Question of the Day: What’s the Most Beautiful Car?
You already know the Fiat 500 was voted EuroCarBody 2007, but we want to know which cars are the most beautiful of all time. Yeah, it's a tough question, but someone has to ask it. We can't wait to hear your answers in comments.
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Comments
Reilly
VW GTI 16v (MKII)
the duke
Mk II GTI? Uh, no thanks.
My three faves are Lamborghini Miura, Bugatti 57SC Atlantic, and Cord 810/812, and Ferrari 250 GT Lusso.
the duke
Sorry, thats four.
Dave Brownell
Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic coupe
Toobaud
Talbot-Lago T150C Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop, Jaguar XJ220, M-B 500 CLS
chuck goolsbee
I can never really decide on the single "Most Beautiful" as so many meet the criteria. Especially some of the one-off styling masterpieces such as the Count Trossi Mercedes you show above. With production machines perhaps it is best to subdivide by era:
Pre-war: Bugatti 57SC, or if you prefer American just about any big Auburn or Duesenberg. Those amazing Delahaye's, Delage's and Talbot-Lagos... Pierce-Arrows and Packards too... Bentley's and Rollers. The 1930s really were the golden age of automotive styling.
40s: PanzerKapfWagen MkV
(purposeful and brutal... sorry, couldn't resist)
50s: A Jaguar C-type, or the Mercedes 300sl
(Granted both had very limited production)
60s: Jaguar E-type, or a Ferrari 275GTB/4
70s: Lancia Statos
(the ultimate 70s Zeitgeist machine!)
I'd have to ponder more to pull up definitive beauties from the 80s & 90s, as styling became sort of brutal and wind-tunnel derived.
This decade has a few winners, but the Alfa Romeo 8C has them all beat so far.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Gianni
Alfa 8C - but the orignal 8C 2900B spider.
Paul In Jersey
That would be whatever Mrs. Paul In Jersey is driving at the time.
Ducati Minor
I'll nominate the 1937 Alfa-Romeo 2900B. The good news is that the Franklin Mint is offering it in 1:24 scale diecast. It is the perfect blend of luxury and sportiness in flawless aesthetic. I am happy to see Alfa-Romeo is finally introducing a car that can qualify as beautiful once again with the 8C Competizione.
Second place would be the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder. In a bout over which is prettier--the Ferrari or the Miura--I like to compare the Ferrari's quaint elegance to Liz Hurley and the Lambo (with its luscious curves) to Monica Bellucci. The latter you'd kill to jump inside of for a couple of nights, but the other is just soothing enough to make you settle down.
Fitting?
Pete
Jaguar XK120 ragtop. I had a die cast version when I was a kid. Man that car is pretty.
Mercedes Gullwing gets an honorable mention
Tom
My favorite is the Austin-Healey 3000. What classic curves. I have to agree with Pete, the Jaguar XK120 is also pretty and has those beautiful curves.
Austin
1939 Delahaye 165.
A T
Ferrari 250 GTO
Dane
I might agree with the GTI mk2 16v.... Bet it will be worth 30-40k in about 10 years...
I would say the Alfa GTV6 might be the most beautiful thing I have seen...
or Lancia Fulvia
or Fiat Spyder (ferrari)
or the Ford Focus ST170 (SVT here for the folks who don't know cars)....
ask me next year.... Ford Fiesta MK8......
fstst56
The absolute indisputable and only correct answer is the 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe!
David
As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is one car that always catches my eye no matter when, where, or how often I see it. It has presence. The vehicle? The 1957 Chevy Bel-air 2 dr hardtop, of course. Today, and I'm sure no one in this audience will agree with me, it has to be the Mini Cooper S, either modern version. It is a design that appeals to old, young, male, female, the entire gamment. Isn't appeal really beauty?
JW
Dino 246 GTB, Porsche 904 GTS
Kai
The Jaguar E-Type Series I is the one that first comes to mind, no surprise considering it's been called "the greatest crumpet collector known to man". Beyond that, the Ferrari 250GTO, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, and the Bugatti 57S Atlantic are the ones that'd consider falling into the "classically beautiful" category.
Looking at cars of more recent vintage, there's only a few that stand out. The Aston Martin DB7 may quite possibly be the most beautiful car produced within the last two decades, and though most of the new Astons retain the look, none have looked quite so sensational (the DBS comes damned close). If it's not, then it would have to be the Ferrari 456M. The 456GTA was stunning; the 456M was practically perfect aesthetically to me.
Dman
The E-Type is always the first to mind for me. I think it is the epitome of automotive sexiness.
chuck goolsbee is spot on. The Bugatti’s, Talbots and Delages of the thirties were stunning.
pete
Jaguar E-Type Series I
Andrew
Porsche 959; beautiful, rare, and technologically amazing at the time of its release.
DEW3yl
I think, better said in my eyes the **Dodge Viper GTS Coupe** is most beautiful car of all times.
araknd
I would have to agree with the 8c2900B and the new 8C Competizione. The styling is just so eye appealing.
