The Most Beautiful Car Ever

[captaincranky]

This's fascinating, as I'm guessing that the Lycoming was a horizontal opposed cylinder design, just as their true aircraft offerings are? Which is in turn the same as VW and yes, Corvair.

 

[red1776]

I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so forth, but this car has been voted the 'most beautiful car in the world' several times. i just don't get it. In this commercial they seem to make no bones that the inspiration for it was a fish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=FW-4hWtWA6Q

@ Cap, ah yes...the Corvair, killed by the most self promoting muckraker of our time, Mr Ralph Nader, I mean whats a little rollover from time to time?

 

[dividebyzero]

That's interesting, i can see a lot of similar lines between the Cord and the Duesenberg.

And the Auburn. Cord started with them as a salesman in 1924 and workied his way up to president of the company in 1926 (!). He brought Buehrig in as chief designer and contracted August Duesenberg for the eight cylinder engine (in conjuction with Lycoming -again- , and Schwitzer-Cummins for the supercharger) in 1934
How about this beauty...150hp V12 supercharged with race car (for the day) handling.
1932 Auburn Custom Twelve Dual Ratio


Ah yes, the Citroen DS ......bizarre. There are a lot in this country. Nice soft ride-but love it or hate it styling.
@Cap
Actually a straight eight that was mounted with flywheel etc mounted at the "front" of the engine. There's quite a famous piece of documentation showing a reject engine making only 208bhp @ 3800 rpm !. Tuned versions were capable of up to 390bhp !- Front wheel drive, sort of a forerunner to the Olds Toronado.

 

[captaincranky]

Fasten your Seat Belts........

@DBZ....The multi-layer front grill on the Austin is extra special spiffy. That and the door trim moldings extending from the hood (er "bonnet")

I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so forth, but this car has been voted the 'most beautiful car in the world' several times. i just don't get it. In this commercial they seem to make no bones that the inspiration for it was a fish.

Definitely not "born from jets". Although, the Saab "Draken" is one ugly jet fighter.

@ Cap, ah yes...the Corvair, killed by the most self promoting muckraker of our time, Mr Ralph Nader, I mean whats a little rollover from time to time?

Actually, practically the end of the world in a litigious society such as our own. Face it, you can make millions just by letting most of the air out of the tires of your Ford Explorer an headin' for for freeway.........

 

[red1776]

Actually, practically the end of the world in a litigious society such as our own. Face it, you can make millions just by letting most of the air out of the tires of your Ford Explorer an headin' for for freeway.........

Did you ever have the opportunity to pilot a Corvair? and was it that bad? I have only read that nader had it in for GM and the Corvair was no worse than any other vehicle.....true or no?


@ Divide- yep that one is a beauty, it reminded me to look this one up

1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe

http://image.europeancarweb.com/f/9...938_bugatti_type_57sc_Atlantic_coupe+left.jpg

.......I think i dated this one

 

[dividebyzero]

Yeah, the Bugatti is one curvy ride, as is the Veyron I suppose. I do have a bit of an aversion to some of the latest "supercars" . Great specs, visual appeal, handling,price...just a bit lacking in soul if you know what I mean.
Could you see yourself comfortably cruising around town in this...
Maserati MC12
...and not have everyone you see laughing or wondering what you're (over)compensating for?

 

[captaincranky]

Did you ever have the opportunity to pilot a Corvair? and was it that bad? I have only read that nader had it in for GM and the Corvair was no worse than any other vehicle.....true or no?

Nope, I can't even remember pulling one into a shop for a state inspection. But I sincerely doubt that it was as bad as claimed.

Americans are just simply unable to to take responsibility for their own actions, and we have a legion of parasitic lawyers constantly reminding us that we shouldn't have to. Basically every personal injury lawyer has paranoid delusions of being Ralph Nader.
Ralph Nader had it in for everybody. He did a lot of good, but also tilted at an exorbitant number of windmills. By the same token, if left to their own timetable, the manufacturers maybe wouldn't be selling cars with seat belts to this day.

The Corvair was just different from any other American offering. It was a rear engined auto that would oversteer at highway speeds. At the time it was also argued that other vehicles similarly configured would do the same. The American imbecile behind the wheel was all too used to driving the typical V8 front engined garbage scow that under steered, and plowed badly into corners.

