When the term ‘classic car’ crops up in conversation, there are some models that can undoubtedly be thrown into that category. Aston DB5s, Jag E-Types, Mercedes 300SLs, Ferrari F40s; all of these are easy to define and that’s why they’re widely considered to be true legends. Modern classics are much harder to pin down however, and opinions will divide and heads will clash in what are generally fairly heated debates, within the petrol-head community at least. To add further fuel to the fire, we have pinned down five of the best supercars of recent(ish) years, so take a look.
PORSCHE 911 TURBO (993), , The 911 is one of the most celebrated series of cars ever and, whether you’re a fan or not, it boasts an unrivalled heritage on the road, the race circuit and the rally course that cannot be denied. In Turbo 993 form it was particularly potent, featuring a 3.6 litre flat six with twin chargers and a power output of over 400bhp.
FERRARI F50, , The F50 was lambasted on its release back in 1995. Many thought its looks were too bold and, from certain angles, it can look unflatteringly heavy and un-focused. To be fair though, the poor thing had to follow up on one of Maranello’s greatest ever achievements, the F40, so it was fairly doomed from the start. Time has treated the old girl well though, and with its Formula 1-borrowed, screaming V12, trademark open-gated gearbox and stripped-out interior, the F50 acts as a swansong to the naturally aspirated beasts of the past.
LAMBORGHINI DIABLO, , Another car that succeeded an icon, the Diablo is a striking machine that embodies everything that the famous Italian marque is all about. The Diablo was noted for its impressive, wedge-shaped styling, imposing width, powerful V12 engine and, as was often the case, poor reliability.
PAGANI ZONDA , , Although you may think it’s a bit too soon to label the Zonda as a ‘modern classic’, it’s important to remember that it began production way back in 1999, so this Italian gem is now 15 years old. Seemingly coming from nowhere, the Pagani Zonda began life as a fairly modest, albeit insane looking, 389bhp machine, and ended as a 760bhp monster.
MCLAREN F1, , The quintessential 90s supercar, the McLaren F1 quite literally re-wrote the rulebooks. Most impressive of course was its top speed, which shattered the record books at 243mph, but thanks to its innovative, lightweight construction and agile handling capabilities, it proved to be far from a one trick pony.
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