In the Winter 2010 issue of Die Cast X were the best cars of the past 61 years from 1950 to 2010. The cars that shaped not only an industry but the entire world. To complete the story, here are the contenders for the crown each year. Agree or disagree, you’ll find some surprises along the way. Also, note how the trends change over time, from few European cars in the 1950s to dominance in the 70s and 80s. Interesting as well was the rapid emergence of Japanese names as soon as oil prices jumped up. Its a compelling look at the history and evolution of automobile trends and popularity, and, or course, the diecast components that drive collectors.
1950 Winner: Oldsmobile 88
Top Contenders: Studebaker Starlight, Ford Crestliner, Mercury CM
1951 Winner: Mercury CM
Top Contenders: Ford Victoria, Cadillac Series 62, Chevrolet Styleline
1952 Winner: Cadillac Series 62
Top Contenders: Buick Roadmaster, Mercury 2M, Lincoln Capri
1953 Winner: Chevrolet Corvette
Top Contenders: Hudson Hornet, Buick Skylark, Kaiser Manhattan
1954 Winner: Studebaker Regal
Top Contenders: Mercedes 300SLR, Mercury Sun Valley, Dodge Royal
1955 Winner: Pontiac Star Chief
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Bel Air, Ford Crown Victoria, Porsche 356
1956 Winner: Ford F-100
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Bel Air, DeSoto Fireflight, Chrysler 300B
1957 Winner: Chevrolet Bel Air
Top Contenders: Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, Ford Fairlane, Plymouth Fury
1958 Winner: Volkswagen Beetle
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Impala, Edsel Citation, Pontiac Bonneville
1959 Winner: Cadillac Series 62
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Impala, Lamborghini 350 GT, Plymouth Belvedere
1960 Winner: Chevrolet Impala
Top Contenders: Ford Thunderbird, Ford Galaxie, Chrysler 300F
1961 Winner: Jaguar E-Type
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Impala SS, Austin Healey Sprite, Lincoln Continental
1962 Winner: Ferrari 250 GTO
Top Contenders: Ford Thunderbird, Volkswagen Microbus, Chrysler 300H
1963 Winner: Ford Falcon
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Corvette, Buick Riviera, Dodge Polara
1964 Winner: Chevrolet Impala
Top Contenders: Porsche 901, Austin Healey 3000, Dodge Coronet
1965 Winner: Ford Mustang
Top Contenders: Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Corvette, Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
1966 Winner: Oldsmobile Toronado
Top Contenders: Dodge Charger, Ford Fairlane, Plymouth Barracuda
1967 Winner: Pontiac GTO
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Maserati Ghibli
1968 Winner: Plymouth Road Runner
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Corvette, AMC AMX, MGB GT
1969 Winner: Chevrolet Camaro
Top Contenders: Dodge Charger, Mercury Cougar, Rambler S/C
1970 Winner: Plymouth Cuda
Top Contenders: Dodge Challenger, Ford Maverick, Plymouth Road Runner
1971 Winner: Ferrari 365 GTB
Top Contenders: Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger
1972 Winner: Datsun 240Z
Top Contenders: Volvo 1800B, Chevrolet Vega, Porsche 911
1973 Winner: Lamborghini Muira
Top Contenders: Volkswagen Thing, Maserati Indy, DeTomaso Pantera
1974 Winner: Porsche 914
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Corvette, Opal Rallye, Datsun 260Z
1975 Winner: Porsche 930
Top Contenders: Jaguar E-Type, Triumph TR6, Honda CVCC
1976 Winner: Pontiac Trans Am
Top Contenders: Ferrari 308, Datsun 280Z, Triumph TR7
1977 Winner: Aston Martin Vantage
Top Contenders: Porsche 930, BMW CSI, Lincoln Continental
1978 Winner: Lamborghini Countach
Top Contenders: Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 928, Mazda RX7
1979 Winner: Volkswagen GTi
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang, Chrysler Cordoba, Pontiac Trans Am
1980 Winner: Ferrari 308
Top Contenders: Honda Civic, Datsun 210, Toyota Celica
1981 Winner: Ferrari BB512
Top Contenders: Mercury Capri, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, BMW 3-series
1982 Winner: Chevrolet Corvette
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang, Buick Grand National, Porsche 944
1983 Winner: Toyota Corolla GT
Top Contenders: Honda Accord, Mazda RX7, Ford Mustang GT
1984 Winner: Audi Quattro
Top Contenders: Dodge Daytona, Chevrolet Corvette, Honda Prelude
1985 Winner: Ferrari Testarossa
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, Honda CRX, Chevrolet Camaro IROC
1986 Winner: Chevrolet Corvette
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, Toyota MR2, Mazda RX7
1987 Winner: Buick Grand National
Top Contenders: Porsche 959, Acura Integra, Chevrolet Corvette
1988 Winner: Ferrari 328
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, Ford Thunderbird TC, Acura Integra
1989 Winner: Alpine GTA
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Chevrolet Corvette
1990 Winner: Mazda Miata
Top Contenders: Nissan 300ZX, Ford Mustang GT, Buick Reatta
1991 Winner: Porsche 928
Top Contenders: Nissan 300ZX, GMC Syclone, Infiniti Q45
1992 Winner: Mazda RX7
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, BMW 325i, Lexus SC400
1993 Winner: Ford Mustang Cobra
Top Contenders: Nissan 300ZX, Dodge Daytona IROC, Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1994 Winner: Ferrari F355
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang GT, Ford Thunderbird SC, Acura NSX
1995 Winner: Jaguar XJR
Top Contenders: Nissan 300ZX Turbo, Porsche 993, BMW M3
1996 Winner: Nissan 300ZX
Top Contenders: Lotus Esprit, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, Ford Mustang Cobra
1997 Winner: Ferrari 550
Top Contenders: Acura Integra Type R, Dodge Viper GTS, Plymouth Prowler
1998 Winner: Dodge Viper GTS
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang Cobra, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-Benz SLK
1999 Winner: Plymouth Prowler
Top Contenders: Ford Mustang, Pontiac Trans Am, Mercedes-Benz E55
2000 Winner: Ford Mustang Cobra
Top Contenders: Ferrari 360, Chevrolet Corvette, Panoz Esperante
2001 Winner: BMW Z8
Top Contenders: BMW M3, Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, Shelby Series 1
2002 Winner: Chevrolet Corvette ZO6
Top Contenders: Porsche Boxster S, Ford Thunderbird, Honda S2000
2003 Winner: Lamboghini Murcielago
Top Contenders: Honda S2000, Jaguar XKR, Ford Mustang Mach 1
2004 Winner: Nissan 350Z
Top Contenders: Maseriti Spyder, Ford Sport Trac, Mercedes-Benz CLK
2005 Winner: Ferrari F430
Top Contenders: BMW 645, Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan Skyline
2006 Winner: Ford GT
Top Contenders: Chrysler 300C, Smart, Mini Cooper S
2007 Winner: Chevrolet Corvette ZO6
Top Contenders: Dodge Charger, Mazda MX-5, Jeep Grand Cherokee SVT
2008 Winner: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Top Contenders: Subaru WRX STi, Audi R8, Toyota FJ
2009 Winner: Dodge Challenger
Top Contenders: Nissan GT-R, BMW Z4M, Mercedes-Benz G55
2010 Winner: Chevrolet Camaro
Top Contenders: Lamborghini Revington, Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger SVT