Cars that have "aged gracefully"

[Bad Bird]

C3 Corvettes. They certainly don't look like something out of the late 60's, especially with some modern wheels.

[Qwik6]

Porsche 911's haven't aged a bit

[seXCmont]

definately the 1923 Ford looks just as good as it did back then lol

[XR6_190]

i would have to say EL falcon aged well in my book, compare it to a VS and it looks much more modern. Also unusually, the Citroen DS, it does not look like a car from the 50's, late 60's or 70's maybe. while it isn't the sort of car i would buy, it's design has aged remarkably well.

[naddis01]

Sorry but I dont agree about the AU. Surely a car has to look good before it can age gracefully. I cant say the AU has ever looked good (T3s excepted).

Flame suit on.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Sorry but I dont agree about the AU. Surely a car has to look good before it can age gracefully. I cant say the AU has ever looked good (T3s excepted).

Flame suit on.

Nah, youre missing the point; this thread isnt about whether you think the design looks good, its about how you think the design has aged.

I dont think the AU1 is the sexiest Falcon ever but the AU range including the much maligned AU1 Forte have design elements weve only just started seeing in other mainstream models. The AU doesnt look as out of place next to newer models as a VT.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Nah, youre missing the point; this thread isnt about whether you think the design looks good, its about how you think the design has aged.

I dont think the AU1 is the sexiest Falcon ever but the AU range including the much maligned AU1 Forte have design elements weve only just started seeing in other mainstream models. The AU doesnt look as out of place next to newer models as a VT.

Spot on! There's a fundamental difference between a good looking car, e.g., X-series coupes, and that of a design which is "aging well", such as the AU. I bet you many who know little about which car came first would mistake the AU for being newer than the BA/BF.

I must mention this; the FG in XT form doesn't look as "new" as a spic AU.

[Mr Hardware]

that's okay naddis01, we're all entitled to our own opinions, even if you're wrong

And i wholeheartily disagree with anyone suggesting the EF or EL. They are decidedly prehistoric for how young they really are. Put one up against an AU and the EL looks like a dinosaur with its flat roof and boring styling.

I worked in taxi-land when the EL's and AU's were the go, and the ELs were relics of a time long since passed.

[Fairlane]

Sunbeam Tiger
NSU Ro
VW Karmann Ghia
Ford Tauraus (The 1st Gen American one)
Rover P6
Studebaker Commander (1950s)
Triumph 2000
Definately the Citroen DS
Daimler Majestic
Anything by Jaguar
Anything by Mercedes pre 1990 (Just timeless the old Mercs)

As for Australia, I reckon the EF/EL Falcon, VX Commodore, HQ Holden & HR Holden, still look very fresh, especially the EF, ask someone who had never seen one before what age it is.

[Mr Hardware]

I think i'm just a fan of massive taillights. The bigger the better I say, thats why i love the rear of the VT and VX berlina & calais.

[FalconXR6]

For mine it's (in order);

1) XA-XC Falcon Coupe - the best looking coupe in history.
2) EF Falcon - from GLi to XR this is still my favourite 4 door design ever.
3) BA Falcon - classy, solid, brilliant engines across the board this car appeals to everyone in some way shape or form. FPV's especially tasty.
4) XP Falcon Coupe - gorgeous cruiser.
5) XW/XY Falcon - screams "muscle" regardless of which badge it sports.
6) VS SS - this model of the range only. Sounds great and is a genuinly decent drive.
7) VX SS - for exterior design only. My favourite Commodore design of them all.
8) BMW E45 M3 - the best looking beemer of all time (with a spanking driveline to boot).
9) T180 Series Toyota Celica - best looking Toyota ever built and with the right combination of mods, still holds it's own on the road today. Shame about the driveline and suspension package...
10) R34 Nissan Skyline - the 2 doors look tasty, the GT-R has cred in spades, but it's the 4 door version that gets my heart racing.

[GS608]

VX SS still look the goods, VR/VS are a much better looker than the EF/EL on the outside but the Falcon interior still looks pretty modern compared to the poxy VR/VS

96 triton still looks pretty decent for a 13 year old car

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

VX SS still look the goods, VR/VS are a much better looker than the EF/EL on the outside but the Falcon interior still looks pretty modern compared to the poxy VR/VS

96 triton still looks pretty decent for a 13 year old car

Funny how you reckon VR/VS looks better than EF/EL. What do you see in the VR/VS.. its got IMO dull looking taillights, rounded anonymous lookiing headlights, a square VN middle section, square doorhandles that look like they came off of a Toyota from that era, a flat bonnet with hardly any contours and there's not much distinction between base executive and top end calais apart from two-tone paint. But to each their own i guess :

[RED FGII]

I always want to "update" , but the more i stare at my EL Fairmont
( sparkling burgandy ) the more i want to keep it

My Yummy meter...

