Look Back at It: 6 Great Automotive Rear Ends
Every part of a car is—or should be—a marriage of form and function, the front no less than the rear. Grilles often hog the glory, so we decided to take a cue from this 2022 story and share a few vehicles whose rear ends are just as handsome and integral to the design of the car as are the fronts. Fins or no fins, front-engine or mid-engine, lots of glass or just a peephole—our choices run the gamut of type and time.
Gearheads like yourselves are bound to spot some obvious omissions from this list—and we have an explanation. We wanted to highlight vehicles that didn’t get their moment in the sun within that 2022 article. So, let it not be said that we at Hagerty Media ignore, dismiss, or otherwise do not recognize the 1948 Cadillac and its taillight humps, the Forward Look cars and their soaring fins, the 1971 Buick Riviera and that famous boattail, or the Split-Window Corvette of 1963. All hail those heroes—and onto six others who belong in the pantheon!
1953 Bentley R-Type Continental
The original Bentley R-Type Continental from the early ’50s has, in my opinion, the best butt in car-dom. It has hips and thighs, oh my, but stays focused enough to be the world’s fastest four-seater when it was new. The front ain’t bad, either. — Andrew Newton
1968–82 Corvette
I’m going to select the C3 Corvette, especially the early, chrome-bumper models. The 1968 Corvette brought a totally new look with bulging fenders that match the front. Combine that with the deeply tunneled rear glass, with sweeping C-pillar buttresses, and—apologies to Chris Evans—you’ve got America’s A**.
The 1969 Corvette tied things up even more by incorporating the backup lights into the inboard taillights, one of a few things Chevy improved on the second year of the C3 generation. — Brandan Gillogly
1936–38 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
There are so many great rear ends in the car world. It’s hard to choose what I consider to be “the best.” The Ferrari F40 is a good shout. So is the Porsche 959. And the Volvo 1800. But I’ve got French streamliners on the brain lately, so it’s hard to ignore just how elegant the backside of a 1936–38 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic is. The entire car is dreamy, but the riveted seam that bisects the car’s roofline, rear window, and perfectly round spare tire cover is just wild. There’s nothing else like it. — Stefan Lombard
1963 Studebaker Avanti
Like many car-crazed children, I built models, though I lacked the patience and talent to build good ones. There was a lone exception, where everything, even the candy-apple green paint, turned out right, and that was a 1963 Studebaker Avanti. Even then, I loved every angle of the Avanti, but especially the rear, which was so simple, so clean. That car was way, way ahead of its time. — Steven Cole Smith
2013–15 Porsche 918 Spyder
Porsche is remarkably adept at translating design cues from the 911 to other vehicle formats—even if you resent their existence, you have to admit that Macans and Taycans are immediately recognizable as Porsches. The 918 makes you forget every Cayenne Coupe you ever saw. Those wide haunches flow over tires that are over a foot wide, the use of negative space is beautiful and functional (diffuser! vents!), blade-like trailing edges are juxtaposed against flowing curves, and then there’s the top exit exhaust . . . yum. Just yum. — Grace Houghton
1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
I gravitate toward the rear of any widebody Corvette (specifically the C6, with its round lights), but for the purposes of this exercise, we can’t leave out the ’59 Caddy Coupe de Ville. It’s . . . a lot—tons of chrome and detail work, massive jet-age fins, two jet-exhaust-like light cones on each side, and a trunk you could fit four bodies in. Love it or loathe it, you won’t ever forget it. — Eddy Eckart
-The Bentley makes me think of the earlier GM aerosedans. Maybe it has more flatness along the one plane than the GM cars…
-Vette lost the buttresses in 1978 (and the rear and other body bits changed) so 77 should probably be the cutoff for this article not 82?
-I like the 1999 (might be other years, but 99 I know for sure) Honda Accord 2-door coupe rear end… probably because it reminds me of various Pontiacs. I’m not a Honda fan by any means, but this particular configuration of this model has always caught my eye when I see the back.
Actually, I’d argue the cutoff for the vette should be 73, not 77. The chrome bumpers ended with 74, and it changed the character of the back end.
I like my 77, but it’s just a different look than the chrome bumper 68-73 style.
I agree 100%. The 74-82 are ugly. I guess u could say button ugly!
And yes I have a 73 L82 Dark Blue 4spd, second owner
Yes, thank you. When they slapped that rubber bumper on the rear of the corvette, that was sickening!
Huh…at the time, and still now, I thought it was an attractive solution to the bumper problem, instead of chrome railroad ties like Ford used. Maybe I like 1968-1973 better, but the 1974-77 nevertheless look pretty good.
I’m with Rider. People fuss over the chrome bumpers but I think the 74-82 look the best
I agree 100%!
I definitely agree with your comments about the 3rd generation Corvettes, but I think the Porsche 356 deserves to be included.
You’re right Tom, that was the Porsche that started it all. And every Porsche from the 356 on, right to the upcoming Porsche 911 Hybrid carries that gorgeous DNA. Just get behind any 911 on the road and judge for yourself. That’s over 50 years of having ‘The Best Looking Bum in the Business’, IMHO.
The 1999 Honda Accord rear is exceptional. The “off-kilter apostrophe” tail-lights, joined by a straight red line are stunning. They always remind me of the same year/generation NSX.
