We are in an interesting age of art. The kind age where it seems that anyone can haphazardly throw paint at canvas, name it something obscure that references society, and call this "creation" art. Due to subjectivity, it can be difficult to determine what "good art" is, or even more simply, what constitutes art. A conversation I keep having with friends, unsurprisingly, is the question as to whether or not cars can be considered art. I myself hold that cars are absolutely art and now want to share with you my top five most beautiful cars of all time.
5. The 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish.
If the color wasn’t enough to grab your attention (ironically it is referred to as "Grabber Blue"), the body lines of the car will. The use of black to accent the blue brings a natural feeling to all the smooth curves. Aston Martin has stayed relatively consistent in design with each new model they come up with, and to remember that this car is three years old gives me high expectations from them in the near future.
4. The '67 Ford Mustang.
From British refinement to loud and proud American muscle, I think that this car has a place in everyone’s heart. However, if I have to be honest, I could have chosen about five other cars in place of this one. Compared to the Aston Martin, there is a clear lack of any kind of fluidity in the Mustang’s design. It is a straight shooter, meant for a long stretch of open road (which is good because these things can’t turn). In the car world, most would argue that black is the best color for a car. It rings true here, but the Mustang’s design allows for almost any color (except for yellow). Not only does the car appear striking, but it also carries a feeling of nostalgia that is only accessible to those who saw this car when it was launched. That feeling is something that I won't understand until I am much older, and to that end, the Mustang will always have an undefined beauty.
3. The Lamborghini Countach.
For those of us who call ourselves car people, the Countach is that art piece at the museum that no one really gets what’s going on with it, but you can’t take you eyes off of it. Lamborghinis have been the quintessential bedroom wall poster since the '70s and continue to be so today. What is funny is that these cars have a reputation for being one of the worst cars to drive. The steering is too heavy, you can’t see out the back with that useless spoiler in the way, and you practically have to fold yourself in half thanks to the doors opening vertically. All of this being taken into account, if you offered me one, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it. But above all, we have to thank this car because it is the original blueprint for modern Lambos and Ferraris. Without it, we would not have gotten my number-two pick.
2. The 2009 Ferrari 458 Italia.
It is difficult to find a starting point when talking about this thing of beauty. There is zero fat on this car. Every line of the body is smooth and subtle and yet each feeds into something that takes the breath away. Even if you are a fan of the hard line body style, such as we saw with the Mustang, you can’t help but respect the attention to detail here. In my opinion (despite that Ferrari has come out with the 488 replacement for this car) you would be hard-pressed to find a better-looking supercar than this.
1. The 1965 E-Type Jaguar.
Admit it, if you are a car person, you know that this was coming. When Enzo Ferrari calls your car “the most beautiful car ever made,” you know you must be doing something right. In light of this, there is not much more to say. When did they stop making cars like this? Its soft features exude luxury, but this car, when it was launched, was less expensive and also faster than a Ferrari of the same time frame. There have been car manufacturers who have created new versions of the E-Type, such as the Eagle Speedster (which Jeremy Clarkson considered one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen), but these new renditions do nothing but pay homage back to the timeless design.
