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?
Wow, great question! A lot of great answers and hard to narrow if down, but since you brought up a 90’s car I’d like to point you to another great example of “beautiful, functional, and affordable” from that era; the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.
With its new Wide-Track design, front-drive 3800 V6, and relatively low MSRP the 7th Generation Grand Prix fits each one of those descriptors perfectly, maybe even better than the Neon. It appealed to many buyers during that time, probably because it provided great reliability, got 30mpg on the highway, had a 5-star crash rating, and looking sporty in either 2-door or 4-door versions. In the late 90’s the Grand Prix was the number #1 selling Pontiac for many dealerships around the country, and it wasn’t uncommon for local Pontiac dealer groups to be outselling their rival Chevrolet dealers groups in given areas.
This generation Grand Prix had a cult-like following too, with many groups forming to share their passion and performance enhancing ideas with one another. Heck! Several aftermarket performance companies popped-up because of the Grand Prix and supercharged 3800 V6, places like ZZP wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for the Grand Prix GTP.
So yeah, let’s throw the 1997-2003 Grand Prix into the mix, it brought excitement back into the brand when there wasn’t much to be excited about.
I think the best year for car design was 1957 ,it seemed like every car manufacturer got it right than year
All of the GM divsions made beautiful cars Chevrolet Bélair ,Nomad,Corvette,Oldsmobile 98 and wagon Buick Roadmaster and fiesta wagon ,Pontiac Safari Cadillac Eldorado and tech innovations like fuel injection
Ford made Skyliner ,Thunderbird
Chrysler had the Forward look with Plymouth and Dodge the D500 while Chrysler the 300C
Studebaker the Golden Hawk
Packard the president
AMC the last Hudson Hornet
It was a fabulous year for design and innovation not only here in North America but in England and Europe as well
To me, 69 had to be the top for style and performance. Take your pick-Charger R/T, Chevelle SS, Mustang Mach 1, Olds 442, GTO, AMX, and others. Just the best.
1930. Auburn, Packard, Ford, the boxy functional designs transitioned to works of art. Timeless classics showcasing custom design houses.
I am 80 yrs old.My Father was a Chevy Dlr. from 1957 the 1995.I was also a dlr. from 1971-1995. there is no
doubt about it!!! 1967 WAS THE BEST YEAR FOR AMERICAN CAR Design . The 1967 Vette. was the almost
perfect car. I had one with factory a/c my first year at the UofM law school…it was later sold. In 1975 I took a
1966 with Factory a/c(rare!) in trade and still have it !!
Go back and look at the early 1960’s. (1959-1963) That was a major turning point from the “shoebox” cars to automobiles with style and panache. Look at the dashes and gauge clusters of the early 60’s Chrysler products. You would think you were in a space capsule or a time machine. After about 1964 the car design went very sleek and modern. Look at the 1965 Cadillac. There were no tail fins for the first time in a LONG time! Long straight modern lines vs sculpted imaginative bodies from before. I can find something about every era to enjoy but the early ’60’s were the most creative.
OK… I’m throwing a wrench into the conversation. It’s 2024! EVs and LEDs are changing the way a car can look because we can do things with the front end that we could never do before. Just look at the front of a 2024 Equinox! Pretty damn cool! Just for a reference, I own a 58 and 69 Vette and grew up with cars from the 60s (Wildcat, Impala, Camaro, El Camino) that my father bought and I love them all. Technology is causing a design evolution that to my eyes is just beginning.
1939 Ford
1969 Ford Cobra, the 2 seater
1960 Chevy
Anything 67 and back. DOT and EPA mandates on 68 and newer killed off a lot of good cars.
Todays cars are all “Bubble” cars. Cars that “look” streamlined even if they’re not do it for me. I had a 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coup. I loved that car and it gave me great service as my daily driver. Unfortunately I wasn’t the only person who liked it, it was stolen, never to be seen again. As Margaret Wolf Hungerford said, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The 1968 and 1969 fast back Torino GT with c stripes on the side.
I just wanted to throw the 68 to 70 AMX into the discussion. Very affordable, fantastic styling and a blast to drive.
1970 was the best year with Mustang (Boss or not), Chevelle (SS or not), El Camino, Cutlas (442 or not), Skylark (GSX or not). MOPAR was consistent with the Charger and Road Runner.
1959
Agreed
Here’s a real curve ball for you: How about the revolutionary ’66 to ’74 Citroëns? Engineering par excellence: front wheel drive, hydraulic suspension and iconic aerodynamic body design with a ride quality unmatched since.