That Bugatti is… I think the nice word is ‘polarizing’
I would tend to say the same about the Avanti, but the rear shot is not its worst angle
The GT500 (original) probably deserves to be on the list
Thank you for skipping the obvious like the ’63 Vette. But you gotta include the 72 Riviera, and I’m an import guy!
Thank you! I’ve always dreamed of owning a boat-tail Riviera, and I’m a Studebaker guy. When I was a kid, my choice was the ’59 Cadillac. As for the Bugatti, I would have chosen a prewar European teardrop without a fin.
Love the 73 riv front and rear and the 59 caddy rear but the 60 was less dramatic and the 60 front is soooo SWEET.
Have to differ with the author on a small point. That 1959 Caddy trunk can hold at least 6 dead bodies, 8 if they are skinny hookers (a vivid image from when I used to read Jalopnik). I should know – my wife and I had a 1997 Grand Marquis and a 1996 Crown Victoria, both of which had 6-dead-body trunks.
The problem with this land yacht was on the way to the Meadow Lands to drop off the bodies in Jersey ,we had to stop for gas
Cannoli.
Piker. Go for the cheesecake.
That is hilarious! You have the proper name to write this comment.
Is he any relation to Madonna, I wonder?
Hahahaha
C2 coupe vette over the C3.
46 series 61 Cadillac coupe over 59. Less is more.
F40 Ferrari.
1965 Corvair.
And a number of Pontiac cars 65 GTO, mid and late Trans Am 2nd Gen.
69 Mustang Boss.
Boss 302 or 429 ? With or without a wing ?
Funny, I just bought a 65 corvair convertible. A looker for sure.
Definitely agree that the C2 Vette, from any angle, looks better than the C3. Imho, the C3 was, and continues to be, the absolutely ugliest Vette of all time.
Totally agree! They were getting too fat & bulbous in those years. The same for the Rivs. GM ruined a great looking car with the boat tail models!
Lads —
Unfortunately, the great look of the C2 Corvettes comes with a price as that classic design does develop a lift over the front end at high speed (perhaps as much as 2 1/2 inches). Nonetheless, I think it is one of the most beautiful cars of all time even if I have to control my right foot when I’m out with my ’65 Fuelie droptop
I agree, I have vette, had 3 1993 2001 and 2006. Kept the 1993. Are there any clubs for corvettes in NY?
C3 is the ugliest? Oh no. Take a look at the latest models. It’s a good thing they are so fast… so I don’t have to look at them for long! Were they going for the ‘crinkled up aluminum foil’ look?
You, sir, win the Internet today. Love your “crinkled up foil” comment. The C8’s are the ugliest and look like some drunk was a contestant in the Weird Origami contest. “Just because you can crease sheetmetal or SMC composite doesn’t mean you should.”
65 Corvair Corsa for sure…also 53 Olds.
Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow
Since I have only seen 3 of these cars in person, there are others I would rather put here. Namely the winged Mopars and the boat-tail Riviera.
Don’t think the Studebaker Avanti would be on my list. I’m partial to a 1972 Pantera with modern rubber in the back. All business with sex appeal
59 Impala or 59 El Camino could easily make the list
I have a 67′ Ford Fairlaine Rancharo that is appealing to see from the back or front ( just sayen !)
That would have been one of my choices. And, I’m a Ford guy.
As a kid I bought a 59 El Calmino to flip. Someone had dropped a 327 365 HP in she would move for a big car. Tore up several rearends before I sold it. Blast to drive.
59 Impala THE COOLEST Tailights ever,
Came to the comments section to put in my two cents on the ’59 Impala.
I have a 58 and 69 Vette. I do love the back end of the C3 but there is nothing like the rear end of a 58-60 Vette. Curves and Chrome perfectly blended.
Yeah, I had a ’60 Corvette. It was cool driving at night and you could see both tail lights glowing when you turned your head. But I concede I like single headlights on the front better than the dual headlights it had. I think the ’56 and ’57 Vettes still have the best looking front ends of all Corvettes.
I always wanted a 58!! I had 3 corvettes 1993 40th anniversary greenwood, 2001 quick silver and a 2006 monastery red.
While I do like the ’58-’60 Vettes, my favorites were the ’61-’62 Vettes. Loved the duck tail design, which was incorporated into the C2 tail ends.
You missed a few obvious ones: 66 GTO, 63 Split Window Vette, 49 Caddy Sedanette, 70’s Riviera Boattail
I was going to mentin the 63 Corvette and the Boatail Riviera’s but you beet me to it. Good list.
Some of these are addressed in the second paragraph of this article. They were not “missed” but discussed in a previous, similar article.
I agree. But they should also included the 64-66 Thunderbirds.
Of those three years, the ’66 is totally the prettiest.
1940 Cadillac Series 62 coupe: closest production car stylistically to Harley Earl’s Buick Y-Job.
My own personal preference for recognition is the 1966/67 Oldsmobile Toronado. Amazing grace in automotive design.
Big thumbs up!
B
Agreed!
Yes, the rear view of a ’66 Toro is a beautiful thing to behold.
Volvo 1800es has a great back glass. I think the es rear holds up better than the coupe.
Good call, Don! Because of the ES, we bought an Volvo C30 for my wife
You nailed it.