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The 100 Best Cars of All Time

Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
edited April 2014 in General
An enterprising gentleman over at GeoCities has
posted a list of his picks for the Best 100 Cars
ever. Of course, such a list could be debated into
infinity, but I must say that aside from just a few
clunkers on the list, he's come up with a most
impressive display of automotive history.

I suspect he's a little light on the American
cars, so perhaps you'd like to look over the list
and make comments both here and to him at his site.

Keep in mind, however, we are talking about the
BEST cars (i.e., exceptional in some way, be it
performance, trend-setting or styling, that is
historically significant and memorable)...and we're
talking about ALL TIME, which is about 100 years.
So think about this. I'd be very interested to here
all of your opinions and suggestions for new
entries and upon what basis you might justify such
a candidate.

The link is:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1753/top100.htm

Sometimes you can't get right to it, sometimes you
can...if you can't, use the GeoCities search
engine to go to the "Motor City" section, and then
to Space 1753....you'll figure it out.

Mr. Shiftright
Tagged:
«134

Comments

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Okay, I'll start with a lot of praise for this list but a couple of gripes.

    What the heck is the MGC GT doing on there? A pleasant curiousity, but basically an MGB overloaded with a wheezy I-6 engine from...I forget...some kind of taxicab...I dunno. Anyway, here we are in 1969 and the world market is crying out for a high-performance roadster like the old Healeys, and more affordable than the XKE, and we get this....THING...instead of that lovely body with a small V-8 or a 6 cylinder ohc engine that could rev up and go. And thus did Japan invent the 240Z and British affordable roadsters go down the toilet. To be fair though, the MGC is pleasant enough touring car, especially the coupe, but Best 100 of all time...I don't think so myself.

    Second clunker, that Daimler SP 250. Just click on that link and rear back in terror at what you see. Again, the basic IDEA might have been pretty good (Hey, the Sunbeam Tiger did an okay job of it), but just look at that mess of a styling exercise!
    What trends did it set? What new ground did it pioneer with technology or styling or marketing?
    I'm waiting to be converted.


    PS: I don't pretend to be knowledgable about all the cars on this list! But I do have an awesome library so if there's something you want to know about any of them and you can't find it, maybe I can...be glad to try.
  • MarkinAtlantaMarkinAtlanta Member Posts: 194
    Quite a list. What about a '67 Shelby Mustang. The first of the bad*ss pony cars. Very few 80s vintage cars too, so I nominate the 1988 BMW //M3. This is when the BMW Motorsport division really got going. These are important landmarks too.
  • FREDERICKFREDERICK Member Posts: 228
    Shiftright-

    Can you please list the Geocities sight your talking about so we'll have some point of reference. I own a few but would like to see what some absolute stranger potentially w/o a clue thinks about them.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes, Frederick, just go to the beginning of this topic (response #0)and click on the highlighted link that I've provided.
  • bcathcartbcathcart Member Posts: 54
    All post war MG cars are dogs being rebodied versions of dull poorly made saloons [sedans]. MGCin uk was a 3 litre 6 cyl.The engine was from an Austin A90. The result was a front heavy gas guzzeler,handled like a pig,rusted on the way home from the showroom,in general a classic example of state owned industry at its best.I would nominate for 100 top cars- CITROEN DS. JAGUAR XK 150. JAG E-TYPE..CITROEN CX. CADDILAC ELDORADO 53 and 62.A Pontiac and Packard must be worth including.Cheers from haggis land.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Pretty good list there, but I can't say that postwar Packards were very much at that time, although the '55 did have some interesting innovations, like self-leveling suspension and lock-up torque converter (which is common now). But the Jags and Citroens were really inventive, and embodied some bold engineering...the XKE was, and still is, a genuine 140+mph car for a bargain price...and beautiful enough to sit in the Museum of Modern ARt in NY.
  • gozinggozing Member Posts: 4
    List was impressive. But, I did not see any Hudsons. The Hudson Hornets were top for years in all categories of performance and safety. Still probably hold the record for most racing wins. Built to last through collisions with any thing except another tank.
  • weslwesl Member Posts: 53
    I found the list to be severely lacking. I fail to comprehend how anyone could almost completely ignore domestic manufacturers in a top 100 cars list. No Pierce-Arrow, Cord, or Packard? And anyone who would put the Rover 3.5 coupe on their list has serious problems. Later, Wes.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well, wes, he does ask for commments...you should write him! I thought he did okay, really, for such an ambitious undertaking.
  • LohengrinLohengrin Member Posts: 84
    If the Alfa Romeo 8C2900 is the most important car in automotive history (in this guys opinion), how come I never heard of it? I mean really, I'm not all knowing or anything, but I don't think that the average joe know what this is and I fail to see how it could be so incredibly influencial and historically significant. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

