Which Ferrari designs have aged the best... | FerrariChat

Which Ferrari designs have aged the best...

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by davemqv, Aug 19, 2018.

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  1. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    I thought it would be fun to post a list of the Ferrari's I feel have aged the best over the years, and see the lists of others as well.

    By "aged the best" I mean specifically which designs look better now than they did when they were new. You can explain why or not, up to you.

    I'm also sticking to normal production models but you can list any Ferrari. Name your top 3...

    My top Ferrari's that have aged the best over the years -

    1) 400i
    2) Early Mondial coupes (8 or QV)
    3) 365 GTC/4

    I thought the 400i was too stately as a kid. Now it seems extremely elegant and yet very masculine. I always liked the Mondial but speaking objectively, the car has aged better than most. It was an odd car when new, but now it's oddness is rather iconic of an era. It also suffered a lot from unimaginative photography and looks better in real life, and in modern photos - which seem to indicate that over time people started noticing the aggressive nature of the car from various angles. Same thing with the c/4. The bumpers and hunchback can look awkward in photos, but in real life you see how they pull you into the rest of the design, like bridges in a song. Honourable mention to 308 Dino. I also appreciate the 308 GT/4 more now than I did as a kid, but I also always kind of liked it.

    Two bonus categories if you'd like-

    Which 3 designs have remained timelessly beautiful throughout the years?
    1) 275 GTB shortnose. Never not the most elegant Ferrari.
    2) 365 GTS/4. Still the most beautiful convertible ever made...even more so than the 275 NART spyder, imo.
    3) 246 Dino GT. One of the all time most beautiful car designs. Hands down.


    Which 3 designs have aged the worst?
    1) 308 GTB/GTS.
    2) 355
    3) 430

    The 308's are still beautiful but they seem more awkwardly angular and less curvy than they did to me as a kid.
    The 355 was very of it's time but it seems to have suffered the fate of too many 90's cars and now looks a little under-designed. Too indistinguishable from other cars of the era, IMO.
    The 430 is a nice looking car but it's too in between what preceeded it and followed it. The 360 and the 458 both seem like purer, truer versions of themselves.
     
  2. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Enzo. I thought it looked like an angry anteater when it first came out, but lately have grown to like it.
     
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  3. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    The 355 is a timeless design and will remain epic. Certainly the pop up headlights place the car in a certain era but that is not a negative.
     
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  4. Mmckee

    Mmckee Formula 3
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    I agree with Dave. For not aging well, my 355 draws one of the biggest crowds at every car event I attend. I don’t even know the below Merc guy: Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  5. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    Not sure how much agreement you'll get with these two either their inclusion or the logic

    I think both the F40 and to some extent the 612 now look better than when new
     
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  6. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    #6 davemqv, Aug 19, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2018
    I'm all for differences in taste and opinion...not just having people agree with me. If we all liked and had to compete for the same cars, most of us would be unable to have them.

    But it would be great if, in addition to disagreeing with my lists, everyone who posted at least took the small amount of time needed to list the 3 cars they feel have looked better as time went on. That is the point of the thread, after all...
     
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  7. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    Yeah, I know. I'm not saying any of the cars I listed look bad. I'm just saying I think some looked better new, and some look better now.

    Perhaps as a Mondial guy I've grown immune to people saying they don't like the looks of my car, but really none of this is meant in a negative way. Just trying to see what different people think about this idea of how designs age, and why.
     
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  8. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    I miss pop-up lights.
     
  9. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
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    I'll play...

    My top Ferrari's that have aged the best over the years -
    1) F40- just as fresh now as then.
    2) I'll cheat a little here and say just about any 250/275 series car- this way I get a whole lot of cars in this box.
    3) 355- I think it was always pretty and still is.

    Which 3 designs have remained timelessly beautiful throughout the years?
    1) 250 California SWB
    2) 250 GT Lusso
    3) 335S


    Which 3 designs have aged the worst?
    1) 360 Modena/ Spider
    2) 456 - I loved it when it came out but now, I think its awkward looking- hey, its just me!
    3- 400- just not my thing.

    Extra category which 3 designs have surprised me by looking better?
    1) Enzo- I really hated it when it came out, but now I think it looks fantastic!
    2) Testarossa- I loved it when it came out, then thought it looked dated, but now I love it again!
    3) F50- I just didn't get it when it debuted, but I do now!
     
