Mercedes is known as one of the world’s most advanced and luxurious automakers. This reputation dates back a long time and followed the German automaker even during the ‘20s and ‘30s. The Mercedes-Benz SSK was one of the company’s most famous and prestigious vehicles. It was one of the prides of the German nation and was built from 1928 up to 1932.
The SSK was built on the foundations of the Model K, a similar Mercedes vehicle that was more suitable for racing due to its shorter body. It was a two-door beast and managed to reach some impressive performance milestones for its time. Mercedes only built about forty of these in the four years it was sold, and only a handful of them are left today.
1934 Voisin C27 Aerosport
Avions Voisin was founded in 1919 by Gabriel Voisin, a European engineer, and quickly became one of France's most luxurious car brands. It lasted until 1939 but managed to create some incredible vehicles throughout its lifetime. Its most impressive and expensive vehicle to date was the Voisin Type C27 Aerosport Coupe.
What made it so unique was not just the styling but also the advanced engine that featured revolutionary technological improvements. Inside, the car was decorated with beautiful patterns and a convertible roof, which gave it the feel of absolute luxury. It’s quite rare to find one of these in a museum or a car gallery, as even today, this creation remains one of the world's most prized and sought-after vehicles.
1937 Cord 810/812
The 1937 Cord 810 and 812 were one of the first vehicles in the United States to feature headlights. Like early Porsches and Lamborghinis, these were hidden until they were manually opened. The 810 and 812 had a very unique build and looked nothing like the cars that we have today. Cord Automobile produced these for just two years, between 1936 and 1937.
This car broke many technological barriers and was a pioneer in many features that are considered standard today. It was one of the world’s first front-wheel-drives and had an independent front suspension. Buyers could purchase a much stronger version of the car that featured a V8 engine. The stronger model reached 170 horsepower, which was quite a lot back then.
Volvo PV 36 Carioca
It's about time that we involve Volvo on the list because this automaker is currently one of the world's most successful; however, it took time before it reached its peak. The Volvo PV 36 Carioca was basically a slightly improved copy of the Chrysler Airflow, which was a revolutionary car that pioneered the luxury vehicle industry.
The PV 36 Carioca was Volvo's first attempt at a luxury everyday car with an independent front suspension. It was quite expensive and was priced at 8,500 kronor at the time. Only 500 of these were sold from 1935 to 1938 before Volvo quickly continued to other, better-selling vehicles.
1939 ZIS-101 Sport Coupe
Soviet engineers definitely had their way of designing some wacky inventions. One of these creations was the ZIS-101, a 1936 vehicle with a 5.8-liter I8 engine that produced 90 horsepower and a top speed of 71 miles per hour. The car was a two-seat limousine, one of the only ones in the world.
The ZIS-101 quickly became a standard vehicle in Soviet Russia and was produced in many variants, from an upgraded convertible version to a literal ambulance build. The Soviet car was produced from 1936 up to 1941 and even had a sports model, the 1939 ZIS-101 Sport Coupe, but only two of these were ever made.