Art & Inspiration Top-5 American Automotive Designs

same list for me just change out the thunderbird for a 63.5 galaxie

 

you know in retrospect I think I may change the 36 to a 35 as well

 

I'd have to have Edsel Ford's model 40 special on my list for sure. That thing is really cool.

 

Tough to pick just five!
In no particular order, my current choices are...
33-34 Ford 3 window
33-34 Ford Roadster
39 Ford convert
59 El Camino
65 Riviera

 

I’ve already thought of 10 more to add to my top 5!

 

1963 Studebaker Avanti
1956 Ford Victoria
1955 Buick Skylark
1933 Ford 3 window
1931 Ford Victoria

 

Coming from the angle of breakthrough beautiful styling, not necessarily popular cars, here is my list

1933 Willys - years ahead of Phord and Chebby in going sleak
1957 Chevy - can't believe this car made nobody's list. I'll do it. Best use of fins in the fin era.
1940 Ford - although one could argue Phord was just catching up with '37-39 Willys in curvyness
1960 Buick - one of the most beautiful cars ever in my never-to-be-humble opinion
1959 El Camino - out of the box thinking resulting in design success. Prize winner for acreage of sheet metal facing down!

My picks reflect the impact of the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild influence. The contest was instituted by godfather of car styling Harley Earl to identify styling talent in the teen years. Total success I reckon.

Here is a photo of the FBCG alumni on the styling staff of GM in the mid 70s. Guild members also worked for all the other car companies too but primairly in GM.

 

This is easy.
1936 Ford 3 window coupe
1940 Ford deluxe two door sedan
1949 Mercury 2 door
1959 Ford Thunderbird
1963 Corvette coupe

And about 50 honorable mentions!

 

It varies, but considering my love for late sixties/ mid seventies street rods and early musclecars.....

 

1: 1959 Custom Royal convertible, although I would settle for a 2door hard top
2: 1957 Fargo/Dodge Sweptside
3: 1953 Studebaker coupe, once had a very rusty four door…
4: 1957-59 Desoto convertible
5: 1964 Barracuda.

I’m obviously a little biased as well…this list likely changes by the hour…

 

Any GM car 59-60 (could probably say the same for 61-62)
36/6 Ford
39 Merc
51 merc
56 Chevy

 

'39 Ford Deluxe Coupe
'65 Riviera
'55 Nomad
'53-'55 Corvette
'37 Chev Coupe

 

Man top 5. I’ll
Have to chew on that for a minute.

your 38, that photo specifically really, set the hook in me on angry traditional ish hotrods straight away. Have always loved it

 

So many cool makes and years and models to choose from.
I love the oddball stuff, that most don't really appreciate.
My choices are,

49 Caddy 2 door fast back. My favorite tail fin car.
Early 63 Lincoln Continental, used to own one.
Chrysler 300, great styling and they were fast.
50 Old's 2 door Rocket 88, great lines.
Mid 50's Studebaker, my other favorite tail fin car.

 

All this way with no 41 Willys? Add to that 33/34 ford 3 window, any 2 door 55 chev, 1939 zephyr, finish off with any 57 pickup- I think they were all pretty good looking that year.

 

No such thing as a '56-'57 Lincoln Continental Mark II. Continental was a separate division of Ford and they were made in a separate plant (Allen Park Body and Assembly).

 

.....Top-5-American Automotive Designs. Ryan was pretty specific. We've all fallen into the trap of coming up with our own favorite cars, myself included. As much as I like the '40/'41 Willys, I can't really put it in a grouping of the Top 5 Designs. Cool as hell done up gasser style, but really just a stoggy little economy car in its' stock configuration. Sorry, JMHO.

 

Only 5 ?!

40 mercury /ford

41 Willy’s coupe

55 Chevy hard top

65 Lincoln continental

65 Buick riviera


Ask me in 5 minutes and that list will change .

 

I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned a 57 or 58 Ford 2 door hardtop that age has allowed the springs to sag some. I thought it had graceful lines.

 

Narrowing the list down to 5 just seems to be impossible for me, the list would change by the minute. But the '65 Riv would always be at the top of my list as well. It might be cliche but the '32 Ford roadster would always be on my list as well. The other three slots would constantly change depending on my mood.

 

1931 Ford Deluxe Phaeton (2 door)
1936 Ford 3 window coupe
1956 Chev Nomad
1932 Ford 5 window coupe
1937 Chev Sedan Delivery

 

We're a hot rod site, and of course I'm all in on that but I feel like this should have been called best 1929-1965 car designs that suit our site. Because really? Best designs ever pre 65? Ford Victorias? I'm sorry, but I'm a car guy, and if it's that open, no classics would be on my list.

Ferrari Daytona.
Lamborghini 350 gt.
Porsche 550.
Porache 356.
Fors gt 40.

(I already mentioned edsels special 40)

I guess at least an American car made it on my list, though it's mostly a Lola.

If we want to talk best designed cars we like here, different conversation. But best designed cars of those years? American production cars don't enter my mind as "best designed".

You may ban me now..... Lmao

 

The only willys I have ever seen were gassers. And say what Vandenplas you couldn’t even come up with a single Dodge? Great topic, 5 is pretty limiting.

 

no idea how this car is not on EVERYONES list?! Haha!

 

the ladies have too many clothes on. Skin sells cars.

 

The 64/5 cutoff here. Due to muscle cars gaining popularity, custom trends changing or the fact that Detroit styling took a nose dive after 64.
Comparing a 1959 whatever to a 1969 whatever is like comparing Marlyn Monroe to Taylor Swift.
At least the post 64/5 offerings got crazy engines.

 

I am with Gotgas on two of these, the '57 DeSoto and the '29 Ford Roadster. But his Chrysler also has to be on the list, plus a '53 Studebaker and I'd split the difference with your choice of late '30s Fords, boss, by choosing the '37 coupe over the '36 or '38 Fords. Just love the hood treatment on the '37 and the headlight shapes of those three years are right on the money.

 

1964 Cobra Daytona coupe
1964 Cheetah
1963 Corvette coupe
1953 Studebaker
1936 Auburn speedster