    You want the most important cars of all time, I think the Ford Model-T would be a good place to start-the first car normal people could afford as well as the first use of a modern assembly line. How 'bout the Dodge Caravan? You can scoff and laugh all you want, but you can't tell me it didn't revolutionize the auto industry. Or the Willys Jeep? Can you imagine an auto industry sans 4x4 vehicles? All those fancy European cars are okay, but if you want see the vehicles that really made a difference, I think you need to look closer to home. My $.02
  • LohengrinLohengrin Member Posts: 84
    By the way, I think the VW Beetle is an outstanding choice for the list, though I'd probably rate it a little higher than dead last.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I don't know about the Alfa 8C 2900 being the MOST important, but it was certainly an outstanding sports car of the 1930s, won the Mille Miglia, (1938) almost won Le Mans, won the first Watkins Glen Grand Prix here in America (1948). Depending on the type of race, the cars were fitted differently in terms of body and engine components, but most people who think of this car think of a straight-8, twin superchargers, OHC engine, with ten main bearings and something like 255 hp. Pretty good for 65 years ago. They were beautiful, very fast, and kind of brutal to drive...modern owners describe the performance as "a kick in the back". There is a persistent and possibly true story that Henry Ford once said that whenever an Alfa Romeo passed by, he tipped his hat.

    It was a great, great car and deserves to be on the list.

    VW bug? yeah, I'd buy that...lightweight, cheap, very well-built, a modern Model T...yes, it should be on the list!

    Model T Ford? Same as above, I'd say.

    Dodge Caravan....please, after I've gone to my grave you can put it on the list....or, we could put in on the 100 Greatest Concepts That Didn't Turn Out to be Great Cars But We Appreciate Them Anyway List....
  • esneedesneed Member Posts: 16
    I concur with Lohengrin... whomever comprised this list has a great deal of knowledge of classic car history, and went through a great deal of effort to put such a list together... I commend him for his time and detail.

    However, I am also an avid car buff, but more influenced by Western tastes - particularly in the U.S. domain. What makes these 100 cars so significant? And to who?

    The Model-T, the Corvette, the VW Beetle, the Chrysler Minivans, the Austin Mini, the Citroen 2CV, the Jeep, Pontiac GTO, the Edsel, Lincoln Continental Mark II, the Chrysler DeSoto... these are broad exmaples of cars which were all influential in the automotive landscape by either creating new market niches for automakers to compete, or set new standards in future designs.

    Maybe my gripe is that I don't see the significance in how these cars could be considered the 'Best'. Perhaps I would prefer to see a list like 'The 100 Most Influential Cars of All Time', based on how they changed the auto landscape. These are the 'Best' representatives of cars in our history.

    Again... kudos to the original author - I just can't see how these cars are really considered 'the Best'.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I think he did mean the most influential actually...good point.

    The Edsel? You must be kidding....
  • esneedesneed Member Posts: 16
    Well, no... the most influential are not NECESSARILY the 'best'. Here's what I mean...

    The Edsel? Was I kidding? Actually, no I'm not. It wasn't a POSITIVE influence - granted, but it definitely changed the industry.

    You don't think Ford (and the other car makers) didn't learn a lesson or two from the Edsel? Next to the 'New Coke' from the mid 80's, it was the marketing lesson of the century... here's just a few things they learned...

    1) Marketing HYPE and bold styling (if one calls it that) does not a sales winner make.
    2) DON'T start a whole new car division on a totally new vehicle line that has absolutely no track record. (You would think Chrysler would have learned from that and saved some hefty marketing dollars before launching the Eagle brand, huh?)
    3) Timing is everything. (The horse collar grill didn't work for Edsel, but the similar effect sure worked for the 68-69 Pontiac Catalina/Bonneville, right?)
    4) DON'T deliver cars just so you can say you met the introduction date.
    5) If the car has quality problems, don't let it leave the factory.
    6) The general consensus within the Big Three by the mid-50's was - if we build it with boldness and distinctiveness, it will sell. The Edsel was a LOUD wake-up call to the contrary.

