A modern classic

There are classics that are just that, classic. They have been considered something beautiful and a mark on the world since shortly after their release.

Like the XKE

I can only think of one car that would fit this and that is the new Aston Martins.

So what say you GRM? Is this the only timeless beauty we have in the modern era or is there others.

Oh yeah no bashing others opinions on this one. Play nice.

My only concern is all the plastics that will go to E36 M3 over the next 30 years. Bumper covers, headlight covers and so on. I don't know if any new car will survive to be a classic. That might be one of them though.

I would have agreed with you a few years ago, and then this happened:

Yeah must agree, the Brits have a special thing for designing the truly beautiful in cars

The best thing about those is they will spend all their lives in a garage somewhere and will probably survive.

Guess I'm odd man out -- LOVE the old XKE to this day. And their contemporary - the Aston Martin DB5. But today's Aston's are -- well -- ungainly pigs to my eyes. Not even close. Too wide in the track for the width of the roof; too much height in the body compared to the roof - lots of design problems in my opinion. I too think the Maserati pictured is much more attractive -- but neither comes close to the GT's of the 50's/60's from Ferrari, Jag, A-M from an aesthetic perspective.

The problem is that everything today spends LOTS of time in the wind tunnel because of fuel economy regs -- and the result is they end up looking an awful lot like each other.

On the other hand, if you like the Aston pictured above - you'll probably like the new Ford Fusion.

aussiesmg wrote: Yeah must agree, the Brits have a special thing for designing the truly beautiful in cars

As do the Italians. Something to do with having something beautiful to admire while you're on the side of the road waiting for AAA.

these 2 for me ...

BoxheadTim wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: Yeah must agree, the Brits have a special thing for designing the truly beautiful in cars

As do the Italians. Something to do with having something beautiful to admire while you're on the side of the road waiting for AAA.

Sometimes it's the simple things in life...

I kinda feel like NSX and s2k will stand the test of time as well.

No love for the new F-Type?

I can't wait for the coupe version...

FD RX7

Actually the E-type while certainly unique and noteworthy seems a bit overstuffed. The proportions aren't quite as on as the best from Italy of the period. Likewise, the Aston Martin is very nice, but doesn't stand out that much from the rows of similar exotics.

But cars are like women. Some like voluptuous and some like skinny. Both views are valid.

To me, the FD RX-7 is the prettiest car that Japan's made, and stacks up very well with anything in the last 30 years. And believe it or not, I think that Bangle will be considered the top designer of the early 21st century.

Alfa Romeo 8C.

I was just going to suggest one in person. I thought they looked good in photos, but, man, when I saw one in person I was stunned.

Lousy photos, but you get the idea.

MichaelYount wrote: The problem is that everything today spends LOTS of time in the wind tunnel because of fuel economy regs -- and the result is they end up looking an awful lot like each other.

Agreed. The Maserati and the new Jag and even the BRZ and the BMW z4 Coupe all look strangely familiar. There are some exceptions to the familiar "look", but the ones that come to mind are the boxy crossovers (Flex, Soul, etc.) or the retro type (Mini, 500, Beetle), none of which I think would ever bee considered timeless as interesting as they may be.

There is an almost uncanny appropriateness to British car designs of the 50's and 60's, and a definite passion in Italian designs of the same era that I doubt will ever be captured again. The closest to the British appropriateness and proper placement of line in modern design is best found in the shoulder through to trunk line of the Jaguar S-Type R. Its in the normal spec S-Type, too, but the R accentuates it with monochromatic trim and upsize wheels. The E type was, and is, design perfection without being a perfect design, if that makes sense. The 2+2 has that strangeness about it that only ads to its beauty, like a woman you would call "striking" as opposed to beautiful, but the design has such an authority that when you question it it makes you think, well, this is a Jaguar E type, and it looks off from this rear facing 3/4 view, but since it is a Jaguar E type, there must be something wrong with the way I'm looking at it as opposed to the way it is designed, so I will think about what I think about design and keep looking at it. Modern cars just don't do that to you.

Contemporary italian designs don't capture anything particularly unique or truly beautiful. They are functional designs, and even the best sport cars today have a similar design language to each other. The C6 Corvette is arguably more aesthetically pleasing than the Italian cars, and the same could be said of the incoming Viper, and Lamborghinis are just grotesque looking.

There have been some cool designs even so. I thought the Alfa Brera was great looking, but Mazda seemed to borrow some of Alfa's design cues and they have some really interesting designs, too. The CX7 was pretty well done if busy. Mazda seems often ahead of the curve.

In reply to Woody:

That's a car you can't make look bad.

Miura? or perhaps Tom Tjaarda's magnificent Pantera?

I like to call this the forgotten Ferrari. The 275 was sandwiched between the 250 and the first of the mid-engined cars.. so most people are not even aware it exists. I think it is the most beautiful of the "old school" ferraris.

The 308 on the other hand.. the second of the "modern ferraris" (following the Dino 206/246) is a classic that is both timeless and Modern. Truely one of the best designs Pininfarina ever put out

I think the 458 Italia will be one of those cars. It just looks 'right'.

Woody wrote: I was just going to suggest one in person. I thought they looked good in photos, but, man, when I saw one in person I was stunned. Lousy photos, but you get the idea.

This. These are jaw droppingly beautiful in person.

And I forget, it was either a bigger or smaller car than I expected, but I don't remember which.

I'm biased, but I think this is one of only a few timeless designs in the last 30 years

Then of course there is this.. a truely modern classic/vintage/antique. A car that is recognizable for what it is from 1964 all the way through to 2012