Standard disclaimers; I can stand to have both my opinions, and the "facts" of what I say challenged
A few random thoughts:
Pretty much impossible to dispute the impact of the
Model T. Henry Ford a very clever and interesting man. The Model T was already in production for a number of years, before moving assembly line techniques were applied to its manufacture. Demand was so high, that it required a total rethink of what "mass produced" even meant, while still keeping unit cost low. At a time when paved roads were still incredibly rare, the "T" was rugged, reliable, and affordable. "A simple car, for simple people", just what the Dr. ordered. Certainly the automobile was not going to be a passing fad, the rapidly expanding market was going to be served sooner or later, but Henry was there first, in a big old way, and the world did change as a result.
The Corvette, mehh. I'm not a hater, but admit they are not my thing. To say that the Corvette changed the world is kind of only true from an American perspective. When I think of the Corvette, I think of an effort to capture market share that was already (under) satisfied by "foreign" cars in America. The term "sports" car was almost synonymous with "foreign" car at the time. Small, nimble cars with good power to weight ratio, intended for weekend competition use, were nothing unusual in Europe. Jaguar, MG, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, the list goes on and on, and were all cars that the Corvette was an effort to emulate in spirit. The head of the program when the car was being developed was of European background; We were already "borrowing" rocket scientists, why not get some help with sports cars as well?
Finally, the legend of the Corvette really only began to take hold after the car had turned it's back on its own short heritage, and the original inline 6 engine was replaced with the hairy chested, macho V-8 that the name has become permanently linked with. Many are fine cars, with a very loyal following, but I can't say they changed the world.
The Miura; Bitchin' car, no doubt; Drop dead gorgeous, technically interesting, very high performance for the day. Often looked to as the first modern "supercar", so could legitimately say it changed the world; But mostly the "dream" world, (not the automotive world we mere mortals actually live in.
) When Mr. Lamborghini originally decided to expand his manufacturing operations beyond heavy equipment and tractors, and into the realm of sports cars, he did so as the result of the kind of angry blood feud with Mr. Ferrari that is the stuff of Italian opera. When your principle motivation is to "out do" Ferrari, to plant a flag, and plant it deep, you just might change the world at the same time! The legend of Lamborghini was secured with the Muira, but really took hold with the general public when the Muria's successor was introduced, the LP 400 / "Countach". The automotive "Farrah Fawcett wet dream" poster on many little boys' wall.
There was a junkyard just down the street from my parent's house when I was born; For many years, they had hanging on the wall the complete "nose" of a Miura. Brand new, "in the white"; Never mounted, never painted. I always wondered how they came to have it, and where it is now.
Not here to just pick at other's contributions, have a few nominations of my own, but late now.
- but it is indisputably a break through vehicle.