VMMVMMM
David, I'm right there with you. I love to stare at the lines in my garage on my MINI Cooper S. It's an underrated design in my opinion. Stands out in ways that are individual, "cheeky", and regardless of it's actual origin, in an English way that no other car does.
Of all time, many have mentioned those that I love. Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 356, Cord 810, Original Dodge Viper, Original Mini.
smokeydog001
a belly tank on a dry lake bed.
son of a Beach
Has everyone forgotten about the Jaguar XJ13? By far it is the most sensual thing to ever wear british racing green. The Miura SV runs a close second.
mwudjablome
ac cobra w/427 side oiler, the car lee iacoca openly admitted to blatently commiting vehicular plagerism of when dodge desperatly attempted to bring performance back to the pentastar boys with the lame 1st edition viper. the current lame edition viper still pales in comparison........
naggs
ferrari 275 gtb or alfa 8c (the new one)
klarens
1986 lada samara........
yugo florida
Wes
2008 Mercedes SLR McLaren Roadster
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]
Porsche Carrera GT. That's probably because I've never been much of a classics guy.
Kelvin
The illfated Jaguar XK220 has to be one of the most elegant cars ever built. It was just built at the wrong time when the recession hit home.
Austin
BMW 507
Alfa 8C Competizione (Old one)
Miura SV
E-Type Coupe
Bugatti 57S Atlantic
Mercedes SSK
Ducati Minor
"ferrari 275 gtb or alfa 8c (the new one)"
Finally...someone backing me up.
Mena
"Porsche Carrera GT. That’s probably because I’ve never been much of a classics guy."
Me either until I heard (yes heard) an old (mid 20's) Maserati Tipo 26. The sound was soooooo beautiful. Up until then I though only modern cars had soundtracks that sweet. I was blown away. That changed my perception of old cars. Now I can see why others lust after classic cars so much. They were built in an era where all people cared about was the driving experience not how many cupholders can I shove in here or this things got 37 airbags (!) or WOW!... this car is quiet.
Throopspeed
Three quick picks: I'm with the crowd on the 1st series Jag E type, a real wowser. The Porsche 356 A, lines that never get old and a Dusenburg SJ, which you have to see in person to apprichiate (and when you do you won't believe it). Oh, and one more the crowd likes, a Ferrari 250 GTO, sex on four wheels.
Sean
Lamborghini Miura
Frank Boulton
The 1960 Lotus Elite
Jeff
And nobody has even mentioned an Aston yet...how sad...but in my mind, the new Vantage coupe is tops on this list. I must say that the Brits have a way with sports cars....
Patrick from Astoria
Face it: If one intends to arrive at a definitive answer, this is an utterly ludicrous question. There is no one right answer, no consensus, no Truth; some bozo is going to pick the 1982 Camaro as the best of all time.
Personally? Crank up the search engines and find images of Ferrari 250GT chassis #0515GT, as bodied by Zagato. This is as close to classic automotive perfection as is likely to be attained in this universe. From an era of perhaps fifteen years when the Italians were really at the top of the game, this single example stands apart for proportions, details, metalworking and pure loveliness.
A dozen closer-to-reality options could be run off wihtout effor, but that dilutes the effect. I will admit that either a 328GTS or 330GTC would be quite appreciable on a daily basis. It's hard to get away from the Italians, especially after the second glass of vino tonight.
Peter
Ferrari Dino 246
Jaguar E type
Morgan + 8
Greg
I was entranced by the Bugatti EB110 since I was 5 years old. To me, it's still Top 3 of all time. I couldn't pin down many others, my tastes change too much.
Greg
** I definitely forgot the BMW Mille-Miglia concept. THAT is the most beautiful car of all time.
Brett
the new alfa 8c and the Aston Martin DB9 is just unbelievably beautiful! cant believe more guys havent mentioned it...
JIMSTER
The 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood 60s and Ferrari 250 GTO
are two of the most beautiful cars ever.
son of a Beach
Seriously, Google xj13, I'm not the only one. GTI MkII??!
Robert
Shelby Cobra
E-type Jag
PT Cruiser
John Carder
I know beauty is a very personal question. And I think I can understand almost all of the responses. There's one that I choke on: The PT Cruiser? A modern, ¾-scale version of a 1940s panel van? It may float Robert's boat, but that one doesn't quite fit with the other cars, from my perspective.
How about the Ferrari 365 GBT/4 (Daytona)? It was brutal, like an Italian dagger, even having its own blood trough running down the side. It was a clean and simple look that was soon imitated. It wasn't curvacious, like a Dino, but it was elegantly brutal, and it worked (for me).
Abe
2007 Nissan Maxima, the new grille completes the package.
DieRobotDie
Maserati Gran Turismo, Afa Romeo 8C Competizione, Lamborghini Muria... the Italians have it in spades when it comes to beautiful cars. Now if they could just become reliable and affordable to service! Oh and for the record, I miss my Alfa Romeo Sprint dearly.