To celebrate Independence Day (no, not the Will Smith movie), we’ve put together a list of American cars that broke the mould. Automobiles that deserve a virtual high five. As Will Smith might say: we’ve got to get ourselves one of these.

AMC Eagle

Putting this list into some kind of order was proving tricky, so we gave up and opted for a simple A-Z. Which, by default, gives the AMC Eagle top billing. Not that this is an issue, because this was a true pioneer, blazing a trail for a new breed of off-road vehicles. With the notable exception of the Subaru Leone, before the Eagle had landed, 4x4s tended to be lumbering and heavy SUVs. Thanks to its Ferguson Formula (FF) all-wheel drive system, it’s also a distant relative of the Jensen FF.

Buick Riviera

On a shorter list, the Buick Riviera might not have made the cut, but its impact in the US cannot be underestimated. GM’s design chief, Bill Mitchell, is reported to have demanded the style and luxury of a Rolls-Royce with the performance of a Ferrari. The result was one of the most elegant and sought-after V8-engined cars of the 1960s. This wasn’t the first American luxury car, but it’s one of the first to call upon influences from the other side of the Atlantic.

Cadillac Eldorado

Revolutionary? Not really. Game changing? We think not. But as a symbol of the American dream and a hark back to the country’s golden age, few cars can touch the 1953 Cadillac Eldorado. Its follow-up, the 1959 Eldorado, symbolised the era of massive fins, chrome and excess.

Chevrolet Bel Air

Few cars encapsulate the image of 1950s Americana better than the Chevrolet Bel Air. The first generation car of 1950 ushered in a new era of car design and while the Bel Air had many imitators, few managed to capture its magic. Note the design of the hardtop, styled to look like a convertible. The idea wasn’t new, but Chevrolet popularised the concept.

Chevrolet Corvair

The Chevrolet Corvair was the only American mass-produced car to feature a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, which pitched it against the Volkswagen Beetle. But it was this layout, combined with a swing axle rear suspension, that led to wild handling characteristics. A number of single-vehicle accidents led to 100 lawsuits and the publishing of the book: Unsafe at Any Speed. Cutting a long story short, this changed the process of interaction between consumers and manufacturers.

Chevrolet Corvette

A production run spanning seven different decades and global recognition would be enough to earn the Chevrolet Corvette a place in this gallery. But the Vette was also the first sports car to be built in America and the first production car to be built using a fibreglass body. The Corvette name stemmed from a small, manoeuvrable frigate of the 17th century.

Chevrolet Suburban

We offer two reasons for the inclusion of the Chevrolet Suburban. Firstly, it’s the longest running nameplate in the world. Secondly, the first generation car – known as the Suburban Carryall – featured seating for up to eight people. It was therefore an early interpretation of the people carrier recipe.

Chrysler 300 Series

The Chrysler 300 Series of cars are considered to be America’s first performance cars, evolving from the C-300 of 1955, through to the 300B, 300C and beyond. The C-300 was the first American production car to develop 355hp, while the 300B gets the credit as the first car to produce 1hp per cubic inch.

Chrysler Thunderbolt

Though Peugeot had got there first with the first production, electrically-operated retractable hardtop, the Chrysler Thunderbolt of 1941 takes the honour as being the first American version. Other innovations included retractable headlights, doors that opened via buttons and air intakes beneath the front bumper. Even today, the Thunderbolt still manages to look futuristic.

Chrysler Turbine Car

The Chrysler Turbine Car probably has no place in a gallery focused on cars that broke the mould. Had Chrysler got its way, we could have been driving about in jet-powered cars, which sounds exciting and futuristic, even today. As it happened, the project was scrapped, with Chrysler crushing all but a handful of examples. If you haven’t watched it already, check out Jay Leno’s review online. It’s terrific stuff.

Cord 810

The Cord 810 was a stunning, if ultimately expensive, vision of the future. The L-29 was America’s first front-wheel drive car, but the 810 took this forward with a package that included independent front suspension. It also featured concealed headlights, a hidden fuel filler cap and the world’s first horn ring.

