The Car of the Century (COTC) is an international award that was given to the world's most influential car of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation. The winner, the Ford Model T, was announced at an awards gala on December 18, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.
The selection process An elaborate and formal process for deciding the Car of the Century was devised. It started in October 1996, when a list of 700 cars was offered by the COTC organising committee as candidates for the award, which their experts had selected from recommendations made from within the car industry and from car clubs.
In February 1997 a list of 200 eligible cars was announced at the AutoRAI motor show in Amsterdam, having been selected from the 700 by an honorary committee of experts who were all independent and highly respected and experienced automotive experts.
The next step was for a jury of 133 professional automotive journalists from 33 countries, under the presidency of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, to reduce the list to 100, and the result was announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1997.
The elimination process proceeded with an Internet-based public vote to select 10 cars, and for 25 cars to be selected by the jury of professionals. In the event, 9 out of the 10 cars selected by the public were also amongst the 25 selected by the journalists (the AC Cobra being the extra car selected by the public), so 26 cars were announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999, as the nominees for the next round.
+The 26 nomineesMakeTypeYearCountry AC Cobra 1965–1967 UK/US Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupé 1954–1968 Italy Audi Quattro 1980–1991 Germany Austin Seven 1922–1939 UK BMW BMW 328 1936–1940 Germany Bugatti T35 1926–1930 France Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1963–1967 US Citroën Traction Avant 1934–1957 France 2CV 1948–1990 France DS19 1955–1975 France Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta 1959–1962 Italy Fiat 500 Topolino 1936–1948 Italy Ford Model T 1908–1927 US Mustang 1964–1968 US Jaguar XK120 1948–1954 UK E-Type 1961–1975 UK Land Rover Range Rover 1970–present UK Mercedes-Benz S/SS/SSK 1927–1932 Germany 300 SL Coupé 1954–1957 Germany Morris/Austin Mini 1959–2000 UK NSU Ro 80 1967–1976 Germany Porsche 911 1964–present Germany Renault Espace 1984–present France Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1907–1925 UK Volkswagen Beetle 1938–2003 Germany Golf 1974–present Germany Willys Jeep 1941–1945 US
From the 26, the jury were asked to nominate five finalists which would go through to the last round of voting, using a points system. The final nominees were announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, 1999."Car of the Century?" , Wired, December 17, 1999
The final results The jury each ranked the five cars in their preferred order, and the results were combined with a points system. The final results are:"This Just In: Model T Gets Award", James G. Cobb, The New York Times, December 24, 1999
PositionCar modelPoints 1 Ford Model T 742 2 Mini 617 3 Citroën DS 567 4 Volkswagen Beetle 521 5 Porsche 911 303
See also Car Designer of the Century Car Engineer of the Century Car Entrepreneur of the Century Car Executive of the Century List of motor vehicle awards
References