When discussing timeless automotive designs, a few popular examples come to mind: The Jaguar E-type, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and probably a Talbot or two.
But those aren’t the only good-looking cars to ever exist, so we did some digging to find out what cars truly have timeless designs. You can read our list of cars that will transcend the …
So as one of the resident classic Japanese car guys I have a few:
Obvious picks -Datsun 240Z, Toyota 2000GT, Supra, 2nd gen MR2, FD RX7 and Miatas.
Not so obvious - Datsun 510, S14 240SX and CRX. None of these are jaw dropping gorgeous but they have such a following that appreciates their girl next store good looks (it's a Mary Ann vs Ginger thing).
I think the 1953 Packard Caribbean has always been elegant and wonderful to look at.
NSX, Mclaren F1
There's a bunch from the 90's that have just aged so so well.
Any list of most beautiful cars without FD Rx-7 is questionable.. That's a top 3 for me..
Agreed. Fd rx7.
I have an rx8 in my driveway right now. I would put it on an honorable mention list (if just looking at the outside.)
None of my neighbors knows what it is and they all think it's a new car....
The RX-8 is.... unique looking. The FD is quite pretty.
I'd throw the DB5 in there too.
FD RX-7, 993 Carrera, 65-66 Mustang
timeless designs and transcend the ages...
I would have thought an air-cooled Beetle would fit that description, but by now there is probably 2 generations of people in the US that don't know what an air-cooled Beetle is.
XKE
Austin Healy 3000
240Z
911 - 356
Karmann Ghia
most 50s-60s Alfa sports cars,
300SL - 190SL
A110 Alpine
32 Deuce. The measure by which all potential hotrods will be judged for all time.
Still the best looking car from the 70s.
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
Note I edited my list because I meant FD. Yes a great looking car.
Biased, but I think they still look great:
Same with these:
Buick Grand National
Square Body Chevys
Pontiac Fiero GT
87-92 Mustang Coupe
3000GT VR4
1970 Chevelle
In reply to Appleseed :
As much as I respect the 32 Ford it is a blatant steal of the earlier Duesenburg
Absolutely the XKE. But that was a development of the D type of 1954.
More original was the XK 120 OTS of 1948.
Plus the XK6/12 of 1972 which is still giving styling clues to Jaguar.
While the XJS was initially a disappointment when introduced in 1975 It was a disappointment because it wasn't a sports car, rather a GT car. It did remain in production for 21 years and vastly outsell the XKE
The MG J2 of the 1930's remained the MG's styling pattern through the MGTF of 1955.
'88 BMW M5
In reply to Tom1200 :
Totally agree.
How about some Euro picks
Obvious: Lamborghini Miura, DeTomaso Mangusta/Pantera, Mercedes 230/250/280SL, C111-C1,C2.
Not so obvious: Fiat 124 coupe/roadster, Ferrari Dino, Alpine 110, Alfa Romeo Montreal. It's a Gabriella vs. Sofia thing.
G-wagon, shark nose 6 series, land cruisers, Jeep's....basically all classic 4x4s have held up well.
In reply to RustBeltSherpa :
The M5 pictured above is one of my favorite Euro cars.
I went to the Detroit Auto Show in college as a jaded American car lover and drag racer. I stared at this on the turntable for probably twenty minutes.
Will never stop looking great:
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frenchyd said:In reply to Appleseed :
As much as I respect the 32 Ford it is a blatant steal of the earlier Duesenburg
The 32 Ford is a scaled up Ford Model Y from England. Ford even states this in the book "Wheels For The World" as they ran out of time trying to design what would have been the '32 Ford.
It's very easy to see Ford's styling progression from 1928 thru 1932 and most cars of the 30's have a similar but not the same front end design.
The Duesenberg J came out in 1928 but the X it was derived from and the A before that all have a similar look too.
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