The 25 Biggest Cult Car Classics

Every car is a cult car to somebody. Even something as lowly as the Geo Metro (for example) has its champions, and something as internationally God-awful as the Trabant (which makes the Metro look like a Bentley as far as build quality) has events built around it. So narrowing it down to the 25 biggest cult classics isn't as easy as it might seem. There will certainly be notable omissions, and we expect the fanbases of particular cars to object strenuously to their lack of inclusion.

But that is what cult cars are about—to-the-death allegiance to a particular make or marque no matter how seemingly irrational it may be. It doesn't matter whether a car was produced for one year (like the Audi RS2) or 30-plus (like the Volkswagen Beetle), the affection is the same. Here are The 25 Biggest Cult Car Classics.

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Years Of Interest: 1978-90

The Lamborghini Countach was everyone's favorite supercar before anyone really knew what a supercar was, and the first car anyone thought of when they heard the term "exotic." It also resided on plenty of walls in poster form, generally accompanied by a scantily-clad model. Lamborghini has since produced far better cars, but none save perhaps the Aventador and Veneno has produced that same visceral reaction the Countach did.

Years Of Interest: 1982, 1984-87

The most sought-after Buick of the past 25 years, especially in even-more-rare GNX trim, the sinister black Grand National celebrated Buick's NASCAR affiliation with a potent turbo V6 and a trim package that made further modifications unnecessary. (The first year's model was neither all black or turbocharged, which might make it rarer but nowhere near as fun.) The GNX, tuned by McLaren, was limited to 547 units and remains the ultimate American muscle car of its generation, apologies to the Mustang GT.

Years Of Interest: 1983-91

For those seeking a fun ride on a budget in the mid-'80s, there was nothing like the Honda CRX. Well, there was the Civic, which it was based on, but the more aerodynamic CRX not only looked the sports-car part, it acted like one too. Lightweight and zippy, the CRX put up astonishing slalom and skidpad numbers (most notably besting the Lotus Esprit Turbo), and although it wouldn't hang with the Lotus in a straight line for long, this wasn't an issue for most drivers. Thirty years after its initial introduction, the CRX remains a benchmark for inexpensive performance.

Years Of Interest: 1964-69, 1979-93

Every Mustang has its following, but it's primarily the first generation (1964-69) and Fox body (1979-93) that matter. The middle era suffered from incredible bloat, and later models simply drew from the original's DNA. But that first generation, which included the Shelby GT350 and GT500, and the third, which introduced the GT 5.0, were the ultimate small-block sports coupes of their respective eras. There's a reason that front-engine, rear-drive performance cars are still known as "pony cars."

Years Of Interest: 1983-93

The turbo 4x4 Quattro preceded cars like the Subaru WRX as a thinly disguised champion rally car readied for the street. Audi has since used the Quattro name on any of its 4WD cars, no matter how sedate, but the original Quattro, which hit American shores in 1983 was something else entirely. As the first 4x4 rally car, it enjoyed tremendous success as a race car, and passed on plenty of that to its civilian owners.

Years Of Interest: 1986-present

The direct descendant of the Willys Army Jeep, the Wrangler is the ultimate American 4x4. Its go-anywhere design often goes to waste as it's just as popular in the suburbs as it is in the woods, but in case of zombie apocalypse, anyone with a Wrangler should be ready to flee into the wilderness. Its capabilities are as legendary as its style is distinctive.

Years Of Interest: 1932

The Ford V8 Model 18 in roadster or coupe trim reached legend status as early as the '50s when hot rodding became a national pastime, and was potent even as a new car in the '30s. Thanks to such disparate influences as Hot Rod magazine and the Beach Boys ("Little Deuce Coupe"), the '32 Ford remains one of the most popular hot rod bases of all-time, with repop versions available in either fiberglass or steel.

Years Of Interest: 1994-95

The Audi RS2 was only built for a little more than a calendar year, but the joint production of Audi and Porsche may still stand as the ultimate sports wagon. Featuring full-time four-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, and a heavily Porsche-massaged intercooled turbo engine and race-quality suspension, the RS2 posted absurd acceleration numbers as well as a 160-plus mph top speed—not bad for a 3,500-pound wagon. Less than 3,000 units were produced, and they remain objects of desire for many.

