What car designs have aged the best?

Was watching a show that featured one of these this weekend:

That E24 6-Series looks every bit as gorgeous and perfectly proportioned today as it did when it dropped in the mid-1970s. That its original run continued for nearly 15 years was a testament to how right they got it in the first place, and it just looks as good today as it ever has. It's the Marisa Tomei of sports coupes.

Honourable mentions:

NB Miata

Late pre-facelift C4 (17" wheels, kamm tail, round taillights)

Audi 5000

85.5+ Porsche 944

What's your pick? I guess my criteria here is something introduced new in your lifetime that still holds up. 

Might be too easy to say almost any 911? Haha.

The E24-6 has always been a favorite.   Not my choice, ut some might just say the early 60s VW Beetle.  

Maybe the iconic 427 Cobra roadster.

FD RX-7. Still gorgeous today.

This design is 44 years old and still looks fresh:

MB 500SLC

Indy - Guy said:

This design is 44 years old and still looks fresh:

There's a nice one of those that's been sitting on the street near me for as long as I can remember. Underneath the dust, the body is almost perfect. Been thinking of making him an offer.

RyanGreener (Forum Supporter) said:

Might be too easy to say almost any 911? Haha.

Yeah I thought about 911s but then the question becomes which one? I think we're beyond the limits of believing that all 911s are the same at this point. So if you're saying air-cooled, when did that car actually start? For me it would break my dumb rule of "introduced in your lifetime." 

Slippery said:

MB 500SLC

I second this generation of Mercedes-Benz convertibles, though I'll also add the Volvo 240:

Brick from the start, brick for all eternity.

The e38 (especially in 740i Sport spec) is my favorite sedan of all time.

Also a big fan of the B5 RS4 Avant

Surprised no one has mentioned the E36 yet...

I disagree about the NB Miata, actually. Although it was never a real showstopper, and it remains that way now :) Especially the first iteration, it's just a bit too blobby to really work. The NA, on the other hand...

For me, I've realized that Honda was on a real roll in the early to mid 80's. Just clean, well-proportioned designs. Lots of manufacturers were. The BMW shark is an excellent example, as is the Volvo 240. So's the sixth-gen Impala (and friends) in my opinion. They wouldn't get designed today, but they're handsome. Is Guigiario to blame? His mk1 Golf and Sciroccos say "it is likely".

911 has always been a little goofy looking. We've just come to accept it over the years :)

It's interesting how many of the examples so far had longer-than-average production runs. Not all of them, but the Volvo, Mercedes, Datsun and BMW sure did.

Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS 

Maybe newer then some of those already mentioned, but I saw one of these in traffic the other day and had whiplash. The proportions always seemed right and it was different without being too 'cartoony'. 

There was an Infiniti print ad that juxtaposed that M45 against a '69 Charger. Between some of the greenhouse lines and muscle-y V8+RWD, they weren't wrong.

Turbine said:

The e38 (especially in 740i Sport spec) is my favorite sedan of all time.

I second that emotion. Hopefully the following doesn't undermine that.

Was this just a coincidence of styling cues (auto "fashion") or was someone copying someone's homework?

Old_Town said:

Maybe newer then some of those already mentioned, but I saw one of these in traffic the other day and had whiplash. The proportions always seemed right and it was different without being too 'cartoony'. 

 

I always forget about that one. I totally agree that it's the right sort of different, I always turn my head when I see one nowadays.

I'd also like add the E60 M5 to my list:

This is going to be a pretty subjective topic. Most of the Japanese styles leave me cold other than a few exceptions. The FD pictured above is one of them. The rest are all angles or blobs like a mid 90 Tarus.  

The E24 is on my list as well. BTDT. My son at 15 with mine.

But a 1970 Chevelle is on my list as well. 

As is the Triumph GT6? If I could fit in one, I'd own one. 

6th Gen F Series trucks.

It is truck.

Old_Town said:

Maybe newer then some of those already mentioned, but I saw one of these in traffic the other day and had whiplash. The proportions always seemed right and it was different without being too 'cartoony'. 

that car speaks to me as well for reasons I cannot explain. 

Popping back in to submit the GMT400

While there was talk of the NB Miata aging well, I think if any "modern" ish roadster has aged well, it's the S2000. The AP1 was launched ~24 years ago and could potentially still pass as a new-ish car today: 



I owned an S2000 and NB Miata simultaneously, and thought the S2000 was the better looking car: 



^^^Even if I do sometimes wish I had kept my 1999 Sport NB. 

I drive my S2000 around down and occasionally get compliments on it. I'm sure I received a compliment or 2 in my NB. I don't think anyone ever said anything praiseworthy of my NC... but my NA's? I'm pretty sure I got complimented more in my NA's than any other car I've ever owned... with an honorary mention going to my 1988 CRX Si- people craned their neck to stare at that thing everywhere we went just a couple of years ago. While I think the S2000 is timeless (I still prefer it's looks), I think the NA has grown into a legitimately cool car. 

My last NA (with my wife's former ND1 in the background): 

I find myself going back to cars with large greenhouses, which seem to have gone out of fashion around 2002. Bunker mentality anyone?  

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the E46. Launched 23 years ago and in my opinion, the best looking BMW ever made (or at least since the 70's). I'm of the opinion that the E46 will always look sharp. It certainly looked better than any 3-series that has come since.