Cars That Became Art
Beauty in car design is hardly accidental. It's a bold blend of vision, proportion, and emotional power. Some machines are remembered for their speed, others for innovation, but a select few become icons simply because they look unforgettable. These are the cars that turn roads into runways and represent design at its most daring and expressive. Here are the 20 most beautiful cars ever designed.
1. Jaguar E-Type
Even Enzo Ferrari famously declared it “the most beautiful car ever made.” The long, aerodynamic hood and sleek proportions of the E-Type were groundbreaking for 1961 and set new styling benchmarks. Featured in Austin Powers, it became a pop-culture symbol of ’60s cool.
2. Ferrari 250 GTO
With only 36 built, the 250 GTO’s rare hand-formed bodywork makes it one of the most revered automotive designs ever. Purpose-built to dominate GT racing, its sublime proportions blend beauty with proven track success. It was designed with no two bodies exactly alike.
Sfoskett~commonswiki on Wikimedia
3. Lamborghini Miura
Considered the world’s first supercar, the Miura pioneered the mid-engine format for high-performance road cars. Its sensuous, flowing body by Bertone shocked the world with unprecedented beauty in 1966, and the “eyelash” headlight surrounds were inspired by women’s makeup.
4. Aston Martin DB5
Elegant handcrafted aluminum paneling makes the DB5 one of the most timeless shapes in automotive history. Only around 1,000 were ever produced, keeping it highly exclusive. After starring as James Bond's car in Goldfinger in 1964, its global fame skyrocketed.
5. Porsche 356 Speedster
A lightweight, minimalist design with graceful curves came with the 356 Speedster. Originally a sales flop until Hollywood embraced it as a style symbol, its low-raked windscreen and spartan amenities were deliberate choices to qualify it for racing classes.
6. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
This car’s trademark upward-swinging doors and sculptural form are instantly recognizable worldwide. It’s also the first production car to use fuel injection, giving it a serious technological edge and beauty backed by performance. Interestingly, the doors were invented due to the race-bred spaceframe chassis, not for style.
7. Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
The seam-riveted dorsal fin and dramatic flowing fenders create one of history’s most extraordinary automotive silhouettes. Jean Bugatti, son of founder Ettore, personally designed and tested it. Plus, a supercharged straight-8 engine delivered racing-level performance in a jaw-dropping body.
Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France on Wikimedia
8. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B
This car had streamlined Touring-bodied curves that were engineered for both beauty and Le Mans endurance racing. Once the fastest road car in the world, aesthetics and brutal performance met here. Surviving examples routinely sell for $20 million-plus at auctions.
9. Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963 Split-Window)
The iconic split rear window and shark-inspired bodylines of this one defined American automotive beauty. It was only offered in 1963, making it one of the most distinctive and collectible Corvette designs ever. GM’s VP allegedly hated its styling but was overruled by designers.
10. Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta
A lightweight, race-bred chassis clothed in Pininfarina’s elegant fastback body makes the car both stunning and competitive. Built specifically for Italian road races like the Mille Miglia, it brought function and form together. Only four were ever made, and this enhanced its mystique and desirability.
Andrew Basterfield on Wikimedia
11. Bentley R-Type Continental
Entirely handbuilt, the R-Type Continental’s sweeping lines set a template for luxury grand touring design. Also, aerodynamic fastback styling allowed it to become the world’s fastest four-seater of its day at 120 mph. WWII aircraft panel beaters were hired to shape its aluminum body.
12. Citroën DS
The DS’s futuristic, tapering bodylines stunned the world at launch, earning it the nickname “La Déesse”, which means The Goddess. Its revolutionary hydropneumatic suspension gave it unmatched ride comfort and poise, and it saved President de Gaulle's life by driving on blown tires during an assassination attempt.
13. BMW 507 Roadster
Designed by Albrecht von Goertz, its sculpted aluminum body and iconic kidney grille made it one of the most visually striking roadsters ever built. Limited production of just 252 units ensures its enduring status as a rare collectible and beauty icon.
14. Ford GT40
This car’s ultra-low 40-inch roofline and sleek aerodynamic profile were crafted specifically to win at Le Mans with style. It beat Ferrari to win four consecutive Le Mans races, proving its design was as effective as it was beautiful.
15. Lotus Esprit Series 1
Giorgetto Giugiaro’s sharp “folded paper” wedge design became one of the most distinctive silhouettes of the 1970s. Lightweight fiberglass construction made it not only beautiful but agile and performance-oriented. The interior used tartan fabric chosen specifically to give it a futuristic vibe.
16. Ferrari Daytona (365 GTB/4)
This car’s long shark-nose front and elegant Pininfarina proportions made it one of Ferrari’s most handsome front-engine GTs. Its cockpit-style dashboard was inspired by fighter aircraft instrumentation. Ferrari never officially called it “Daytona”; fans coined the nickname after their 1-2-3 finish at the Daytona 24 Hours.
17. Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
The Aurelia B20 GT's graceful fastback Touring bodywork combined elegance with advanced engineering, like the world’s first production V6. A wooden steering wheel and artfully simple dashboard show a furniture-like design influence, and its success in rallies such as Monte Carlo proved it wasn't just gorgeous.
18. Delahaye 165 Figoni Et Falaschi
This car’s teardrop Art Deco styling and flowing fenders made it a rolling sculpture of pre-war French elegance. Made for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, it embodied the peak of coachbuilt beauty and innovation. Surviving examples today are considered priceless pieces of automotive art.
19. Tucker 48
A streamlined body and unique center “Cyclops” headlight gave Tucker 48 a futuristic look ahead of its time. Also, it had innovative safety features like a padded dashboard and a pop-out windshield. Only 51 were produced before the company collapsed amid controversy.
20. Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat
Custom coachbuilt styling by Emile Darl’Mat added sweeping ponton fenders and aerodynamic elegance to the standard 402 chassis. Each body was hand-shaped and no two were exactly alike. Plus, hidden hinges kept the bodywork uninterrupted and smooth — rare for the 1930s.
