By Robert Emslie
Yesterday, Ford lifted the embargo on information about the 2011 Shelby GT500. You can read the details on what’s different in the ’11 car here. One change that’s obvious, and can be seen in the beauty shot above, is the narrowing of the speed stripes that run the length of the Mustang. While the previously wider stripes gave the car a purposeful, athletic appearance, I think these narrow stripes make it look like Bucky the Beaver. And that leads to the question of -now that Ford has injected some silliness into the nose of the GT500 – which car has the best face?
Headlights equating eyes, the grille, a mouth, and perhaps a hood bulge mimicking a noble proboscis- most cars have a particular mien. Some look angry, some look a little shocked, but our penchant for anthropomorphizing our rides allows us to project upon them some form of expression and hence, personality.
So, which car has the best face, and is it because it looks evil, or because it looks like it wants to enjoy the drive as much as you do?
Image sources: [Jalopnik, Houstoncars]
Jeff Glucker
'93 Ford F-150 Lighting
<img src=http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2913/4761/32282380010_large.jpg">
This one seem happy to see you (Ferrari 275 GTB/C)
<img src="http://ferraris-online.com/cars/FE-275GTBC-07437/images/P000Fade.jpg">
Yeah, he's a happy guy. So's the dude behind the steering wheel.
If I could afford something like this, I'd be a grinning fool.
Judging by the tent in my PJ's, the feeling is mutual.
Without a doubt, it's the 1st-generation Miata.
Mark I Sprite, which was clearly happier than anyone who expected mechanical perfection out of it.
That was one of my first thoughts, too.
<img width=400 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Austin_Healey_Sprite_Mk_I_red_vl.jpg">
This is something different from the "OH oh" face right?
<img src="http://veganfreakradio.com/o-face.jpg" style="width: 309px; height: 336px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />
<img width=400 src="http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-Bugat…
The louvers make it.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2757726852_dd86f9843c.jpg">
It's like it's flirting with me.
"You know you want to be in me." (bats eyebrows)
Funny how that fascia looks a lot like that of the booze-addled, struggling-to-stay-conscious
maulercraftsman who built it.Yo Kanye Imma let you finish but Alfa had the best shades of all time.
<img src="http://www.chooseyouritem.com/classics/photos/203000/203155.1959.Lincoln.Continental.Mark.IV.jpg">
<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/143335616_d909084b9c.jpg">
The best car face? Why any Type 3 VW of course!
<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/4/8193712_74831af689.jpg">
Thank God! I needed something to purge the picture above from my memory.
Ahhhhh! I bumped the mouse and the page just scrolled up and I got a glimpse of it again!
I know. Those Continentals scare me too.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/Dubber_198…
The Miata in my opinion wins this one. The car shows so many faces in it's front fascia, I swear off and on a parking lot it looks sad and bored with the world, but on a winding road or twisty track it's face lights up with spirit and an odd quirkiness. If that ain't emotion and character for a car I dunno what it is. But i must admit I am a sucker for hideaways and pop ups.
Its… eh… winking at us.
"I do it…. SIDEWAYS!"
That photo is amaz0rz
If you have a front plate and the lights are up and and you squint your eyes, it looks a little like
HitlerCharlie Chaplin.Well the 8C has nice face (ass too) <img src="http://allworldcars.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/alfa_8c_competizione_1.jpg"> and ofcourse the sympatic Escort Mk1 with some rally lights can't be forgotten <img src="http://www.motorvation.cc/OakleyImages/2475.jpg">
Lamborghini Reventon
<img src="http://deadpeoplemaster.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/lamborghini_reventon_002.jpg">
It's saying, "I'm going to run you down and eat you."
Aye till you come to the realization that it suffers from Parakeet cheeks…then you just laugh.
Always classics.
<img width=400 src="http://images.automobilemag.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0604_aston_martin_db5_01_1024.jpg" >
</http://www.oqcvo.com/images/members/member14.jpg&…
The '87 Grand Marquis always looked just plain evil to me. My friend used to have one covered in rust spots and faded burgundy paint. It looked like something an ex-con would drive.
My first car was a very similar-looked Lincoln Towncar. Before my friends and I started calling it The Nimitz on account of its gray paint, it was sometimes known as "that Mafia car." One could certainly imagine a Mafia don being chauffeured around in the back of one, smoking a fat cigar lit from one its four (!) lighters while a crony relayed his orders through a giant StarTAC phone.
As for me? I just delivered legal documents in it. No kingpin would ever have wanted to sit in the soda-can littered backseat, either…
Haha the Nimitz, that is awesome. Those cars are ridiculously cheap these days too.
