In 2024, luxurious automobiles are extra superior than ever earlier than. With numerous borderline pointless gimmicks like evening imaginative and prescient, and cooled cupholders, the extent that some carmakers will go to overcharge you for optionally available extras is unbelievable. Technology has come to this point, that we’re already seeing all-electric luxurious automobiles from huge manufacturers just like the BMW i7 and Rolls-Royce Spectre.
But what when you solely care about consolation, and don’t desire one million touch-sensitive buttons and big digital shows? For that to occur, we have to flip again the clock and take a look at among the most essential luxurious automobiles ever made. From world-renowned manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, to high-class status-driven manufacturers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce, all these manufacturers have some unimaginable flagship luxurious automobiles.
This checklist will not simply embrace huge four-door luxurious sedans, but in addition contact base on exceptional grand tourers that prioritize old-school engineering over modern-day expertise.
In order to provide the newest and correct data potential, the information used to compile this text was sourced from varied producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Hagerty, Classic.com, and Bring a Trailer. These luxurious automobiles are ranked from oldest to latest.
15 Things To Expect With Luxury Car Ownership
While high-end luxurious automobiles signify the last word standing image, listed here are some belongings you need to contemplate earlier than taking the plunge.
10 Lincoln Continental (Fourth Generation)
1961-1969
During the Nineteen Fifties and 160s, American carmakers had been obsessive about dimension, whether or not it’s concerning the car’s general dimension, its engine, or every thing in between. Of course, the American carmaker Lincoln was no exception. Yet, when Lincoln introduced the four-generation Continental in 1961, it was smaller than its predecessor.
Key Features
- Hidden headlights
- Curved windshield
- Three-speed computerized transmission
- Up to 365 horsepower
- Suicide doorways
Lincoln supplied the Continental luxurious automobile as both a sedan or a four-door convertible, and got here with quite a lot of V-8 engines, the 430 cubic-inch MEL V-8 being essentially the most iconic. The fourth-generation Lincoln Continental’s primary focus was model, therefore why it got here with all kinds of inside materials and shade decisions, exterior colours, and an optionally available canvas roof. And after all, as a lot of you might know, U.S. President John F. Kennedy rode in a black 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible limousine on the time of his assassination.
9 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman (W100)
1963-1981
Nowadays, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is without doubt one of the best luxurious automobiles in the marketplace. But again when the S-Class was merely a pipedream, the Daimer-Benz gave the world the Mercedes-Benz 600, also called the W100. Built for practically 20 years, the Mercedes-Benz 600 gave ultra-luxurious manufacturers like Rolls-Royce and Bentley a run for his or her cash, and paved the best way for the S-Class, and modern Mercedes-Maybach cars.
Key Features
- Pneumatic self-leveling suspension
- Rear cabin divider
- Inward-facing rear seats
- Hydraulically operated seats, home windows, locks, and sunroof
- Rear privateness curtains
- 6.3-liter M100 V-8
While the ‘regular’ Mercedes-Benz 600 was already a big and beautiful piece of German engineering, the 600 Pullman was even bigger and extra luxurious. Mercedes-Benz solely produced 428 long-wheelbase Pullman 600 examples; 304 being four-door variants and 124 six-door examples. To emphasize the exclusiveness of the 600 even additional, it is value noting that popular celebrities owned a Mercedes-Benz 600, similar to David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Hugh Hefner, John Lennon, and Jeremy Clarkson.
8 Toyota Century (Second Generation)
1997-2017
The second-generation Toyota Century is without doubt one of the greatest value-for-money luxurious automobiles you should buy to face out from the group. While the Lexus LS 400 remained Toyota’s worldwide flagship luxurious automobile, the flagship Century bought solely to the Japanese market, making it a real JDM automobile. However, attributable to their outdated age, these swish and understated first-gen Toyota Century automobiles sell on average for $17,074, whatever the era.
Key Features
- Air suspension
- Soft shut doorways
- Rear privateness curtains
- Wood paneling
- 280 horsepower & 354 pound-feet of torque
The second-generation Toyota Century got here with a V-12 engine, making it an excellent sleeper car. Despite having as many cylinders as a Lamborghini beneath the hood, the Century nonetheless featured luxurious facilities like reclining rear seats with a therapeutic massage perform, and all of the seats are power-adjustable and heated too. On high of that, a Toyota Century’s paint is meticulously hand-perfected from the manufacturing unit, and unique homeowners had a alternative of leather-based, material, or wool seats.
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7 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide
1961-1964
Back within the early 1900s, Lagonda was based, and made automobiles independently. However, after practically 40 years, Aston Martin claimed possession of Lagonda. The two British manufacturers shared engines, and made distinctive automobiles collectively. But this checklist will not be specializing in the Aston Martin Lagonda, as a substitute shining the highlight on the Lagonda Rapide – a non secular successor to the modern-day four-door Aston Martin sports car.
Key Features
- All automobiles had been hand-built
- Designed by Carrozzeria Touring
- 4.0-liter inline-six
- Disc brakes all-around
- Leather and burled walnut inside
Based on the Aston Martin DB4, the Lagonda Rapide inherited Aston Martin sports activities automobiles’ driving traits, however added much more opulence to the combination. During its lifespan, solely 55 examples ever reached the general public, and stays an typically forgotten-about Aston Martin luxurious automobile, sadly.
6 Jaguar XJ-S (Series 1)
1976-1981
Back within the day, the Jaguar XJS was the speak of the city. The first-gen XJS fashions all got here fitted with an enormous 5.3-liter V-12. In flip, this was sufficient to maintain up with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini on the time with a 7.6-second 0 to 60 mph time. That mentioned, the Jaguar XJS’ objective wasn’t to be a pace machine, however reasonably a robust luxurious cruiser.
