Beauty is subjective. However, while acknowledging individual tastes in cars, certain car models tend to come up time and time again, in terms of their classy and iconic looks. Here are 10 all-time classics, listed as a gift for your car enthusiastic soul.
1. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a sports car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 2007 and 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and later released for sale for the 2007 model year.
The name refers to the eight-cylinder (cilindro in Italian) engine (8C) and Alfa Romeo’s racing pedigree (Competizione, Italian for ‘competition’). Alfa received over 1400 orders for the 8C after the official announcement that the car would enter production.
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully designed cars of all time.
2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing remains one of the most collectible sports cars of its era. This classic car stands as one of most memorable coupes of the fifties. The gullwing doors not only distinguished it, but they are a clever solution to hide the cars unique space frame chassis. It’s also the most recognizable Mercedes and every seriously collection usually has one.
3. Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO model was the pinnacle of development of the 250 GT series in competition form, whilst still remaining a road car. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962, and was the only front engine model on display, with its monoposto and sports racing counterparts all having a mid-engine configuration.
4. Mercedes-Benz SSK
One of the most revered sports cars in the world is the SSK and this one features the most dramatic body of them all. It’s nicknamed after Carlo Trossi who was its first owner and had close connections to the industry. In fact, he had the foresight to be an initial investor of Scuderia Ferrari and later became the team’s President.
5. Ferrari 458 Italia
The classic mid-engined V8 berlinetta layout seen here in the Ferrari 458 Italia actually began with the 2+2 Dino 308 GT4 in 1973. In more recent history, it is the elegant 1994 F355 that many think of when considering the best and most memorable of the two-seat ‘baby’ Ferraris that make up the 458’s predecessors.
6. Jaguar XK120
Apart from its styling, the Jaguar XK120 wasn’t rocketscience, except that engine. With twin overhead camshafts, and cross-flow alloy cylinder head with hemispherical combustion chambers, it was one of the greatest power units of all time. Envisaged originally as a four-cylinder (until lack of refinement and pace caused a rethink), the 3.4-litre, straight-six, unit of the original XK120 developed 160bhp, or 180bhp in its popular Special Equipment form. By 1961 in 3.8-litre XK150S guise it was good for 250bhp. Many people raced and rallied the XK120. It’s successors, the XK140 and XK150, did not achieve as much. By 1951 Jaguar had developed its C-Type, followed by the D-Type, sports racer and no less than five Le Mans victories were recorded.
7. Ferrari LaFerrari
The LaFerrari represents Ferrari’s most ambitious project yet to push the boundaries of technology on a road car, drawing together the finest expression of the marque’s technical capabilities in both GT and Formula 1 engineering.
8. Audi R8
Audi’s luscious R8 is beautiful to behold, easy to live with, and simply marvelous to drive—all the qualities you’d want in a sports car. The base engine is a 5.2-liter 540-hp V-10; the V10 Plus makes 610 hp. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a seven-speed automatic. The handsome interior features a 12.3-inch configurable display in lieu of traditional gauges; there is also 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Only a coupe is offered for now; expect the Spyder version this summer.
9. Bugatti Veyron
The Veyron is, famously, the world’s fastest car. That was the Super Sport coupe model though, which has since been discontinued. Now, only the open-top Grand Sport remains on sale, with the big Bug effectively in the world’s most extravagant runout cycle. True to form, buyers haven’t had to put up with a piffling 1,001bhp for long. Now, Bugatti has announced the Grand Sport Vitesse (yes, like an old Rover, with similar range-topping aspirations), which revives the Super Sport’s 1,200bhp engine for a damned good crack at its 267mph top speed.
10. Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT sports car breaks boundaries an experience we have no intention of keeping from you.
For that to be possible, nothing less than intense power is required. Plus a tremendous amount of propulsion: the 4.0-liter flat-six engine delivers 368 kW (500 hp) and a torque of 460 Nm (338 lb-ft). With a maximum speed of 8,800 rpm, it pushes to the extreme – and yet never feels the strain.
Nevertheless, the Porsche Carrera GT is also capable of slowing the pace down: the PIT SPEED button on the center console activates a speed limiter, cooling the car’s temperament at a single stroke.
Top 10 Most Beautiful cars ever created, a list with some of the best cars ever, from Bugatti to Ferrari.