Novelty cars based in European design and engineering concepts generally either don't catch on, or are poorly executed by American manufacturers. I thought the Pontiac "Fiero" was pretty nifty, but that went away too. Then there was the Delorean, which basically went up the owners nose.

Now the Vega, that was a real turd. Did any sane engineer really f****** think the the American consumer could be trusted to keep the coolant level where it needed to be.

 

[red1776]

Yeah, the Bugatti is one curvy ride, as is the Veyron I suppose. I do have a bit of an aversion to some of the latest "supercars" . Great specs, visual appeal, handling,price...just a bit lacking in soul if you know what I mean.
Could you see yourself comfortably cruising around town in this...
Maserati MC12
...and not have everyone you see laughing or wondering what you're (over)compensating for?

:haha: Hmmmm, lets see, gold chain and shirt unbuttoned halfway. I have long thought that cars had lost their soul and character as a whole for many years. I personally would accept a little more drag coefficient and a little less 'cool' for some personality.

 

[captaincranky]

Could you see yourself comfortably cruising around town in this...
Maserati MC12
...and not have everyone you see laughing or wondering what you're (over)compensating for?

It looks like you might get away with that particular car if it was Halloween. That thing makes "trick or treat".... sound somewhat obscene.

 

[Archean]

I never intended to go backward of 1960 when i started this thread; however, now that you've mentioned Bugatti 57S; I'll add one to the discussion as well.

And that will be Jaguar XK120; the fastest production car in 1948-9 (produced upto1954) Although it was clearly influenced by the Touring-bodied BMW 328 Mille Miglia, the Jaguar XK120 is nonetheless was a remarkable achievement. Then Jaguar boss Sir William Lyons also was the company's chief designer for most of his tenure. But he was not a modeler - instead, he worked with a panel beater to put his ideas directly into sheetmetal. The results were often stunning, as is the case with the XK120 (Roadster/FHC-DHC) with a straight 6 160 bhp.

 

[dividebyzero]

Ralph Nader was/is (whatever) a self promoting a-hole that set about making himself a career out of lobbying. By the time he released his book "Unsafe at any speed" the rear suspension had been changed to virtually the same setup as the Corvette- except that the Corvette had transverse leaf springs and the Corvair used coil springs at each wheel. In 1965 the Corvair was probably the most neutral handling car built in the U.S. and it's general handling was on par with the Studebaker's Avanti (from memory). The second generation Corvair, the Monza seems a sweet auto-pity it was up against the Mustang in '65.

 

[dividebyzero]

It looks like you might get away with that particular car if it was Halloween. That thing makes "trick or treat".... sound somewhat obscene.

Cincinnati Bengals colours if I'm not mistaken......not a good omen

 

[red1776]

Going straight

Now the Vega, that was a real turd. Did any sane engineer really f****** think the the American consumer could be trusted to keep the coolant level where it needed to be.

And yet the Ford pinto was in production from 1970-1980. I have owned many of the 60's and 70's American muscle cars. Mustang,GTO,Charger,Tempest and even a hopped up 396, 578 HP(built that one myself) Chevy II, none of them did anything other than go in a straight line.

 

[captaincranky]

The second generation Corvair, the Monza seems a sweet auto-pity it was up against the Mustang in '65.

Here again, we have a victim of the American lout, er rather the American consumer. The Corvair Monza was never intended to burn as much rubber as the Mustang. I believe that's why they put the engine in the rear in the first place.

And yet the Ford pinto was in production from 1970-1980

As I understand it, the Vega had an all aluminum engine, that some ***** in engineering thought it would be a good idea to omit sleeveing the cylinders, and just let the piston rings ride right on the aluminum. Can your Pinto top that?

 

[Archean]

Yeah, the Bugatti is one curvy ride, as is the Veyron I suppose. I do have a bit of an aversion to some of the latest "supercars" . Great specs, visual appeal, handling,price...just a bit lacking in soul if you know what I mean.
Could you see yourself comfortably cruising around town in this...
Maserati MC12
...and not have everyone you see laughing or wondering what you're (over)compensating for?

Yes, we can safely rule out almost all Porche as well because they are dull and boring ....... always !

