What Was the Best Year for Car Design?
Perhaps it can be seen in the decadent tail fins of a 1957 Chevrolet. Or the streamlined modernity of the 1936-37 Cord. There’s even a case for the over-the-top engineering of the 2019 McLaren Senna, as beauty comes in many forms. So its now time for us to ask you, member of the Hagerty Community, what was the best year for car design?
I have a curveball to throw you, and here’s my rationale for doing so: Cars can be beautiful, functional, and affordable. Sometimes we get really lucky and one car hits the trifecta, becoming a combination of all three.
Yes, my suggestion is initially half-hearted, but becomes stronger the more I marinate on the concept. Cars in the 1990s came in unique sizes, shapes, and colors (i.e. not just black, white, silver, gray, and the occasional red and blue), and their implementation of computer-assisted design and plastics ensured better performance and superior reliability.
The Dodge Neon is one of those sweet spots that covered the aforementioned trifecta. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Neon was able to appeal to a variety of needs in a fun-to-drive package. The last bit is actually an understatement, as the Neon’s career in SCCA races should not be summed up in just a handful of words.
And the Neon was awfully functional, with plenty of room with its cab-forward design. The $12,000 starting price meant it was great design available to every motorist, but 15 grand got you a Neon that provided performance (ABS brakes, fully independent suspensions) and luxuries (power everything, sport bucket seats with multi-function console, etc.) that vehicles from previous generations would absolutely kill to possess.
With the debut of the Neon and its successful execution of a truly holistic automotive offering, 1995 is the year I’ve chosen for this thought experiment. There are other, perhaps less dark-horse choices (just about any year in the 1960s, for example), though there are plenty of moments across the history of the automobile that could make a good case. With that, what say you, and why?
What Was The Best Year For Car Design?
From a broad view, the 64- into 65’s were a real change to more modern looks with sloping roof lines etc. All the makers changed their older styles. On the other end, the 70’s into the 80’s are best forgotten, for the most part
There is no ‘best year’. A range of years is better. I would say 1964-1970 for most US makes. Once into the 70’s car makers ran models too long without restyling and made all the brands use the same platforms making styling all the same. Engine performance and innovation went down. Big strides in engineering and style in the 60’s. For Japanese, they made the most improvements starting in the mid 1970’s and for the most part continued on to today. European cars are in fits and starts for many>>some had great style while the mechanicals were terrible. Some had great innovative engineering but the cars were a nightmare to keep running. Some great cars with no style. Some terrible cars with terrible style. Few that checked all the boxes.
I can’t really pick one year as the very best for automotive design. I can only say that the best years were roughly 1963-1970. I don’t think it is just a coincidence that this is roughly the height of the muscle car craze. I can definitely state that no car manufactured from roughly the 1990’s up to today looks anywhere near as good as cars from the 1950’s thru 1980’s. I used to be able to tell most car makes and models by just seeing one cruise by. Today I can’t tell one car from another without seeing the manufacturer’s emblem on it while it is stopped.
And have you noticed that there is no manufacturer’s emblem on the sides?
Easy question for me, 1969.
1969, especially Chevrolets – the best year for both Corvettes and Camaro
Car design? So many great choices. Across the brands, I’s have to say 1970. The Big Three seem to have seen the storm clouds on the horizon, and put on one final great year. There’s hardly a loser anywhere. Even AMV had an attractive line up.
The 1977 redesign of GM B bodies. Still classic and timeless even today.
I expect, 40-50 years from now, no one is going to pick any year from our current age with our preponderance of indistinguishable pick-ups and potato-shaped SUV’s. Don’t expect I’ll be around to see how this turns out regardless.
1966. Pure and simple. Both Ford and Chevy had great cars that year that have become classics. And don’t forget Plymouth. You need to resist comparing the functionality of 1966 vehicles with cars designed over the last 25 to 30 years. Our wants and needs were different then (we actually had 29 cents-per-gallon gas). The pickup trucks of the day were gorgeous. Remember, we’re talking DESIGN here. The Mustang went from sharp 90 degree angles to softer curves and a better looking fastback. And to me, the concave curve of the C pillar on the 1966 Ford Galaxie 2 door hardtop will go down in history as the most beautiful roofline ever. My opinion only, YMMV.
1961: Engel’s Continental threw a curveball into GM’s garish jukeboxes and Exner’s dive into bizarre. Mitchell caught on, and I’d say 1965 is a very close contender across the board.
When design died? 73-4 with the mandated 5mph bumpers.
I’ll put in a vote for 1967. Wonderful clean designs from Europe and the US as yet uncluttered by regulatory safety. I recognize and appreciate the benefits of safer cars but this is the apogee of clean simple design.
Imo, the best designs were from 1969 and 1970 before bumper and roll-over safety ruined everything.
1940 Ford Deluxe coupe. The way the grille and the hood flow together and the rear 3/4 view of it. It was the epitome of the art deco era.
It has to be 1970, with the simultaneous introduction of the earth shattering wedge Stratos Zero concept and the Ferrari Modulo concept.
I am a millenial but firmly believe that the 1960s were the golden age of automotive design. To choose one specific year though, you have to divide the answer by region.
American car design’s halcyon was 1964. This is when the fintails were all gone but the coke bottle hips hadn’t arrived. Lines were straight as an arrow. It was crisp, clean and delicious. Take a look at a 1964 Chevelle and tell me I’m wrong.
Japanese car design peaked in 1969. You could buy a Toyota 2000GT, a first gen Mazda Cosmo, a Honda S800, and a Nissan Fairlady Z (the 240ZX hadn’t arrived stateside yet), each being, imho, the most beautiful cars designed by each firm.
European cars were beautiful throughout the 1960s. It’s simply hard to choose one year.
Check out the 65 Corvair.