When it comes to cars that have been able to show the world what America is all about, there are several that we can show off and admire. Whether we’re boasting about performance or we’re showing off the power of the American automotive industry, there’s a lot to be proud of when it comes to the vehicles that call the United States home. With that in mind, let’s take a look at several vehicles that we’ve been proud to allow to carry the ideals of this great country that we call home.
Dodge Viper
While the Viper isn’t offered on the market any longer, the project began in 1990 and it gave us one of the most unapologetic and brash vehicles ever built. The strong V10 engine was barely harnessed by the driving system and braking offered. This is a car that still makes us turn our heads when we see one driving on the road or racing around at a track.
1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire
If you think of turbocharging as a new feature in technology and driving, you’d be wrong. Before Saab or BMW ever added a turbocharger to their engines, the team at Oldsmobile offered us the Jetfire which was powered by an all-alloy V8 engine that had a single turbocharger adding more power to the mix to give this car a lot of performance on the road.
1964 Pontiac GTO
Even today, the Pontiac GTO is admired as one of the most impressive cars that ever came off the line and started to drive. This model was considered the first muscle car and it packed an impressive 389-cubic-inch V8 engine that was capable of producing 325 horsepower. A four-barrel carburetor was part of the package for this car.
1966 Ford GT40
Very few cars show us the true American spirit in the way the GT40 did. This was a revenge car that was made to take down Ferrari after a botched buyout of the lauded racing brand. It took a few years, but when Ford took this car to Le Mans, it was able to win the race and took all three spots on the podium to seriously irritate the Ferrari team.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
This muscle car was the one that made the world look at the Camaro more seriously. Even those that preferred the Ford Mustang chose this version of the Camaro to drive. This was a car that had a strong engine and pushed out more than 350 horsepower to give you the power and the fun you wanted in a serious muscle car that we still love to see today.
1968 Ford Mustang
The first year of the Mustang, which was 1964, was more important because it brought us the car we love today, but the 1968 model was the best. This was the first one that was facelifted and offered with a massive big-blog V8 engine that showed up with 390 cubic-inches of size to give you the incredible power and performance that you could show off.
1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
The Chevrolet Corvette has been around for a long time, but the first year of the ZR1 was 1990. This was the year that you can have a massive 5.7-liter V8 engine under the hood to give you the power desired and the way to show up the rest of the neighbors with the performance that would make them jealous when you took it for a drive.
1997 Jeep Wrangler
If you’re looking for a vehicle that shows off true American spirit, the Wrangler has to be on the list. This is a vehicle that can go anywhere you want and it shows off with round headlights and slotted grill that dates back to World War II. The 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine gave this model that power that we fell in love with and it only got better from there.
2013 Tesla Model S
The Model S has to be an important American vehicle as the most impressive electric car on the road today. This car has set records for sprints and showed us that an electric car doesn’t have to be boring, it can be luxurious, filled with advanced electronics, and bring the power we want to the road. This car has revolutionized the recent automotive industry.
2019 Dodge Grand Caravan
Don’t laugh at this vehicle, or wonder why it’s on the list, this family hauler has its place. It might not be exciting or sexy at all, but what has been since the 1980s is one of the most useful and trustworthy family vehicles on the market. The Grand Caravan is a vehicle that continues to offer us the room we need for everyone to ride along in comfort.
