What was the first super car?

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-26-2014, 03:02 PM

I was discussing this with some older guys from Italy and they stated it was the mid 70's lambo countach, the kicked off the super car era. They said that super cars/exotic is a euro/italy thing and america could never compete(while laughing).

Your thoughts?

**CJREX** · 12-26-2014, 06:53 PM

Plymouth SuperBird/Dodge Daytona.

And as far as exotics, I think the recent Ford GT would qualify as an exotic.

And I think Ferrari would like to totally forget the Ford GT40 existed.

***SMWS6TA*** · 12-26-2014, 06:59 PM

Funny I would have thought the Shelby Cobra would fit in this.

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-26-2014, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by CJREX

Plymouth SuperBird/Dodge Daytona.

And as far as exotics, I think the recent Ford GT would qualify as an exotic.

And I think Ferrari would like to totally forget the Ford GT40 existed.

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Funny I would have thought the Shelby Cobra would fit in this.

With the exception of the gt40, the rest of those are muscle cars right?

**5.0THIS** · 12-26-2014, 11:16 PM

The GT40 was designed and built as a racecar (even though it was homologated via a street version being built). Are purpose built racecars included in what could be considered the first supercar? The GT40 and Cobra Daytona coupe would be two candidates then. The original AC Cobra could be considered.

And also, no old guy from Italy that's worth a shit would consider the Countach the first supercar. It isn't even the first supercar/ exotic from Lamborghini. That'd be the Miura.

**CJREX** · 12-27-2014, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by Murder after Midnight

With the exception of the gt40, the rest of those are muscle cars right?

There can be a difference of opinion on what constitutes a super car vs an exotic.

Thinking of the Miura, that probably defined what an exotic is to a lot of people. Still a knockout today.

I'm going to place my vote on the Miura as the first Super/Exotic car.

How The Miura Changed The Supercar Game

If mid-engined and exotic styling are required, that leaves the Ford GT40 and Ford GT from America. I don't think the Ford GT would be considered a muscle car.

In a stretch you could include the Pantera since it was sold at Mercury dealerships, though it is obviously from Italy (DeTomaso)

And also speaking of the GT 40, isn't it amazing how some of the best cars come about from people that got pissed at Enzo Ferrari?

Lamborghini built cars because Enzo was upset that Ferrucio Lamborghini had the gall to say that his Ferrari didn't stop worth crap, so Lamborghini built his own out of spite.

The Gt 40 came about because Ford was pissed at Enzo and wanted to teach him a lesson in racing. After thumping Ferrari with the GT40, they decided their point was made and stopped the project.

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-27-2014, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by 5.0THIS

The GT40 was designed and built as a racecar (even though it was homologated via a street version being built). Are purpose built racecars included in what could be considered the first supercar? The GT40 and Cobra Daytona coupe would be two candidates then. The original AC Cobra could be considered.

And also, no old guy from Italy that's worth a shit would consider the Countach the first supercar. It isn't even the first supercar/ exotic from Lamborghini. That'd be the Miura.

Good point I called him on that and he said the muira was indeed exotic, but he didn't consider it a super car, compared to the coutach

**pajeff02** · 12-28-2014, 06:25 AM

1932 Dusenberg Model SJ.

**theorangeguy** · 12-29-2014, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Funny I would have thought the Shelby Cobra would fit in this.

one of the Shelby Cobra's would have...Shelby had a GT500 car that was built specifically to test Goodyear tires and it was capable of doing well over 200mph at the time so I'd say it could make the list as a super car. In fact, one of them sold for over $1million last year at an auction.

Mercedes Gull wing came out in the 60's so it should make the the list as well but it only did like 165-170mph "only haha".

**Zinergy** · 12-29-2014, 01:41 PM

First you need to determine what a super car means. Jaguar came out with the XK120, almuinium hand crafted body right after the WWII that did 120+mph and was the fastest production street car in the world. Does that make it a super car? If supercar=fastest in the world then there has always been a super car.

**theorangeguy** · 12-30-2014, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Zinergy

First you need to determine what a super car means. Jaguar came out with the XK120, almuinium hand crafted body right after the WWII that did 120+mph and was the fastest production street car in the world. Does that make it a super car? If supercar=fastest in the world then there has always been a super car.

I thought about the Jag too...it has to be in the top 3.