Cars of the World

Vintage, special and sports-racing cars, some seen on the street like in Beverly Hills, California, USA in 1980, vintage American cars in Havana, Cuba in 2016 and sports cars in Brașov, Romania, in 2015.
But most are seen in car museums, as in the National Automobile Museum of Turin, Italy in 1994; the Maranello Rosso Museo Ferrari & Abarth in Fulciano, the Republic of San Marino in 2009 (now sadly no longer existing); Guy Moerenhout's Abarth Works Museum in Lier, Belgium in 2018 (now totally renewed as the Squadra Abarth & Rally Collection); in Australia: the Gold Coast Motor Museum in Upper Coomera, Queensland, in 2012, Gilberts Motor Museum in Strathalbyn and the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, both in South Australia, 2023; and the Queen Victoria and National Automobile Museum in Launceston, Tasmania in 2024.

Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia, 1975 - An Austin-Healey 100 Six of 1957 due for restoration in the car museum of the Pioneer Settlement open air museum.

Dearborn, Michigan, USA, 1980 - A Stanley Steamer of 1912, in the Henry Ford Museum. The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was an American manufacturer of steam cars that operated from 1902 to 1924, when steam cars became impractical.

Beverly Hills, California, USA, 1980 - Car yard with modern retro-styled “classic” cars; at right an Excalibur.

Beverly Hills, California, USA, 1980 - Car yard with modern retro-styled cars: “Tisatoy” and an Auburn; the originals were produced until 1937.

Turin, Italy, 1994 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Record Enduro of 1960 in the National Automobile Museum. Abarth set 18 International speed records at Monza.

Turin, Italy, 1994 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero Monoposto of 1965 in the National Automobile Museum. In 1965 it broke various speed records at the Monza circuit.

Westlake Village, California, USA, 2001 - Alfred Cosentino's Lancia Abarth Rallye 037 of 1981. Abarth did most of the design work with Pininfarina.

Westlake Village, California, USA, 2001 - Alfred Cosentino's Abarth Simca 2000 of 1963 under renovation at his home. Based on the French Simca 1000, it had a pure Abarth 1946 cc engine in the rear.

Fulciano, San Marino, 2009 - A Ferrari 250 GTO of 1962, probably the most valuable Ferrari for collectors.

Fulciano, San Marino, 2009 - The Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California of 1957 that belonged to Marilyn Monroe.

San Marino, 2009 - Abarth Simca 2000 GT with long nose section (1965), Abarth Simca 2000 GT Corsa (1964), Abarth Simca 1300 (1961/62) and, behind, a Fiat Abarth 1000 SP Barchetta Tubolare (1965).

San Marino, 2009 - Fiat Abarth 700, 750 and 1000 Bialbero Record Monza Coupé with Zagato coachwork, from 1958-1961 and a Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero with Colucci coachwork from 1962.

Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, 2014 - A Subaru 360 in Otaru Railway Museum; a city car with an air-cooled, 2-stroke inline 2-cylinder at the rear, it was Subaru's first car, made from 1958 to 1971.

Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan - A 1991 Mazda 787B four-rotor race car in Otaru Railway Museum. These were Group C sports prototype racing cars and the last Wankel rotary-powered ones to compete in World and Japanese championships.

Takayama, Honshu, Japan, 2014 - The early Mazda, Subaru and Toyota cars in Takayama Shōwa-kan, a museum with objects from the Shōwa period (1926–1989).

Taipei, Taiwan, 2014 - The 1955 Cadillac that belonged to President Chiang Kai-shek, in the Museum of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Taipei, Taiwan, 2014 - The 1972 Cadillac that belonged to President Chiang Kai-shek, in the Museum of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 2015 - A Trabant, built from 1957 to 1990 in East Germany, with a hard plastic body and a 500cc, later 600cc, two-cylinder two-stroke engine, and in 1989 a VW Polo four-stroke engine; at the National Museum of Military History.

Brașov, Romania, 2015 - A Fiat Abarth X 1/9 Prototipo of 1974, at the start of a car rallye.