    And MANY, MANY other lessons learned....

    Much can also be said about the Chevrolet Corvair, which changed the industry not by its revolutionary and clever design, but on account of its weaknesses - in safety. Ralph Nader, seat belts, and the term 'consumer advocacy' would soon become household words.

    Again - I'm not knocking the guy with the original list... I just would like to know more about why they are considered 'best' and what they are 'best' in?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Hmm...well, that's a very interesting way to look at it, I hadn't thought of "influence" in terms of "negative influence", but I guess it takes as much genius and effort to totally screw a car up as it does to make it brilliant.

    I don't think, however, it would be fair to put the Edsel and the Corvair in the same category. The Corvair was technologically interesting, and a rare attempt by Detroit to do some real engineering for a change. The car's failure is mostly related to the Detroit beancounters who refused to invest in the car's future development. There went America's future Porsche down the drain.
    The Edsel had no such engineering. It was just a gagdet-ridden car with the same old stuff underneath, and not very well put together either. Problem was, it was ALL marketing and no engineering and no quality and certainly no aesthetics.

    But you're right, lessons were learned from it. It would be appropriate for a list of the world's Worst 100 cars....but really, maybe not that bad either...more like a Big Nothing. You can hardly give one away today, although they are kinda fun to own, giving the mythology.

    I think "best" means best efforts...something exceptional, innovative, influential, successful...not unlike say, the "best" athletes or best songs...something that stands the test of time, and is admired by the next generation and the one after that (you can't really trust the taste of the public when something is too new, don't you think?)
  • esneedesneed Member Posts: 16
    Yes - I'd have to retract my comment on the Corvair... you're right - it was a technologically advanced car, with incredible potential... my intent was to state that people don't remember the Corvair as much for its innovation as they do its reputation for being 'dangerous' through hype in the media. However, my wording sounded harsh towards the Corvair - and that was not intended.

    Your defintion for 'best' is one I would agree with as well... and looking at 100 Best, I don't see how an Alfa Romeo from years of yore can be considered 'best' in any way... (No offense to Alfa lovers, just making a point).
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I think Alfa best defense is it's amazing racing history, not the cars it sent here in the last ten years. They've produced some magnificent cars of outstanding performance and beauty, but most people today don't see that because well, it's not exactly taught in schools and shown on TV...I only learned it from books and old films...after World War II, they didn't do too much, but they made some lovely sports cars in the 1950s and 60s which are highly prized today.

    I'm pleased you also like the Corvair, and you're so right, it isn't remembered for the good things, only the bad, which was an easily correctible fault. Another few million bucks and GM could have had a fabulous car, I think.
  • jeff88jeff88 Member Posts: 94
    How about this as a qualifier:
    If one wants to select the best in history, why not select the car you would house in the additional garage bay that most of us do not have. It would be the car you would run on Sunday's, in nice weather, that would be both fun to drive and cool to be seen in.
    For me: either a '68 MB 280SL or almost any Porsche 911 Cabriolet. A '49 Woody Wagon would be nice too.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes, but have you seen what some people store in their garage? What's "best" to Ralph in Cincinatti may or may not be a standard the world should look up to. I think each car put up as "best" has to be qualified beyond the idea of "I like it", don't you?

    For instance, your 280SL is a great little car, the best of the SLs easily, except for the magnificent 300 gullwing and coupe, and one could argue for it, ditto the 911 cabrio...but the woodie is just pretty...as a car it's pretty awful to drive and the technology is from the 1920s at best...so I wouldn't put the latter on any best list speaking for myself. I'd pick a '49 Olds before I'd pick that car, because at least you could argue that here was one of the first hi-compression OHV V-8s to be mass-produced.

    So I guess any Best List comes down to justifying the entry with some good hard facts regarding what makes this car special, superior in some way, and worthy of respect. It's like the Hall of Fame in baseball...you don't pick somebody because he was a nice guy.
  • daviswedaviswe Member Posts: 1
    Ignoring what's been trendy, stylish, in-vogue, etc., my favorites are favorites because of engineering and uniqueness. There's the 73 Olds Toronado, the queen mary of sport-luxury sedans. Front wheel drive before it was popular, lots of leg room and BIG. The front was one of the most beautiful Detroit designs of all time, and the overall design was elegant, especially in white.

