Most beautiful car of all time?

[PNWbrit]

I dunno, this season looks pretty interesting so far. Rosberg looks quick, and a few other midpackers seem to have found some ability.

Yep, who wasn't a Senna fan.

It's going to be an interesting year with plenty of strange results. But the two race engine rule, carryover grid penalties and ridiculously complicated qualifying is killing the sport.

I think it's been a fairly constant slide downhill since the knee jerk changes made after Imola '04. The grooved tires and failure to sufficiently control aerodynamics have tended to create a reliabilty and fuel strategy formula.

Only thing that has kept me interested has been Schumacher - I'd pay just to watch him race himself. The contrast between his methodical, computer like approach and the almost spiritual Senna are amazing. Such a pity that there wasn't a bigger overlap between their careers just imagine the races they'd have had.

Rosberg looks like he could be the real deal. I'd also love to see Kovalainen, Davidson and Wheldon get drives - and Wurtz he's still fast and a nice guy who deserves one more go.

[orlowskij]

I may be alone on this one. Not the most beautiful, but I've always had a thing for them. (Not me in the picture)

[Tippster]

Pfft. Racer X's Shooting Star owned the Mach 5.

[Greguar]

All time classics......
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[PNWbrit]

Greguar - classics perhaps but not really beautiful?

edit - except perhaps the McLaren

[cj001f]

[Beaver]

Pontiac solstice is the first good looking 'mercan product in a long time.

[runethechamp]

Surprised no other Norwegians have brought this one up before.

[Beaver]

Uhh, Rune, we're not looking for the most fucked up looking car of all time.

[slim]

1964 fuel-injected sting ray roadster.

'65 was THE roadster year IMO for a fuelie (unless you want a '63 split-window coupe). You could get side-pipes which were un-available in '63-'64 along with the aluminum knock-offs made available in '64. Any mid-year Sting Ray roadster with out side pipes is a crime.



NOW, if you're talking Big Blocks my vote is 1966 427-425. A little more subtle than the 1967 427-435 that everyone else gets geeked about. Of course, I'm biased as I learned to drive stick on a triple black '66 Big Block Sting Ray roadster.

[runethechamp]

Uhh, Rune, we're not looking for the most fucked up looking car of all time.

That car has a very special place in Norwegian movie history. ANd just check out the description (from www.caprino.no, partially quoted from the movie Flåklypa Grand Prix):

"Il Tempo Gigante" is a full-scale replica of the racing car featured in the "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix" film by Ivo Caprino. The car measures 6.70 metres, or a trifle over 22 foot, from cranking handle to exhaust pipe, and has a beam of 2.48 metres (eight foot). In the film we get the following description of this awe-inspiring roadster:

"Il Tempo Gigante" has two engines, one up forward packing twelve cylinders, which at 11 000 revs develops 800 brake horse power. This in turn starts the turbine engine at the rear, with its octagonal carburettor ignition, which gives an extra kick of about 1200 hp at 18000 revs. Jointly these two engines will produce a boost guaranteed to register 5.3 on the Richter scale.

Special equipment includes radar, which provides continuous information on camber and curve radius and unforeseen incidents en route. The TV screen mounted on the dashboard gives the driver a clear picture of rivals disappearing astern. Other extra features a wind-gauge and a trip-counter, compass and barometer, echo-sounder and two speedometers, a peepsight and rotary hydro-valves, as well as a blood bank with Rhesus plus and minus, and a dash of blue blood, should any aristo happen to get in the way.

The car has been built in its entirety at the Caprino Fillmcenter studios in Norway, a task that took some twelve months, and was carried out under the vigilant eye of the Ministry of Transport inspectors, to ensure that the finished article satisfies all safety regulations. It is licensed as a veteran car, weighs some 6000 pounds, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km an hour in just about 6 seconds.

It cost a fortune to build.

[Benny Profane]

Since the subject has turned to race cars, my vote (since I'm old school, or just old), is for Dan Gurney's Eagle F1 car, circa 1967.



"History in the making:
Called "one of the most beautiful Grand Prix cars ever built", the Eagle / Gurney - Weslake V12 number '36' is racing through the Ardennes Forest to win the Grand Prix of Belgium in 1967, making this the first, and so far, only victory for an American in an American Grand Prix car in the modern era."

(note the lack of guardrails in the backround)

and another....

[PaSucks]

That Norwegian thing Rune posted looks like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[mr_gyptian]

In addition to the 427 Cobra (I won't repost a picture) my favorite is the f40:


What percentage of the cars on this thread are Pininfarina designs? Gotta be pretty high.

My favorite thing about the F40 is the fact that they wouldn't let anyone own them. A Ferrari Rep put it best "We didn't want someone like Mike Tyson buying one and painting it Purple." Heh.

back to favorite cars:

Can't believe the Lambo Gallardo hasn't been mentioned. I sold one of the Ford GT's this summer and buzzed Frisco at 130mph. that car is nasty. So it's up there for me. not only because of the obvious Ford bias. It's just exciting that Ford is finally putting some of its racing expertise on the road again. ferchrissakes, we were fucking up the Mustang for the previous 25 years.

[Cono Este]

Nice Gypt. The F-40 was ridiculous. I got a ride in one back when they came out.. The rear tires were so god damn wide.
I saw the new Gt-40 last fall. They did a great job re creating them. A daily driver too, if you can afford one.
The Gallardo too is monumental. Since VW bought them you can actually drive one now without a mechanic in the passenger seat.

This thread makes me miss my 993. Damn Kids had to come!

[Cono Este]

288 GTO, please work this time.


edit...shit

[BeanDip4All]

To me, this is beauty:



Runners up::
1970 Mustang Mach 1
1967 Mustang Fastback
GTO Judge
Porshe 911 Turbo

But the 1970 lifted bronco... *sigh* a true breathtaker

[Cono Este]

Tacoma Luv. There is hope. Ford seems to getting wise.

[BeanDip4All]

Tacoma Luv. There is hope. Ford seems to getting wise.

You know what else is not bad? The Landrover D-90. Pretty freaking hard to get, though... my sister was on a waitlist for one for two years (two years!!) and eventually gave up. IMO, Convertable trucks= way bad ass.

[AbsolutStoli]

others have already mentioned these, but
1955 porsche 356 speedster


various ferraris (275 gtb, 246 dino, f430, 330 p3/4)
shelby cobra and gt500

but im surprized no ones mentioned these
alfa romeo 8c competezione

[playedout]

Is that alfa actually going into production?
Hope they make the jump back into the US markets and aren't too outrageously pricey.

[PTracy P1]

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...d=1&id=2384873

[Superstar Punani]

[AbsolutStoli]

Is that alfa actually going into production?
Hope they make the jump back into the US markets and aren't too outrageously pricey.

i doubt they will make it to the us, even if that sexiness makes it into production.

autoweek reviewed the new alfa romeo wagon, and they seemed to like it (not as much as mb/audi/bmw, but still). but from their tone in the article it didnt sound like alfa romeo is going to be a big presence in the us any time soon, if a presence at all. kinda sucks, becuase theyve always had really great looking cars. reliability is what hurt them in the past though, and thats the big reason for their exit from the us i think.

oh well...

[beaterdit]

Many fine contributions. Tha rawness of the Shelby 427 Cobra will always make it a winner in my book.

I've also always had a soft spot for these though: