By Robert Emslie
As oenophiles will tell you, time can be a wine’s best friend. The same can be said for George Clooney who somehow gets even more dashing and lust worthy with every passing year. When it comes to cars however, time is often the enemy, both in terms of wear and tear, and by locking designs to a particular, and eventually out of fashion era.
That’s not always the case however. Certain cars come across as contemporary even today despite having been introduced as far back as even 2002. Actually, timeless cars seemingly know no era, and cars like the Porsche 928 and Studebaker Avanti seem to transcend their originating decades. That’s just what we’re looking for today: your opinion on which cars, and even trucks—let’s be fair here—that have seemingly gained years without appearing to have aged.
Image: Lisa Meuller via Artstation
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Jeff Glucker
http://carinfozone.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Challenger-SRT8-vs-1970-Challenger.jpg
Jeep. Rumor has it that they used to be a little different back in the day but here’s a picture of what I assume is the current model.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/11/88/eb/1188eb9098d0b7040e94b767ec0db143.jpg
Point taken, but that’s a Ford.
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1942-FORD-GPW–139076
Not sure if that’s my fanboi showing or my snark.
Actually, it’s a badge-engineered Bantam 😉
It was never beautiful (except, perhaps, by Subaru’s standards) but 12 years later it still looks reasonably fresh. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/17c59ded2e93404683c8bd00c97997c2a536cfe2d500d494b0bd65fa5eb72e77.jpg
It’s true, what they say — beauty fades.
But I guess mediocrity just hangs in there, continuing to look mediocre.
Compared to most of what Subaru has produced, mediocre is good.
So what you’re saying is…
http://www.positivearticles.com/Article/Attractiveness-and-relativity/54820
Sometimes different is timeless too. All they need is a six-speed manual conversion to be perfect
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CPIEY4gUYAANXMH.jpg
What a car company gets when they hire Peter Stevens to style their cars and resolve it properly.
One of his other designs.
https://www.supercars.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screenshot-2016-03-24-12.48.38.png
I completely agree. That’s still my favorite Subaru, looks-wise.
Other than the low belt line, the 1995 Oldsmobile Auroa has aged pretty well. I don’t think it would look out of place compared to any new cars. Not bad for a 22 year old design.
https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/oldsmobile/aurora/1995/oem/1995_oldsmobile_aurora_sedan_base_fq_oem_1_500.jpg
Not the most exciting answer, but the 1993 Fiat Punto could easily be 10 years younger.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Fiat_Punto_front_20071204.jpg/1280px-Fiat_Punto_front_20071204.jpg
And the current Punto has been made for 12 years. Not that you would notice.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Fiat_Punto_Evo_1.4_8V_Start%2BStopp_Dynamic_%28Facelift%29_%E2%80%93_Frontansicht%2C_3._Juli_2011%2C_Essen.jpg/1920px-Fiat_Punto_Evo_1.4_8V_Start%2BStopp_Dynamic_%28Facelift%29_%E2%80%93_Frontansicht%2C_3._Juli_2011%2C_Essen.jpg
I agree that the current Punto doesn’t look 12 years old at all…have hardly seen one in traffic though either.
2017 Morgan Plus 4
https://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2S6A4518-min.jpg
1950 Morgan Plus 4
https://www.carpixel.net/w/987a506beda54af17bd873ce4f3cc332/morgan-plus-4-wallpaper-hd-7.jpg
I wouldn’t say it aged well.. hasn’t aged at all.
It has definitely aged. The only difference between it and others of its era is that it just keeps truckin’ along with no seeming comprehension of how old it really looks.
It’s like Cher.
1936 Plus Four, worn by someone possibly named Morgan: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/NMA.0033818%2C_Fashion_Photo_by_Gunnar_Lundh_1936.jpg/800px-NMA.0033818%2C_Fashion_Photo_by_Gunnar_Lundh_1936.jpg By Gunnar Lundh, Nordiska museet, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39208428
The car has aged, but these Bugatti wheels were in use in the 1920’s and would look at home on a new luxury vehicle today.
http://yo.spc.free.fr/photos_Events_Vigeant2005/part%20V/Bugatti-T35.jpg
The Audi RS2 Avant. It’s timeless.
https://ranwhenparkeddotnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/audi-rs2-avant-141.jpg
Am I the only one who’s a bit blown away to think that this shape is over a quarter of a century old?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f51ebd39db80b83376a66044a53279fd699784765d2e93700877892e95810d5e.jpg
That shape goes back to the 80’s.
https://i1.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1990-lincoln-mark-vii-lsc-66553-001.jpg
The 70s
https://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/file/width/640/media/5679647/BMW%20630CS%20(1).jpg
Wouldn’t you say that the E24 shares much more in common with the 2nd gen Prelude?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/138f776a619bda91092a7dde57ca615aced1d28fbb560e68b1becad232b4d54e.jpg
Yes, but I was comparing it to the Mk VII. Ford’s first attempt at aping the E24, before the much better MN10.
Ah, I get it now.
I would argue that the Prelude is much more svelte and elegant than that…that…half-used bar of soap.
Them’s fightin’ words, buddy https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e611fafa052ee7315b333b6b8bfaaeaf2a2bcbe7ac96737c8143e204bc3b39ae.jpg
Don’t you threaten me!
http://tanshanomi.com/temp/animated/croker-raygun.gif
That’s an odd-looking Prelude.
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/f2f1fae9cc9e4782a5e7a34ee0e322c9/1979-jaguar-xjs-h9mdp5.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d9b8becc18b99ffb86f1959e1a08379bbf066923d15b8888412f98b5e177542b.jpg
I still want one, every time I see one.
I’m looking for a Mk1 roadster as we speak. Much nicer looking than the newer TTs.
The freedom designers get in building sports cars, GTs and coupes really helps to keep them timeless. I’d say the 1997 Volvo C70 is a design that has aged well, too. You can tell when it was conceived, but it remains sleek and beautiful…to my eyes:
http://www.swedespeed.com/emAlbum/albums/Cars/02%20Volvo%20(Modern%20Era)/C70/from%201997%20(x70)/Coupe/(EU)/1997-Volvo-C70-Coupe-9.jpg
http://www.swedespeed.com/emAlbum/albums/Cars/02%20Volvo%20(Modern%20Era)/C70/from%201997%20(x70)/Coupe/(EU)/1997-Volvo-C70-Coupe-12.jpg
I also consider the “boat tail”-era for Volvo sedans pretty neat, and just yesterday I sold a model car to a guy who arrived here in a 2003 S80. The rear still remains this car’s absolute sunny side:¨
http://www.swedespeed.com/emAlbum/albums/Cars/02%20Volvo%20(Modern%20Era)/S80/from%202004%20(P2)/(EU)/volvo_p2_s80_036.jpg
When I first saw the C70s on the road I thought that they were the next generation of Mustang, especially the convertibles.
A shape so good, it was shared across the world.
https://readtiger.com/img/wkp/en/2004-2005_Holden_VZ_Monaro_CV8_coupe_06.jpg
I’ve never taken much notice of the C70, but you’re right.
Although it looks a bit like the love child of a
Ford ProbeMazda MX6 and a Holden GTO.Wow, you’re right. It’s that forced shoulder line, I guess, the one design trait that gives away its decade.
In production from 1966 through 1994 with only minor changes
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5d1676fe2dc9a2a19f9c3893b3d5feef1a34d291f32f6f5c5eace6fd5d3f5bc7.jpg
The last generation (FD) Mazda RX-7. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/258e32bef29ccc827e65413e0e3900619106107348000864ba6eaf172e31ab0f.jpg
This one would be my choice. If they still offered this I would want to get one.
The B4 A4 was so perfect they brought it back as the A3.
http://zombdrive.com/images/1997-audi-a4-7.jpg
https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/fkfFwBgemXXm-obZEpI0yKjf-fE=/770×433/2014/05/29/5ca9bf66-531c-4ba3-83a7-f73061876b9d/2015-audi-a3-2-0t-quattro-s-tronic-13.jpg
And, to be fair, almost every other Audi sedan since.