    Before her, was the '70 VW bus, the only vehicle type ever heated purely by exhaust fumes. But it had some kind of magic...or was it the buzz you got from the fumes...? Got a ticket in Pennsylvania doing 85 in one of those, and am still proud of it.

    Corvairs are great, and I still wish I had a primo red convertible to tool around in. Never has a car sounded like that, sort of a blend of Italian sports and German/VW engineering that I haven't seen since.

    But let's not forget my first car, a 57 Ford 9-passenger wagon I brought home on a flatbed. 50 bucks a week for engine parts, transmissions and wheels, and a summer later I had a 95mph hookey-wagon for me and 8 of my best friends. Sold her when I got drafted...

    Now, I've got a 89 Ford Diesel/Dually/Crew cab, that has that certain 'I can intimidate SUV drivers all day as they intimidate Honda drivers' feel to it that I've grown to love. Forget the wife's 140mph Mustang, Big Red is my battle wagon.

    Last week we bought a 97 LHS, black everywhere and elegant in her sexy alloy wheels. What a surprise when I looked under the hood and found an engine pointing forward the way God meant them to, sort of like the 73 Olds!!! Instant love. None of that transverse hogwash for me! Reminiscent of the Chrysler Imperials of yesterweek, where luxury was an insufficient term, this LHS honey has something even Caddy and Ford have lost or never had: sex. When was the last time you looked at a black leather seat that had SOFT multi-segmented chunks of pure bum-heaven awaiting your tired frame? No el-cheapo leather here.

    Well, that's it for my favorites. Never spend much money on cars, but I bet I've had as much fun as anybody, and I'm just getting started!
  • akjbmwakjbmw Member Posts: 231
    The Edsel... Part of the “problem” was the move to “compact” cars. Like the Falcon/Comet, Corvair, and Lancer/Valiant. Ever notice that the numbers of full size cars started to decrease just after the Edsel was entroduced?
    By comparison to the numbers of ’57 Fords & Chevs, there are far fewer ’59 and later models of “full size” anything.
    Granted, this could have been an effect of the popularity and, therefor, limited survival of those models.

    That extra bay in our garages. My third door hides a ‘67 BMW 2000 TiLux. This four door sedan was introduced as the 1500 in ‘61. Many believe these precursors to the 1602/2002 series are responsible for bringing BMW out of the red and made them profitable again. Historical impact. Just think... There might not have been “M” series or Zs. Would the Datsun 510 have been more like a Capri?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The Tilux was one of BMWs first "serious" sedans, after those silly bubble cars and the little 700s. Probably the most historically significant car was the immediate predecessor of the 2000, which was the 1500 sedan in 1962. For the first time, BMW stopped making serious marketing errors.

    These early sedans aren't worth much but you're right, BMW owes them a lot.
  • sts16sts16 Member Posts: 3
    what about the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. When any person thinks about an American car, don't they thing about the '59 Eldorado Convt. I had one 40 yrs. ago, sold it, and bought one used in 1996. It sits in my underground, temperature and humidity controlled garage (like it was before): all original, 2437 miles, red with white leather, oodles of chrome, and THOSE FINS
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Ah, yes, from the Age of American Excess. Well, I personally wouldn't vote for it for the "Best" List that we're discussing here, because it didn't advance the cause of engineering or styling, but if someone wants to start the "Most Conspicuous" or "Most Recognized" List, I'd certainly vote for it on those.

    Hey, why don't you get it out of that garage and drive it...people can't enjoy it if they can't see it!
  • sts16sts16 Member Posts: 3
    That's what my wife keeps saying.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That's always the problem with well restored or original collectible cars, sts....if you put miles on it, you decrease the value (from miles or damage) but if you don't drive it, you can't enjoy it as much...no easy way out, I guess.

    Well, that's a personal choice, so you need to do what feels comfortable. I myself like to seem them out on the street or track, but then I'm not the one who's put all the work in!
  • OnYerLeftOnYerLeft Member Posts: 14
    Yeah, sts, great fins on the 59 Caddy! But let's not also forget to praise that FRONT BUMPER, the one that even Jayne Mansfield had a hard time measuring up to!