Brașov, Romania, 2015 - A Mercedes-AMG GT S of 2014, parked in front of the Banca Comercială Română.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - A 1959 Buick Electra Hardtop Sedan in a side street.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - A 1956 Buick Roadmaster Convertible along Calle Obrapía, one of the vintage American cabriolets waiting for customers to take a tour of Havana.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - A 1956 Ford Fairlane and 1951 Chevrolet Skyline convertibles along Calle Obrapía, two of the vintage American cabriolets waiting for customers to take a tour.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - Two 1959 Ford Thunderbirds and between them a 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, vintage American cabriolets.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - Vintage cars parked outside the Parque Luz Caballero: a Buick of 1955, a Russian Moskvitch 2140 (1976 to 1988), an Oldsmobile of 1949, a Chevrolet of 1952 and 1955.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - Vintage American cars parked in front of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, one of the oldest existing forts in the Americas: a Chevrolet of 1955, a Mercury of 1954 and a Chevrolet of 1948.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - A 1953 Lincoln convertible, on the Malecón, Vedado.

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 2016 - A well-preserved 1959 model Hillman Minx, kitted out with (non-standard) mag wheels and disk brakes.

Havana, Cuba, 2016 - A Peugeot 403, from around 1958, on Calle San Miguel.

Lelystad, Netherlands, 2016 - The prototype of the DAF 600, first presented in 1958 and produced from 1959 to 1963. It had a continuously variable automatic transmission, the “DAF Variomatic”. It is displayed at the National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 2018 - An Argyll Flying Fifteen, from 1910, in the National Museum of Scotland. Based in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, the factory produced more than 800 cars per year in the early 20th century, more than any other European make.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Monomille and Bialbero of 1963 in the Abarth Works Museum.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Scorpione of 1969 and a Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Coupe of 1964.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Fiat Abarth 1000 Monomille of 1963, Fiat Abarth 750 Coupe Zagato of 1957, Fiat Abarth 750 Coupe Sestriere Zagato of 1959 and Fiat Abarth 1000 Berlina of 1963.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Monomille of 1963 and behind it a Fiat Abarth 750 Coupe Zagato of 1957.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth OT 1300 of 1967, based on the Fiat 850 with plexiglass coachwork and a “periscope” on the roof.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Fiat Abarth OT 1300 of 1967, Fiat Abarth 750 Spyder Allemano of 1958. In the background a Fiat Topolino of 1936, Simca Abarth 1150 Corsa of 1963 and Fiat Abarth 1600 Coupe Ellena of 1962.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Berlina of 1966 and behind it a Fiat Abarth 1000 Biposto Millino Spyder of 1969.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 1000 Biposto Millino Spyder of 1969.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Simca Abarth 1150 Corsa of 1963; in the background a Fiat Topolino of 1936, and a Steyr-Puch 500 of 1965.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 595 or 695 of 1964 and a Fiat Abarth OT 1600; in the background a Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 Coupe Bertone of 1965.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - An Abarth 3500 Prototipo Pininfarina of 1974 and two Fiat Abarth X1/9 1800 Prototipo. At right an Autobianchi A-112 Abarth Rally of 1969.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 850 Coupe Scorpione Allemano of 1959 next to a Saab 96 of around 1962.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth OT 1000 of 1964 and a Fiat 600 Multipla of 1957 in Abarth livery.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - From right two Abarth Simca 1300 of 1962, a Fiat Abarth 750 Bialbero Record Monza Coupe Zagato of 1958, two Fiat Abarth 750 Coupe Zagato of 1958 and a Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Scorpione of 1969.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Abarth 2200 Coupe Allemano of 1961.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Three Fiat Abarth 124 Spider Rally Stradale, introduced in 1972, with extra lighting for rallies.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Three Fiat Abarth 131 Rally of 1976-'78.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Three Fiat Abarth 2300 S Coupe of 1963; marked “Abarth Corse”, they have bodywork by Ghia.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Volkswagen XL1of 2001, a limited production diesel-powered plug-in hybrid with a two cylinder 800 cc turbo engine, and a Fiat 500C Giardinetta of 1949.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Volkswagen XL1 (VW 1-litre) of 2001, a two-person limited production diesel-powered plug-in hybrid with a two cylinder 800 cc turbo engine, designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Three Mini Coopers of various ages; from left a Mark III by British Leyland Motor, as made from 1969-1976; a Mark Mark I Morris Mini Cooper as produced until 1967; and a Mark VII made by Rover, 1996-2000.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - A Fiat Barchetta Abarth, made (as Fiat) in 2000-2005. Behind it a Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC Stradale (1983) and an Alfa Romeo Montreal (1970-1977). At left a Pininfarina Abarth Spidereuropa of 1982 and a Lancia Delta of around 1982. High up the body shell of a Porsche 904 Carrera GTS of 1964-'65.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Two Fiat Abarth 850 or 1000 Berlina Corsa, converted from Yugoslav-built Zastava 750 (Fiat 600 built in license from 1962). They have the front water radiators as were introduced in 1965.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - The Polish section: a FSO Warszawa of 1957 (identical to the Soviet Pobeda, built under license) and the FSO Syrena 105 with two-stroke engine, built 1972-1983; and a FSO (Polski Fiat) 125P of 1983.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Four Fiat Abarth 2300 S Coupe of 1963, a Pininfarina Abarth Spidereuropa of 1982 and a 1967 Fiat 125 Samantha (Vignale).

