Epitome of car design

I saw an article on the best year for movies (it was 1994) and it made me wonder what was the best year for car designs. I wonder about car design specifically because if you ask what the best year for cars is, some could argue that 2018 is the best year based on safety, environmental impact, technology, etc. I am more interested in the style of cars, including the interior. I think it's 1969 and I submit a few  1969 cars from different manufacturers and countries.

I say 67. It was the last year before side marker lights were mandatory. 

The guy I debated this with insists it's 1994 but his example cars were almost exclusively Japanese sports cars so I can't agree

Ill agree with 69 as its the first year of the 240z, which in my opinion is one of the best looking cars ever made.

Good natured argument:

69 XKE

67 XKE

69 Fiat 850 Spider

67 Fiat 850 Spider

My point is that 67 was the last year before the feds moved in. This is, of course, an opinion, and based on cars as sold in America.

The early years of automotive production were basically tractors, no real personality. The early 80’s were malaise, the late 80’s were angled. The 90’s were the lead up to the monstrosities of today. the 70’s were funky and awkward. 

This leaves the 40’s-60’s. Cars had shapes. Designers had ideas and were allowed to make art, rather than conform to a bean counter’s ledger and a wind tunnel’s data. 

Ive never been a fan of the 40’s, they all kinda look like the refrigerators of the same era. The 50’s got great wings, lots of aeronautics influence. The 60’s were “aero be damned, it’s a power war!”  Therefore, I vote for the 60’s for a decade, and ‘69 for a year. 

In reply to Trackmouse :

I’m sorry it’s the mid to late 50’s.  

Start out with the beautiful predecessor of the XKE the 

D type Jaguar 

with only 250 horsepower from a WW2 designed  6 cylinder engine it ran 182 mph down the Mulsanne straight at LeMans for 24 hours straight and won the race 3 years in a row!  

1957 Corvette. 55-56-57 Chevy including the Nomad. 

300SL Mercedes Benz 

507 BMW 

1958 Testa Rosa Ferrari 

1958 Lister Knobby. 

1955 Porsche 356 roadster 

1958 Porsche RSK 

1958 Kurtis lay down Indy roadster 

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible 

Lots of "close" in this thread, but my vote is for 1968.

Funny I've said for awhile that it's 1990-1994. Germany and Japanese we're both doing good things then. 

Agree with 1969.  Two more for the list are the Firebird and the Fairlady/240Z (which did ship to the US in 1969, and the 1969 models are heavily documented)

Wasn’t 67 the last year before pollution controls started?

Showing my age here but I'd say 90s bubble cars (1994 if I must commit to a year as it was the facelift of the 3SX cars and first for the FTO)

FD RX7, Miata, 3000GT, 2nd Gen Eclipse, MKIV Supra, FTO, 300ZX, NSX

​​​​​​They're all iconic shapes at this point. (phone so pictures are hard.)

If you want Bubbles, then Daryle Starbirds Bubble Top Cars Or the Bat Mobile Early 60's.

I won't give a year, but I will say late 60s to early early 70s were the best years for looks.

spitfirebill said:

Wasn’t 67 the last year before pollution controls started?

They started ramping up in 68, with a few good years left before 74, when we were full on cats, smog pumps, huge bumpers, etc. Not that emission controls directly affect styling, but all that stuff certainly took the wind out of American cars (British, too, really)

Wasn’t 67 the last year before pollution controls started?

There were crankcase emissions before then in California. Nothing that affected styling.  

spitfirebill said:

Wasn’t 67 the last year before pollution controls started?

1965.

"Man I wish more cars had road draft tubes instead of PCV systems" said no one ever.

Well, maybe coal rollers, but their opinions will count when they decide to be beneficial to society instead of prison bitches in training.

2013 solely because the jaguar f type r. Most beautiful ass I've ever seen.

loosecannon said:

The guy I debated this with insists it's 1994 but his example cars were almost exclusively Japanese sports cars so I can't agree

America couldn't make a pretty car in 1994. There were some very beautiful Euro and JDM cars though. 

You have to commit to one year for this thread-no cheating and giving a range of years. There should be another thread on best year of everything. If that were the challenge, I would pick 1994 because of the music, movies, cars and before smart phones ruined everything and the internet made everybody an expert on everything.

 Smartphones didn't ruin anything for me.  I must be one of those terrible terrible young folks that older generations always complain about, what's the name? 

Automotive styling reached it's zenith in 1963 with the Buick Riviera.

I googled the Miura, because that was a strong argument for 69. Turns out it was made in 67, too.

Also, the Camaro had wing windows, and frankly, I like the style over 69s

Come to think of it, the pony cars were in full swing (sorry, no Javelin til 68).

The Ghia hadn't yet suffered the big lights/bumper malady

Alpha was still in their prime

wheelsmithy said:

spitfirebill said:

Wasn’t 67 the last year before pollution controls started?

They started ramping up in 68, with a few good years left before 74, when we were full on cats, smog pumps, huge bumpers, etc. Not that emission controls directly affect styling, but all that stuff certainly took the wind out of American cars (British, too, really)

Correct.  Nothing to do with styling, but drivability started suffering.  

1957