    But I digress... ;-)
  • bcathcartbcathcart Member Posts: 54
    59 caddy is a wonderfull creation,how about the Chrysler "lettercars"like the 300c convertible, a nice bit of Mopar magic.Later still the 67 Fleetwood Eldorado must rank among the best looking car of its era.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The early Chrysler letter cars, up to the H series in 1962, are desireable and important cars,IMO, but after that just cosmetic copies of the glory days and nothing special. Yes, I'd consider the very early chrysler 300s on a "100 best" list...

    The 1967 Cadillac wasn't bad looking, but IMO of no distinction to warrant inclusion on a "best 100" list...nonetheless, you have to give the car credit for some tastefulness.
  • MarkinAtlantaMarkinAtlanta Member Posts: 194
    What do you think of '88 M3 and '67 Shelby Mustang could they find a spot in the top 100. BTW, how's your Alfa doing these days?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Early Shelbys are pretty interesting cars...I'm wondering why you picked '67 though, since the earlier cars were a little "purer" in the original Shelby concept, don't you think? (the market thinks so, it seems, offering more for the 65-66 cars, although all the Shelbys carry a premium pricetag)

    The M3? I dunno, really, if this car will ever gain a large following...it's a nice car and all, but looks not all that different from most BMWs of the time, and by modern standards isn't all that hot a performer anymore. I don't think enough people or even historians care about the M3 to elevate it to "best" status.

    My Alfa is just great...it's been absolutely reliable. I put better tires on it and adjustable upper control arms (on stock Spyders you can't adjust for neg. camber as you may recall)...big difference! It won't make the 'best' list but I'm sure the earlier Spyder Veloces will...
  • khelbenkhelben Member Posts: 1
    Not to throw to much credit to an "independent" manufacturer, but weren't the "Tucker" automobiles just a wee bit ahead of the learning curve for American automobiles? The extra padding, pop-out windshield and my personal favorite the "3rd Headlight".

    Just a Thought...

    Khelben
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh, yes, certainly the Tucker is a car that was trying to advance the technology of American cars. But the car really needed further development (lack of capital kept it from evolving into a truly exceptional car). It was no slouch, though, for top speed and comfort. Biggest problems were its tail-happiness and a delicate transmission (pre-selector gearbox from old Cord cars, you could easily break the axles in first gear). A very worthy effort and today a valuable car (51 were made, and most survive--value for a nice one about $200,000).

    One of the "best'? No, I don't think so, but potentially it could have been...close but no cigar.
  • FREDERICKFREDERICK Member Posts: 228
    For the many great enteries I thank you. Keep up the great restorations. I do beg to differ a wee bit with shiftright about 59 Cads and other Chrysler excesses of that eara in that I really believe that this was one of the few eras when from overtook function in the automobile manufacturing world. This was a very rare time in the automotive era and the higher the form the better the car in my oppinion.

    I ask you why the heck can't a car be art? The 59 Cad is the Andy Warhol of our era. Chryslers came close but never truly achieved the icon status of the 59 Cad. Park this car in your front yard and put petunias in it and it'll still be a piece of automotive art!

    O.K. Shiftright I might be a little over the automotive edge here.
  • FREDERICKFREDERICK Member Posts: 228
    Sorry, that is "form overtook fuction"
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well, if a car were only to be judged on art, and not as a car, you might be right--but since the technophile in me is always looking at both sides of the coin--form AND function--I'd have to say that cars like the '59 Caddie fall down big time. It would be like judging a handsome or beautiful person who is also a singer...while they're singing badly, you judge it one way...if you're just looking at them with their mouths shut, well, you might see it differently.
  • carnut4carnut4 Member Posts: 574
    Go back ten years and look at the '49 Caddy. Truly a milestone in engineering and styling.[look how far the fins went in ten years] Also a very good car. Wouldn't you agree that it could be one of the 100 best?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I like the 49 Caddy, but I missed the engineering part...it's a big fat heavy car...well-made, though, and clean and handsome...if it lost 1,000 pounds and had any kind of useable suspension and brakes installed , yes, I would vote for it as a Best 100....it would then resemble a postwar Lancia or fastback Bentley and have some decent roadability.

