Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - a ramble
Discussion
1. Porsche - Just my opinion, but I've never liked any of them, all far too samey...
2. Except the 928 - I have lusted after these ever since watching Risky Business. I'd have one in a heartbeat now had I the funds and space.
3. 2CV - own one, love it. Recently drove to Gibraltar and back in it. Wonderful cars.
4. Alpine - I love the original A110 and kind of like the new version, it's an almost for me, but not quite.
5. Mini - call it something else and it'd be a fine car, but Mini it isn't.
6. Lotus - we have a few in the family, so I have a grudging like of them, they all just never seem to quite hit the mark for me though.
2. Except the 928 - I have lusted after these ever since watching Risky Business. I'd have one in a heartbeat now had I the funds and space.
3. 2CV - own one, love it. Recently drove to Gibraltar and back in it. Wonderful cars.
4. Alpine - I love the original A110 and kind of like the new version, it's an almost for me, but not quite.
5. Mini - call it something else and it'd be a fine car, but Mini it isn't.
6. Lotus - we have a few in the family, so I have a grudging like of them, they all just never seem to quite hit the mark for me though.
Great thread. Time to throw in a couple of curved balls.
40 years ago I would have probably brought up my breakfast if you had suggested adding one of these topless Brits to my garage.
These days, to paraphrase Shakespeare - sans good eyesight, sans (good) taste, sans everything - they have a certain attractiveness to me (dependent on spec/colour as a proviso) - or maybe it's just time for my kids to book me into that nice Home they took me to visit at the weekend ??
40 years ago I would have probably brought up my breakfast if you had suggested adding one of these topless Brits to my garage.
These days, to paraphrase Shakespeare - sans good eyesight, sans (good) taste, sans everything - they have a certain attractiveness to me (dependent on spec/colour as a proviso) - or maybe it's just time for my kids to book me into that nice Home they took me to visit at the weekend ??
Edited by moffspeed on Monday 10th June 13:16
moffspeed said:
Great thread. Time to throw in a couple of curved balls.
40 years ago I would have probably brought up my breakfast if you had suggested adding one of these topless Brits to my garage.
These days, to paraphrase Shakespeare - sans good eyesight, sans (good) taste, sans everything - they have a certain attractiveness to me (dependent on spec/colour as a proviso) - or maybe it's just time for my kids to book me into that nice Home they took me to visit at the weekend ??
Agree on both counts, Mr Moff, although I'd go further left-field and state that I prefer the TR7 in FHC flavour.40 years ago I would have probably brought up my breakfast if you had suggested adding one of these topless Brits to my garage.
These days, to paraphrase Shakespeare - sans good eyesight, sans (good) taste, sans everything - they have a certain attractiveness to me (dependent on spec/colour as a proviso) - or maybe it's just time for my kids to book me into that nice Home they took me to visit at the weekend ??
Edited by moffspeed on Monday 10th June 13:16
Turbobanana said:
Agree on both counts, Mr Moff, although I'd go further left-field and state that I prefer the TR7 in FHC flavour.
Speaking as a beholder who has never owned or wanted any sort of convertible, I still can't help thinking the TR7 drop-top looks so much better than the gawky FHC. Was there a Jaguar somewhere recently?
daqinggregg said:
This may divide opinion. One of the most beautiful cars ever built, from a design perspective. From an engineering point of view a masterpiece.
It sounds good as well.
Well each to their own It sounds good as well.
I saw a Mondial in the wild the other day and try as I might still can’t like the shape. Elite/Eclat/Excel do the same sort of thing and manage to look so much nicer. Especially the Eclat. IMO
moffspeed said:
To contradict my earlier view on the TR7, I think these look stunning as a Cabriolet, ideally in later 3.4t spec with the nicer wheels and preferably not in red:I was lucky enough to put a few miles under the wheels of one, in Blu Chiaro with Crema hide, and it looked ace.
daqinggregg said:
This may divide opinion. One of the most beautiful cars ever built, from a design perspective. From an engineering point of view a masterpiece.
It sounds good as well.
I really, really wish I had the same tastes in cars as you, then my garage would be filled with Dino GT4s and not an empty space where my imaginary 917K lives. Cracking hyperbole, not sure i've ever read someone wax lyrical so misguidedly. It sounds good as well.
daqinggregg said:
This may divide opinion. One of the most beautiful cars ever built, from a design perspective. From an engineering point of view a masterpiece.
It sounds good as well.
In my younger days I followed the accepted opinion that the 308 gtb was the ‘pretty one’, but for the last 20 yrs I’ve been a huge fan. I really should have got one when cheap. It sounds good as well.
As for the TR7; well I used to compete aginst a v8 version in my tarmac rally days, and it wasn’t quick at all, it was compatible to my 1300 escort. Ok, I was class champion , but it should have beat me reasonably. Not bought one purely because of this
Speed matters, even in classics !
