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January 25, 2008
Going to Extremes: The Best and Worst of Automotive Design
By Mike
AKA Mr. Angry
Automotive design is a very subjective thing, with people having some pretty individual ideas about does and doesn’t appeal to the human eye. Still and all, how do some companies get it so right, while others get it soooo wrong? It got me thinking about the extremes of design: what car might be considered the ultimate masterpiece, and what’s the ultimate abomination? I’ll be interested to see if there’s any consensus on what’s obviously a subjective topic.
My personal worst is the Pontiac Aztec. I know that by now it’s kind of a cheap shot to pick on this hideous thing, but hey, there’s a reason everyone hates its guts. I find it totally unbelievable that some bunch of suits sitting around a conference table at GM were able to reach the conclusion, "Yep, we’ve got a winner here!" I mean, honestly: the rear of the Aztec looks as though someone simply sliced it off where the tailgate was supposed to go. And the mangled dog’s-breakfast that passes for a front clip? WOOF! Simply amazing that this thing ever got off the drawing board.
My pick for best design ever has to be the Lamborghini Miura. WOW, and in a good way! The Miura is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful machines ever crafted by human hands. Even the typical design risks like air scoops, louvers, and bulges become miniature works of art on this masterpiece of a car. Every detail is sculpted in pure emotion, and the end result is all-over sexy—like holy cow, momma mia sexy!
I suppose if one is to walk away with anything from this comparison it should be this: one car was designed by committee, the other by emotion. Too bad so many companies have yet to figure out how to merge the two.
So what’re your best and worst vehicle designs? Lemmie know.
Comments
Stewart
Jan 27, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Worst in my opinion?
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The Trabant.
Ted
Jan 27, 2008 at 12:58 am
…”bad designs indicate speed,purpose and economy. Hence I like bad designs..it has a purpose. Square vans act like one..and fit things inside like one. the miura on the other hand has a sideways v12 that overheated…and it looks it. Front end so squatted it seems to be a piece of plywood accentuated with aero’d headlights..the heaviest part up front above the suspension. Why doesn’t a tractor trailer look like a corvette? why doesn’t a corvette haul 105000 pounds? Nothing is bad, nothing is perfect. A slight think into the wind for aforementioned and it is always a winner…and THAT is where the auto companies went completely flunking and retarded.”…
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Why do I get the feeling that some alien life form has internet access, and has an opinion about cars.
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Reading this 10 times over… and I still have trouble understanding it.
Andy
Jan 27, 2008 at 12:43 am
Worst: the first b9 tribeca. looked like re-incarnated Edsel wagon.
Best: Austin Healey 3000 MKIII. that or the 1957 Bel Air
Andy
Jan 27, 2008 at 12:42 am
Worst: the first b9 tribeca. looked like re-incarnated Edsel wagon.
Best: Austin Healey 3000 MKIII. that or the 1957 Bel Air
retroman
Jan 26, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Best: Tough pick. Either a 1970 Dodge Challenger or a 1964.5 Mustang GT convertible.
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Worst: Definitely a 1958 Ford Edsel though it’s kinda good looking in an extra terrestrial way.
Anonymous
Jan 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm
bad designs indicate speed,purpose and economy. Hence I like bad designs..it has a purpose. Square vans act like one..and fit things inside like one. the miura on the other hand has a sideways v12 that overheated…and it looks it. Front end so squatted it seems to be a piece of plywood accentuated with aero’d headlights..the heaviest part up front above the suspension. Why doesn’t a tractor trailer look like a corvette? why doesn’t a corvette haul 105000 pounds? Nothing is bad, nothing is perfect. A slight think into the wind for aforementioned and it is always a winner…and THAT is where the auto companies went completely flunking and retarded.
NobiZero
Jan 26, 2008 at 6:26 am
Best: Ferrari 250 GTO. Most beautiful car ever.
Worst: 2007+ Honda Civic sedan. It looks like a hamster that shoved too much food into it’s cheeks.
Ted
Jan 26, 2008 at 5:39 am
Worst? I would have to say the YUGO is a serious contender and my choice. A truly bad car is neglected in some way at every step from drawing board to showroom floor. I challenge anyone to beat the YUGO.
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Best? I wish that were as easy a question as what’s the worst, but it’s not. Do you mean the Best Driver’s car? Best Supercar? Best Racing Car? Best Iconic Car? The “Best” answers will likely fall in differing categories.
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My Bests:
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Antique – Deusenberg “SSJ”.
Why? Opulence, Superchargers, Ram Air intakes, 400 HP… all at or before 1937.
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Racing – Chapparel 2J.
Why? Around 1970, the 2J used vacuum suction to hold to the track. Suction was strong enough to support the car’s weight INVERTED. It had an unfair advantage, and was barred for B.S. reasons so the status quo could compete amongst themselves.
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Luxury – Maybach 62s.
Why? Maybach is an old name in super-luxury automobiles that has been revived by Mercedes. If you have the money, you can get a Maybach 57s or 62s. If you’re only rich, you can get a top-of-the-line Mercedes.
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Icon – Original VW Beetle.
Why? Generally the same model was built between 1938 and 2003. If a model sells for 65 years without a complete makeover, it’s no contest.
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Exotic – Lamborghini Miura.
Why? The Muira inspired the term “Supercar” back in the mid ’60s. If you look at the contours, you may be able to see the shapes that made it to so many future performance cars, and not just Italian ones. This car was truly ahead of its time.
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Muscle – 1969 GTO Judge
Why? The GTO ushered in the American Muscle Car era. The Judge was the best of the GTO’s, and 1969 was the best year.
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Today’s cars have the benefit of having a head start before their designs even begin, because their designs are refinements on previous models. The truly best cars are those who break new ground and still shine as awesome examples many, many years later.
cknarf
Jan 26, 2008 at 12:25 am
favorite (or one of them)
The DMC DeLorean.
WORST:honda ridgeline (UGLY) or Scion xB (SHIT)
A Bengals Fan
Jan 25, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Hmm…. I’ve never really thought about the best and worst designs until now. My favorite design so far is the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. They have all the beautiful design cues from the stock ‘63 Corvette (except for the split window), but in a much more muscular package. Only five of them were made: two convertibles and three coupes, and they all survive today. For a few photos, you can visit:
http://www.fast-autos.net/archive/522/
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To see all five Grand Sports together, you can visit:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AmeliaGrandSports.JPG
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I’m not really sure what I would consider the ugliest car to be…
GTR
Jan 25, 2008 at 9:53 pm
How about the Infiniti G35 coupe? Its the car i owned, and the main reason i bought it was its’ sleek lines, and how amazingly subtle and beautiful it looks.