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - From right a Fiat Abarth 750 Bialbero Record Monza Coupe Zagato of 1958 with trophies won by Guy Moerenhout, two Fiat Abarth 750 Coupe Zagato of 1958 and a Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Scorpione of 1969.

Lier, Belgium, 2018 - Overview of the main hall of the Abarth Works Museum, with in the foreground three Fiat Abarth 124 Spider Rally Stradale.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A 1912 Cadillac Tourer and other vintage cars, in the Gold Coast Motor Museum.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A BMW Isetta 300, built under licence from Iso in Italy, with its front-opening door and a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine, originally derived from a BMW motorcycle (1955-1962) and a 1963 Vanden Plass 1100, a luxury version of the Austin 1100.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, in need of more restoration.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A DMC DeLorean, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, with gull-wing doors and brushed stainless-steel body, and a Ferrari Mondial 8, a mid-engined, V8, grand tourer designed by Pininfarina; both of 1981-'82.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A De Tomaso Pantera (1971-1992), a mid-engine sports car designed by Ghia, and a Ferrari Mondial 8 (1980-1982), a mid-engined grand tourer designed by Pininfarina.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A Ferrari 308 GT4 (introduced in 1973 as Dino 308 GT4), a V6 mid-engined sports coupe designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - An Aston Martin DBS grand tourer (1967–1972) and a Lotus Cortina (Ford Cortina Lotus) of 1963, a high-performance sports saloon, produced in the UK from 1963 to 1970 by Ford in collaboration with Lotus Cars.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A Buick Limited of 1958, when fins and lots of chrome were all the rage.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia - A Jensen Healey (1972–1976), A British sports car, with a 1973 cc Lotus engine; and a 1962 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, based on the well-known “beetle”, with a body designed by Ghia.

Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia, 2012 - A Buick Limited Convertible of 1958, with its huge size and plenty of chrome.

Ipswich, Queensland, 2021 - A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, fitted with a Corvette engine, on the grounds of the Workshops Rail Museum.

Canberra, ACT, Australia, 2021 - An FJ Holden Special sedan of 1953, in the National Museum of Australia. It was an updated version of the Holden 48-215 of 1948, Australia's first mass-produced car.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia - A 1923 Bean 14, restored as a replica af Francis Birtles' “Sundowner”; in Gilberts Motor Museum.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia - A 1930 Cadillac V8 “Miss Emmy” belonging to strongman Jordan 'Biggie' Steffen, with a 1906 Cadillac Model K.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia - A 1948 MG TC Midget; the British MG T-Type, a series of open two-seater sports cars, were produced from 1936 to 1955.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia - The Jaguar XK 120, a two-seater sports car manufactured between 1948 and 1954, was a sensation when it first appeared at the 1948 motor show; it was succeeded by the XK 140, XK 150 and the E-type.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia, 2023 - An Austin Healey 3000 Mk III, a British sports car built between 1964 and 1966; it was the final edition of the famous 3000, with a 3-litre BMC C-Series engine.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia - A Peugeot 203, manufactured between 1948 and 1960, flanked by an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III and a Jaguar XK 120. It was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1947.