Dodge Caravan

To fans of muscle cars and rear-wheel drive legends, the inclusion of the Dodge Caravan might ruffle a few feathers. But in its day, the front-wheel drive Dodge Caravan was a revolutionary package, offering up to seven seats in a space shorter than a full-size station wagon. Chrysler’s minivans set the tone for a new breed of people carriers and – quite literally – changed the shape of American vehicles.

Dodge Viper

The recipe might seem rather primitive, but there’s no doubting the Dodge Viper’s significance. Stripped back to the barest of essentials, the Viper was loaded with an 8.0-litre V10 engine developing 400hp and 465lb ft of torque, helping to propel it to a top speed in excess of 160mph. It was crude, but it was also a relative bargain, putting supercar-taming potential within reach of the everyman.

Duesenberg Model SJ

The Duesenberg Model J was the supercar of the late 20s and 30s, offering a blend of luxury and brutal performance. The Model SJ was in a different league, adding a supercharger to its armoury to offer a top speed of around 140mph. A remarkable achievement, given 100mph was considered otherwordly.

Dymaxion

Buckminster Fuller – great name, not so great car designer. Fuller was an architect who had visions of a future including industrial system-built houses and flying cars. The Dymaxion car was wingless, but was intended to ‘plane’ on two wheels. It was flawed and the prototype was involved in a fatal accident at the 1933 Chicago World Exposition. As the Design Museum says: “the Dymaxion proved for ever that architects should not meddle with automotive design”.

Ford F-Series

The pickup is part of the fabric of America and the Ford F-Series is the most successful of the breed. It’s an institution. A legend. It’s part of the furniture. It can trace its roots back as far as 1948 and is consistently America’s best-selling vehicle.

Ford GT40

The GT40 is a controversial choice. To some Americans, the car’s Lola underpinnings and construction in Slough make it a British car, while the Brits will argue it’s a product of Uncle Henry. Whatever, its success at Le Mans was the equivalent of Henry Ford turning up at Maranello, pressing the doorbell and running away before Enzo Ferrari had managed to reach the door.

Ford Model 18

V8 fans should raise a glass to the 1933 Ford, because this was the first affordable, mass-produced car to be powered by a V8 engine. The Model 18 arrived in 1932 and was replaced by the Model in 1933.

Ford Model T

Launched in 1908, the Model T wasn’t the first car to be built, but it was the vehicle that mobilised an entire nation. For the first time, the automobile was accessible to more than just the upper reaches of society. Furthermore, the Model T was the first mass-produced car built on a moving assembly line.

Ford Mustang

There had been quicker cars, there had been cheaper cars, heck, there had been more beautiful cars. But few cars had made an impact quite like the Ford Mustang. It offered a slice of exotica to the post-war ‘baby boomer’ generation and captured an emergent trend towards optimism and a brighter future. It’s also one of just a handful of cars that are recognised simply by their model name.

Ford Pinto

Arguably one of the most famous cars in American history, but for all the wrong reasons. The Ford Pinto’s tendency to explode in the event of a rear-end collision didn’t exactly help sales, but it thrust it to the front of American newspapers. The most infamous American car in history?

Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner

It was billed as the ‘world’s only hide-away hardtop’ and while retractable roofs were nothing new, the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner was quite the innovator. Rather than using hydraulics, as was commonplace at the time, the Skyliner used a series of electric motors – three to open the rear deck, one to unlock the top and another to send it into the boot. The rear deck then lowered via a separate servo, with the entire process taking less than a minute.

Ford Taurus

The 1981 Ford Taurus saved the company from bankruptcy, but it didn’t happen by accident. When the project team set out to create the car, they evaluated 400 different characteristics of the best cars in the world, ranging from the feel of the heater control to the appearance under the bonnet. Numerous design features ensured it was one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world.

