Road and Track magazine recently did an article where they gathered together eight famous sports cars to find the greatest sports car ever made. They included:
- The Hornet, the 1949 MG TC
- The Gentlemen, the 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL
- The Revelation, the 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
- The Icon, the 1967 Porsche 911 S
- The Godfather, the 1988 BMW M5
- The One, the 1995 McLaren F1
- The Screamer, the 2001 Acura Integra Type R
- The Marvel, the 2020 Mazda Miata MX-5
There are some mighty famous names on that list, some that most people would select themselves as a favourite. I am not surprised that my favourite sports car, the Mazda MX-5, is on the list, as it is a worthy inclusion. Here is what Road and Track said about this popular roadster:
"It's the rare, thoroughly modern throwback. Retro done right. It doesn't look old, it doesn't drive old, but it maintains all the hallmarks of cars we love from years past. You can feel elements of the MG TC, the Cobra, the Lotus Elan, the MGB. The engine note, the steering feel, the compliant suspension, tight gearing, and how the brakes refuse to fade. It's all here, packed in a well-built, reliable package that has air conditioning and navigation. Oh, it will also run for more than 20 minutes at a time and won't leak oil all over your garage floor."
In the end, Road and Track's selection of the "greatest sports car ever made" was a big surprise to me. I was sure that the Porsche 911 S or the Mclaren F1 would be it. But, they chose the 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra.
"There's a real sense of freedom........ It's the ultimate roadster in every sense. The right engine, gearbox, steering wheel, and on. The rare thing that asks for every ounce of your attention but rewards every sense completely. Perfection."
As a roadster fan, it's hard to disagree with their choice. The Cobra is a worthy sportscar GOAT.