Another vote for the Citroen SM. For newer cars I would say either an Audi S5 or a Maserati Granturismo.
Another vote for the Citroen SM. For newer cars I would say either an Audi S5 or a Maserati Granturismo.
Bugatti T35b or Jaguar D-Type. I'm a big fan of purity of the Citroën DS also.
Maybach Exelero!
I can't pick just one, but these should be on the short list, along with almost every Delahaye ever built.
picking one is tough, so I offer a few, and a +1 for the duesenburg (or whatever) SJ
Nissan R390 road going version:
Mclaren F1: 
Elegant simplicity - 1963 Lotus Super 7: 
1934 Duesenberg SSJ Dual Cowl Phaeton. Gorgeous.
imho, elegance also speaks of a distillation and simplicity of form. many of these cars are gorgeous, but for me, in elegance of design and engineering, not much tops the early 911's
Simple, beautiful, purposeful.... elegant.
Token Alfa:
PS122 wrote: Token Alfa:
It does not necessarily fit the title but I do love me some GTV.
IMHO, simple, purposeful and beautiful are very different than elegant. To me, elegant is gorgeous, expressive, sumptuous, and opulent. Over-the-top and slightly impractical, never hurried. Something like a 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Voll & Ruhrbeck Cabriolet:
This is a great thread, I was thinking of starting something similar a few days ago. I would also argue that elegance has more than just timeless beauty to it, it's also has an element of a car fitting with the style of the times perfectly. Many of the cars on my personal list have already been shown, including
Now I'll add a couple of my own.
For the 80's
For the nougties, I'm biased about this one, but when I saw this car at the 07 NAIAS I was flawed by it's elegant beauty. Note both the C30 and 944 are derivatives of other cars that just don't seem as harmonious, the changes that lead to these models added to my mind timeless elegance that was also perfect for the period.
Also with both I don't like the facelifted versions, the 968 to the 944 or the 2010+ version of the C30 compared to the 08/09 original
If an Alfa is needed here.
To my eye elegance has both beauty and simplicity. Excess for its own sake does not do anything to add to a beautiful thing. As the laws of physics have an elegance in mathematics that is difficult to relate - I know it when I see it but have a great amount of difficulty describing it by its attributes. It just is.
The Mura is, the Opel GT is not.
The Elan is, the Miata is not.
Why? No idea.
YMMV.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: To my eye elegance has both beauty and simplicity. Excess for its own sake does not do anything to add to a beautiful thing. As the laws of physics have an elegance in mathematics that is difficult to relate - I know it when I see it but have a great amount of difficulty describing it by its attributes. It just is. The Mura is, the Opel GT is not. The Elan is, the Miata is not. Why? No idea. YMMV.
That's a good point and I agree with the concept, I feel that both my additions the 944 and C30 are exercises in simplicity.
I disagree with you on the Miata through. An NA Miata without any additions is simple elegance, the spoilers form the R package ruined that for my eye while the NB is simply fugly and the NC is boring.
"It does not necessarily fit the title but I do love me some GTV. "
Yeah, you are right. My first thought was this:
But I prefer the GTV... maybe elegance just isn't in my genetic make-up.
For a car that is simply elegant.. do you need to look further than the Lancia Fulvia Coupe'?
I have never understood why the Citroen DS and SM are considered that good looking. I think the DS is fairly ugly actually.
4cylndrfury wrote: Mclaren F1:
That is a Zonda.
z31maniac wrote: Bah, I can't think of the name of them right now. But they are the German coachbuilder who uses BMW engines. Small little swoopy 2 seaters.
Weisman
Wow, this thread really brings home the fact that one man's treasure is another man's trash. While I agree with some of the designs here are elegant, some are completely off base to me. To each his own.....
96DXCivic wrote:4cylndrfury wrote: Mclaren F1:That is a Zonda.
doh...you are correct sir...
gamby wrote:Jay wrote: It doesn't have to be all curves though, I think some genuinely elegant and beautiful designs have been essentially done with a ruler and a compass.I feel the same way about the LP400/LP400S Countach, but for me, that car is more sexy (borderline slutty) than elegant.
Yes, I may not want to live with one, but I would love a one night stand
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: To my eye elegance has both beauty and simplicity. Excess for its own sake does not do anything to add to a beautiful thing. As the laws of physics have an elegance in mathematics that is difficult to relate - I know it when I see it but have a great amount of difficulty describing it by its attributes. It just is. The Mura is, the Opel GT is not. The Elan is, the Miata is not. Why? No idea. YMMV.
I agree, and much the same can be said for writing, music, manner of dress or speech. There is a truth value to aesthetics properly executed.
Looking at the design of the cars you compare, especially the Elan vs. Miata question, there is something in the lines of the Elan that can't be copied, a subtlety in curve and line. The result is a design that frankly looks, for lack of better words, expensive to build. Sort of like the close line of the hood of a Volvo P1800 being "off seam" from body panels. (I think someone on this board pointed that out some time ago).
Taking it even further, compare a Boxster to a last gen MR2. Similar design brief, very different results.
Although good design in cars is not all curve as stated above, curves are harder to create when dealing with metals, and it looks impressive and implies a level of tradecraft that a stealth fighter look, for all its technological implications, does not.
I think today Cadillac is actually doing a really good job design wise, the language includes a lot of folded paper, but there is a curved muscularity there, too. Its very expressive, and says more than just "power". I saw my first GT-R on the road last weekend and was impressed by it as well. It looks so much better in person than on film. It also looks to take a few pages from Aston Martin.
Current supercars seem to follow the Countach approach insofar as form follows function and technology. Good design is not only a package for what is inside though, it expresses something more than only what its capabilities are.
I would take this over any Zonda/Lambo/Koenigsegg/etc. anyday. Its a proper gentleman's car.
Sorry, can't hotlink at work, http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/classic/large/60Ferrari_250_GT_SWB_Berlinetta_1.jpg
1937 Cord
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