Ford Thunderbird

Though the Ford Thunderbird had the look of a sports car, it was the first vehicle to be marketed more as a personal luxury car. The T-bird became a social and cultural icon, with a legion of celebrity owners helping to elevate the Ford to a higher plane. Over 4.4 million units were sold before Ford, and not daddy, took the T-bird away in 2005.

GM EV1

Twenty years on, the GM EV1 looks like the right car in the wrong era. It was the first mass-produced and purpose-designed electric car and the first to be produced by a major American carmaker. A range of 100 miles simply wasn’t enough for the majority of Americans, while as a two seater it was hardly family friendly. It was also cripplingly expensive to build, meaning GM was all too quick to crush the majority of EV1s when the leases expired. A groundbreaking failure?

GM LeSabre Concept Car

The 1951 LeSabre Concept Car didn’t so much as break the mould as change it. This was one of the world’s first concept cars, which introduced a number of technical procedures that would become commonplace in automotive design. Indeed, by using precise measurements and data, the LeSabre Concept Car laid the foundations for computer-modelling techniques. The aircraft-inspired design influenced many cars of the 1950s.

Hennessey Venom GT

The Hennessey Venom GT is essentially a Lotus Exige fed on a diet of Red Bull and rocket fuel. It has set a number of unofficial speed records, including an amazing 270mph at the Kennedy Space Record. Unfortunately for the twin-turbocharged V8 Venom, it doesn’t qualify for a Guinness World Record as the speed would have to be recorded over a measured mile in both directions.

Honda Accord

Wait, what, a Honda Accord? While we accept Honda is as Japanese as sushi, the Mk2 Accord will go down in history as the first Japanese car to be built in America, changing the automotive landscape forever. The first Accord rolled off the Marysville production line in 1982.

Hummer H1

Few cars can thank the influence of one outside individual for coming to market. None other than Arnold Schwarzenegger convinced AM General to launch a civilian version of the HumVee, made famous by its role in Operation Desert Storm. The original Hummer was born and production would continue until 2006.

Jeep Wagoneer

Step aside Range Rover, because this was the world’s first luxury SUV. Introduced in 1963, the Jeep Wagoneer offered the biggest cargo area and largest tailgate opening in its class, while passengers reveled in a huge amount of cabin space and a few luxuries. As it evolved, the Wagoneer grew ever more luxurious, spawning a larger Grand Wagoneer, before it made way for the Grand Cherokee.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash

While the Ford Model T was the first affordable mass-produced vehicle, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash of 1901 is credited as being the first mass-produced vehicle of any kind.

Oldsmobile ‘Rocket’ 88

Work started on the Rocket V8 engine back in 1946, with the engine going into production in 1948. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 shot to fame as the pace car for the 1949 Indianapolis 500, before winning no fewer than six NASCAR races in the same year. It’s credited as being the world’s first muscle car.

Oldsmobile Toronado

The aforementioned Cord was a bit of a false dawn for front-wheel drive, but it would make a reappearance in the Oldsmobile Toronado of 1966. This itself gives it historical significance as the first volume production front-wheel drive car since the 1930s. It went head-to-head with the Ford Thunderbird as one of the first personal luxury cars.

Shelby Cobra

The very first Shelby Cobra is set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, California. The auctioneers describe it as “the most important modern American car – period.” Not convinced? RM Sotheby’s claims: “When it comes to American sports cars, CSX 2000 is without peers. Its historical significance and impact on the global sports car scene cannot be overstated.”

1923 Star

For many American children, a family holiday meant piling into a station wagon and hitting the freeway. Face it, nobody does station wagons quite like the Americans. And these big, softly-sprung and occasionally wood-panelled family trucksters can trace their roots all the way back to the 1923 Star – a vehicle large enough to carry passengers and their cargo.

