Modern car styling

[finally_retired]

I thought I was the only one who thought like that about the maserati. The 4200 is nothing on the 3600.

How about the Mark II Jag. That is a beautiful car, as is the new S type. Mercedes 500/540K are just superb. How about the Bently Blower too.

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

Im glad you mentioned the Maserati 3200GT, Jimmy, because that is the prime example of a manufacturer listening to consumer research instead of a respected designer. Rich American fatsos who know nothing about car design thought the boomerang lights were too "out there" and wanted something more conventional... The oafs should stick to Mustangs...

Oh yeah I remember that. I was quite pissed too. Those tailights really made that car something special.


About Layla's post, I agree that early era had some trully beatiful cars. I belive that was partly due to design having precedence over engineering. I don't think those cars spend tht much time in a wind tunell or crash testing.

But as jay listed pretty much every era had its good cars. Even the 80's. The 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO was one of the best cavalinos IMO.

[youngvr4]

the testarossa was the beautifullest car ever designed. and it was 97 when the corvette changed its look to look soooo sweeet.

[Layla's Keeper]

Yep, I can agree that the Testa Rossa was a gorgeous car and its competition record is amongst the finest any Ferrari sportscar has ever had. This particular one is the "Fantuzzi Spyder" which raced Le Mans in 1959. This car lost to Roy Salvadori and Carrol Shelby, who were driving an Aston Martin DBR1. The only interruption in Olivier Gendebien's streak of Le Mans 24 hour wins, 3 of which came in Testa Rossas.

Of course, more famous is the 1957-58 "pontoon fender" styling which was actually a necessity to cool the 170mph big V12 Ferrari's drum brakes at the end of the Mulsanne.

[youngvr4]

i was thinking more of this

[drunken monkey]

......i was afraid that was what you meant.....

i've heard that car been called many things but i don't recall "beautifullest", or even just "beautiful" being one of them.

still, if it floats your boat.
of the flat 12s i prefer the 365 boxer.

[Layla's Keeper]

The Testarossa (one word) was an atrocity, an inelegant and ungainly design that forsook Ferrari tradition (including four round tail lights) for pure shock value.

It's more something you'd expect out of those crass whores at Lamborghini than a proper Ferrari. At least the 512BB had competition history, but the Testarossa was an unforgivable mess of a car that deserved to die ingloriously.

When the 512M was replaced by the 550 Maranello, a mighty cheer went up from us Tifosi because finally that Miami Vice EYESORE was out of the Ferrari line-up for good.

[finally_retired]

I cant believe that they had the ordasity to tar such an evocotive name with that pile of oversized, underpowered 80's crap!

[drunken monkey]

underpowered?
390 bhp in 1984 is quite respectable.

[finally_retired]

Respectable it may be, but Ferrari used to be the best. not "respectable"

Its not good enough!

[drunken monkey]

so what do you think of the 512BBi?
considering that they share practically the same engine.

testarossa.
bad design? i think so
but you can't really say that engine was underpowered.
i mean, what were your beloved Mercedes Benz engines producing in naturally aspired form in 84?

[Layla's Keeper]

The problem with the flat 12 in the Testarossa isn't lack of power, not by a long shot. Let us remember that the Ferrari flat 12 took several F1 championships against the all conquering Cosworth DFV V8 in the 70's.

However, the problem with the Testarossa has always been an overheavy pig of a chassis (the fact that the engine sits on top of the transaxle plays no small part in this). Those 390bhp were saddled with 3300lbs. Compared to its 1984 stablemates, the 288GTO (400bhp, 2550lbs) and the 328GTB (270bhp, 2770lbs) the Testarossa was a tank.

[finally_retired]

Thats what I was trying to say.

And what have mercedes got to do with it. Anybody would think you are looking for an argument...

[drunken monkey]

not an argument.
i have no idea what other prestige car makes were making those days in terms of engine power.
i chose to use Mercedes Benz cos i figured you would know
and that would serve as a useful reference, especially for one who seems to have a passion for MB.
maybe that was a bad choice and i can see now how that can be misconstrued.

if that caused any offence, then i apologise.

[finally_retired]

Well merc were closely alied with Cosworth in the mid 80's and 90's. They had the 5.6 V12, fitted to the SL SEL and SEC, but they were too heavy to be sports cars. The C111 was the only real sports car that was more capable than a Ferrari in thoes days, and it was only a limeted run non-production version, with some quality issues.