Years Of Interest: 1982-93

Starting with the BMW 1500 in 1962, the New Class was not only a big shift for BMW, but for cars in general as sports sedans (and later coupes) began to replace full-size models. The E30 3-series, introduced in 1982, brought performance to a new level with the M3 in 1986, which eventually featured a 2.5 liter engine along with more aggressive styling via BMW's M group. The car also made its impact in pop culture, as seen on the cover of Frank Ocean's Nostalgia, Ultra. Now that it's a few generations on, it's only become more appreciated.

Years Of Interest: 1945-83

The new Beetle is cool and all, but nothing beats the air-cooled first generation models. They sounded like sewing machines with asthma and were essentially disposable, but a whole culture rose around the car, which remained more or less the same through its entire 30-year production run. Offshoots like the Karmann Ghia coupe and van have their own followings, but it's the Beetle—of which 21 million were produced—that remains the air-cooled VW standard bearer.

Years Of Interest: 1981-83

The brainchild of former GM exec John DeLorean, the DeLorean DMC-12 was a futuristic sports car with a stainless steel body, gullwing doors and an anemic 150hp rear-mounted V6. The car would likely have remained a curiosity if it weren't for its star turn in Back to the Future, where its futuristic look made it the perfect time traveler. Seeing that most of the 9,000-car production run is still extant (stainless steel doesn't rust out), it would be interesting to find out how many of them sport OUTATIME plates.

Years Of Interest: 1969-92

Named after the Trans Am race series, the Pontiac Trans Am was a companion piece to the Chevrolet Z/28, with which it shared a body style. But genuine racing pedigree aside, it really hit its stride with 1977's Smokey and the Bandit, which co-starred several 1976 Trans Ams (made to look like '77s) alongside Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason. The black and gold T/A of that era, complete with snowflake wheels, functional hoodscoop and "screaming chicken" hood emblem remains a true American classic. (The next generation of Trans Am also got a pop-culture boost, thanks to that self-aware model named K.I.T.T.)

Years Of Interest: 1983-present

Land Rover's offerings have gotten more road-friendly over the years, culminating in the Range Rover Sport, but it's the boxy Defender that has carried forth the Land Rover marque in the truest fashion. In fact, it started out as just a Land Rover, until they introduced the Discovery in 1993 and had to give it a name. The '94-95 Defender 90, built for the American market to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, is probably the most sought-after iteration, but all Defenders remain objects of lust for the would-be off-road contingent, even if the extent of that "off-road' is an East Hampton driveway.

Years Of Interest: 1960-84

Somewhere between the Willys Jeep and the early Land Rovers lies the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, a utilitarian go-anywhere truck that improved functionally throughout its entire 14-year lifespan. Sought after as both a classic and a mudder, FJ40s have not only undergone engine swaps (small-block V8s, generally), but have served as inspiration for not only new Toyotas, but high-dollar (and more creature-comfort friendly) replicas from ICON 4x4.

Years Of Interest: 1992-present

A rally car in road trim, the Subaru WRX (and specifically the WRX-STI) can make even the most mind-numbing commute at least mildly entertaining-especially if it's in the snow. Gravel roads will become desirable alternatives, bad weather something to look forward to. And, until that GRC Beetle becomes an actual street-legal thing, the boxer WRX is still the most fun you can have on four wheels. It's no wonder people hold them in such high regard.

Years Of Interest: 1955-57

The Bel Air was the top-of-the-line Chevy in the '50s-until the Impala was introduced in 1958-and the tail end of its reign was one of Chevy's biggest design triumphs. The '55 and '57 models are widely recognized as some of the most classic of classic cars, and while the in-between '56 doesn't get quite as much praise, it's still sought after. The Bel Airs of this period (as well as the Nomad wagon) are at the very core of hot rodding and custom car culture.

