# What is the best American car brand of all time?

> Detroit's Big Three share the field with names that died in the 1950s and electric newcomers from California. Some built empires on cheap cars, others on chrome.

*By YPB Team · Published October 2, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-american-car-brand-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Ford** — score 1000/1000
   Henry Ford's Dearborn company, maker of the Model T, the F-150 and the Mustang.
2. **Jeep** — score 926/1000
   The off-road brand that grew out of the World War II Willys MB.
3. **Plymouth** — score 833/1000
   Chrysler's value brand behind the Road Runner and the Barracuda.
4. **Shelby** — score 778/1000
   Carroll Shelby's tuning company behind the Cobra and the GT500.
5. **Chrysler** — score 694/1000
   One of Detroit's Big Three, remembered for the 300 letter cars and the minivan.
6. **Rivian** — score 694/1000
   California-founded maker of the R1T electric pickup and R1S SUV.
7. **Oldsmobile** — score 555/1000
   One of America's oldest car brands, home of the Rocket 88, closed in 2004.
8. **Tesla** — score 470/1000
   Austin-based electric carmaker behind the Model S, Model 3 and Model Y.
9. **Duesenberg** — score 470/1000
   Indianapolis maker of the Model J, the most expensive American car of the 1930s.
10. **Lincoln** — score 370/1000
   Ford's luxury division and Cadillac's oldest rival, maker of the Continental.
11. **Buick** — score 370/1000
   GM's founding brand, a byword for comfortable mid-priced cars like the Riviera.
12. **GMC** — score 370/1000
   GM's truck and SUV brand, maker of the Sierra and the Yukon.
13. **Dodge** — score 370/1000
   Chrysler-era muscle brand known for the Charger, the Challenger and the Viper.
14. **Packard** — score 370/1000
   Pre-war luxury maker that once outsold Cadillac among America's elite.
15. **Chevrolet** — score 252/1000
   GM's mass-market brand behind the Bel Air, the Corvette and the Silverado.
16. **AMC** — score 252/1000
   American Motors, the independent that built the Javelin and the Gremlin.
17. **Pontiac** — score 252/1000
   GM's performance-minded brand of the GTO and Firebird, retired in 2010.
18. **Cadillac** — score 0/1000
   GM's luxury marque, founded in Detroit in 1902 and named after the city's founder.

Tags: brands, usa, cars