Drivin’ Ivan's 10 Most Beautiful Cars Ever Made

August 2, 10:11 AMSports Car ExaminerIvan Katz

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The Author in a Delehaye.

Alright, I’ve seen a lot of “10 best rock songs countdowns” and “10 most beautiful women” specials, and I must say that they always seem to have a bias towards what is popular now.  It is my goal to look at the automobile from its inception around the turn of the century to the present day, and without bias for any particular era pick “Drivin’ Ivan’s 10 Most Beautiful Cars Ever Made”.   The following 10 cars will be listed in no particular order and the list is purely aesthetic, and has nothing to do with the mechanical merits or lack of same in each particular car:

1. Jaguar E-Type.  OK, the Jaguar E-Type has lines that are just as beautiful as (enter your favorite supermodel or actress here).  I am referring specifically to the 1961 – 1971 series I and II cars as I think these were the most beautiful cars in the range.  I will have to add the D-Type in this grouping as well because they are based on the same shape, and well the D-Type just looks like the epitome of a race car, right down to the flowing masterful metal that fluidly flows behind the driver’s helmet.  Oh, and I’ll take mine in the proper British racing green with biscuit interior please!

2. Mercer Raceabout / Stutz Bearcat.  I think these two cars are so similar in shape that I am lumping them into one choice (and besides, I can’t figure out which one I actually like better).  In the early days of the automobile it is hard to find a car whose shape defines what speed actually should look like!  The smooth, angular fenders over the classic spoke, body-colored, much too skinny wheels are absolutely magnificent. 

3. Citroen SM.  OK, I guess you can blame Lesney and its Matchbox cars for leaving such an indelible impression on me at such a young age and turning me on to many of my favorite automobile shapes.  Since you can’t drive a Matchbox car, you are forced to just admire the shape and this is what I did starting at a very young age with the Citroen SM.  When you actually see one in person, it is absolutely brilliant how they came up with a shape that is truly unique and holds up so well over time.  If you see a Citroen SM or even a DS19 you’ll know what I mean.  Almost every car that has body work covering the rear wheels is an instant classic.  Truly original and brilliant!

4. Porsche 911 1978 – 1989. OK, so I am a little biased being an owner of a 911SC Targa, but I truly believe that this is one of the most quintessential sports cars of all time.   I also have to include the VW Beetle and Porsche 356 in this section because they are all obviously based on the Beetle which is perhaps the most recognizable automobile of all time. 

5. Ferrari 250 GTO.  Remember, mechanical merits have nothing to do with my list, and thankfully neither does price!  The Ferrari 250 series contains some of the best cars that Ferrari has ever made.  I guess I could’ve chosen the 275 Lusso as well, but the GTO just has those extra vents that push it over the top into that dream car territory.  Astonomical 10 million dollar plus price tag aside (if you could even find one for sale), I don’t think that there are too many people who wouldn’t choose a Ferrari 250 GTO to put in their garage.

6. Lancia Fulvia.  The first time I ever saw a Lancia Fulvia in person was in Lucerne, Switzerland.  It was a stock non-rally version in plain white and it was just gorgeous.  I was amazed at how small the coupe actually was.  The Italians really know how to make a pretty car.  I think it should be in the Webster’s Dictionary under Coupe!

7. Lamborghini Countach.  Though there are some great “Super Cars” that have come along since the Countach, (Ferrari F40, McLaren F1, Bugatti Veryon) I don’t think there is any car that totally changed what an exotic car should look like more than the Countach.  The “scissor” type doors only serve to heighten the mystique.  It probably sold more posters than Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear combined.  I prefer the early models LP400 thru the LP5000QV.  I think the 25^th anniversary version was a bit over the top.  I think it is plain and simple; the Lamborghini Countach is “The” exotic car of all time!   

8. Mercedes 300SL “Gull-Wing”.  When a car comes along and totally shifts the paradigm of automotive design, you know it’s an instant classic.  Every modified Japanese car with gull-wing or scissor type doors owes at least a nod of thanks to the Mercedes 300SL.  Born out of Mercedes great racing success, the 1955-1963 Mercedes 300SL road car is one of the their greatest achievements and a true collector’s item.

9. Diatto Ottovu Zagato.  Though Diatto hasn’t been heard of in the auto industry since the late 1920’s, the name is being reborn with this beautiful Zagato styled car.  Zagato is one of those great Italian styling houses like Pininfarina whose cars have a shape and style as recognizable as a vocal from Michael Stipe or a guitar solo from Eric Clapton.  The lines and curves above the wheel arches are reminiscent of the Mercedes 300SL, yet they come off on the Diatto as just one element of the many interesting lines that make up a beautiful car that only two lucky collectors will ever have a chance of owning. 

10. 1957 Chevrolet.  How many cars had fins after the 1957 Chevy was introduced?  Too many to count, and even more are being created today in the custom world, and in subtle tributes by many different auto makers.  The 1959 Cadillac made excellent use of the fins, but there’s nothing like the original.  Even Ferrari had to put fins on one of their cars (510 Superamerica Ghia) because of the awe inspiring fin trend that swept the automotive world in the late 50’s. 

OK, so there you have it.   And just in case you were wondering, it was very hard, and I toiled for many days trying to figure out which cars should make the list.  Here are a few that came close.  The Bugatti Type 35C, Rolls Royce Saloon, Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe, Jowett Jupiter, Lotus Europa, Ferrari 308GTS, Iso Grifo, Alfa Romeo Boat-tail Spider, The Lotus Elan (Extra points serving as the inspiration for the Mazda Miata), BMW 3.0CS, Cord 810 Convertible, MG TC, The Mach 5 (Yes, of Speed Racer Fame, and not the new live action movie, I'm talking about the cartoon version), Lancia Stratos, Fiat Barchetta, Fiat 500 (Definitely the cutest car ever made), Datsun 240Z, Porsche 550 Spyder, 1963 Buick Riviera, 1939 Delehaye Convertible, 1937 Talbot Lago, Lamborghini Miura, The Classic Dune Buggy, The Original Chevy Camaro, and the Early 70’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

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