Current volkswagen design language is just 7 year old audi designs
The answer is always MR2
(I mean, what did you expect me to say)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/354f977924e295375f65606e5a46ac083936be3c52f18dd8e0e69090a523166a.jpg
Okay, the t-tops and pop-up lights give the game away a bit (but make up for it with awesomeness), but add some more sculpting to the lights, a few lines at odd angles that don’t really work from every view, a random body crease or two and you could put it back into production today.
Agreed, although I prefer the first-gens:
https://images.cdn.circlesix.co/image/5/1262/541/0/114/1470/630/uploads/articles/picture-13-54aeb53f7538c.png
I was driving home across the vast and lonely Manitoba prairie today and out of nowhere came an AW11 in what appeared in the two or three second glimpse I got to be in showroom condition. In that landscape it was alien and surreal and wonderful.
People sorta forget how Old SW20s are, they get lambasted as being “slow” but people forget they came out in the early 90s. Also the 3rd gen car is old enough to buy beer in Ireland now (18 years) http://www.spyderchat.com/images/COM.jpg
A bit stodgy, sure, but Mercedes got this one very, very correct. It’s the near-definition of “timeless”.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/1987-1991_Mercedes-Benz_300_SEL_%28V_126%29_sedan_%282010-04-03%29_02.jpg/1200px-1987-1991_Mercedes-Benz_300_SEL_%28V_126%29_sedan_%282010-04-03%29_02.jpg
Or any of Bruno Sacco’s iterations on a theme.
http://www.carbuildindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/430.jpg
http://www.mercedesw124.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Mercedes-W124-3.jpg
https://i0.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/mercedes-benz_190_e_cabriolet_prototype.jpg?resize=720%2C484
http://classicregister.com/sites/default/files/styles/col-7/public/field/image/Mercedes-Benz%20190E%202.3-16.jpg?itok=oVMltkeX
But then Mercedes Benzes looked like some sort of superceded Hyundais for a while.
the sedan by which all are judged and few successfully emulate.
Robert Opron’s work for Citroen must be on the list.
SM
http://www.automobielmanagement.nl/indeximages/artikelen_fotos_8919_800.jpg
GS
http://www.autoguru-katalog.at/wp-content/gallery/1971-citroen-gs-break-0711/1982_gsa_break_3.jpg
https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Citroen-GS-brochure-003.jpg
CX
http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/uploads/cms_article/3201_3300/1984-1989-citroen-cx-gti-gti-turbo-3263_3347_640X470.jpg
http://partsopen.com/images/1991-citroen-cx-break-6.jpg
https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/nissan/300zx/1991/oem/1991_nissan_300zx_2dr-hatchback_base_rq_oem_1_500.jpg
Some USA designs from the past as well as the Avanti. GM had good designers. And these cars are scaled correctly to fit in with modern traffic.
http://www.moibbk.com/images/oldsmobile-toronado-red-3.jpg
https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2012/06/1965BuickRiviera_01_700.jpg
http://www.fahrzeugbilder.de/1024/buick-riviera-1973-1973-war-58718.jpg
http://www.lamag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2014/05/BR1966.jpg
http://uniquecarsandparts.com/images/car_info/large/cadillac_eldorado_gen4.jpg
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com/faq/brochure1.jpg
I think the Classic 2005-2008 Chrysler 300s have aged the best. Of course I have one so I might be a little biased…
The Landrover Defender still looks as purposeful today as it did in 1958, plus the doors still interchange between an end of run 2016 and a 1958
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Defender90.JPG/800px-Defender90.JPG
The Peugeot 406 Coupé came out in 1996, and the 607 in 1999. I’d say they’ve both aged well.
http://up.autotitre.com/tfeec910c61.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Peugeot_607_-_2.7_HDI_Facelift.jpg/1200px-Peugeot_607_-_2.7_HDI_Facelift.jpg
As ‘Car’ magazine said about the 406 Coupe, “The looks of a Ferrari with the performance and handling of a 406-and there’s nothing wrong that.”