CKY said:
I really, really wish I had the same tastes in cars as you, then my garage would be filled with Dino GT4s and not an empty space where my imaginary 917K lives. Cracking hyperbole, not sure i've ever read someone wax lyrical so misguidedly.
Would you care to enlighten us, as to why you think, my love of the 208 GT4, is so misguided. Doofus said:
I totally forgot about those 2 differences of the 996, the facelift does look a bit better and yes, in time they look not as worse as when they came out compared to the 'normal' 911 style headlights, still like the normal style more though, I also do not like the flatnose 911, although some are rare.
)About the 928, when they first came out the looked like from the future and wide, when I was young I still remember seeing the first in the wild coming from the other side, looked impressive and expensive.
later I found them big and heavy... but then way way later like today, I think, hm, not bad, compered to todays big heavy cars those 928 are not that heavy and big...hm.
And some have lovely interiors (Pasha?) and a manual and then I think, hm... not a bad choice, also given that most are now road tax free.
Those rear seats look almost like bucketseats
928, and especially it's interior look so good, something HR Geiger might appreciate.
Bangle Beemers, could be discusses for days, and in that way represent a massive success. For me they only 'improve' on the basis of continuing exposure to them - like familiarity breeds acceptance. He was/is a very brave, unique stylist, but again for me, it was only the updated Rolls, the Z4 and the 6 that worked, everything else was too divisive for me, only working in certain specifications.
Franks Mini, was genius, aesthetically, less so inside but its wheel in each corner cartoon approach to reflecting Minis of old was beautifully judged. what has happened since is best not spoken about.
I can definitely see what the OP means about the A110, but thankfully, damn near everything else about it is SO good, and the face so iconic, it passes muster for me.
I think the Renault Avantime was as it's name implies.
The early 2000's Fiat Mutipla was misunderstood
The first gen F-Type an absolute joy
The 2005-6 Vantage potentially the best ever.
I struggle to love the GR Yaris, it looks odd
Citreon have criminally lost the plot since the BX(?)...acceptingt he C6 was/is awesome.
and actually 99% of today's stuff is just so 'angry'... I think thats where some of the above "wins" they have charm, the Alpine, 996 and 928 especially representing performance and "raw" emotion, yet really rather friendly faces.... although not a fan of Harm's 996, whilst it is narrow and smooth like the original, I just find it doesnt have much 'about it'..... find me a lovley wide C4 though...and you could talk me round...
Bangle Beemers, could be discusses for days, and in that way represent a massive success. For me they only 'improve' on the basis of continuing exposure to them - like familiarity breeds acceptance. He was/is a very brave, unique stylist, but again for me, it was only the updated Rolls, the Z4 and the 6 that worked, everything else was too divisive for me, only working in certain specifications.
Franks Mini, was genius, aesthetically, less so inside but its wheel in each corner cartoon approach to reflecting Minis of old was beautifully judged. what has happened since is best not spoken about.
I can definitely see what the OP means about the A110, but thankfully, damn near everything else about it is SO good, and the face so iconic, it passes muster for me.
I think the Renault Avantime was as it's name implies.
The early 2000's Fiat Mutipla was misunderstood
The first gen F-Type an absolute joy
The 2005-6 Vantage potentially the best ever.
I struggle to love the GR Yaris, it looks odd
Citreon have criminally lost the plot since the BX(?)...acceptingt he C6 was/is awesome.
and actually 99% of today's stuff is just so 'angry'... I think thats where some of the above "wins" they have charm, the Alpine, 996 and 928 especially representing performance and "raw" emotion, yet really rather friendly faces.... although not a fan of Harm's 996, whilst it is narrow and smooth like the original, I just find it doesnt have much 'about it'..... find me a lovley wide C4 though...and you could talk me round...
Thanks all. I didn’t expect the post to attract so many comments about 5 cars I walked past, (nor eulogise the 308Gt4 & 928 (2 of my favourites from first glance).
The question for all I was more curious about was to find out “…if others have had any of their own such polarised views reverse over time?” - but thanks all for their interesting answers.
I never felt Harry Mann’s TR7 hit the spot but brave BL for commissioning it in the early 70’s, it was quite radical for them, and the styling hasn’t grown on me yet.
As to the jelly-mould Fords… no comment.
The question for all I was more curious about was to find out “…if others have had any of their own such polarised views reverse over time?” - but thanks all for their interesting answers.
I never felt Harry Mann’s TR7 hit the spot but brave BL for commissioning it in the early 70’s, it was quite radical for them, and the styling hasn’t grown on me yet.
As to the jelly-mould Fords… no comment.
Edited by Buzzfan on Tuesday 11th June 21:06
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