The Mazda RX7! Mazda has long been a proponent of the Wankel rotary engine design used in the RX7 and its kin, but this was the first car to achieve mainstream success, a reliable track record, and popular following, paving the way for the modern and much-loved RX8. The Wankel engine featured in this vehicle is brilliant because it has so few moving parts and takes up so little space. It’s power-to-fuel-economy ratio is strong, its form factor is tiny, and it’s big on fun, making it a clever implementation of an even cleverer design. This car is certainly to Mazda’s credit.

This car has roots in the 60s, but really came into its own in the 80s and 90s, when it became the first car with a specific and unusual feature to garner major commercial success. Pictured here is the third and final generation, early copies of which are just turning 20.