The 10 most beautiful cars of all time
In
celebration of the classic and exotic car events Pebble Beach Concours
d’Elegance and the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Total Car Score has
weighed in on the car world’s all-time best looking rides. Normally,
Total Car Score creates its top 10 lists by crunching the numbers on
specifications like horsepower, top speed, zero-to-60 acceleration, MSRP
and fuel efficiency.
Beauty, of course, is ephemeral and
subjective. However, while acknowledging individual tastes, certain
model names tend to come up again and again in terms of their slick and
iconic looks.
"Ask 10 people to name the best-looking car of all
time and you'll likely get 10 different answers," said the website’s
editor, Karl Brauer. "But I'd suggest these 10 cars would be among the
most popular answers given. Furthermore, all 10 of these cars have
modern-day successors that clearly trace their appearance back to these
timeless designs."
All of the cars on the list were produced
within a 20-year period, which Brauer and his colleagues noted, suggests
“a heightened sense of exterior design evolution” during this period in
the history of the automobile.
One brand holds down two of the
10 slots. The others include such diverse brands as Aston Martin and
Dodge, from those well-known from the movies, or from their
accomplishments, to those known for being the first of their kind.
"If
you haven't seen any of these cars in person, you owe it to yourself to
get to a world-class car show, such as the Pebble Beach Concours
d’Elegance or Woodward Dream Cruise, to fully appreciate these beautiful
machines," Brauer said.
Here are those 10 all-time classics,
listed chronologically, beginning with a little number that dates to the
Eisenhower administration.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SLIt
was the fastest top-speed production car at the time. The 1954 edition
was the first consumer-oriented (non-racing) car sold with fuel
injection.
Modern Day Successor: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
2. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT CaliforniaA
red ’61 Ferrari 250 GT California was immortalized, sometimes in
midair, as Cameron’s dad’s prized possession in the 1986 film “Ferris
Bueller's Day Off.” Brauer says it’s not only considered by many the
most beautiful car ever created, but it’s one of the most valuable
collector cars today.
Modern Day Successor: Ferrari California
3. 1963 Chevrolet CorvetteThe
1963 Chevrolet Corvette is distinguished as the first year of
second-generation (or "mid-year") Corvette; only year with "split
window" rear glass. It was also the first Corvette with hidden headlamps
and independent rear suspension.
Modern Day Successor: Chevrolet Corvette
1964 Aston Martin DB5The
car Brauer calls one of the most famous ever was a major presence in
James Bond films, first appearing in “Goldfinger,” followed by
appearances in “Thunderball,” “GoldenEye,” “Casino Royale” and “Tomorrow
Never Dies”.
Modern Day Successor: Aston Martin V8 Vantage
1965 Jaguar E-TypeThe
1965 Jaguar E-Type’s important advancement was its in-board rear disc
brakes. At least one expert praised it as “the most beautiful car ever
made”—it was Enzo Ferrari, who should know about such matters.
Modern Day Successor: Jaguar XK
1966 Ford GT40The
only car to win the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in first,
second and third place, Brauer notes it is also one of the lowest cars
ever made, at 40 inches tall.
Modern Day Successor: Ford GT
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4The
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 could go 165 mph and was the first Ferrari to
use an integrated transmission and rear axle for improved balance.
Modern Day Successor: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
1970 Dodge Challenger R/TA
white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T famously starred in the 1971 film
“Vanishing Point” (and because of that, a plot device in Quentin
Tarantino’s “Death Proof”). Brauer points out other noteworthy aspects
of this model: It was also the first for “E-Body,” it offered with 426
Hemi engine and it was available in "high-impact" colors like "Plum
Crazy Purple."
Modern Day Successor: Dodge Challenger
1971 Lamborghini Miura SVThe
first exotic car—Brauer says this was due to the Lamborghini Miura SV’s
mid-engine V12, making it one of the fastest production cars available
in 1971.
Modern Day Successor: Lamborghini Aventador
1973 Porsche Carrera RSThe
1973 Carrera RS has the large rear tires, wider rear fenders, a
spoiler, as well as larger brakes and fuel injection, resulting in a
lighter, more powerful Porsche.
Modern Day Successor: Porsche 91
