These are the Best Looking Vehicles of all Time

Identifying the best-looking cars and best-looking SUVs of all time is no simple task, as opinions on what defines a good-looking car are highly personal. With no clearly defined rules regarding specific styling elements, including proper hood-to-body ratio, ideal roof slope angle, and overall proportions, we’re left to paraphrase a famous quote, “a beautiful car is in the eye of the beholder.”

That said, several classic models have stood the test of time, while some other new cars and crossovers have immediately caught the attention of automotive aficionados, who feel their sleek, timeless shapes that will age gracefully in the coming decades. Highly practical brands, like Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, and Volvo, didn’t make the list, but those automakers still produce some of the best vehicles if you’re seeking passenger safety and fuel economy. 

And while high horsepower sports cars and supercars commonly dominate these lists, we’re going to stay focused on the best cars and the best SUVs with compelling design, first and foremost. If they happen to have a high performance threshold and impressive top speed it certainly won’t count against them. But for this list, “best” means most attractive, not necessarily best driver’s car.

Let’s start with the Top 10 Best-Looking Cars of all time

1. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB

 This classic Ferrari is simply a combination of sleek bodywork and perfect proportions. It’s likely the 275 GTB was a response to Jaguar’s E-Type, which debuted a few years earlier and a model which Enzo Ferrari himself described as “the most beautiful car ever made.”

2. 1966/2006 Ford GT40/GT

The Ford GT, or GT40 depending on which era you’re talking about, was a mid-engine coupe designed to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. While the design was meant to win races, it’s also one of the best-looking cars of all time, made even better in the second-generation 2005-2006 version.

3. 1965 Jaguar E-Type

The car that got Enzo’s seal of approval, and no doubt inspired the number one car on our list, Jaguar’s E-Type is another example of clean body lines and perfect proportions. Its modern counterpart, the Jaguar F-Type, isn’t quite as perfect in execution, but still quite a looker.

4. 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV

Officially the first “supercar” – earning that title with a mid-engine V12 powertrain – the Miura introduced the world to the concept of beauty and power coming together in a low-slung shape. It looks like it’s hitting triple digit speeds even when parked, and has aged incredibly well.

5. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California

Another Italian beauty from the 1960s, this car was stunning even before it starred in a John Hughes movie about a high school kid ditching class. That role simply widened the awareness of how well Ferrari had refined the shape of its 250 series cars, which started in the early 1950s and was perfected by 1961.

6. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette

The first year of the second-generation Corvette, 1963 was the only model year with the split window design, creating a visibility challenge for drivers and an overall shape that holds up 60 years later. The flip-around quad headlights only add to the Corvette’s cool car status when they’re deployed.

7. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

 Offered in both coupe and roadster form, it’s the elaborate “gullwing” doors on the coupe that complete this German sports car’s otherwise iconic shape, including a large three-pointed star dominating the car’s prominent grille.

8. 2003 BMW Z8

 One of the few modern cars to make the list, the Z8’s design follows the approach of the classic cars on this list – clean, simple lines and perfect proportions. The Z8 is beautiful from head to toe, but the way its rear end tapers to a crisp point, with sleek taillights contrasting the bodywork, is where it captures that 1960s design magic.

9. 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

With nearly six decades of production it’s not easy picking a single 911 to honor for design, but the 1973 Carrera RS not only offers the classic 911 profile, it does so with cool “Carrera” door graphics and classic five-spoke wheels. This one also happens to offer an incredible driving experience.

10. 1970 Dodge Challenger

 Only one muscle car makes the list, but it’s among the coolest cars ever made, inspiring a modern Dodge Challenger revival in 2008. The original Dodge Challenger has appeared in numerous movie roles, often featuring its ultimate 426 Hemi, 8-cylinder engine that easily spins the rear wheels and roasts the tires.