Great motoring anniversaries in 2023

The start of a new year makes many of us think ahead to birthdays, either with excitement at planning celebrations, or with dread at the idea of being another year older. It’s the same for car companies, with some celebrating major milestones and others just patting themselves on the back for still being around. We could list every model with something to shout about this year, but that would take you all day to read and we know you have other things to do, so here are some of the makes and models that we will be raising a glass to in 2023.

First up is Triumph, which turns 100 this year. Triumph bicycles was formed in 1897 and the company started making motorcycles in 1902, but the first Triumph car, the 10/20 was produced in 1923 and we are talking cars here. If you want to be really pedantic you could point out that the Triumph Motor Company was only formed in 1930 but we’ll happily argue the point with the company that owns the name these days, BMW.

Staying away from that argument, 2023 marks 75 years of Porsche, but perhaps more importantly, it’s 60 years since the 911 made its debut. Admittedly it first appeared in 1963 as the 901, becoming the 911 when it went on sale in 1965 after Peugeot kicked up a fuss, but everyone can see it was a 911.

Arguably the most iconic James Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5 turns 60 this year and the brand itself celebrates its 110th anniversary. On 15 January 1913, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford formed Aston Martin and their first model was the A1, more affectionately known as the “Coal Scuttle”. Essentially it was an Isotta Fraschini body with a Coventry Simplex engine with the first unique Aston being the Razor Blade record-breaking car of 1923.

It’s a big year for Lamborghini, which celebrates 60 years in 2023. Ferruccio Lamborghini was already making tractors when in 1963 he decided to take on Ferrari by launching a car company, Automobili Lamborghini.  His first car was the 350GT, which also marked the debut of his V12 engine, with production of V12-powered Lamborghinis finally coming to an end in 2022 when the last Aventador left the Sant’Agata factory.

In 1963 Bruce McLaren formed Bruce McLaren Motor Racing, with its first race car, the M1A competing successfully in the US and Europe the following year. McLaren remained purely a racing car business until 1992 when the incredible McLaren F1 made its debut. Racing is still a significant part of the company in F1, sports car racing and even now Extreme-E but it was only in 2011 that McLaren Automotive was formed to make the road cars we have today.

It could be argued that Honda has something to celebrate this year too as it made its first car, technically a bakkie in 1963 in the form of the little T360.

Around the world, fans of the Corvette will be celebrating this year as it turns 70. General Motors has started the year off by revealing a new electrified version that has an electric motor on the front axle with V8 power going to the rear wheels. With the General having left SA there are no plans for the new model here, but you have 70 years worth of back catalogue to choose from if you want some American muscle.

Some more recent metal celebrates anniversaries this year too. It’s 25 years since the debut of the Audi TT. Audi will celebrate this milestone by killing off its popular sports car this year. It’s 60 years since we first saw the fabulous little Mini Cooper S and in 2023 we will see the next generation Mini make its debut.

We have no doubt there are a few others and plenty of discussion to be had around the exact timing of the debut of many more, but these are some of our favourites giving us something to celebrate in 2023.