It’s 60 years since the first European Car of the Year was revealed. To celebrate, we’ve gathered the finest victors to pick the best of the best
WORDS SIMON HUCKNALL PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN BRADSHAW, MAX EDLESTON & JACK HARRISON
In 1964, the all-new Rover P6 2000 became the very first European Car of the Year. Its award was based on criteria still employed by the jury of acclaimed motoring journalists from across the UK and Europe that judges todayʼs contest. Uniquely, each past victor has been chosen irrespective of its class or category – itʼs simply been the most complete all-round car. So, to mark 60 years of the contest, weʼve brought together 15 of the best CotY winners from across the decades to decide which is the greatest of them all. And, just to keep us honest, points will be awarded by three former CotY judges. Notebooks at the ready, team…
MEET THE JUDGES
STEVE CROPLEY
Editor-in-chief of our sister title, Autocar, Steve cut his teeth as a cub reporter at Wheels magazine in his native Australia more than 50 years ago. Now widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most respected motoring journalists, Steve became a CotY judge in 1994, only handing over the mantle to Matt Prior in 2013.
MATT PRIOR
Autocar’s editor-at-large, Matt was a graduate automotive engineer who turned motoring scribbler in 1997, and has been writing and presenting for the UK’s leading motoring weekly since 2005. Matt (with Steve) also hosts the popular My Week in Cars podcast. He replaced Steve on the CotY jury in 2013 and remained a judge until 2022.
RAY HUTTON
Ray started his career at Autocar in 1970, and served as its editor between 1975 and 1984. Since then, he has contributed to national magazines and newspapers around the world, as well as writing and editing a number of motoring books. Ray served as a CotY judge from 1979 to 2009, and was jury president for his final 11 years.
Thanks toBicester Heritage for the use of its demonstration track and hangar (bicesterheritage.co.uk)
THE METHODOLOGY
Our tribute to the European Car of the Year takes in 15 former winners from the past 60 years. Nominees were chosen by the C&SC team, taking three cars from each decade, starting with the 1960s and going through to the ‘90s, plus a further three cars encompassing the winners from 2000 to date. Inevitably, that selection in itself sparked a heated of
