We’ve already taken a look at the five ugliest vehicles of all time, and it made us feel a bit guilty as well as a little ill if we’re entirely honest with you. We feel like we’ve been a little hard on the automotive industry, so without further ado, it’s time to eulogise about their finest moments as we run through the five most beautiful cars of all time that we’d love to fill to the brim with fuel and show off in on the roads. Disagree with our picks? We’d love to hear from you! Just leave your comments in the box below the post.
5. Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB (1959)
Choosing just one Ferrari for this list was always going to cause contention. We could have gone with the Testa Rossa, the Daytona or the 250 GTO and any of them would have been worth additions to our top five. We could only pick one though, and when it comes to breathtaking simplicity few can rival the 250 Berlinetta. A true classic Ferrari with a V12 engine in the front and two seats in the middle, the Berlinetta boasts a racing pedigree that matches its stunning looks.
4. Jaguar E-Type (1962)
No list of the best-looking cars of all time would be complete without the fabled Jaguar E-Type. When it was released in 1962 it was light-years ahead of its time, and that curvaceous, elegant design still has the power to turn heads today. The E-Type is an undisputed design classic, an icon of Britishness, and as cool in 2012 as it was 50 years ago when it first rolled off the production line. Timeless simplicity.
3. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007 – 2008)
While the ‘60s may have been the golden era for automotive design, that doesn’t mean we’re all out of ideas in the 21st century; trust the Italians to continue to raise the bar to the present day. The 8C Competizione harkened back to the grand Alfa Romeo Grand Tourers of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s and is every bit as stunning as those original cars. A future design classic, the 8C sits apart from the others on our list as its looks were achieved despite the limiting factors of emissions and safety regulations that designers have to contend with in the present day.
2. AC Shelby Cobra 427 (1965-1967)
Just to show that we’re not entirely Euro-centric in our choices (even though we might be with our European fuel card!), here’s a car that was at least co-produced by the Americans. The Cobra had a no-nonsense, muscular presence that was wholly lacking in its sister car, the British made AC Ace. That muscularity wasn’t all talk either, as the 427 version had an all-American V8 under the bonnet that could throw out as much as 425bhp. Slap a couple of iconic white racing stripes down the middle of that aggressive body shape and you’ve got an enduring image indeed.
1. Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (1960)
While many have talked about the iconic DB5 as driven by James Bond in Goldfinger, we feel that the DB4 Zagato just edges it for looks. One of the most exclusive cars of all time, the standard DB4 was given an exotic, aggressive facelift by Italian design studio Zagato back in 1960. Italian cars have been reinvented by Zagato for years now, but the DB4 GT remains their crowning achievement; forever unattainable for all but the mega- rich as a mere 20 examples were ever produced.
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