Also you'd be much more discrete driving around in a Nobel M600 then in MC12 ..... anyway for a normal cruising around Maserati Quattroporte can be savagely fast. So is Nissan GTR in keeping you anonymous. Although for some unknown reasons it seems like a pornographers car

 

[red1776]

Yes, we can safely rule out almost all Porche as well because they are dull and boring ....... always !

yes, I agree with the boys on 'Top Gear' I think the Porsche design department has to be the laziest bunch ever. it is amazing how similar they still look to the Karmann Ghia

 

[dividebyzero]

And yet the Ford pinto was in production from 1970-1980. I have owned many of the 60's and 70's American muscle cars. Mustang,GTO,Charger,Tempest and even a hopped up 396, 578 HP(built that one myself) Chevy II, none of them did anything other than go in a straight line.

Aye, but what fun.
A friend of mine has a '67 Tempest GTO and fitted a kit that he imported from the U.S. - Full Brembo disc brake setup, crossmember, stub axles etc. designed to look stock for concours shows but except for widened rims and low profile tyres (and radiused inner guards). On a street circuit type racetrack he's only a 1-2 seconds per mile slower than an E60 M5 Beemer (his other half's daily grocery-getter)- and that's with a 389 under the hood which is a pretty heavy piece of iron.

 

[yangly18]

For some reason the older cars just don't apease my appitite for a delicously good looking car. I like the sleek designs of the newer generations.

 

[dividebyzero]

...So is Nissan GTR in keeping you anonymous. Although for some unknown reasons it seems like a pornographers car

Sorry, I draw the line a Japanese cars.
Show me a Japanese car that looks any good after twenty years, hell, show me Japanese car that's still moving after twenty years.
Is there a single person over the age of 20 who drives an R34 ? and if there is does it still have a drift spoiler mounted on the back end?

 

[red1776]

Aye, but what fun.
A friend of mine has a '67 Tempest GTO and fitted a kit that he imported from the U.S. - Full Brembo disc brake setup, crossmember, stub axles etc. designed to look stock for concours shows but except for widened rims and low profile tyres (and radiused inner guards). On a street circuit type racetrack he's only a 1-2 seconds per mile slower than an E60 M5 Beemer (his other half's daily grocery-getter)- and that's with a 389 under the hood which is a pretty heavy piece of iron.

They were all tremendous fun! even though a moderate curve at any speed could send you into the adjacent corn field , I would always take a 'go in a straight line' Charger or Super bee (always liked them mopars) over a 'fast and furious' deals. I have been trying to locate a 426 Hemi to rebuild for years in an attempt to relive my youth, but they are proving to be more rare than sober night at a white castle.

edit:

over a 'fast and furious' deals.

Sorry, I draw the line a Japanese cars.

you beat me to it! just barely

 

[captaincranky]

that's with a 389 under the hood which is a pretty heavy piece of iron.

Pontiac never quite kept up with Chevy offerings even compared inches to inches. I think the average 396 chevy could usually best the 389 Pontiac. All the 389 Pontiacs were hydraulic lifters, low revving and were limited by the 3 2BBL carbs (trips). Which is not to say they weren't really fast, but the division wasn't invested in racing to the extent that Chevrolet was.

 

[Archean]

I never said it was beautiful to look at, but yes it is probably the only Japanese car which can do awesomely well in corners.

I absolutely agree with you guys there never has been any beautiful Japanese car, they haven't build anything which is.

Oh they have built something interesting over there in Toyota City ...... a chair not a car though

 

[dividebyzero]

yes, I agree with the boys on 'Top Gear' I think the Porsche design department has to be the laziest bunch ever. it is amazing how similar they still look to the Karmann Ghia

Talking of shameless self promoters- Clarkson needs shooting.
People here still haven't forgiven that bunch for touring the live show with faked Ferrari 360 Spyder's ( Toyota MR2's with bodykits !) and thinking they could get away with fooling the paying public.

 

[captaincranky]

yes, I agree with the boys on 'Top Gear' I think the Porsche design department has to be the laziest bunch ever. it is amazing how similar they still look to the Karmann Ghia

Which in turn looks like a bathtub.

 

[red1776]

Pontiac never quite kept up with Chevy offerings even compared inches to inches. I think the average 396 chevy could usually best the 389 Pontiac. All the 389 Pontiacs were hydraulic lifters, low revving and were limited by the 3 2BBL carbs (trips). Which is not to say they weren't really fast, but the division wasn't invested in racing to the extent that Chevrolet was.

That's right Cap, the 396 from 65-68 produced from 325-380 hp and the 389 was just shy of 300 hp. and then emission standards dropped them about 100 hp.