drove to races, raced and won with, then drove home. It’s also a car that a man of any age can drive without his friends wondering when he’s going to grow up. Sorry to be so anti Lambo but Italian cars are most famous for what they’ve done in racing. Has Lambo ever won a championship in anything? Tractor pulls don’t count.

Alfa 33 Stradale

Typo 33 Stradale for sure.

without a doubt the Fiat 8V Supersonic.

definitely an difficult one to answer. I would have to say the Fiat 500. Fun, cute affordable and an ingenious design.
It makes people smile.

Oh, this is a tough one… how do you pick among so much brilliance?

I think something truly superlative from the glamorous 50’s/60’s is top of the pack, but surrely there’s no single answer. For those suave afternoons on the Riviera, a Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider is the one to have. For some spirited driving, maybe a Maserati A6 Coupé (not sure which to pick, they’re all gorgeous!). For the ultimate style and performance combo, maybe the Ferrari 250 GT Zagato. And if you’re set on a true road-legal monster, nothing tops the 250 Testa Rossa. Period.

What a garage that would be…

Although I have enourmous respect and appreciation for all Italian car makers, the one that stands out for me is Ferrari. And if I have to pick just one of their models, it would have to be the 288 GTO. It’s so beautiful yet agressive at the same time. Pitty they made so few of them.

8c 2900 Touring Superleggera Berlinetta.

How could anyone not say the 250 GTO, no other italian road car holds a candle to it. Not even a competition. For race cars I would have to say the 1969 Ferrari 312P or a P3/4.

There’s only one for me the Lancia Aurelia B20GT. Great sporting pedigree, inspired engineering, minimalist beauty and the greatest dashboard ever made.

As endorsed by Tintin.

Can we make this into a poll? Maybe we can nominate 5 cars each (you know there will be a lot of overlaps), then vote for the best Italian can ever according to Petrolicious readers. Heck, we can do that for every car making country (Denmark has a very short list!).

Difficult question indeed, but having one in the garage, I will have to say the classic FIAT 500 (made from 1957 to 1975).
In my dream garage, however, there would definitely have to be a[b] Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato[/b], in blue.

With an unlimited budget, all things considered, I think the most beautifull italian cars are one of theese two:

Lets start by stating the 5 best Italian companies: Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Fiat.

Now, let’s go down their best car:
-Lamborghini: Miura
-Alfa Romeo: 33 Stradale
-Ferrari: 250 GT California
-Lancia: Stratos
-Fiat: 500

Now, which one is the most evocative, bewitching, sensational, beautiful, passionate, purposeful, and memorable reflection of why Italian cars are so fantastic?

For me… Lancia Stratos

JB21 is absolutely spot on: it’s the Fiat 500. It’s not the performance, 0-60 time, or engine, but what this car did and represents.

The greatest Italian car I’ve ever owned was an old Fiat 500 – but I’ve never owned a Ferrari and I just have this sneaking suspicion that a 275GTB might actually be even greater than the little Fiat. On the other hand, you can argue that it’s impossible to call a car great unless it won at Le Mans, so my choice would have to be the grand daddy of all Italian Le Mans winners, the 1931 2.3 litre Alfa Romeo.

The Ferrari 288 GTO was one of the most memorable vehicles from my early days of gaming a few years ago. It was love at first sight when I first spotted it on the video game Test Drive Unlimited. I played that game for hours until I got the cash to buy it. It was worth every penny.

In my point of view, the greatest italian car is the Alfa Romeo 33 stradale.

This is an incredibly subjective question, but I suppose if I had to choose just one, it’d be this: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta. Simply stunning.

…Oof. Of all time? I’m going to go out on a limb and nominate the Fiat 124. I’ve driven several spiders and owned a couple of coupes The coupes are my favorite, being a very interesting mix of utility and performance, as well as ravishing good looks. It’s also eminently hot roddable, my example being powered by the 1600 rather than the 1400 twin cam engine…which was penned by Lampredi….Anyway, it’s a car I wish I had, and despite being a mere Fiat 124, it’s in my mind, the best Italian car…

[b]Best modern Italian:[/b]
– Alfa Romeo Disco Volante by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera

[b]Best classic Italian:[/b]
– Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Miura

No doubt in my mind. Ever since I was very young the Miura has always been, for me, the greatest Italian car ever made.

The greatest Italian car ever made? I tell you what, it’s a Fiat 500. No, not the new FWD one, but you already knew that. The next greatest Italian car ever made? It’s the second generation Fiat Panda 1.2. And I love the Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider the best, just because I still think that’s the most romantic car ever made (and you know, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the movie).

Lancia Stratos, Lancia Fulvia HF Fanalone, Lancia Delta Integrale, Lamborghini Miura.

May not be everyones first choice,

The Lancia Delta Integrale, and the Lamborghini miura were revolutionary for their time, and trendsetters. Have tons of presence and charachter…

I suppose some people could answer right away, as I imagine many people struggle to find an answer to this question: so many great Ferrari’s (250 GTO, 275 GTB4, the Daytona, F40, the Enzo …), so many outrageous Lambos too (pretty much all of them, with the LM002 sitting on top, proudly) and more than enough soul and passion from Alfa Romeo (the early 105/115 spiders, the GTVs etc.).
Myself, I find it difficult not to have a preference for your own car (in my case, a 1974 Alfa Spider Veloce), but then again, who wouldn’t be biased when it comes to italian cars?
But if I had to choose one that I didn’t own, I couldn’t possibly make up my mind.

I know this is most likely a obvious choice but i have to go with Ferrari 250 GTO. The GTO just has it all stunning good looks, outrageous performance( for its time), very low production. The GTO basically defined style, speed, excitement and passion all wrapped up in one car. Also a runner up nod should go to the Lancia Lambda for building a very modern car but in the 1920;s with its monocoque style chassis and front independent suspension laid the foundation for most modern cars.