Cars that look huge in pictures, but aren't

There's always been a few cars that do this for me.

Cars that look big in pictures, but are quite small in real life.

MKiv Supra
FD RX7

New one today. I've seen them before, but when it was being outsized by an Elantra it really put it in perspective.

Porsche 993.

Original Datsun Z cars. When seen all by themselves, they're big. park them next to anything else and they're tiny.

The NC Miata looks big, but the dimension sheet says otherwise.

Silverado 2500HD... no wait, that's the other way around

I always thought Porsche 917s were huge until I saw one in person. I think it's because of those huge headlights.

Veyron, looks like a grand statement in pictures, it barely larger then an Elise in real life. Porsche 919 and most LMP cars the same as the 917 in that regard as well.

Ok to play Opposite Day?

The new Traverse is MASSIVE up close especially sitting in front of Victorias Secret (or Payless Shoe) at the Mall.

I would say any LMP car.

Agree on 917's and LMP cars.

I saw one of the Audi R8 (LMP cars) from several years ago. It looks like a large go cart in size.

I was amazed how small my Z32 300zx was when next to my buddy's 00 Prelude.

boileralum wrote: I was amazed how small my Z32 300zx was when next to my buddy's 00 Prelude.

Came here to say this. The Z32 is much smaller than pictures would have you believe.

Austin Martin v8 vantage. The really handsome early one. Looks positively massive in pictures but in reality it's just big.

All of the Porsche prototypes are pretty small.

Here's my MGA next to some modern sedans:

and here it is next to a Porsche 904, 907, 908, and a golf cart.

Lotus Evora.It looks awkward and fat in pictures. In reality no one would call it big for fat, and the styling is not at all awkward. It is big by Lotus standards. Other Loti are heroin-chic models, the Evora is more like a competitive ballroom dancer, with proper curves and good muscle tone.

Dodge Vipers. I somehow think they're the size of a third gen Camaro from pictures.

One of the funniest photos I can recall was in a Triumph club newsletter. I don't expect that many of you will know the Triumph Mayflower, but it was a pretty small 2 door sedan with the same period styling as lots of limousines. The put one in front of a house with pillars and captioned it "Triumph Mayflower - Makes Your House Look Bigger!"

The car actually has a shorter wheelbase than of a Morris Minor! I was very tempted to turn one I had into a hot rod. The rear axle and front suspension were sourced from the Triumph Vanguard, although the engine was a wimpy flathead 4. It would have been pretty easy to have stuck in TR-4 brakes, axle and suspension and a more powerful engine, perhaps also TR-4, hopped up.

MadScientistMatt wrote: Dodge Vipers. I somehow think they're the size of a third gen Camaro from pictures.

I always think that too. Every time I see one in person, I'm surprised all over again at how small they are.

PT Cruiser

Miata.

Acura NSX?

I feel like once the mind perceives something as an actual car, it makes you think it is the size of a modern car for the most part.

I thought the DeltaWing was much, much larger from the photos. I was expecting something with the footprint of a 1970's Cadillac sedan. When I saw it at Road Atlanta, I assumed that it was a 3/4 scale model. Even this picture I took to show it's size still makes it look big. (The guy behind it is like 15 feet away)

You have to look close at it with people around to appreciate how small the thing really is. Note that the front wheel arch is below the driver's kneecap.

C4 Corvettes look huge in pictures, but get tiny up close..

my 86 Camaro is much smaller in a grousetting than it looks when it's all by itself, especially in the parking lot at work when it's parked between 2 full size pickups or next to one coworker's 73 LTD.. it even looks short parked next to Fox Mustangs..

how about an opposite example, a car that looks small in pics bug big up close: i nominate the '05 and newer Mustang for this category. put one next to a new Camaro, and it looks rather huge..

Datsun1500 wrote: The R8 is shorter, but wider than most people think.

I concur. I was really surprised at how small they are.