7 of Our Favorite Side Scoops and Vents
Be it a scoop, duct, or even speed holes (they make the car go faster, you know), there’s little doubt that negative space improves a vehicle’s design. Some are real and help with induction, cooling, or aerodynamics, but many are fake. With the wide variety of body side holes available, we asked the Hagerty Media team for their thoughts on the best examples of the breed. While many of their answers won’t surprise you, some are likely to do just that!
RUF CTR Yellowbird
“I’m a sucker for the side scoops in the original 1987 RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird.’ So massive, so bold, and necessary for that car to cement its name in history as one of the all time greats. Speaking of which, it’s about time for my monthly watch of Faszination on the Nürburgring. —Nathan Petroelje
Ferrari 308
“I’m going Ferrari here. Testarossa is the obvious choice, but it’s almost too obvious. The F40 nearly nails the look with its twin NACA ducts, but everything on that car is overshadowed by the rear wing. The 348 is too ‘baby Testarossa,’ and while the 355 is a bit more understated, I’m going to go with the long, sharp simple scoop carved out of the belt line of the 308.” —Stefan Lombard
Pontiac Trans Am (Second Gen)
“I had a hard time pinning one down. First-gen Shelby Mustangs, Cayman GT4RS, Italian anything. Even the box-flare scoop on the mid-engined Ford Shogun looks cool to me—I like aggressive-looking cars. But I’m going to go with second-gen Pontiac Trans Am fender vents. They’re a cool design, I’ve been drawn to them since I was a kid, and they’re a nice bit of ‘means business’ on the side of a car that was all about bravado.” —Eddy Eckart
Ferrari Testarossa
I have to go with Testarossa. Not picking it as an icon and pop culture masterpiece is like not acknowledging Harley Earl’s impact on car design. The way Pininfarina got away with ensuring small critters wouldn’t take residence into its side scoops is pure brilliance. It’s literally aluminum window dressing that looks like it could slice an apple, but man, what a way to decorate an empty space. —Sajeev Mehta
Cizeta-Moroder V16T
“A good side scoop has to grab your attention, so I’m going to go with the Cizeta V16T. Its strakes and scoops aren’t as elegantly pulled off as the Testarossa it’s ripping off, but they are more over the top. And in a car with 16 cylinders and two sets of pop-up headlights, being over the top fits with the theme. Honorable mention to my Lotus Elise. Those are some damn good scoops.” —Andrew Newton
Corvette Grand Sport (C6)
“The sixth-generation Corvette has been hot and cold throughout my life as an auto enthusiast. Lately it has been on the rebound and my interest only growing stronger. Of the available C6 models, the Grand Sport seems to be the car for the buyer in the know who actually plans to drive it and wants a great balance of performance and livability. The twin scoops on the side are unique to the Grand Sport trim and enhance the lines of the C6 in a positive way, unlike those of some of the other trims.” —Kyle Smith
McLaren 765LT
“The scoop carved into the door of McLaren’s modern 765LT (along with its many siblings whose names begin with 7). Its placement and rake recalls that of the F1, McLaren’s legendary ’90s road car. The vent that exists here mimics the side strakes of the F1, with some sort of flare and tuck and crease business behind and below it. I don’t speak enough designer to really break it down, but wow, it’s nice to look at. The hard edges of the vent, both at top and at the trailing edge, are such a yummy contrast to the smooth surfacing of the rest of the door.” —Grace Houghton
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of great or at least interesting side scoop and vent designs out there. Which one is your favorite?
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The Second Gen Ford GT
I agree with all except the Testarossa. That is the one Ferrari I never liked. My favorite side scoops are the “Gills” on the Corvette C6 Grand Sport. Possibly because I own a Torch Red C6 Grand Sport.
I like my 68 and 70 Shelbys. The scoops on my 70 Shelby vert are great.
Yes, Ford GT MK 1!
even though they are just stuck on there, i have always liked the plymouth gtx side scoops
2006 Jaguar Super V8 Portfolio
Agree on the Ferrari 308 as I owned one but what about my Ferrari 355 Spider’s massive side scoops that feed the two mid mounted radiators? (engine and oil cooling) The car is actually wider at the back than the front to accommodate the scoops and their radiators. I didn’t care for the scoop strakes on the 348 but my car looks great without them.
How about the Renault Dauphine?
Agree, functional scoops for the common man.
I don’t know how you missed the Alfa Romeo 4C, with the side scoops that seem to go right through the car and exit where the taillights are, like some kind of jet engine. They make the Testarossa scoops like half-hearted.
Away from supercar-land, where another writer has positied that they’re “required by law,” I’m particularly fond of the high rear air intakes on my Vanagon Syncro. Required when the early Vanagons were air-cooled, now the left one feeds cool air to the Subaru engine’s air intake, and the right one cools the engine compartment.
Side scoops: take a look at the scoops on any C5 Corvette, from 1997 through 2004, for impressive, dramatic side scoops that don’t overwhelm the sleek lines of the overall automobile.
No mention of the Saleen S7 ? That is just blasphemy.
As this article states “best scoop on classics” I would have to go with the 1989 version of the Batmobile. Also include the 65′-66′ Shelby GT 350’s. Both the side and B pillar scoops.
Shame, shame, shame on you for not mentioning Dodge Viper, with its absolutely glorious rearward fender vents, ESPECIALLY the 1989 concept car with those nasty black headers exposed and tucking back under to feed the side exhaust. Bests vents ever.
Agreed.
Actually, I like the side strakes on the 348, but not so much on the Testarossa. I know the Testarossa needs them for the cooling system, but the fat back end on the car doesn’t fit. On the 348 they fir the flow of the side of the car.
You forgot to fawn over MY car!