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Old 10th June 2019, 15:49   #1
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The most timeless car designs ever...

Some related discussions:

What happened to good-looking cars?
Are modern supercars ugly?
Is automotive design an art?
Car designs you didn't like initially?

There are cars, and there are timeless cars. These are cars that simply don't age...they look good, despite being decades old. Just like Amitabh & Meryl Streep, or Robert De Niro & Rekha, they have stood the test of time. From the current era of cars and the old, which do you think are the most timeless cars? Which models could you show - with pride - to your grand children? Here's my list:

From the mass-market cars, the Polo is indisputably the most timeless design ever. Old, yes, but add some nice rims and you have a rockstar
The most timeless car designs ever...-1.jpg

Range Rover (not Land Rover). Any Range Rover, new or old, running or broken down. I think they have a personality like no other. I fantasize about a Range Rover with Landcruiser-durability. The current Bollywood favourite, in spite of the steep price-tag & iffy reliability:
The most timeless car designs ever...-2.jpg

In my books, the sedan with the best proportions. Till date, a well-maintained Lancer makes my head turn & I'm sure it's the same for many BHPians:
The most timeless car designs ever...-3.jpg

7 decades up and the sexiness still continues
The most timeless car designs ever...-4.jpg

IMHO, the 1st-gen Swift is an icon. Not just for its insanely-great looks, but also for what it did to the premium hatchback segment:
The most timeless car designs ever...-5.jpg

The A6. Any generation of the A6. Actually, most Audis wear timeless clothes! Surely the classiest to come out of Germany:
The most timeless car designs ever...-6.jpg

JEEP. Enough said. 80 years running & still bad-ass. I can't decide which Jeeps look better - the old ones or the new?
The most timeless car designs ever...-7.jpg

Can't type "timeless" and not have Mercedes India's finest following it. A true masterpiece that looks like it was carved out of a single piece of metal. Luckily, a dedicated group of W124 enthusiasts are putting in the effort to maintain their steeds in immaculate condition:
The most timeless car designs ever...-8.jpg

Another entry for Japan on this thread. IMHO, the Civic has aged superbly and will remain one of the most beautiful, most modifiable sedans to be sold in the country:
The most timeless car designs ever...-9.jpg

If ever there was an example of a vintage design that has evolved perfectly, the 911 is it. Ferdinand Porsche must be smiling in his grave. A rare model which has been consistently fabulous looking, generation after generation:
The most timeless car designs ever...-10.jpeg

The D1-sedan I'd pick, even today. Every angle & every curve is perfection. I call it the modern day (or poor man's) W124:
The most timeless car designs ever...-11.jpg

Last edited by GTO : 11th June 2019 at 11:43.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:14   #2
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

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Old 10th June 2019, 17:23   #3
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

I agree with the Swift and especially the Polo. The Europeans I feel compared to other regions have these timeless designs on their cars.

My pick would be the Fiesta S as well as the global Fiesta which was the last one we got in India.

The Fiesta S in that blue for me is an all time favorite.

Pic credit- Ownership review (wanderlustindia) & Official review
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Last edited by tharian : 10th June 2019 at 17:26.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:28   #4
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

I think the first gen palio had a timeless design for sure.

It looked as good as the polo (if not better) in the Fiat Red!
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:32   #5
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Great thread!
I'm happy to see the Polo feature here at the very beginning.
For me, the most timeless design has to be the ninth gen Toyota Corolla.

The most timeless car designs ever...-toyota_corolla_altis_ninth_generation_first_facelift_front_serdang.jpg

This car according to me has the best proportions for a sedan - the very definition of sedan. A nicely maintained Corolla of this gen still makes me want to own one. I don't know how a company can go from designing the most beautiful sedan (IMHO) to designing cars like the Yaris or the current Camry. Don't even get me started on Lexus :banghead:

Apart from this, I think the Gypsy was a pretty good design that stood the test of time. The current gen Jimny still has some resemblance. Hope it makes it to our shores.

And how can this list be complete without the Padmini. Just look at it.
The most timeless car designs ever...-1560168118436.jpg

Last edited by GrandTourer : 10th June 2019 at 17:36.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:35   #6
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

Nice thread! I would like to add the 2014 Elite i20 to this list:

The most timeless car designs ever...-hyundaielitei2008.jpg

The most timeless car designs ever...-hyundaielitei2006.jpg

None of the current crop of hatchbacks (except Polo) have such a cohesive design even though Hyundai has botched up the looks slightly with the facelift that is currently on offer.

Last edited by self_driven : 10th June 2019 at 17:38.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:40   #7
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

Quote:
Originally Posted by tharian View Post
global Fiesta which was the last one we got in India.
Global Fiesta rear and side view (around rear tire area) looks really bad!

I would like to add Blue Subaru Impressa with gold wheel to the list. Spotted one yesterday and it looked really good.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:41   #8
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attac...llvictor-1.jpg

It has to be this, My personal favourite right from when I was a toddler.
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The most timeless car designs ever...-vauxhallvictor-1.jpg  

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Old 10th June 2019, 17:42   #9
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Latheesh View Post
Global Fiesta rear and side view (around rear tire area) looks really bad!
.
True about the rear quarter since it was a hatch extended to be a sedan. But, the rear looks better compared to the pre-facelift one with the longer tail lamps.
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:43   #10
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

Any Octavia in vRS guise without a shadow of a doubt, if I may be a little biased

The most timeless car designs ever...-img_9225.jpg
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:55   #11
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

I would add the Mahindra Bolero to this thread.

The most timeless car designs ever...-bolero.jpg
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Old 10th June 2019, 17:59   #12
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

For me it would be the Pajero SFX, Pajero Sport and the Fortuner which would make the cut in SUVs

The most timeless car designs ever...-2.jpg

The most timeless car designs ever...-img_7784a.jpg

The most timeless car designs ever...-toyotafortuner14.jpg

The skoda octavia would make it in the Sedans (both old and new. Since new one is already posted not posting another pic)

The most timeless car designs ever...-2017skodaoctaviars11.jpg

In the international scene it would be the Skyline R34 and the LC ofcourse

The most timeless car designs ever...-71rymcawijl._sx425_.jpg

The most timeless car designs ever...-img_6380.jpg

All pics have been taken from the forum itself except for the skyline. Credit to the respective owners

Last edited by centaur : 10th June 2019 at 18:17.
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Old 10th June 2019, 18:13   #13
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

Sorry, no pics to substantiate my personal claim. But, my personal favourites -

1) Rangerover Evoque
2) Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 model
3) VW Polo
4) Elite i20
5) Hyundai Verna 5th Gen.

Last edited by GTO : 11th June 2019 at 14:21. Reason: Let's keep it real please
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Old 10th June 2019, 18:24   #14
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

The greatest supercar of all time: The Ferrari F40
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The most timeless car designs ever...-1280pxf40_ferrari_20090509.jpg  

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Old 10th June 2019, 18:30   #15
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Re: The most timeless car designs ever...

This one also deserves to be called a timeless design
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The most timeless car designs ever...-punto1.jpg  

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