AutomobileMag Forums

So where on the top 25 list is the XKE Jag from the early 60s, arguably the most stunningly beautiful car of that era?  And lose the BMW CS; it doesn't even rate an honorable mention.  

On page 54.  The 1961-66 Jaguar XK-E is on that list.  

Aarne H. Frobom:
I opened this article expecting to be outraged, but quite a few of my personal favorites made the list, including some obscure ones:  the Bentley Continental and the Cadillac 60 Special.  The BMW had me scratching my head.  So did the Maserati Ghibli, until I saw one at this weekend's Meadowbrook Concours.  Now I see the point of that one.  I might have picked the Avanti over the `53 Stude, and the `41 Continental and the 60 Special are basically the same design, so I don't know that they both need to be on the list.  That would make room for either the first Camaro or the related `65 Corvair.



I agree with you in terms of significance for the first Camaro, and the second Corvair but in terms of styling alone, I would have to give the nod to the second generation Camaro/Firebird and (perhaps) the first Corvair.  

Was the DeTomaso Mangusta #26 on Automobile's list?  

oberonloa:
As list articles go, this one didn't really stink; Cumberford got it pretty much right. Although a few picks, the Cadillac Model 60, Buick Riviera and Cisitalia 202, are more notable than beautiful.

In their place, I would put three glaring oversights from Japan: the Toyota 2000 GT (Albrecht Goertz?), Isuzu Piazza (Giorgetto Giugiaro) and Subaru SVX (Giorgetto Giugiaro).

The Subaru SVX was a showcar that actually made it to the street eccentric windows and automatic only seemed to drive home the point. However influential it might have been with its early squinting headlights and bubble greenhouse it was not one of the most beautiful cars, although to my eyes, is still beautiful. The SVX would be a better choice however than the Mustang or Camaro. These cars were popular choices, but influenced marketing trends far more than esthetic design trends. A "most beautiful" car, would be one which might be displayed in an art museum, as readily as an automotive museum. In fact, if only one coply existed I would argue for the former. Automotive art is art first and when this art serves automotive function (as it often has) then so much the better. Our favorite or simply influential cars do no by those definitions alone become our most beautiful. I was transfixed when I met a pin-perfect Muira in the skin. I was awestruck when I had the pleasure to view Ralph Lauren's Atlanic. I have travelled long distances to view Talbot Lagos. These are cars have inponderably sexual curves and inspiringly wrought details and convey the power of "the automobile" with their every nuance. In closing, the inclusion of the 300ZX is simply preposterous, what were THEY thinking?.  

You outdid yourselves with this fantastic spread of the 25 most beautiful cars. I shall keep this issue in my permanent files.  Incidentally, my daughter-in-law is the daughter of Peter Kirwan-Taylor, designer of the Lotus Elite. The article on the Airflow Cryslers and DeSotos is also very important.  I regard that as the most important design advance in automotive history. I was 7 years old when they came out, and I loved them then, knowing they were very special.  

Here are five that I think are missing:

Dino 206 or 246 GT  - how this can be left off of any list of most beautiful cars is beyond me.  Automobile has some explaining to on this one.

Alfa Romeo Montreal - ever seen one in person?  If you have, you'll never forget it.

Jaguar XJ6C or XJ12C - makes the regular XJ look boring

Studebaker Avanti - The original - every line, every curve, everything - simply perfect.

Citroen SM - its a little different, but every inch a beauty.  

The list is good; lists always open a can of worms.  The 300z I'm not so sure about, but I do understand including the BMW.  In person, the CS is simply beautiful--  Sexy and elegant, with artful lines that product designers lust after.  

Notables that could have been included:  '62(?) Ferrari 250LM (can you include racers?), Ferrari 206/246 Dino, '56 Corvette, '50's Merc 300S Cabrio.  

What a very strange hodgepodge of cars chosen for the "Most Beautiful" list!  Several definitely qualify but going back over a hundred years, there are hundreds that deserve to be serious finalist in front of many that were chosen. I reread what little was said about the criteria and decided that many on the list must represent the general American public's; "man on the street" taste. I admit, also, I simply can't divorce my visual impression of a car from what I know is under it's fiberglass, sheet metal or plastic exterior. And the capper: no mention of the original Porsche 911 design but a Nissan Z? That's downright bizarre, and given my longstanding respect for the publication, kind of creeps me out about the magazine's esthetic and engineering integrity. In spit of this, I look foreward (maybe just a little less so) to next months issue! As you might guess, I am a nonestop Porsche owner going back to the mid 60's.  

I agree, Hemi6, one really has to see the BMW CS "in the skin" to appreciate it. But please don't call the Dino 206/246 a "Ferrari". Oh, the Fiat Dino spider is also quite lovely - perhaps more so than the berlinetta.

Eelier, I am an Alfisti, and I love the Montreal. But, handsome as it is, its styling is really quite banal and derivative. I agree particularly on the SM, and Kent, the Mangusta. I am quite sure they got nominated, but didn't make the cut.

BTW: If any of you are REALLY interested in this stuff, you might be interested in a European bimonthly: Auto & Design, which Cumberford contributes to. It's QUITE expensive though, at about 200Euro/year, with airmail, here in the US; http://www.autodesignmagazine.com/  

How can the Ford GT40 (or current Ford GT), Ferrari Dino 246GT, the 68/69 Stingray, the 66 Ford Mustang GT Fastback, Lotus Esprit, or the Shelby Cobra be omitted in favor of a 38/41 Caddy or the 61 Continental, (or the  Riviera and Toronado for that matter) YIKES !! Somebody screwed up !  

About Rackofus's question about the 'CA' on the BMW CSL fender. It was an 'AC' on an Alexander Calder painted BMW CSL. BMW commisioned Calder, Lichtenstein and Stella to paint up some CSL's for that years Le Mans. I think also in that race there was a private 917 long tail in a purple with Dayglo orange flames, and a one off short bodied 917 painted in pig skin pink with dashed lines and german names of the cuts of meat on a hog, like a huge German Butchers chart. Something about the car being nicknamed 'The Pig'. Racing was more fun then.  

Obviously 'The 25 Most Beautiful Cars' is 75 too few. I second the nominations for the 911, 507, 2000GT, GT40, Montreal, Mangusta, Dino and the Doozie.
I'd like to add the early Lotus Europa, Iso Grifo, 500 Superfast, Monteverdi Hai, MB C111/4, and NSU Ro 80.  
If we can include race spors cars, how about the D-type, 300SLR, 330 P4, Lola T70, Early Chapparals and the batwing McClaren.  If we can include open wheel race cars, how about the Lotus 56&72, BRM 153, the Bug 35, the Silver Pfeile (AU&MB), and the 158 Alfetta.  

When I first read the title '25 most beautiful cars' on the cover, I was ready for a fight.  These articles are so subjective and it seems that they always leave out some of my favoites.  But this was a very good article and I really can't think of anything that I would add or delete.  Great Job guys!  

I can imagine the debates Jean Jennings describes in her leader, but for the most part I respect their choices, even if I don't get some of them.  Example: the BMW CS is gorgeous, but I'm not sure it ranks this highly.

My faves not on the list: the Citroen DS (and I can't decide between the original and the 67 with covered headlights), the late 50s Ferrari 250GT cabrio (for me, better than the 275GTB, and the 55-57 Continental MkII.  I'd include Giugiaro's Mangusta over his Ghibli - it was an engineering disaster, but I think the lines and surfaces are purer.