Love at first sight? (Ferrari styling debates)

F40 over and over again

 

""""TESTAROSSA"""""""" MAGIC WICKED WILD AWSOME

 

This probably will not be a popular opinion, but the 360 is really the only one which made me stop and stare for several minutes the first time I saw it. I maintain that the 360 Spider (I thought the Modena would never be beaten...boy, was I wrong) is one of the best-looking cars, ever, if not the best. I still have, somewhere in my closet, the Car and Driver issue where they first had the 360 Modena pictures. That was where I first saw them, and the beauty thereof just astonished me.

All the other Ferraris wowed me to different degrees, but none anywhere close to the 360.

There are only 3 Ferraris that I've ever seen which I found unattractive, and they all came from different eras, so I don't think Ferrari's styling is degenerating (although I'll need to see the 430...if it's like the recent pictures, I don't think I'll like it at all), but rather, evolving.

But that's just me. I don't own a Ferrari.

 

Great poll Looks like the 355 F50 are off to the quick start.
Funny....I think ferrari had Lambo on the ropes in 1995 and could have finished them off. But they seem to have gone out-of-their-way to leave the door open by shifting to more conservative designs.
I wonder what the 355 or TR would look like if Ferrari had kept developing it?

 

Dino & 308 was the first Ferrari I saw in the US, and remembered them as Ferrari.

Ferrari was never in my purchasing option till 2003, so I wasn't paying much attention. Then a friend made me realized a price of used Ferrari was not much different from new Corvette, so I visited FoDallas, and REALLY LOOKED at 360 & F50 there for the first time. At the time, I ended up getting 328, then switched to 355. So I hope 360 or F50 is in my future purchase.

My problem is that I like too many F. I may switch to Diablo (I know it's not F, but I want to own a gull wing door someday), Dino, 512BBi, 550, 512M/TR (M preferred), or Testa Rossa.

 

F50, 250 GTO, 275, 250 Cali

Having any of them would be an absolute dream come true.

 

Actually I love them all! If not at first sight, then definately after seeing it some more
But the F355, Testarossa, F40, 328, 250 GTO and 250 California Spyder struck me the most so I voted for these cars in this poll.

However, I can clearly remember the days when I saw the first pics of the F355 and the car in real life! Damn' I was in love! Definately love at first sight!

 

(TESTAROSSA, 512TR) and F40. I fell in love with the testarossa at 6 years old watching miami vice, the 512TR cosmetic changes made it a bit modern so i love it just as much. and how can anyone not like the F40 design?

 

FORZA TESTAROSSA

 

Lambo was always more exotic than Ferrari. As pointed out on Top Gear, you'd have to make a ridiculous car just to make some sense next to a Ferrari.

I can't imagine where all the complaints are coming from. No, the 360 isn't my take on a spectacular looking car, but I don't think Ferrari's are designed to score quick and easy. They are designed to grow on you. As you get to know the car better and better, you'll appreciate it more and more as a total package, including it's styling. The Ferrari doesn't need the styling to make the statement, it's just part of the statement. Styling is cheap when it's only function is making young boys drool at first sight. I for one am very glad that Ferrari didn't go that direction and never has.

 

The F355. When I saw it I thought it was one of the nicest designs on any newer car.

 

I like the 355, but I am a little surprised it's leading after 42 voters!

 

The F355, one of the most simple pure shapes of all time.
In 2nd place it has to be the 250GT California!

 

I remember the first time I saw a Testarossa in 1987, I just about lost my mind! The Testarossa/512TR/F512M has to be the most awe inspiring road
car made outside of the F40 at the time. A top of the range mid engined 12 cylinder supercar that definitly had Lamborghini worried.

Since then Ferrari's designs have gotten very soft in my opinion. My next car will probably be a Lamborghini Diablo because I want another Bad Ass 12 cylinder supercar in my stable that my Testarossa can relate to.

 

The 355 is the car that switched me from the Porsche camp to Ferrari. I still remember seeing that first picture in R&T/94 and saying to myself "I gotta have this car no matter what I have to do." Other love at first sights were the 288 GTO, 246 Dino, 250GT California and of course, the 360CS.

 

Excellent post, Brian! I appreciate it! Very good list, by the way.

First, would the three people who voted so far for the 612 kindly leave the site.

I am surprised at the disparity of votes from the 348 to the 355. It's amazing what some minor cosmetic changes can do for some people. Personally, I didn't vote for either, though I would be pleased to own either some day.

Beauty and art are subjective and controversial. It would seem that over the years there was always controversy since not everybody voted for all of the early cars either, yet I would suggest that perhaps it was because they genuinely didn't like the early cars, not that the styling was too "safe", as is the current day complaint.

Would people agree? Generally, were pre 1990's cars (non-F50/Enzo) were more radical, or less "safe"?

Best!
Wes

 

No, I don't agree at all. This (see attached) looks radical to you? Absolutely beautiful, yes. Outrageous and radical and "unsafe"? No.

Look at all the 60s Ferraris. Look at all the side fins that EVERYONE used at the time. They ain't '59 Cadillacs, but the 250 TDF, the Superamericas - all of these cars had extremely "safe," period styling features. The 250 GTO and 275 - beautiful, beautiful cars - have styling that alludes to the Jaguar E-type. How about the 400 2+2 series? - very 80s in its boxy angularity. These cars had styling that went with their era.

Now, the Enzo - what cars does that borrow styling from (aside from an F1 car)? What modern styling features did they incorporate into that design a la fins in the 60s? I'd say current styling is distinctly "unsafe" - hence all of the complaints that people seem to have with it.

If you had never seen a 250 TDF in your life, and I showed you a picture, you would be able to tell me approximately when it was produced.

 

I know that I'll probably never have one, but... I like a 275 GTB even better than the 250 GTO.

 

I bought the 1st one I fell in love with. 246GT Dino, saw it in 1972, I was 17, bought it 30 yrs later. Sometimes good things come to those who wait.

Modern cars - 355 and 360, and I love the 550, 575.

Middle years, Testarossa. What else! And the 308. Yep, Magnum had a big affect on me.

Hmm, my list gets longer and longer. Can I vote for all of them???

 

I agree with Dm n stuff, I mean you cant really pick just one. I think the two that really got me interested would have to be the 360 and the 355, just the lines and curves, so hard to beat.
David