The 10 Most Beautiful Cars According to Leading Automotive Designers

The Dino moniker honored Enzo Ferrari’s late son, Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, who was credited with designing the V-6 engine used within the automobiles bearing the Dino badge (its script is predicated on Alfredo’s signature). Designed by Pininfarina, the 206 GT—a designation that referenced the 178-hp 2.0-liter V-6 powering it—was the primary roadgoing Dino. A complete of 152 206 GTs was constructed between 1967 and 1969 earlier than the Dino 246 GT, with its 192-hp 2.4-liter V-6, succeeded it. After 1971, the 246 GTS provided a targa prime.

“Handsomely compressed sculpture with pure, low-hood, mid-engine proportions and function.” —Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s Calty Design Analysis

“Luscious kind, unique and intriguing, the Dino actually invented the iconography of a mid-engine sports activities automotive that also holds true right this moment.” —David Woodhouse, vp of Nissan Design America

“With spherical, sculptural surfacing, mid-engine proportions, and distinct front-end design, this one all the time stands out.” —Irina Zavatski, vp of Chrysler Design

Exhausting to consider Lamborghini produced the wedgy mid-engine Countach for greater than a decade and a half. Penned by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini, who had beforehand styled the attractive Miura, the Countach first appeared in prototype kind on the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. The supercar quickly entered manufacturing powered by a 370-hp 3.9-liter V-12 after the prototype’s design was fine-tuned to cut back aerodynamic drag, enhance high-speed stability and engine cooling, and meet security requirements. It was additional refined via succeeding model years, resulting in the 449-hp twenty fifth Anniversary Version.

“Its general design and proportions had been so sudden and excellent that it made different supercars of the period appear to be basic automobiles.” —Anthony Lo, chief design officer at Ford Motor Firm

“The straightforward and diminished wedge design is pure science fiction.” —Domagoj Dukec, head of design at BMW

“A real present automotive that made it to manufacturing.” —Henrik Fisker, founder, chairman, and chief government officer of Fisker Inc.

Alfa Romeo’s 8C 2900 was designed for racing, notably the Mille Miglia. Based mostly on the 8C 35 Grand Prix racing chassis, this mid-Thirties Alfa used a 2.9-liter model of the corporate’s straight-eight with two Roots-type superchargers fed by two Weber carburetors that afforded it an output of greater than 200 horsepower. Its totally impartial suspension used Dubonnet-type trailing arms, coil springs, and hydraulic dampers in entrance and swing axles with transverse leaf springs in again. Obtainable with considered one of two wheelbases—the 110.2-inch Corto (brief) and 118.1-inch Lungo (lengthy)—the 8C 2900B started manufacturing in 1937 with its engine detuned to lower than 200 horses and a few concessions to consolation and reliability. 32 manufacturing 2900Bs had been constructed within the late Thirties and another was constructed from leftover components in 1941. Most wore lovely our bodies by Carrozzeria Touring, although a number of sported strains penned by Pininfarina.

“This Alfa makes all others cringe when it rolls onto the garden of any concours.” —Ralph Gilles, head of design at Stellantis

Ferrari constructed three dozen 250 GTOs from 1962 to 1964, primarily for homologation (official acceptance) into FIA Group 3 Grand Touring Automobile competitors. As lovers know, 250 denotes the cubic-centimeter displacement of every of the racer’s 12 cylinders, and “GTO” stands for Gran Turismo Omologato (Italian for “Grand Touring Homologated”). Of the 36 constructed, the primary 33 wore 1962–1963 Collection I our bodies. The three 1964 fashions sported Collection II (250 LM-like) skins. 4 Collection I automobiles had been up to date in 1964 with Collection II our bodies.

“The definition of a horny, front-engine sports activities automotive.” —Jeff Hammoud, head of design at Rivian

“Pioneering aerodynamics formed this attractive automotive.” —Robin Web page, head of worldwide design and UX at Volvo

“Probably the most lovely automobiles of all time.” —Ralph Gilles, head of design at Stellantis

“Nonetheless the elegant excessive level in front-engine GT design.” —Peter Brock, former designer, Basic Motors and Shelby America

A complete of 710 Bugatti Sort 57 touring automobiles had been produced from 1934 via 1940, every powered by the 135-hp 3.3-liter twin-cam straight-eight from the automaker’s Sort 59 Grand Prix automobiles. These machines wore a smaller model of the Royale’s square-bottom horseshoe grille, and the perimeters of their engine covers sported thermostatically managed cooling shutters. The 2 primary variants had been the unique Sort 57 and the lowered Sort 57 S/SC—”S” for Surbaissé (lowered) and “C” for Compresseur (supercharger). Simply 43 S automobiles and two supercharged SCs had been initially constructed, however some S homeowners returned their automobiles to Molsheim for set up of superchargers, which boosted the engine’s output from roughly 175 horsepower to round 200 horsepower. Bugatti constructed a complete of 4 Atlantics: three for purchasers and one saved by Jean Bugatti, son of the automaker’s founder, Ettore. Whereas the three buyer automobiles are accounted for, the whereabouts of Jean’s Atlantic stays a thriller.