  10. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
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    Fortunately most of the designs were so good that a Ferrari “aging poorly” only means a few people will simply love them less. The most mundane Ferrari driving down a street looks like the most special car ever created. A unicorn in a sea of utilitarian, design by committee, condescending disasters of creation scraping themselves down the road way like slugs. A Mondial shows itself to be no less a Ferrari than a 250 GTO.
     
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  11. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    Thanks!

    Regarding the 360. I had the opposite response. I wasn't too impressed for a long time, but recently the car has really grown on me.

    I have almost gone for a couple of 456's, but something about that 90's era thing applies to that car too, and I can never quite do it. But I do still love the car. Go figure.
     
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  12. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    Totally agree.
     
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  13. LARRYH

    LARRYH F1 Veteran
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    there are so many ...
    246 DINO GT/gts one of the most beautiful designs
    550/575
    365/512boxers.. (did not really care for these before but lately they have been very appealing to me)
     
  14. paulchua

    paulchua Cat Herder
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    This is a great thread.

    I agree the 365/400/412 have aged well. I'm going to have to think about this more! so many models!
     
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  15. anunakki

    anunakki Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    I believe the 288 GTO is the most timeless exotic design ever. It has enough drama to be cool, pretty and aggressive, but not so much it looks like a toy.
     
  16. anunakki

    anunakki Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    I agree on the 360.
     
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  17. PFSEX

    PFSEX Formula Junior

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    Best front engine berlinetta - 275 GTB shortnose. Not even close - perhaps the best design ever - any car, any brand

    Best 2+2 (lets give them some love): 250 GTE - timeless design

    Best mid engine: 3 that look so much alike Dino 246 GTS and 360 Modena and 288 GTO
     
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  18. 338Lapua

    338Lapua Formula Junior

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    I would choose the F40 as the one that has aged the best. It was amazing when it came out and it's amazing to this day. I would place the Enzo and 288 GTO as a close second.

    In terms of what has aged worse.....Hmmmmm......I would probably pick the Mondial. It can look good in certain configurations and not so good in others.
     
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  19. LARRYH

    LARRYH F1 Veteran
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    Agreed..... Its is amazing to me how this design has really held up or maybe improved with age ...it has just the right touch of muscle look without overdoing things as so many designs tend to do..
     
  20. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    I agree with pretty much everything here except the 360 and Testarossa. The 360 imo has aged great (better than the 355, but both look great). The Stradale is nearly perfect.

    I loved the Testarossa through the end of the 90s, but the cheese graters on the side have not aged well. At least the 512TR looks fresher with the front bumper, clear lights, and wheels (512M bumper and lights look off and too aftermarket imo).

    I still love the F50 and did from day 1, but I think the other supercars have aged better since. Just a few years ago I would have put the F50 at the top of the best looking Ferrari street supercars (not counting the F50 GT), but now I think it's the least best looking of the 5 super cars. Still looks nice though.
     
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  21. blown94conv

    blown94conv Karting

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    I love the 360, the curves get better looking the more I look at it. (Obviously biased opinion)


    But the 348 hasn’t aged well at all. Suprised no one touched on that one yet.



    As for timeless, the 365, Testarossa and 550/575 are the ones I have always loved.
     
  22. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    I agree on the 348, but I never liked it to be honest...so technically for me, doesn't look worse than it used to look. Just the same.
     
  23. paulchua

    paulchua Cat Herder
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    It's like music and paintings, no right or wrong, just what you yourself enjoy. I think the 348 looks great then and now, but 100% still respect your honest opinion about it. Your sincere thoughts are much better then any platitudes!

    Some people hate my taste in certain wines, bands, and foods. Totally cool and even should be celebrated in subjective matters such as private art.
     
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  24. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    My wording on this question may be throwing people a bit.

    By cars that are "aging well" I mean which Ferrari designs have improved with age?
     
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  25. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    This is the quintessential Ferrari/Pininfarina design as far as I'm concerned. Somehow it looks as macho as it does voluptuous, as aggressive as it does organic. It looks like it was made by nature. It approaches perfection.

    Given the styling of modern Ferraris, it will likely be the most beautiful of all time.
     
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