Key Features
- 244 horsepower
- 143 mph high pace
- Analog clock on the dashboard
- Leather inserts scattered throughout the cabin
- Automatic or handbook transmission
The Jaguar XJS’ inside was plain and easy, crafted from totally different woods and leathers, as you’d anticipate from a British luxurious cruiser. The driver’s gauge cluster is stuffed with analog dials and bodily knobs, and so is the remainder of the inside. Regardless, for an average selling price of $18,308, a first-generation Jaguar XJS is a tempting luxurious automobile cut price, and one of the greatest first classic cars to own.
5 Bentley Mulsanne
1980-1992
Back within the day, Bentley and Rolls-Royce weren’t simply opponents, however the two manufacturers additionally shared elements. The base mannequin Mulsanne luxurious sports activities sedan housed the identical V-8 discovered within the Silver Spur, and different RR automobiles, and shared a platform with different Bentley automobiles generally known as the SZ. Regardless, the Mulsanne nonetheless had a bespoke Bentley inside.’
Key Features
- Hydraulic self-leveling suspension
- Power-adjustable entrance seats with reminiscence characteristic
- Power-adjustable aspect mirrors
- Headlight washers
- Rear footrests
With an pointless quantity of sound deadening, a mixture of leather-based, wooden, steel throughout the cabin, and plush carpets all over the place, the Mulsanne was one of the luxurious automobiles cash may purchase on the time. While Bentley nonetheless produces among the greatest luxurious automobiles in the marketplace, the model is straying additional away from simplicity, contemplating the model will quickly introduce five new EVs to its lineup. And if pace is a precedence, Bentley finally launched the Mulsanne S and Mulsanne Turbo, which gave sports activities automobiles a run for his or her cash.
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4 Rolls-Royce Corniche (Mark II)
1986-1989
The Rolls-Royce Corniche is the non secular successor to the modern-day Rolls-Royce Dawn. RR supplied the Corniche both as a two-door hardtop or a convertible, however most consumers selected the drop-top model. Not solely was the Rolls-Royce Corniche II a topless murals, nevertheless it supplied the identical facilities and construct high quality you’d anticipate from a Rolls.
Key Features
- English Connolly leather-based
- Lombardy wooden trim items
- Lambswool carpeting
- Power-operated soft-top
- Power-adjustable entrance seats with reminiscence characteristic
While modern-day Rolls-Royce automobiles have huge touchscreens and digital shows, the Corniche’s inside is so simple as one can get. With a classy design, an abundance of spherical dials, and both a leather-wrapped or wooden steering wheel, the Corniche screams outdated cash on the high of its lungs, and can go down in historical past as one of many best Rolls-Royce cars ever produced.
3 Mercedes-Benz SL (R129)
1990-2002
To today, the Mercedes-Benz SL is the right instance of what a grand tourer ought to be; highly effective, comfy, and considerably sensible. While the modern-day Mercedes-AMG SL 63 takes efficiency to a complete new degree, the old-school R129-generation Mercedes-Benz SL packed fairly the punch, particularly at larger trim ranges just like the V12-powered SL 600.
Key Features
- Self-leveling suspension
- Power-adjustable heated seats with a reminiscence perform
- Headlight washers (some fashions)
- Automatic local weather management
- Manual and computerized transmissions out there
As anticipated, all SL fashions got here with leather-draped interiors that had splashes of wooden and steel, relying on the spec. All R129 Mercedes-Benz SL fashions got here as a two-door convertible with a power-operated material roof, however Mercedes-Benz additionally included a removable hardtop that you may placed on after retracting the comfortable high. And when you’re nonetheless on the fence, let’s remind you that even Chirs Harris claimed that the R129 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 is the ultimate cruiser.
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These outstanding luxurious automobiles value lower than half the worth of a brand new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, they usually will not drain your checking account
2 BMW 8 Series (E31)
1991-1999
The traditional BMW 8 Series is strictly what the 2024 8 Series goals to be; a quick, trendy grand tourer. BMW supplied the E31 8 Series with roughly 5 totally different engines, every mated to both a handbook or computerized transmission, and every mannequin excelled in its personal proper. And because of ‘BMW’s Individual’ exterior colours and inside combos, an 8 Series might be much more attention-grabbing than a Ferrari.
Key Features
- Power-operated sunroof
- Power-adjustable heated entrance seats with reminiscence perform
- Seat-mounted seatbelts
- Mobile telephone
- Pillarless doorways
The E31’s cabin is way much less busy than modern-day BMWs. And regardless of being a efficiency automobile, judging by the gargantuan speedometer, the traditional 8 Series stays a cushty cruiser with its ground lined with carpet, leather-based seats, a leather-based steering wheel, and all of the devices pointed in the direction of the driving force for ease of entry.
1 BMW 7 Series (E38)
1995-2001
Often thought-about as the best 7 Series of all time, the BMW E38 7 Series sports activities an aggressive look that ages like a advantageous wine. BMW supplied the E38 7 Series in a mess of trim ranges, however most may both be had as a brief wheelbase, or lengthy wheelbase – and naturally, BMW even added a limousine to the lineup, dubbed the L7.
Key Features
- Power-operated moonroof
- Power-operated rear sunblinds
- Double-glazed home windows & shatterproof home windows
- 750iL featured within the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies
Depending on the trim degree chosen, and choices ticked off, the BMW 7 Series may remodel from a luxurious automobile to an uber-luxurious cruiser inside an immediate. The above-mentioned options aren’t all vital customary gear, however nonetheless may be discovered on many used 7 Series examples in the present day.
