War and the birth of the GT

1940–1959

After the Second World War, makers looked for cars that could cross a continent quickly and in comfort. Italians called the idea gran turismo — grand touring — and the Lancia Aurelia B20 GT of 1951 is the car most often named as the first true GT.

The same years brought Jaguar's XK120, the Porsche 356 and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with its gullwing doors: light, fast two-door cars that set the pattern for the next half-century.

Cisitalia 202Cisitalia · 1947–1952Ferrari 166 MM BarchettaFerrari · 1948–1953Porsche 356Porsche · 1948–1965Jaguar XK120Jaguar · 1948–1954Aston Martin DB2Aston Martin · 1950–1953Lancia Aurelia B20 GTLancia · 1951–1958Austin-Healey 100Austin-Healey · 1953–1956Porsche 550 SpyderPorsche · 1953–1956AC AceAC Cars · 1953–1963Chevrolet Corvette (C1)Chevrolet · 1953–1962Triumph TR2Triumph · 1953–1955Mercedes-Benz 300 SLMercedes-Benz · 1954–1963Alfa Romeo Giulietta SprintAlfa Romeo · 1954–1965Mercedes-Benz 190 SLMercedes-Benz · 1955–1963MG MGAMG · 1955–1962Ford Thunderbird (first generation)Ford · 1955–1957BMW 507BMW · 1956–1959Ferrari 250 GT California SpyderFerrari · 1957–1963Maserati 3500 GTMaserati · 1957–1964Lotus Elite (Type 14)Lotus · 1957–1963Jaguar XKSSJaguar · 1957–1957Aston Martin DB4Aston Martin · 1958–1963Facel Vega HK500Facel Vega · 1958–1961Austin-Healey SpriteAustin-Healey · 1958–1971

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWBFerrari · 1959–1962