Strathalbyn, SA, Australia, 2023 - A 1935 Morgan 3-wheeler MX4 - Matchless 1000, one of various 3-wheeled sports cars produced by Morgan; this model was fitted with a Matchless v-twin engine, which was also used in certain motorcycles.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1898 Benz Velocipede, at the National Motor Museum. Following Karl Benz's invention of the modern car with the 1885 Patent Motorwagen, Benz released the “Velo” in 1894: the world's first production automobile.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1932 Delage D8S Sports Tourer, an expensive and powerful French four-litre eight cylinder sports car.

Birdwood, SA, Australia, 2023 - A 1935 Hudson Eight 'The McIntyre Special', built with a custom body and had a distinguished racing career. The American Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other branded automobiles from 1909 until 1954.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 2008 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4, a rear-mid-engined supercar, with exceptional performance: a top speed of 408 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 2.46 seconds; and a 1927 Bugatti Type 35B, the most powerful version of the iconic race car, phenominally successful when raced by the factory works team.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - The 1965 Vice-Regal Rolls Royce Phantom V with Mulliner Park Ward coachwork. This car was used to transport the Governor General and members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - The British-built 25 hp Talbot “Overlander” that drove from Adelaide to Darwin, 30 June to 20 August 1908, the first car to cross Australia from south to north.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1959 Ford Anglia 105E, with its unusual backward-slanted rear window and a 997 cc engine; and a 1953 Ford Prefect 100E, with a 1172 cc engine, remaining in production until 1959.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1955 Austin A40 Cambridge, and a 1950 Austin A40 Devon Sedan, a model produced from 1947 to 1952 with the same 1.2 litre engine.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1961 Vanden Plas Princess, a more luxurious variant of the Austin A99 Westminster, manufactured from 1959 to 1968; an Australian-built 1962 Austin Freeway, based on the British Austin A60 Cambridge and the small Austin A30 with a 803 cc engine, made from 1952-1956.

Birdwood, SA, Australia, 2023 - A 1969 Austin 1800 Mark II, BMC’s third front wheel drive model following on from the Mini and 1100, winning the European “Car of the Year” award; a 1961 Vanden Plas Princess and an Australian-built 1962 Austin Freeway.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - The 1956 Land Rover Series 1, used by the Leyland Brothers to cross from Steep Point (WA) to Cape Byron (NSW), nearly 5000 kilometres from westernmost to easternmost point of Australia, a first.

Birdwood, SA, Australia, 2023 - A 1967 Aston Martin DBS grand tourer (built 1967–1972), with behind it a 1967 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce coupé, designed by Giugiaro at Bertone, and a Swedish 1965 Volvo P1800S coupé, produced from 1961-1972 and styled in collaboration with the Italian house Frua, a subsidiary of Ghia.

Birdwood, SA, Australia - A 1949 Hillman Minx Mark IV, a 1956 Rover Model 75 and a 1955 MG Magnette ZA; different variants were produced between 1953 and 1968. It was designed by Gerald Palmer and had a BMC 1,489 cc engine.

Shanghai, China, 2023 - Showroom with the XPeng P7i and G6, sophisticated electric cars in Qibao Mall, a department store in the west of Shanghai.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 2024 - A 1923 Alfa Romeo RLS Sport, in the Queen Victoria Museum. It was the first car in Tasmania to reach 100 miles per hour and the first Alfa Romeo with a racing victory outside Europe.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 2024 - A 2017 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme in the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania. This Viper is powered by a 8.4 litres version of the Viper V10 engine, developed with help from Lamborghini.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - A 1991 Cheetah, the final one produced. Cheetah Cars was a kit-car company based in New Zealand, specialising in a Holden HQ-HZ based car designed to resemble a Jaguar E-type.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - A 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M, a variant of the Austin-Healey 100, a sports car that was developed by Donald Healey. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals, with a 4-cylinder 2660 cc engine, built from 1953-1956. The rare 100/M features a high-compression head and 110bhp output.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - A 1956 Lotus Eleven, 'Club' specification, with a Coventry Climax engine. Behind it is a 1958 Messerschmitt KR200, powered by a Fichtel & Sachs single cylinder 191cc engine, producing 10 horsepower. The 230kg three-wheeler had a top speed of more than 90 km/h.

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - A 1973 Citroen DS23 (1974 WCR Winner), the actual car that won the 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally and also completed the 2013 Peking to Paris Rally.

Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, 2024 - Two vintage Ford T cars join other vehicles to board the “Spirit of Tasmania” ferry to Geelong, Victoria.