Studebaker Avanti

A genuine case of what might have been. The Studebaker Avanti’s styling was handled by the flamboyant Raymond Loewy and it was America’s first mass-produced fibreglass body, four-seat passenger car. Innovations included a built-in roll cage, padded interior and no front grille, while the shape was delightfully Italian in style. Sadly, production issues led to the demise of the Avanti, with Studebaker following soon after.

Tesla Model S

Is it too early to credit the Tesla Model S as being a car that broke the mould? Perhaps, but there’s no doubting its success, which has spread far beyond the coast of America. Here is an electric car that has the range and practicality to rival a standard car, while developing a near-cult status. It’s not cheap, but it has moved the game on.

Tucker 48

Preston Tucker assembled an all-star cast and the largest factory building in the world to bring the Tucker 48 to market. History will recall that, while the project was ill fated, the Tucker 48 had the potential to be a hugely successful automobile. Not only did it look magnificent, it also featured the likes of a central headlight that swivelled when cornering; disc brakes; a pop-out windscreen; rear engine; and a padded dashboard.

Vector W8

The first American-built supercar, arguably of all time, but certainly of the modern era. Thanks to its carbonfibre body and 650hp V8 engine, the Vector W8 could top 220mph, sprinting to 60mph in four seconds. Sadly, a $400,000 price tag resulted in slow sales, meaning Vector failed to get its W8 beyond second base.

1901 Waverley Electric

Early electric cars (such as the pair pictured here) outsold petrol cars in many parts of America, which suggests we haven’t really moved on at all. The Waverley Electric is, according to James May, a car that changed the world.

Willys MB Jeep

The Willys MB was the first mass-produced off-roader and the forefather of all modern SUVs. It played a significant role in the Second World War and yet its initial design was completed in just 49 days. It also influenced that other off-road icon – the original Land Rover.

Lewis Hamilton has helped Mercedes-AMG reveal a dramatic new 585hp AMG GT R in a dramatic dynamic drive at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands, UK. The new Mercedes-AMG GT R has had most of its development carried out on the Nürburgring race track to make it one of the most focused high-performance road cars yet built by AMG.

And it even has a paint job to match – a special ‘AMG green hell magno’ green, in tribute to the racetrack Sir Jackie Stewart called ‘green hell’…

Hamilton was in great form at the reveal of the GT R, grabbing the keys from Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers to take it for a quick spin at the famous Brooklands circuit. “I was surprised it was street legal,” he said: the wide body, extra power and bellowing sound all get his vote.

“The improved aerodynamics are cool too – most people don’t notice that.” So, how has Mercedes-AMG created the bright green new GT R that’s so impressed the reigning F1 World Champion? We found out…

The Mercedes-AMG GT R has been created to bring closer links between its road-going supercars and the firm’s motorsport GT3 racers. There’s a thriving AMG GT3 customer-sport racing series and many of these features have been incorporated into the new GT R. It’s a much, much more focused car than any AMG GT up to now.

Pretty much everything involved in performance and dynamics is new. Key features of the Mercedes-AMG GT R include wider front and rear wings to cover wider tyres (325-section at the rear!), bigger rear spoiler and a double diffuser similar to that which was banned in F1 for being too effective. It has adjustable coilover suspension, active rear-wheel steering and lightweight wheels with racy cup tyres – plus a huge number of expensive detail changes throughout. Extensive upgrades indeed…

The GT R’s stance oozes attitude. Carbon fibre front wings are 46mm wider, and they’re 57mm wider at the rear. Tracks are wider and there are 19-inch forged alloys at the front, 20-inch rims at the rear. That big rear wing is also manually adjustable depending on the type of use (or type of racetrack you’re at): just like in motorsport.

All-out speed isn’t really the focus here, even though the engine does boast a serious step-up in power to 585hp (compared to the current GT S’ 510hp). This delivers 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 197mph.

