# Prettiest car ever made? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226 "2003-12-16T01:11:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/61 "2003-12-18T06:23:53Z")
I can’t make up my mind: [http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/cs\_index.htm](http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/cs_index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Vaeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vaeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaeth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/62 "2003-12-18T06:43:46Z")
Slight Hijack: What is it with all the really old cars? I’ve never been able to see the supposed beauty in all of these classic and vintage cars, they all look rather dated and, at times, crude. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/63 "2003-12-18T07:06:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vaeth \* > \*\*Slight Hijack: > > What is it with all the really old cars? I’ve never been able to see the supposed beauty in all of these classic and vintage cars, they all look rather dated and, at times, crude. \*\* You’re in Japan, right? Name the last “classic” car ever to come out of Japan, and there’s your answer. Japan is a country which specialises in the export of consumer electronics, automobiles, and optical cameras. But aesthetic innovation is NOT a term which I ever hear associated with Japan. However, the art of copying something and refining it is certainly a term I hear associated with Japan, but not the words “aesthetic innovation”. So, for some, it’s a hard thing to grasp, but “fancy gizmos” and “computer generated curves” simply don’t a “true beauty” make. Sure, they make for a technilogical tour de force, and they make for cars which will feature in the next installment of “Fast and Furious” but that’s not what this thread is about. All of us who love beautiful cars are aware that most of them have more faults than you could poke a stick at, but you see, life itself is a compromise so we don’t really get too bothered by it. Especially if it’s an older car. The fact it’s crude simply makes the achievement of being beautiful even all the more worthwhile I rather think. ---
**Author:** ![Vaeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vaeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaeth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/64 "2003-12-18T07:28:01Z")
But why does “classic” equate to beautiful? I noticed a distinct lack of modern cars being listed above, to the extent that it almost seems like to be beautiful, a car had to be old/classic/vintage following the “they dont’ make them like they used to” way of thought. I wouldn’t name a Japanese car as being up there with the most beautiful, no, I agree with you that as far as Japanese car design goes they are good copiers at best. As for being in Japan, yes I am in Japan atm, but home for me is just a little bit (relatively speaking) southwest of Southport. If I were to name a beautful car though, I would name perhaps something that looked like the [DB7 by Aston martin](http://www.fantasycars.com/Aston_Martin_DB7/aston_martin_db7.html) (just off the top of my head) which is English not Japanese. It looks streamlined, balanced, stable, fast, luxurious, comfortable, and gives out a general sense of quiet confidence in being able to handle any situation, all of which equates in my mind to “beautiful”. I am looking for an insight into what makes the above classic/vintage cars beautiful. Taking the **1966 GTO** as an example, is it beautiful because of it’s shape, tires, the cover-able headlamps, its colour, or some other characteristic of the car which cannot be ascertained from its photo (i.e. history, sentimental value, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/65 "2003-12-18T07:40:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boo Boo Foo \* > **Name the last “classic” car ever to come out of Japan…** I know that was a rhetorical question, but I’d say the [1965 Toyota 2000GT](http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/eng/cp/0005.html). ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/66 "2003-12-18T07:43:10Z")
The GTO (under the hood): [http://www.web-cars.com/gto/pengine.html](http://www.web-cars.com/gto/pengine.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/67 "2003-12-18T09:28:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vaeth \* > **But why does “classic” equate to beautiful? I noticed a distinct lack of modern cars being listed above, to the extent that it almost seems like to be beautiful, a car had to be old/classic/vintage following the “they dont’ make them like they used to” way of thought.** Well I have to say that personally, I don’t subscribe to that train of thought. I’m more than happy to nominate the McLaren F1 of 1992 as a modern classic in every sense. Oodles of horsepower, and chock a block full of state of the art technology, and a drop dead gorgeous car to boot. I’m suprised no one nominated it to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/68 "2003-12-18T10:37:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*I know that was a rhetorical question, but I’d say the [1965 Toyota 2000GT](http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/eng/cp/0005.html). \*\* Now I have to concede, THAT is a truly beautiful car. By any yardstick. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/69 "2003-12-18T11:05:00Z")
