What car designs have aged the best?

We went to a Cars & Coffee event this past Sunday morning where there were 150 cars in attendance. There were a bunch of new Porsche and Ferrari offerings for those who like that stuff. In another lot were a bunch of cars that I was drawn to. Having been brought up in a household that owned and raced a whole bunch of British cars, they are what I've always been drawn to.

IMO, the timeless cars are(in no particular order):

- Austin Healey 3000

- Jaguar E-Type

- MGA

- Morgan(not the Aero model)

Honorable mention to the American cars:

- first generation Mustang

- first generation Thunderbird

- C1 & C2 Corvette

My all-time favorite though.

Appleseed said:

The pinnacle of American automotive styling. The high point by which all others will be judged.

Besides the first generation Buick Riviera I'd extend my choices to a number of other GM cars from 1961 to 1966 - I think they were at the top of their game in that time period.  It was after the big tailfins and miles of chrome of the late 1950s, but before the land barge excess and poor quality of the late 1960s and 1970s.  A couple personal favorites (being a Pontiac guy) were the 1961 Ventura and the 1965 Grand Prix, but every brand in the GM family had some standouts in that time period.

While I appreciate the C3 Corvettes, I can't see a C4 making the list.  The C6 however....

Smooth, graceful lines, nice proportions and no gimmicks like fake scoops.

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

93gsxturbo said:

You look at an FD, and its pretty apparent what era it was manufactured in.  Still good looking for the era;  just like bellbottoms, the swoopy loopys, the high rise wing, and the BBS look-alikes or rounded 5 spokes give it away.     Look at a GMT400 (debut 1988) or a BMW 8 series (debut in 1989), and its much more challenging to tell what year it was designed in and how old the chassis is.  

While I like the design of the E31, it's very apparent when it was designed.  A big coupe with squared-off body lines and pop-up lights screams late 80s.  Park one next to an A70 Supra and it's really obvious.

IMO there are no "timeless" car designs.  A car is a piece of technology that is required to be functional, and that means that the technology of the day heavily influences the external design.  Tire tech, materials science, manufacturing techniques, safety requirements, and aerodynamic knowledge have all had massive impacts on the external design characteristics of cars, with the end result being that you can usually judge the decade of the design within just a few seconds of looking at the vehicle.  I say design, rather than manufacture, because there are a few models that have stubbornly held on for more than a decade (original Beetle, 911, a few others).

What most people seem to mean when they use the word "timeless" as applied to a car design is one that still looks good today -- one that has avoided the "flash in the pan" trends and stuck to long-established principles of design.  Look at the proportions on an FD (or an E31) and you'll see that there.

I mean yeah, it's a product of its era but the e31 was just done...better. It's boxy and slanted but it just comes off prettier than the supra.

roninsoldier83 said:

 

That looks simple and amazing. I love it.

Keith Tanner said:

In reply to SV reX :

The Cobra is iconic. Not sure if that's the same. 

Correct. I shouldn't lift pictures late at night when I'm tired. 

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

This thread is interesting in that the results are so conservative.

There is a reason that a Chanel suit (women) or khakis and a blazer (men) have always looked good, and always will, compared to a paisley pantsuit with bell bottoms or a plaid leisure suit with 7 inch lapels.

Long-lasting car designs are the ones where all the time was spent in refining the proportions and harmonizing the details.  Sticking on lots of busy crap or overemphasizing certain proportions to grab attention is only ever going to last as long as whatever trend you're trying to jump on.

There's nothing conservative about an E-Type.   But they worked hard to get it right.

Duke said:

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

This thread is interesting in that the results are so conservative.

There is a reason that a Chanel suit (women) or khakis and a blazer (men) have always looked good, and always will, compared to a paisley pantsuit with bell bottoms or a plaid leisure suit with 7 inch lapels.

Long-lasting car designs are the ones where all the time was spent in refining the proportions and harmonizing the details.  Sticking on lots of busy crap or overemphasizing certain proportions to grab attention is only ever going to last as long as whatever trend you're trying to jump on.

 

That and the question "would you drive this in traffic 10, 20 or 30 years from now and not feel, say, self conscious or like a museum piece?"

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

I haven't been one of those in years. They used to be everywhere

John Welsh said:

Even better (I am in love with mine)

IMHO, these lines will still look good in another 20 years. The newer versions are going to look dated in 10. 

