Cars that have "aged gracefully"

[malazn mafia]

Hello all,

I thought it would be fun to have a similar thread to the one about 'ugly cars', but in reverse. More particularly, older cars that have gotten better with time, still look great/new despite their age or are timeless in their design.

My personal favorites:

1) Ford EF/EL Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia
2) Ford EL GT
3) Ford NF/NL/DF/DL Fairlane/LTD
4) Nissan 300ZX
5) H*lden Commodore VY SS :
6) Ford Mustang GT500 '67
7) '91 Mazda Miata
8) '97 Mitsubishi Verada

What are your thoughts/opinions on "nice" older cars you've seen lately

[redauxr8]

AU T3's (TE 50, TS50) for sure.... Even AU XR's are still looking the goods....
VX SS still look the goods IMO

[Bmobile]

Leyland p76

[gcg2503]

why call it a mazda miata?

we are in oz mate

mazda MX5

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

why call it a mazda miata?

we are in oz mate

mazda MX5

Haha, too many youtube videos of mazda 'miatas' (aka MX5 down under) in the States with ford 5.0L/Chev LS1 conversions..

[timmo]

300ZX what the?
Nissan 200SX (S15 only) for sure...nearly 10 years old and ageless

[CAT600]

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill : ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill : ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

Totally agree, i also think the VX/VU SS has aged pretty good. Infact the VU SS ute is the best ute made IMHO

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill : ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

What's a mitsubishi 360? If you mean Magna, i'm pretty suprised, as the '96-'04 Magna had the 'pull' door handles (commodore only had this with VE and falcon with FG), high 'waistline', raised rear boot, and door moulding strips that sat lower to the ground, rather than smack-bang in the middle like an AU/VT.

[barbarian]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

What's a mitsubishi 360? If you mean Magna, i'm pretty suprised, as the '96-'04 Magna had the 'pull' door handles (commodore only had this with VE and falcon with FG), high 'waistline', raised rear boot, and door moulding strips that sat lower to the ground, rather than smack-bang in the middle like an AU/VT.

Not only that but the doors didn't also have window frames giving it that sporty/luxury appeal to it

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

What's a mitsubishi 360? If you mean Magna, i'm pretty suprised, as the '96-'04 Magna had the 'pull' door handles (commodore only had this with VE and falcon with FG), high 'waistline', raised rear boot, and door moulding strips that sat lower to the ground, rather than smack-bang in the middle like an AU/VT.

Spot on! and the windows were frameless as well! If these were out right RWD, they would have been more than a match against the Commodore and Falcon in the 6 cyl class back then. They still look good now imo except for the last one with the ugly bulbous face!

[Coogs289]

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill : ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

Agreed. Whenever I see an AU XR, :sm_drool: Still looks the goods...

[Sapper]

MY97-99 WRX's seem to still look the goods.
R32 GTR will always look fantastically mean.

My 2 cents...

[Mr Brooksy]

AU TS50 (T3 obviously)
XA XB XC coupes (like em all)
XE Fairmont (Hey I like it!)
VT Calais - VX SS
Latest Pre Bangle Butt BMW 3 series
04 Mustang SVT
HK Monaro
Jag XJ220
Fezza Daytona
Lambo Murcielago

[needaXYGT]

late AU models just to name one out of many.

[XC-351]

in terms of holdens id say:
vr/s ss
vx clubsport

Ford:
not including the classics, ef/l xr6/8

[Coyote mk3]

Originally Posted by BA-XR6

i
Ford:
not including the classics, ef/l xr6/8

Little bias here but I agree.

On the Holden side I would say
VX SS and VU SS - I love the shape of them. :

[yetchh]

1984 Celica Supra, 5mge one of the best dohc 6's ever made

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by coyote mk3

VX SS and VU SS - I love the shape of them. :

As i posted before i totally agree

[Dezza]

I may be biased but I reckon the old EA still looks good for it's age... when they're looked after

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Dezza!

I may be biased but I reckon the old EA still looks good for it's age... when they're looked after

I totally agree.

[barbarian]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Hello all,

My personal favorites:

4) Nissan 300ZX

What are your thoughts/opinions on "nice" older cars you've seen lately

Agreed.

After 20 years 300zx still looks good as new, one in good nick & mechanically sound still fetching above $13k

[Dave_au]

Agree on the 3rd gen Verada. Perhaps it was because the KE-KJ shape were built from 1996 to 2003 and were unoffensive in any way. Obviously MMAL misread the market a little bit with the more offensive KL-KW variants from 03-05.

Other cars that come to mind as being "timeless":

Toyota Cressida 1990 model.

Mazda Astina 323 1994 model

Nissan 200SX 2002 model.

[R0BD0G]

Honda NSX series 1 still looks good and stylish as does the Nissan Silvia S15(200SX) and the Porshe 911... still basically looks the same as original design with some subtle changes

[Mr Brooksy]

Its a Mitsu 380 not 360

[Mongoose]

EF/EL and to be honest I'de also have to say VR/VS love those mid 90's shapes.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

I'de also have to say VR/VS love those mid 90's shapes.

Really? I'm suprised at the level of appreciation for the VR/VS shape. Having owned one previously, it was certainly a good evolution of the VN body shape but those high mounted rear brake lamps still look a little funny to me!

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Really? I'm suprised at the level of appreciation for the VR/VS shape. Having owned one previously, it was certainly a good evolution of the VN body shape but those high mounted rear brake lamps still look a little funny to me!

Nah mate. I love the rear end of the VR-VS. The VS is probably one of the best Commodores made, apart from the VY.

But back to the point, the crown has to be given to the high-grilled AU's, most definitely.

[Bushbasher]

I'd have to say, a good E type Jag with a decent width set of wheels on it would still not look out of place or time.



Bushbasher

[LPG EF2 GLI]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Really? I'm suprised at the level of appreciation for the VR/VS shape. Having owned one previously, it was certainly a good evolution of the VN body shape but those high mounted rear brake lamps still look a little funny to me!

Absolutely agree on this one. Although when looking down on the back end of the car they don't look as bad, when sitting behind one in traffic the back lights definitely look to be in the wrong spot, i.e. too high. I have have always thought this about the VR-VS shape.

And what's with the gap between the top of the light where it meets the boot? It looks as though it just doesn't fit together properly. The back end of an EF flows much better, and IMO the shape is fantastic. Pity about the fading headlights that cost $330 ea to replace if done properly.