What car designs have aged the best?

Indy - Guy said:

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

Jaguar XJC

To be fair, the Retropower XJC had probably $400,000 thrown at it to get it looking that good.

Jaguar F-Type:

Toyota 2000GT:

Ferrari Dino:

kb58 said:

Ferrari Dino:

Yes. First car I'll buy when I win the lottery.

As an aside, that Alfa earlier in the thread is especially hot. My Swedish-car proclivities are migrating south... 

Second on the Porsche 944/968. Long nose with a hatch always looks great. 

I love the NSX but have no idea why people like the way it looks. Mid/Rear with a trunk is a super tough design to get right and it's obvious to my eyes that the engineers and not the designers were the ones calling the shots. Great personality though...

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

I believe the C5 will eventually become one of the most collectible Vettes.

In reply to Peabody :

I think the C5 Z06s are already starting to get there.  It's the Millenial's version of the '63 split window.  

Did I miss it or has no one said markIV Supra? It's up there with Datsun 240Z, Jaguar E type and the FD RX7 as best looking of all time (in my book) 

As always with these kinds of questions you end up with a variety of interpretations of the original question, as has been pointed out. I'm gonna say it needs to be a design at least 20 years old to qualify. 
 

If "timeless" = you can't tell when it was made, or it looks like someone might sell it even today then I can't think of many besides maybe some exotic or something, maybe the NSX with the right wheels 

But fashions change and so as with the Aztek, if it has all the facets and creases to look contemporary today then it would have looked awful a few years ago. 

Speaking of wheels, one problem I see with a lot of these is the wheels or balloon tires age the cars a lot, so like that restomod Jag posted earlier has cool wheels but anything with wire wheels = dated. 
 

But if timeless = doesn't look like crap today, then yeah, there are tons out there, right?

Every one of these...

While plenty of 90's designs haven't aged well, I'd argue that overall it was one of the high periods for automotive styling... But maybe I'm just a product of my upbringing.

P3PPY said:

... I'm gonna say it needs to be a design at least 20 years old to qualify.

20 years = 2004. Here's a 2004 Porsche 986 Special Edition as parked at my office a few evenings ago.

It's a very subjective question/personal taste, but I see this design carrying classic elements from the past and elements that fit well in current designs.

No one has mentioned the spicy miata yet?

Probably falls into the 'Iconic' tho with the white stripes over blue. 

Is a Z8 too new for this discussion?

 Never seen one in the flesh but they look better now then when Pierce debuted it in whatever bond film he was in.

DjGreggieP said:

No one has mentioned the spicy miata yet?

Probably falls into the 'Iconic' tho with the white stripes over blue. 

 

It's literally a big

Chrysler made no bones about it, they wanted to make a modern Cobra.

In reply to Driven5 :

I agree with all cars pictured but one - the Viper. From my viewpoint, which is reapeatedly wrong, it aged like Milk. It looks dated.

seeker589 said:

In reply to Driven5 :

I agree with all cars pictured but one - the Viper. From my viewpoint, which is reapeatedly wrong, it aged like Milk. It looks dated.

IMHO the RT/10 looked dated the day it came off the assembly line, but the GTS design stands up much better to time.

Maybe I just like a double bubble roof :)

The FD RX7 is my vote but the Alfa 8c is rather nice as well 

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

seeker589 said:

In reply to Driven5 :

I agree with all cars pictured but one - the Viper. From my viewpoint, which is reapeatedly wrong, it aged like Milk. It looks dated.

IMHO the RT/10 looked dated the day it came off the assembly line, but the GTS design stands up much better to time.

Maybe I just like a double bubble roof :)

 

I wasn't ready to be flamed but I feel the same way

Y'all and your BMW's. E28 is THE classic. It's like the best elements from the perfect greenhouse and the boxy design that gets love to this day because it's timeless. USDM bumpers or Euro bumpers, doesn't matter. I have to admit, as a company, I think Jaguar has everyone beat for timeless looks per individual model. Italy is close but any manufacturer from Italy has had some really stinkers penned out and built IMO.

Hard to believe it was designed 60 years ago.

Porsche 356 Speedster.

The design element that always seem to work is long hood short trunk or hatch drivers seat behind the center line of the wheel base or at least looks like it is.

Cyclone03 said:

The ... Element always seem[s] to work...

gunner (Forum Supporter) said:

Y'all and your BMW's. E28 is THE classic. It's like the best elements from the perfect greenhouse and the boxy design that gets love to this day because it's timeless. USDM bumpers or Euro bumpers, doesn't matter. 

As the owner of a euro e28 I'd say the euro bumpers (and headlights) are necessary, but either one is good.  

Cyclone03 said:

The design element that always seem to work is long hood short trunk or hatch drivers seat behind the center line of the wheel base or at least looks like it is.

I will reveal my bias...

P3PPY said:

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

seeker589 said:

In reply to Driven5 :

I agree with all cars pictured but one - the Viper. From my viewpoint, which is reapeatedly wrong, it aged like Milk. It looks dated.

IMHO the RT/10 looked dated the day it came off the assembly line, but the GTS design stands up much better to time.

Maybe I just like a double bubble roof :)

 

I wasn't ready to be flamed but I feel the same way

I really didn't intend to flame anyone. Sorry.

Unless you designed the Viper - then Good on You!