The Lamborghini Countach is simply the most wonderful and beautiful car ever made. [http://www.blaise27.demon.co.uk/lambo/archives/jpegs/count1.jpg](http://www.blaise27.demon.co.uk/lambo/archives/jpegs/count1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/70 "2003-12-18T13:56:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vaeth \* > **But why does “classic” equate to beautiful? I noticed a distinct lack of modern cars being listed above, to the extent that it almost seems like to be beautiful, a car had to be old/classic/vintage following the “they dont’ make them like they used to” way of thought.** Well, yeah in a way that is exactly how I feel. But it isn’t that they don’t build them like they used to it is that they don’t design them like they used to. If you’ll look back through the thread you will see that most everyone’s vote fell on a two seater sports car post 1980. Those that didn’t tended to vote for muscle cars, which I for one find impressive but anything but pretty. In the past 50 years there has been a trend towards making mid or full-size cards look exactly like all the other cars of that size. This makes pretty much all cars since 1960 pretty boring. I was so thrilled to see the PT Cruiser come out a few years ago just because it looked different. As long as modern auto makers continue to stamp all of their cars out of the same mold I am going to prefer older cars with a little character. Frankly I find several of the “sports cars” mentioned by other posters to be bretty derivitive as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rodrigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Rodrigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodrigo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/71 "2003-12-18T19:58:03Z")
Lotus Elise Audi 100 and it’s reincarnation Audi A4 1.8T Quattro At least both of my favourite can turn at curves, unlike many “muscle cars”. ---
**Author:** ![Montresor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@Montresor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montresor)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/72 "2003-12-18T20:13:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > \*\*Hands down - the winner is: > > [1937 Cord 812](http://www.classiccar.com/articles/cars/images/1937cordpb.gif) > > First car ever produced with concealed headlamps - of course, this being 1937, you had to crank them up from the drivers and passenger side, but just look at that shape! And those sidepipes! This was one sweet supercharged FAST car for it’s day! \*\* This gets my vote, too. Largely because [you can actually BUY A NEW ONE!](http://www.kitcar.com/cord/home.html) $60K isn’t really THAT much for a new car, not like that one… Just out of loyalty to my ol’ land yacht, I’d really like to say the [1965 Ford Galaxie](http://www.galaxieclub.com/internationalcarshow/members/2125/w-beltz.html) is where it’s at (note; that ain’t mine. Mine is faded maroon and lists to the left), but the Gal doesn’t have beauty so much as _style_, in an ineffable sense. Nope, the top prize in my book goes to the [1964 Thunderbird hardtop](http://www.lovefords.org/64ford/tbird_hl.htm). Don’t know why, certainly can’t explain it in the terms that **Vaeth** presents (which are totally valid, don’t get me wrong). Someday I’ll have one… in “Pagoda Green.” ---
**Author:** ![TheInterruptingCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TheInterruptingCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInterruptingCow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/73 "2003-12-18T20:38:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > \*\*Hands down - the winner is: > > [1937 Cord 812](http://www.classiccar.com/articles/cars/images/1937cordpb.gif) > > First car ever produced with concealed headlamps - of course, this being 1937, you had to crank them up from the drivers and passenger side, but just look at that shape! And those sidepipes! This was one sweet supercharged FAST car for it’s day! \*\* Close, very close…but… [1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster](http://www.californiaclassix.com/archive/35_Auburn_c167.html) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/74 "2003-12-18T20:44:13Z")
I drive a _ **chevy avalanche** _ - does my opinion count in this thread? Just kidding, I really like the new [BMW 760i](http://www.pcauto.com.cn/newcar/abroad/bmw/10210/pic/760il01i.jpg) , thats a hot car! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/75 "2003-12-18T23:21:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > \*\*I drive a _ **chevy avalanche** _ - does my opinion count in this thread? > > Just kidding, I really like the new [BMW 760i](http://www.pcauto.com.cn/newcar/abroad/bmw/10210/pic/760il01i.jpg) , thats a hot car! \*\* It counts. Had you been an Aztek owner… ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/76 "2003-12-19T00:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Montresor \* > **Just out of loyalty to my ol’ land yacht, I’d really like to say the [1965 Ford Galaxie](http://www.galaxieclub.com/internationalcarshow/members/2125/w-beltz.html) is where it’s at (note; that ain’t mine. Mine is faded maroon and lists to the left), but the Gal doesn’t have beauty so much as _style_, in an ineffable sense.** My parents have a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 4-door sedan in Chantilly Beige. I love driving that car–you barely have to touch the accelerator to make it go. My vote for the prettiest car is a 1948 [Willys-Overland Jeepster](http://members.tripod.com/DAN_WRIGHT/4.jpg). It was underpowered and lacked four wheel drive, but it’s an incredible looking car–I’ve seen a fully restored one in person. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/77 "2003-12-19T00:54:40Z")
If those are your pretty cars I’d hate to see your ideas of pretty women. (Well some anyway … ) The most beautiful car ever made was the Bugatti Atlantic [http://www.megeve-simplon.com/bug57sc.jpg](http://www.megeve-simplon.com/bug57sc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/78 "2003-12-19T01:14:41Z")
Definitely a Jaguar XKE convertible. ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/79 "2003-12-19T04:43:36Z")
Count another vote for the Ferrari 250 California. But the object of my automotive lust would have to be Porsche [No. 1](http://content2.eu.porsche.com/prod/motorsport/History.nsf/usaenglish/0F554C570165B4AC41256B88002E3443?OpenDocument&active=rennwagen&0). ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226/80 "2003-12-19T05:48:40Z")
Hands down, the Honda HSC concept. [http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/honda\_hsc.asp](http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/honda_hsc.asp) [http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/100643/page012.html](http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/100643/page012.html) mmmm. sexy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-car-ever-made/219226.md?page=5)