<img src="http://www.howwedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/booooooom_nikolic_01.jpg">
1948 Powerwagon. It say's "get out of my way you tiny human"
<img src="http://imcdb.org/images/145/935.jpg"> Not even Jeremy Clarkson, giant among men, can compare to its glory!
That's the picture I was looking for!
Most evil truck "face" ever = <img src="http://www.impawards.com/1971/posters/duel.jpg">
"…Or I'll throttle you with my PTO driven winch!" Awesome.
06-07 Subaru WRX
<img src="http://image.turbomagazine.com/f/9021550+w750+st0/0608turp_01z+2006_subaru_wrx_sti+left_front_view.jpg" width=300>
1958 Edsel
<img src="http://www.newtondowntowncarshow.com/edsel_pacer_1958_2.jpg" width=300>
Alfa Romeo MiTo
<img src="http://costpricenewcars.com.au/images/alfa-mi-to-f3q-st.jpg" width=300>
..
…
Oh…you said face
I see you thought he said "va-grill-grill" (what the kids are calling "va-gee-gee", I hear…)
I started laughing as I scrolled to the Alfa. We can extend this to the mammary-like dagmars.
<img src="http://www.loupiote.com/photos_m/18425644-1957-cadillac-dagmar-classic-car.jpg" style="width: 300px;" alt="imgTag" />
I like the 2011 Shelby GT500 face, whether it has wide stripes, narrow stripes, or zero stripes.
My second choice of a nice face is this handsome _ _ D G E.
<img src="http://media.youdrivewhat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/funny_Car_82.jpg">
Thank you. That was just great! You rock!
It really is too bad the lattice grille never took off.
I know, but it did go on to be a popular Top Crust for fruit pies.
Now you just made me hungry.
I'd go at it with some Zip Strip and linseed oil for the natural woodgrain look. That would look nice.
You mean the 'fishnets'? Those are hawt.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Ford_Fiesta_MK4_front_20070926.jpg/800px-Ford_Fiesta_MK4_front_20070926.jpg">
sadcar is sad.
Sadcar's mentally-handicapped brother, however, is happy. Because it's the only emotion he knows.
<img src="http://imcdb.org/images/033/774.jpg">
Whee!
(Hope that doesn't offend anybody.)
"Mommy! I got beat up by the mean high-school bullies! Now I'm even SADDER!"
<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/44434469_5ab104a19e.jpg">
That's totally awesome…! Bravo!
Don't pretend you want to talk to me, I know you hate me.
<img src="http://www.treehugger.com/marvin-paranoid-android.jpg">
I know someone who wrote off one of those. I'm not sure whether it was happier afterward, as I didn't get to see it.
Well, the current Mazda 3 is certainly the happiest face in cardom.
One of these days I gotta learn how to attach an image …
Go here —–> http://www.ibdguy.com/posting.shtml
The Ford GT always looked content. Like it's happy to see you, but not too needy.
<img width=500 src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/assets/resources/2007/04/Ford-GT.jpg">
Thank you! My obsession!
That color combo does look pretty sharp for an upcoming project.
Absolutely! It would be perfect!
It's like it's constantly running into a friend that it hasn't seen in a few weeks. "Oh, hey! What's going on? Been a while."
This: 1939 Buick Series 40. It looks so sinister.
<img src="http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t326/buickboy92/1939BuickSpecial45Website.jpg" border="0" alt="1939 Buick Series 40.">
That is really classy!
The best part is that is a Resto-mod! It has a 350 V8 Small Block.
Really? Does it have stock wheels or what?
Good job! 😉
Stock wheels but they are from a different year of the same model though. Classic looks, but it is set up in a way that you could drive it every day or on the weekend if you wanted. It's been upgraded to an automatic and power steering.
http://www.thebaycitymotorcompany.com/sites/inven…
Kinda like a big grouper ready to eat your face.
Mercedes don't have faces… They have gunsights…
<img src="http://www.cartype.com/pics/1628/full/mb.jpg">
<img src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_ray_wert_g4_tv.jpg">
It looks like he just walked into a window.
Can't. Stop. Laughing.
Oh dear God, you just made my morning.
Which cheek is he lifting while he squeezes that one out? Can't tell (there goes whatever remote chance I ever had of getting a star over there).
MkIV VW GTi with a sleepy boser hood.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/Jerovan_…
Cop-tashtic
<img src="https://hooniverse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/carrera_panamericana_1.jpg" style="width: 350px;" alt="imgTag" />
Well, gotta do my part for Stuttgart. I guess these cars would say.
<img src="http://www.oldtimergala.de/content/produktfotos/1186007241Porsche356SpeedKL_preview.jpg"/>
"I'm classy."