Years Of Interest: 1963-69

As the garish aerospace-inspired wings of the late '50s and early '60s began to subside, some lovely American iron began to emerge. The 1963 and 1964 Chevy Impalas were boxy, but following the swoopy era that had preceded it, they looked downright revolutionary. The Super Sport option, available from 1961 to 1969, gave the big Chevy some extra punch, and even the base model '64s became coveted once lowriders became a thing.

Years Of Interest: 1969-73, 1989-'02

The Nissan Skyline GT-R was the Japanese equivalent of a Mustang or Trans Am, only with far more kick in an era when American muscle was increasingly turning flabby. Also, the Skylines, unlike later American muscle cars, did more than go fast in a straight line. In that sense they were more like Carroll Shelby's creations than anything that rolled off a factory assembly line. The second generation of GT-Rs, introduced in 1989, were effectively supercars, legendary vehicles that didn't (legally) hit American shores until 2007's Nissan GT-R.

Years Of Interest: 1975-89

The Porsche 911 has changed quite a bit since it was first introduced as a replacement for the 356 in 1963, but the basic body shape and engine/transmission layout remains unchanged - a 911 can only be a 911. The Turbo (also known as the 930), which made its debut in 1975, featured wider fenders to conceal wider rubber, along with a whale tail spoiler that provided more downforce, but also looked amazingly cool. Many 911s have their own followings, including Carreras and the recently re-released Targas, but for sheer tire-roasting fun and the most menacing body style (especially in black), nothing beats a Turbo.

Years Of Interest: 1962-67

When Carroll Shelby shoehorned a 260 Ford V8 into a British AC Ace roadster, he knew exactly what he was doing, but even ol' Carroll probably didn't anticipate what would come next. In its short five-year run the Cobra only got meaner, going from the original 260, to a more potent 289, to a truly ludicrous 427 big-block. The power-to-weight ratio was unmatched, the handling was sublime (that is, if the driver could harness the power), and the Ace body became something completely different as it expanded to accept the larger engine and wider tires. After 50 years, the Cobra is still the ultimate in American muscle.

Years Of Interest: 1989-present

Basically a '60s British (or Italian) sports car without the headaches, the Mazda Miata ushered in a new era of fun convertibles. With it's front engine and rear drive, the Miata featured nearly 50-50 weight distribution, allowing for predictable handling that made it a favorite amongst amateur racers. Ensuing generations have gotten more powerful—but heavier—so the first generation remains the most desirable to those who want to get out there and push it (the limits of the car, not the car itself). But that should change with the new model, as it's reportedly going back to its roots and losing 220 pounds.

Years Of Interest: 1993-'02

Supras were already cool before The Fast and the Furious, but the screentime didn't hurt. Starting as a more kitted-out version of the Celica, the Supra was first introduced in 1978. But it was the Mark IV in 1993 that really made a mark. The Celica name had been dropped by then, as had any pretense of it being based on another Toyota. The Mark IV Supra featured a 320hp, twin-turbo engine available with a six-speed manual, and a Formula 1-inspired braking setup that put down 70-0 numbers that were unmatched until the Porsche Carrera GT. No wonder it still has a following.

Years Of Interest: 1963-82

The Corvette was envisioned as an American Grand Tourer, and while it took some time for it to live up to the hype, the Stingray, introduced via the split-window coupe of 1963, made the 10 years of Corvette history that preceded it worthwhile. And while the split-window (which was produced for only one year) remains the most distinctive, it was the 1965—which introduced four-wheel disc brakes as well as a big-block engine—turned the Corvette into a world-class sports car.

Years Of Interest: 1968-73

A basic box from Japan, the Datsun 510 was an early tuner favorite that still has quite the following. Based loosely on the BMW 1600, the 510 featured front disc brakes, independent suspension, and a SOHC inline 4. Racing success was matched by street performance, long before anyone had heard of a Type R anything.

Years Of Interest: 1961-71

Much tinier than their modern counterparts, the original Mini Coopers were a joint project between BMC (who sold Minis under both Morris and Austin) and John Cooper, who built race cars under his own name. They won four Monte Carlo rally races (but were disqualified in 1966), and earned cult status in the States mostly by not being available. The few that were imported stood out for their small, pugnacious stature—the French bulldogs of cars.