Flying Buttresses and the 599

Seems like every second sportscar that comes out now has a flying buttress in one form or another (Ford GT, McLaren 570, NSX, Miata RF to name a few) . I have always loved this particular design element of the 599 as it was very avant garde and yet elegant.
Even though 599 is not universally loved right now, I think in 10 years everyone will be trying to get one in their garage.

 

I was in Maranello shortly after the introduction of the 599 GTB Fiorano, and they had a Rosso Fiorano 599 in the Rotunda at the Galleria Ferrari (since renamed, I believe). I took several photos of the car, and thought that the buttresses were the single-most interesting design element of the entire vehicle. I've never seen a better-looking buttress application yet. Fred

 

Maserati Merak had them in the 70's.

 

The Merak's were more like struts to hold the car together. I recall them looking more like angle iron than designed buttresses.

 

Well the 599 and the Macca 570 were both designed by Frank Stephensen. The others are just copy cats.

 

Remember the Jaguar XJS?

 

And Notre Dame! Oh, wait, that's a building.

 

Nope, Merak's are removable. Non-structural.

 

What I wrote was totally tongue in cheek.

 

How about the 68 corvette

 

It was Ken Okuyama who did the real work on the 599 and those flying butresses.

 

flying buttress design and effectiveness " function and form" are enhanced on the new Mclaren 570S and AM DB11.
I believe they are called "AeroBlade" in the Aston Martin DB11, very elegant GT..IMHO!

 

Can't recall where I read it just recently (maybe in Forza) that the buttresses do provide aerodynamic benefits, else Montezemolo would not have approved.

 

Carbon fiber flying buttresses anyone? Still flirting with the idea ...

 

Ferrari had (has?) them available for the 599. Taz posted something about this and provided information within the past 2 months.

 

yes, they exist in the accessories catalogue and I launched a post a little while ago with a response from Taz. I still have not decide if the FB look better in CF or not ...

 

Sorry, Olivier. Didn't realize it was you who first posed the question.

 

no worries at all ...

 

No, I do not think they look better.