WCFB (white cast four barrel) Carbs were designed in the early '50s.
AFB (aluminum four barrel) Carbs were designed in the late 50's or early 60's and then "modernized" by Edelbrock to add modern attachments and improve tuning access....still a 60's design
Holley Carbs were designed a looong time ago but the vacuum secondaries and double pumpers are 60's design. Holley made it as the universal carb because of their ease of understanding and availability of tuning parts.
Quadrajet Carbs first appeared in '66. Never caught on because of required knowledge to tune it properly. A lot of "bend to adjust" components.
Demon Carbs are the most modern and offer a sum of all the stuff learned from 30++ years of Holley tuning. Best of the bunch for 2005 if you want a carb......there hasnt been a new car manufacturer to use a carb in years so the factory development stopped.
AND THEN, a certain poster of long ago on this board would add the PREDATOR carb.....an entirely aftermarket design that never has/did/will catch on.