“Tremendous elegant, but ingenious.” —Klaus Zyciora, head of design at Volkswagen Group

“A dramatic mixture of curves and undulating proportions.” —Ian Cartabiano, vp of superior design at Toyota

Based mostly on Mercedes-Benz’s 1952 W194 racer, the 300SL was produced as a gullwing-door coupe from 1954 to 1957, then as a roadster from 1957 to 1963. Powered by a 240-hp 3.0-liter inline-six with mechanical direct gasoline injection, the 300SL was the quickest manufacturing automotive of its time. U.S. importer Max Hoffman satisfied Mercedes administration to construct this superb automotive and unveiled it in New York Metropolis (as an alternative of in Europe) in 1954 to get it into U.S. consumers’ minds and palms sooner. The SL stood for “super-light” (superleicht in German), referring to its race-bred tube-frame building. M-B constructed 1400 300SL coupes earlier than switching to roadster manufacturing in 1957.

“Virtually the right steadiness of components, together with the turret-top cabin. Modern with out being curvy, highly effective with out being brutal.” —Ian Cartabiano, vp of superior design at Toyota

“Most elegant German sports activities automotive.” —SangYup Lee, head of Hyundai’s International Design Heart

“Superbly engineered gullwing doorways make this a legend.” —Robin Web page, head of worldwide design and UX at Volvo

“Nonetheless seems superb after practically 70 years.” —Irina Zavatski, vp of Chrysler Design

When the 911 debuted in 1964, it was a serious enchancment over Porsche’s lovable however homely 356 coupe and convertible. However few again then would have referred to as it lovely. But our skilled panel contends it has earned that descriptor via 58 years and counting of sensible evolution of the identical primary look. We have usually marveled at how difficult it should be for the 911’s lead designer at any given time to make its subsequent iteration new and contemporary—but basically the identical—with each era. However Porsche designers proceed to beat that problem.

“Good sculpture and surfacing. The final word instance of design perfection.” —Henrik Fisker, founder, chairman, and chief government officer of Fisker Inc.

“Redesigning an icon is not any straightforward feat.” —Karim Habib, head of design at Kia

“Its designers have frequently honed this theme and made it into one of the iconic designs of all time.” —Ralph Gilles, head of design at Stellantis

The second-generation Corvette surprised the general public when it appeared—seemingly from outer area—in 1963. One in all our panelists who labored on the automotive’s conception shared that “three or 4 of us had been there when [soon-to-be GM styling VP William L. Mitchell] walked in.” Peter Brock was then considered one of 4 younger designers in a distant basement analysis studio.

“He pulled out a bunch of images from [the Turin Auto Show], and so they all had a crisp line across the belt separating higher from decrease and aerodynamic shapes over the wheels. And the one that basically bought to him, despite the fact that it was two years outdated by then, was the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante. Alfa had carried out roadster and coupe variations, and Mitchell wished to do the primary Corvette coupe.”

Brock’s theme received the ensuing competitors and led to Mitchell’s attractive Corvette Stingray race car of the late Nineteen Fifties, which was in the end refined into the ’63 Corvette by Larry Shinoda and Tony Lapin in Mitchell’s super-secret Studio X.

“Most lovely Corvette designed. Nice mixture of sculpture and sharp strains.” —Jeff Hammoud, head of design at Rivian

“It carries an unimaginable sense of movement with its Mako Shark–impressed physique, hidden headlamps, and iconic cut up window.” —Ralph Gilles, head of design at Stellantis

The mid-engine Lamborghini Miura P400 shocked the world when it reached manufacturing within the late Nineteen Sixties. Powered by Lambo’s 345-hp 3.9-liter V-12, the Miura was the world’s quickest highway automotive and lived via 1973 with periodic updates regardless of its then-steep (preliminary) value of $20,000. Lambo constructed precisely 275 P400s via 1969, and it produced the marginally revised P400S (338 constructed) between 1968 and 1971.

“The P400 Miura surprised the world as essentially the most revolutionary and spectacular supercar ever seen.” —Peter Brock, former designer, Basic Motors and Shelby America

“I’m nonetheless in awe of its hood and shoulder line that blends into the higher door and frames the scoops adjoining to the aspect home windows.” —Ralph Gilles, head of design at Stellantis

“Beautiful proportion, as if the physique was shrink-wrapped across the mechanicals.” —Anthony Lo, chief design officer at Ford Motor Firm

“Taut and restrained athletic magnificence.” —Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s Calty Design Analysis

“It all the time stops me in my tracks.” —Irina Zavatski, Vice President of Chrysler Design

Enzo Ferrari is rumored to have referred to as the Jaguar E-type “essentially the most lovely automotive ever made.” Our panel of designers shared il Commendatore‘s feeling, because the 1961–1967 E-type coupe takes the highest spot on this 10-car listing.

Jaguar’s E-type hit the streets in 1961 with a mix of jaw-dropping magnificence and robust efficiency that instantly established it as a sports-car icon. Its 265-hp 3.8-liter (later 4.2-liter) inline-six, comparatively mild weight, claimed 150-mph prime pace, four-wheel disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, and impartial entrance and rear suspension—all at a reasonably affordable value—elevated it nicely above wannabe opponents.

Most agree that the roadster was virtually as beautiful, however the 2+2 that arrived in 1966 . . . not a lot. Collection 1 E-type coupe manufacturing totaled 13,500 earlier than the marginally altered Collection 1.5 E-type arrived for 1968.

“Lengthy, low, sensual. Nonetheless seems superb.” —Ian Cartabiano, vp of superior design at Toyota

“Romantic proportions, elegant, timeless, perpetually essentially the most lovely.” —Michelle Christensen, vp of worldwide design at Honda

“Delectable. Scrumptious. Elegant! Universally interesting sculpture on wheels. Drop-dead attractive!” —David Woodhouse, vp of Nissan Design America