Oh, and you’re probably aware there’s already a GT-R in the world – the Nissan GT-R. Clearly though, Mercedes-AMG has reached an agreement that means Nissan’s happy with its GT ‘racing’ being called GT R. We’re sure the lack of a hyphen in AMG’s version is key here…

The front end oozes aggression. A 15-fin chrome grille mimics the AMG GT3 racer, while the shape of the grille mimics the famous 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL that won Mexico’s Panamerica race. It’s lower and meaner at the front, feeding extra air to the engine, reducing lift and enhancing aerodynamics.

There are active aerodynamics underneath: at 50mph, a carbon fibre panel lowers 40mm, ‘sucking’ the car to the road, something that adds greater stability and extra feel to the steering. It also helps send more air to the rear double diffuser, clamping down the rear end at speed as well. Don’t worry – it’s mounted on springs, so won’t easily be broken…

A Mercedes-AMG first is active rear-wheel steering. Up to 62mph, they turn in the opposite direction to the fronts, making the GT R more agile. Over this, the turn in the same direction, improving high-speed stability and also making it more responsive at speed.

Mercedes-AMG has given the interior a race-style makeover with weight-saving manually-adjustable bucket seats, yellow-highlight dials and, brilliantly, yellow seatbelts.

The 585hp engine is faster-responding and Mercedes-AMG has fitted a lighter flywheel to further enhance the race-like feel. The ‘race start’ launch control has been sharpened too: it now dials up more starting revs and has better control of wheel slip. Dynamic engine and gearbox mounts are fitted.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are standard – rubber that Mercedes-AMG amusingly calls “street-legal racing tyres”. Not only do they have more grip than the regular tyres, they also last 50 per cent longer on a racetrack.

Car tuners love coilover suspension because it’s just like tech from motorsport. It’s fitted to the Mercedes-AMG GT R; it’s fully adjustable and is paired with AMG Ride Control adaptive damping with three settings. Mercedes-AMG suggests ‘comfort’ for the road, ‘sport’ for challenging, undulating racetracks such as the Nürburgring and ‘sport plus’ for flatter, higher-speed circuits such as Germany’s Hockenheim.

You want settings and adjustability? The Mercedes-AMG GT R gives you settings and adjustability – not least a nine-level traction control system, adjusted via a cool yellow twist-dial in the centre console. Choose level 1 for wet weather, up to level 9 for maximum slip. Be Lewis Hamilton om the move, in other words.

The Mercedes-AMG GT R will be a step up from the GT S because “it combines the driving dynamics of our AMG GT3 racing car with the everyday practicality of the AMG GT,” says Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers. “It’s a new benchmark in performance for street-legal cars.”

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is lighter than other AMG GT models, courtesy of some exotic components. The carbon fibre torque tube, which delivers drive to the rear wheels, weights 14kg, 40 per cent less than standard. There’s less soundproofing, a titanium exhaust silencer, forced alloy wheels and other tweaks. The 15kg overall weight saving over a GT S doesn’t sound huge, but when you consider extra tech such as a stiffer chassis, rear-wheel steering, that larger rear wing, it’s more impressive than it seems.

There’s an interesting nugget in the tech pack for the new Mercedes-AMG GT R: the firm says that incorporating motorsport tech into the AMG GT road car has seen networking between race teams, aerodynamics boffins and designers that has “even resulted in an innovation that now has a patent pending”. Once the patent is granted, we’ll find out what that innovation is, we’re sure…

“Our sports-car and performance brand AMG has its roots in motorsport and, ever since its formation, has repeatedly faced up to the competition on the racetrack. These genes are particularly prevalent in the new AMG GT R. Boasting a wealth of technological innovations, the new top-of-the-range model is proof of the close collaboration between our constructors of racing cars and road-going vehicles,” said Daimler AG board member Prof. Thomas Weber.

Mercedes-AMG GT R launches at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands on 24 June – the opening day of the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will go on sale on 21 November 2016 and deliveries will begin in March 2017. Prices? To be confirmed, but there will be a serious hike over today’s £110,000 GT S, that’s for sure…