Toyman! said:

IMHO, these lines will still look good in another 20 years. The newer versions have looked dated for 10.

Fixed. The Continental has looked pretty much the same since 2003. It wasn't particularly good looking then, and it hasn't gotten better with age.

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Show me the top 5 timeless car designs in history 
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Certainly! Here are five timeless car designs in history that have left a lasting impact:

Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1):

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the Beetle's iconic rounded shape and simple, functional design made it a global phenomenon. Its production spanned from 1938 to 2003, with over 21 million units produced.
Ford Mustang (First Generation):

Introduced in 1964, the Mustang defined the pony car segment with its long hood, short deck, and aggressive stance. Its design embodied the spirit of American muscle cars and continues to influence car design today.
Porsche 911:

Introduced in 1963, the Porsche 911 has become synonymous with performance and style. Its distinctive rear-engine layout, sloping roofline, and round headlights have evolved over decades while maintaining its classic appeal.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing:

Introduced in 1954, the 300SL Gullwing's unique upward-opening doors (gullwing doors) and elegant lines made it an instant classic. Its design was influenced by aviation, and it remains a symbol of luxury and engineering excellence.
Ferrari 250 GTO:

Produced between 1962 and 1964, the Ferrari 250 GTO is renowned for its beautiful, aerodynamic design and dominance in racing. Its smooth curves and aggressive stance make it one of the most coveted and valuable cars in automotive history.
These cars are celebrated not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their engineering innovation and cultural impact, making them timeless icons in the automotive world.

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I think this scared the E36 M3 out of the Germans. 

eastpark said:

I think this scared the E36 M3 out of the Germans. 

Scared the E36 M3 out of one of the Big 3's execs.

He saw one in their test center where they examined other peoples' products.  "Is that the new Mercedes?"

"No... the new Toyota."

With a bit of self-interest, I will throw in what I think might be the oldest car to maintain a somewhat timeless look (not my car, but a good angle to show shape).  The first Ghia's where made in 1956.  I guess you could say it really doesn't look like a modern car, but the fact that it's not a CUV pretty much disqualifies any actual "car".

I almost hate to type it, but... a jeep sort of looks like a jeep since WW2.  Might in some circles seem timeless.

I mean... Come on.   This is, was, and always will be HOT!

Jaguar XJC

iansane said:

I mean yeah, it's a product of its era but the e31 was just done...better. It's boxy and slanted but it just comes off prettier than the supra.

I completely agree the E31 looks nicer than the A70.  I'm just saying that it's not "timeless" in the sense that 93gsxturbo was using the word.

I was going to post this but I was stuck in a stupid kindergarten graduation ceremony. 

A product of the 30's, it's still a good looking car today. 

Duke said:

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

This thread is interesting in that the results are so conservative.

There is a reason that a Chanel suit (women) or khakis and a blazer (men) have always looked good, and always will, compared to a paisley pantsuit with bell bottoms or a plaid leisure suit with 7 inch lapels.

Long-lasting car designs are the ones where all the time was spent in refining the proportions and harmonizing the details.  Sticking on lots of busy crap or overemphasizing certain proportions to grab attention is only ever going to last as long as whatever trend you're trying to jump on.

There's nothing conservative about an E-Type.   But they worked hard to get it right.

 

See, I think that the E-type is historically significant, because it moved away from the swoopy-fendered look that you saw in the D-type, and is truly a distinctive, memorable design. Problem is, I prefer my fenders swoopy. Raquel Welch versus Twiggy. 

aircooled said:

With a bit of self-interest, I will throw in what I think might be the oldest car to maintain a somewhat timeless look (not my car, but a good angle to show shape).  The first Ghia's where made in 1956.  I guess you could say it really doesn't look like a modern car, but the fact that it's not a CUV pretty much disqualifies any actual "car".

I came to post pics in the HW thread but this topic was closer

In reply to Duke :

This. And why the w124 Mercedes has aged better and looks less dated (imho) than the w210, even though it was designed 13 years earlier 

C6s are just ugly C5s, gotta disagree there.  The front end on the C6 with the glassed in lights wasn't super good when new and didnt get better with age.   The C5 looked purposeful, the C6 looked like a Cobalt

Yay!

Hurl!