Returning from WWII, many soldiers told stories of the loves they'd left behind. For some, it was a mechanical sweetheart - the European sports car. So, the nation was primed for the debut of the 1953 Corvette, a fiberglass two-seater that was the first mass-produced American sports car. This first car was more show than go, but over the years Corvette has evolved from a cute looking roadster to the menacing Sting Ray, and now to one of the world's sleekest, sexiest and fastest high-tech sports cars.
The 1964 Mustang created a stampede in American showrooms similar to the frenzy created by the Beatles. Ford conducted a series of Gallup polls to see what baby boomers wanted in a car - the Mustang was it. Just three years after the Mustang's unveiling at the New York World's Fair, the one millionth Mustang trotted off the assembly line; clearly the Mustang was the inexpensive sporty car the world was waiting for.
Like a coiled snake, this car scared the world's racing elite and made its creator, Carroll Shelby, a household name. In 1959, Shelby was America's best competition driver but a heart condition forced him to give up racing. Instead of retiring from the circuit he decided to jump back in with his own cars - not an easy feat - and within four years, his dream car was born: the Cobra.
In the 1960s a young Ford Motor Company executive named Lee Iaccoca decided that Ford needed to compete with the world's best companies in high performance motor racing. He convinced Ford that they should buy Ferrari. But after Enzo Ferrari sent them packing back to Detroit, Ford decided to beat Ferrari at LeMans, no matter what the cost. Their secret weapon would be the GT-40.
One of the most desired and envied sports cars ever created, Porsche has set the worldwide benchmark for automotive performance and styling. With the addition of the new Cayenne SUV, Porsche is no longer just about sports cars, but it's still performance driven and stylish. Whether it's the 911 or the Cayenne, they're fun, powerful and precise machines designed for people with a passion for driving. All Porsches share a common legacy of automotive innovation, a legacy that began with the company's namesake, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, in the early days of the 20th Century.
Carl Benz - tinkering in his Mannheim, Germany, workshop - gave the world its finest automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. Over one-hundred years later, the company bearing his name is still one of the world's most innovative automakers. From that first single-cylinder motor-wagon, to elegant town cars for wealthy industrialists in the 1920s, and futuristic Grand Prix racers in the 1930s, Mercedes carved out a niche as the builder of the best cars possible. Its sport custom-bodied road cars from the 1930s command over 55 million dollars at auctions today. Find out how a company can maintain its status as one of the truly great cars for over 100 years.
BMW started out as a builder of aircraft engines, before moving to motorcycles and finally, cars. Its aircraft engines set speed records in the '30s and its sports cars were stylish, elegant and fast. The horizontally-opposed engines on BMW's motorcycles caught the eye of the U.S. Government and this led to Harley Davidson being ordered to copy them for wartime use. After the war, BMW fought to reclaim its status as a producer of world-renowned sports cars and motorcycles. Today, it's clear that this company has carved out a place among the builders of unique and fast vehicles that many proclaim are the "ultimate driving machine."
Enzo Ferrari's greatest desire was to become a racecar driver and he earned plenty of kudos during his apprenticeship at Alfa. Through sheer force of character he left to form a company of his own, creating one of the most formidable racing machines ever produced. Follow the incredible story of Enzo Ferrari and his company into the present and see his namesake car, the Ferrari Enzo. It has a top speed of 217.5 mph, and a price tag to tilt the radar gun: $500,000. Enzo would love it!
Long before Dustin Hoffman discovered it in the film "The Graduate," a promising Neapolitan entrepreneur named Nicola Romeo took over this fledgling auto company and turned it into a racing and sports car legend. In the 1920s and early '30s, Alfa's team boss, Enzo Ferrari, and his drivers dominated European sports car racing as their lightweight but powerful car tore up the tracks. Today, classic Alfas fetch millions of dollars from collectors who want to relive racing's greatest moments.
Biography of Harley Earl.
History of the first Corvette.
1954 Motorama motor show.
1956 Motorama motor show.
Introduction of the Mako Shark II.
Introduction to the 1957 fuel injected Corvette.
Introduction to the Aerovette.
History of the Mustang.
History of the Cobra.
Old Ford commercial.
Demonstration showcasing Ford's safety glass.
James Dean's noteworthy roles with Porsche.
Role of the 917 in Porsches racing history.
Close look at the 1971 1000 km race at the Nürburgring.
Carrera GT concept promotional video.
Close look at the 1976 race at LeMans.
Close look at the 1978 Safari rally.
Tribute to famous race car driver Fangio.
Bonus episode detailing the history of the Silver Arrow race cars!
History of old multi-million dollar Mercedes.
Jay Leno introduces and shows off the Maybach.
History of the BMW 326.
History of the BMW R51.
History of the BMW R2.
Compilation of old BMW newsreels.
Tribute to famous old BMW produced motorcycles.
Tribute to famous BMW's of the '70s.
History of noteworthy rare Ferraris.
History of noteworthy rare Alfas.
Tribute to the classic Ferrari F-40.
Assembly of the Ferrari 456 GT.
Testing of the Ferrari 575 M Maranello.
Testing of the Ferrari 360 Modena.
Ferrari's challenge with the F-360.
Details about the development of the Ferrari Enzo.
Italian interview with Ferrari about the 1980 Pinin Concept.