    You know, to say "best" out of 100 years of cars is a serious statement...it has to be pretty darn good in any number of ways...
  • carnut4carnut4 Member Posts: 574
    I was thinking in terms of it as a milestone in Americanm cars-the first overhead valve, high compression V8, in A quality made car that set the standard for American automobiles , at least, for the time. Shouldn't durability count some as well?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh, yeah, ruggedness is an admirable quality...maybe if the 100 Best were American cars only, it would certainly have some good points in its favor to get on that list...but it would have to share V-8 honors with Oldsmobile...both cars had the same "high" compression (7.5 to 1) but the Caddy had more horsepower, at 160....I'd tend to favor the Oldsmobile, since it offered the first modern V-8 engine in an American car at a modest price.
  • sts16sts16 Member Posts: 3
    about the second part of your reply
  • glengleglengle Member Posts: 57
    It seems that the list was comprised by an individual with in-depth knowledge of vintage and specialty European automobiles, and just like everyone on these lists (myself included) that bias shines through. To ignore entire markets compromises the integrity of the list.

    Were the cars he listed fantastic automobiles? Sure. Go down the list though. Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa, Aston, Ferrari, Maserati, etc.

    Do you think any of those cars had as much effect on the Western market as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air? Completely different cars, admired for different reasons. Throw biases to the wind, however, and I find that there is some room left in that list for a Miata, a Viper, and others. They may be newer, and may not leave from a European port, but I believe they have every bit as much influence on the enthusiast's pocketbook as well as the other automakers' piggyback designs and concepts.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes, well said, there is room on that list for improvement, but still, the criteria should be kept high...Miata, Viper, good choices, I could live with those two definitely...57 Belair? Not to me...I'd tend to compromise on the '55 Chevy as a more significant car...first really "modern" car of the postwar American era, at least modern looking (the tecchnology was such that a mechanic of 1915 could easily understand and repair a 1955 Chevy)--also well-built, good performing, and an amazing bargain for the money...the '57 on the other hand, is really just a copy of the '55 with those (to me) silly fins,more weight and more gee-gaw gadgts that didn't add a darn thing to the '55 design. So, 1955 Chevy, yes, I'd vote for that one.
  • glengleglengle Member Posts: 57
    I see your point, and agree.
  • eslatereslater Member Posts: 4
    Are these 2 among the 100
    best cars? Feedback from anyone who has driven both
    would be most appreciated.
    TIA,
    e
  • FREDERICKFREDERICK Member Posts: 228
    Shiftright may ultimatly prove me wrong, but I really do feel that the form of a car is ultimatly as impoortant as the function of the car given time.

    I know personally two kids that are essentially our next generation who are working on restoring 57 Chevys. Function does not always ring true over time becuase so much better equipment is available in a modern cars that people no longer are able to decern between the "moderninity" and "style" in a classic car they're buying.

    Mile stones in design are what eventually drive collectors markets.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Actually the 1957s are usually worth more than the 55s, so if money were the only criteria for "best" then you'd have a good point...regardless of styling, I think the '55 is more historically significant...not to be a [non-permissible content removed], but without the '55 it would be hard for the 57 to even exist, right?

    Glad to hear you know some kids still interested in restoration. Geez, I kinda hope those Chevys are ragtops and 2-door hardtops and not 4-door stripped sedans 6 cylinder automatics....but whatever floats your boat, as they say....
  • FREDERICKFREDERICK Member Posts: 228
    The kids are working on two door Chevy 57's V-8's. They obviously have more taste in automibiles than I was ever able to develope. These kids are amazing though with their interest in try to restore these cars with real integrity. One guy has spent weeks just trying to get the hood of his 57 perfect.

    To set you straight Shiftright I personally prefer 2 door coupes built on 4 door wheel bases. If I had been wiser when I was younger I'd never gotten involved with 4 door restorations. I do however appreciate the practical reasons that many more 4 doors are built than 2's.

    There seems to be a natural preferance for 2 drs. but I still think that there are very important and elegant 4 dr. sedans in every era.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Sure, there are more 4-doors because most cars are, of course, ultimately built for transportation.

    I'd certainly agree that there were some elegant 4-doors built, but I can't say i can think of even one truly collectible 4-door car except for the special-bodied Rolls-Royces and similar coachbuilt cars...and even with those collectors discriminate as to the body builder, with the common factory 4-door Rolls still dirt cheap today.

    In my opinion, the nicest modern 4-door ever built was the 1965 Corvair 4-door hardtop, also worth little today, alas.

    Of course, 4-doors can serve a noble purpose, in providing valuable and irreplacable parts for the two-door hardtops and convertibles.
This discussion has been closed.