EL's
XD-XE ESP
ED SPRINT
XC GXL?
EA BROCK

[bigdude1011]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

square doorhandles that look like they came off of a Toyota from that era,

Funny you mentioned that... didn't Toyota rebadge the Commodore? Holden probably stole the handles then.
But anyway, EF-ELs still look great today, as do AUs. (even the Series 1 Forte - I like silver grille more than body colour from the S-pack)
versus


But my favourites are probably the 1989-1999 Mazda Astinas, even the BG (1989-1994) model looked ahead of its time. (even though right now it looks kinda late-80's, but still looks pretty good) Then they became boring.

Edit: added new photo, added text

[yanknbank]

[mik]

sorry guys i think i have the winner!
http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpap...ord-GT-007.jpg
simply stunning :

[paule11]

2 door monaros ht to hq xr xt xy xw falcons any mustang 1964 to 1970 camaro firebird up to 1974 62 to 67 chevy nova thunderbirds from the mid 70s back

[ieatsports_cars]

i think ford dna has helped ford fords age well
any e series looks the goods to me when they are looked after

[timace]

The AX Telstar TX5 Ghia... one of the best looking Mazdas :P Absolutely loved mine.



XA-XC, XW-XY and BA also sit high on my list.

[Silver Ghia]

I'm surprised the XA-XC coupe has only been mentioned twice.

Surely thats the winner, especially the 302/351 GT's?

Then theres the:
XW/XY/XA - XC 4 door GT's
Mustang Mach 1
Ferrari 308
HK, HT,HG and HQ Monaros
BMW 3 series (only because they havent really changed in looks much over the last 30 or so years)

And of course I have to say the MGB.

[Mr Hardware]

fastback torana

[Mr Hardware]

5mge one of the best dohc 6's ever made

if you own a headgasket shop

[yetchh]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

if you own a headgasket shop

apart from that.. low factory head bolt torque issue.. 7mgte was worse, still capable of 3-400kw tho

[v8falconsrule]

ferrari f40, 55- 57 chevs, 56- 57 vette, MGB, the original mini.

for the fords there's the obvious xw-xy, xp coupe, xa-xc, 65- 70 mustangs, gt40s

for the not so obvious, how bout some of the older rolls royce's you can tell their old, but still somehow elegant?

[stevepet]

What about the unloved EA. If you manage to see one in good nick especially a Spack or Ghia they are a fine looking car. And yes I did have one and did 3 head gaskets.

Cheers
Others 240/260Z not 2+2
HQ Monaro
Dog bone grill escort

[duaned]

Originally Posted by stevepet

What about the unloved EA. If you manage to see one in good nick especially a Spack or Ghia they are a fine looking car. And yes I did have one and did 3 head gaskets.

No way, even ones in good nick are driving around with gaffa tape holding up the front and rear bumpers!

I reckon the 92 onwards Telstar TX5 has aged well. Certainly was a car designed and implemented well before it's time...

[rocket67]

There can only be one winner. Ford Mustang.

At over forty years old these cars still turn heads and put smiles on faces wherever you go. From young boys to old women. No other car has this affect on people.

Then there are CL/CM Chargers, Ford XW/XY GT`S.

My father once owned a dark green XA Falcon. That was the ugliest car i have ever seen.

Here is a 67 Mustang that we have just restored -



And then a 66 GT


And a 66 Fastback currently being restored



Rocket.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by rocket67

There can only be one winner. Ford Mustang.

At over forty years old these cars still turn heads and put smiles on faces wherever you go. From young boys to old women. No other car has this affect on people.

And then a 66 GT

Rocket.

They're very distinguishable, I'll give you that Much like the XA-XC, they're distinguishable, but not timeless, IMO. Not trying to ruffle feathers, however, I think people have confused the two words here. They look like something from that era and not something fresh from the factory, as if it could have been made today. There lies the difference.

And yep, when I got out of a 66 GT 'stang after being taken for a ride in one I couldn't help but smile a long time after getting out of it.

For me it's pretty much the general consensus of EF/EL and VT/VX. The two things that let the VR/VS down are the square mirrors and door handles. Doesn't 'run with the shape' so to speak. Other than that, everything else about their body makes sense. They've held up against the ever-evolving designs and still look the goods.

[tapeworm]

Fors- EF/L monts & Tickfords, spesh the bonnet forwards would still cut it these days.

Holden- VT Calias, VX SS, VU utes