The game Changers

75 years ago, the motoring world changed for ever as a clutch of iconic vehicles made their debuts on a wave of post-war optimism 

T here was nowhere to go but forwards after the Second World War, and those returning home armed with the ideas and technologies born out of it were primed to forge a decisive new era. The motor industry held promises of the exciting advances made in the world's first truly mechanised global conflict and, at 1948's returning motor shows, the public saw what the next generation of motoring would look like. Unveiled at London's Earls Court, the Morris Minor and Jaguar XK120; in Paris, the Citroën 2CV; in Amsterdam, the pioneering Land-Rover; in Turin, the Ferrari 166; and outside Ferdinand Porsche's house (and finally Geneva a year later), the 356. Each would steer the automotive landscape in ways not envisaged by even the most imaginative of their creators, and many more great cars followed in their inspired tracks.

To celebrate these trendsetting stars of 1948, we gathered early examples of each at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit, itself also marking its 75th anniversary this year, to remind ourselves of where so much began.

FERRARI 166MM