<img src="http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads14/56963023_1974PorscheRSChassis911_460_90921226728371.jpg"/>
"I need to step outside for a bit of air."
<img src="http://www.lincah.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/2005-porsche-carrera-gt-1-588×441.jpg"/>
"I'm cuckoo for canyon curves!"
<img src="http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads12/74+Carrera+RSR+Turbo1202859589.jpg"/>
"Ready or not here I come."
Since the Mk1 Sprite and new Mazda3 are already in the thread…
Chrysler Turbine:
<img src="http://www.retrojunk.com/img/art-images/chryslerturbineb.jpg"/>
1949 Buick:
<img src="http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/Buick/1949_Buick_Roadmaster_sedanet_3.jpg"/>
I always thought that strategy was a bit stupid. It's a bit of drama that serves only to leave the purchasers alone for a few minutes so they can compare thoughts and come up with a new strategy to go after the salesperson with. So while he's standing in the manager's office chatting about how nice the receptionist's ass is, the purchasers are getting their story straight to get a better deal.
After I got in a minor fender bender, my Intrepid's dented face sort of reminded me of a confused Kermit the Frog (it's not the best picture though).
<img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/community.livejournal.com/img/BC1A0B93-A09A-4065-AE91-27853070CD77" /img>
<img src=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4345316304_9db4a02c29.jpg" /img>
Also, the Fisker Karma looks like it has a creepy thin mustache.
<img src="http://www.supercars.net/carpics/1876/1970_Porsche_917K1.jpg">
I'm a sucker for glassed-in headlights.
Giant eyes, tiny mouth. I feel like I'm staring down a cartoon character.
Looks goofy, goes unbelievably fast. Not every car's face needs to look like an aluminum origami insect, IMHO.
I'm not disagreeing, I just think the face is a bit homely. I'm right there with you about the glassed-in lights. Consider, for example, the Series 1 E-type:
<img src="http://www.classicsportscars.eu/e-type/PICTURES/jaguar-e-type.JPG">
Stately, streamlined, and elegant.
I'm a sucker for NACA ducts.
Aw, hell, I didn't know we could go that route. In which case:
<img src="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7815/redlobster06.jpg">
The original Om Nom Nom?
I hate it when people swap body bits from superior performance models to lesser ones.
But the GT500 front on both the 05-09 and 10-> Mustangs just looks so much better. The cleaned-out grille and the slightly wider opening makes look like such serious business. There's a high liklihood of GT ownership in my future, and I'd consider swapping the grille if the opportunity arose.
Do you count luxury models in that? Because every now and then, I'll see a tow truck with a second-gen Escalade front end. I approve of that highly – just something about sucking the wind out of a status symbol.
No real problem there, when it's a funky styling thing.
It's more like the guys who do up a 328 like it's an M3. Anyone who knows enough to care that you're in an M3 will spot the fallacy, and no one else will care.
Hence my aprehension about the GT500 front clip. I'd swap it in b/c it's better looking, not because I'm trying to impress people with my (fake) GT500.
I had a 200SX when I was a teenager, and it got itself the nickname "Ted" due to its teddy bear resemblance. To this day, any all B14 Sentra viewed from the front can get a smile out of me.
<img src = "http://i41.tinypic.com/29nhuut.jpg" />
It has to be the Porsche 928. It's a frog!
<img src="http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre4/porsche/928s4/1989_porsche_928_s4_13_m.jpg">
MkIV VW GTi with a sleepy boser hood.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/Jerovan_…
For me this is a tossup:
'41 Chevy COE from Jeepers Creepers (The only good thing from that movie)
<img src="http://imcdb.org/images/005/326.jpg"
or the '55 Pete 281 from Duel
<img src=http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog…
I never liked anthropomorphizing like this, and in most cases I just don't see it.
However, this is a very happy 308
http://www.qv500.com/Ferrari%20308%20P6%202.jpg
Late to the party? Yes, but I feel I must recant my previous submission. THIS is the best car face:
<img src = "http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_1957_jeep_fc-170_monster_01.jpg" />
And by that unparsed HTML I meant <img src = "http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_1957_jeep_fc-170_monster_01.jpg" />
Displaying some really like to this theme “new to this wordpress”. I defiantly acknowledge with it also. If you ever definitely consider it than it all creates alot of sense
Late addition: Ferrari's new FF. Furrowed brow, mischievous grin, well-defined pupils… everything you could want in a face.
http://jalopnik.com/5739585/ferrari-ff-four-wheel…
Hi there. I ‘m still really new at blog and all aspects around this industry. There are lots of jargons I still don’t know. I’m not even sure I can write half decent to yours. I will browse the entire site maybe I will be able to learn your blogging style a little.