Iconic Cars

MORGAN 4/4 SERIES 2, 1955-PRESENT 

Morgan is a small, independent British carmaker that has improbably survived in an era of massive consolidation. Making things even quirkier, the design of the 4/4 Series 2 is unchanged from 1955 — it’s still made on a frame of ash wood. Engines and other components have gotten upgrades over the years, but the overall design and construction is the same.

VOLKSWAGEN KOMBI, 1950-2013 

Introduced by Volkswagen in 1950, the vehicle has been called many names — the Bus in US, the Camper in UK and the Kombi in Brazil. The company has announced a final run of 600 VW Kombis. The Kombi moves on as Brazil institutes tougher safety regulations — which apparently look askance at vehicles that protect front-seat occupants with little more than thin sheets of steel and glass.

HINDUSTAN AMBASSADOR, 1958-Present 

A quick trip to Hindustan Motor’s website should get you excited: The 2013 Ambassador is laying down nearly 36 horsepower! That’ll get the Ambassador from zero to 96 km/h in 55 seconds! One interesting sign of the times: power steering and air conditioning are still optional, but a mobile charging port is standard.

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