streetglide (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:32 am Mini Cooper S-second generation

VW Beetle-first generation

Anything from the early 30's

I have a 1970 standard beetle, so I would agree with the first gen statement about VW's...

Peter47-NL (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:05 am The most beautiful car ever is the Citroën DS (Paris october 1955) DS = in French: Déesse = the godess. In the Netherlands also called the flat-iron or pike

I am a huge Citroen fan, even driving a Traction Avant in my youth. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_Traction_Avant) I will point out that although the DS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_DS) was one of the most technically advanced autos ever, it often popped up on both the most beautiful and the ugliest cars lists. It is often likened to a clam on wheels.

Transward

That first one was fantastic,

But

Your right, that second one or later model was to be nice, BUTT UGLY.

River

I always thought the definition of true art was something not of practical use in itself. So a car as a whole is not art by this definition if its use is as a car.

What causes the confusion is that in decoration and design artistic concepts are brought into play. Many parts are added that are not of practical use but make the car look pretty (for example the Rolls Royce mascot which is a piece of art mounted on a car). Artistic skills make the car overall aesthetically pleasing.

An artist would not make a car as an artistic piece of work but they could make an artistic piece of work out of a car (like the ones half buried in the desert). Artists can make cars more articticaly pleasing but they are still cars ... until they are art ...half buried in the sand for example.

I love the lines and shape of a Maseratti Ghibli 1960`s long long front end.

I like the strong look of the jensen interceptor FF ( long front -twin grills)

The Lambo Miura ... obvious one.

Iso Griffo.

Lambo Espada wide flat .. a bit wierd but it grows on you.

E type jag but of the jags for me the best looking was the xk13 never in production though.

I like cars so I had better stop this list now

Eunuchorn (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:36 am I have a 1970 standard beetle, so I would agree with the first gen statement about VW's...

By the 70's the Beetle was already on at least its third generation. Earliest ones had a split rear window, and flip-out turn signals located in the door pillars. Then they went to a small oval rear window. By the 70s they had the larger more rectangular rear windows.

Transward

My favorites both come from the race track, specifically circle tracks.

First, A. J. Foyt's Wally Meskowski built Offy dirt car. This is about the prettiest thing ever built.

Second, The City of Detroit Special. Built in the 1930s and based on the Miller Front Drive cars, this beauty was still winning races in the minor leagues in the late 50s.

As far as street cars go, I think Emmit Grooters' 1916 Minerva was about the prettiest I have ever seen. It made a Roll Royce look and drive like a dump truck.

Speed

Morgan makes stunning cars.

The picture is the new Morgan Aero sports car:

http://www.velocityshow.net/2010-morgan ... persports/

Dave (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:55 pm Morgan makes stunning cars.

The picture is the new Morgan Aero sports car:

http://www.velocityshow.net/2010-morgan ... persports/

Good God! That is a beautiful car. Almost as pretty as a Morgan 3 wheeler with a JAP twin hanging out front.

The fact is, there are so many cars I love, that I can't even begin to list them.

Speed

Here's TOP GEAR's page for three Morgans

http://www.topgear.com/uk/morgan

Guess what makes them even more special?

The chassis is wood.

Absolutely, cars can belong in art museums. The cool thing about them is they can be so beautiful, yet so useable, too.

My 'most beautiful' list is probably bizarrely eclectic, but...

1) some Corvettes, mostly late 60's. So cute.

2) 1972 Malibu. I know, I know... ugly muscle. But something about the clean, aggresive stance of it just turns me on.

3) Datsun 280 Z. Another cutie.

4) Bugatti Veyron. Yeah, too modern, too airplane-ish, but just on style, that is one piece of art. It does look ugly at first glance, but something about it, the way every line flows into the body, is just gorgeous.

5) Porche 928. I have loved these cars forever. Perfect design, and they fit me like a glove; my friend in Winnipeg has one, and I get it sometimes when he travels. It's in incredibly good condition, darn near mint; he works on it constantly. I could go on why I like it, but strictly on appearance, I think it has the best 'shape' out there.