So Automobile Magazine just put out an article entitled The top 25 Most Beautiful Cars of All Time.
I’m an proud owner of the second-generation 300zx (90-96) which made the list.
I’m taking a lot of heat for this in the forums since everyone has their own idea about which cars belong on the list.
Stock 300zx
I agree that the list is lacking many favorites, but the real issue is that it’s too hard to make a list of only 25. The list should be “Top 100” to be more fair.
One point people have made is that the list lacks “muscle cars” when they were in their prime. However I feel these cars were far from beautiful. (Badass, yes. But not beautiful.)
Many feel the 300zx doesn’t belong on the list. This is where I point out such facts as: The 90-96 300zx won Car and Driver’s ten best cars list EVERY SINGLE YEAR it was produced, as well as many other awards from other publications.
One forum fellow argued that if a 300zx were to pass by today, nobody would even give it a second look.
This is my point exactly! The 300zx was introduced with such a radical design from it’s previous edition (84-89) that it looked more like a concept car than a production car. It took years for other manufacturers to follow suit.
I believe the 300zx single handedly converted the auto industry’s styling from the dart-style of the 80’s to the bubble-look of today.
Don’t believe me? Do a search for ANY other car from the early 90’s and compare it to the 1990 300zx.
Mustang? RX7?
Or how about non-sporty cars that are popular today.
Civic? Accord?
It took years for the other manufacturers to catch up.
1992 Camaro
1993 Mustang
So in a way, the forum-fellow is correct. The 300zx wouldn’t get a second look today because this 16 year-old car still fits into to today’s styling.
Not to mention the upgrade potential!
Modded 300zx
If you are bored, you can log-in to Myspace and check out my 1990 300zx (and 1998 Maxima) pics at http://www.myspace.com/zerobalance
First of all, here’s a list so we can have a proper discussion:
http://proof.priva.com/25cars/cars.html
As you know, I am firmly in the (second generation) 300ZX camp. During it’s production, it was undoubtedly my favorite car. I thought it was very “cyberpunk”, reminding me of the car in Snow Crash. I wanted one in matte black with chrome rims.
I’m a *little* surprised it’s as high #8, but it inspired the design of other cars, like the Eclipse and it’s brethren (Laser, Talon). I saw one person in the forums suggested the 240SX instead, which is ridiculous. It’s not a bad car, but doesn’t compare. Important note: the later 240s, which traded the hatchback for a trunk, were specifically designed and marketed for women! Same goes with the Ford Probe (all models).
They might not have yours standard muscle cars, but they do have the ’63 Corvette. The also have my two favorite classic Jags, the XK120 and the XK8 (1960’s).
The only car, or rather type of car, that is missing is a classic finned convertible from the late 1950’s. Especially the Buick Electra or a couple of the Cadillacs like the Series 62 or Deville.
Yeah, something like Top 50, or a more specific list (say, sports cars) would be less controversial. Which, of course, would draw far less attention from folks like us, and sell fewer magazines.