Making Heads Spin—for Better or Worse
Car enthusiasts have seen their share of stunning vehicles—from 007’s Aston Martin to Doc and Marty’s DeLorean, there’s plenty of eye candy for petrolheads. But just as impressive as the good is the remarkably strange, and we’re here to look at both.
Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England on Wikimedia
1. Covini C6W
Do you know what cars don’t need? Six wheels. Unfortunately, no one told Covini Engineering and instead, we got this confusing sports car—one that caught a lot of flack when it was first released in 2004. It may have had a 4.2 L Audi V8 engine and topped out at 186 mph, but nothing saved the look.
Andrew Basterfield on Wikimedia
2. Jetstream SC250
This strange vehicle looked like a cross between a dune buggy and a go-cart, and its stunning red color wasn’t enough to make sense of the design. It wasn’t exactly fawned over and only made a few headlines in 2008, quickly fading into obscurity.
3. Mitsuoka Orochi
You’d think a car named after a legendary eight-headed dragon would look cooler. The Orochi hung around between 2006-2014, undergoing several cosmetic changes in the process, but it still couldn’t escape the title of “world’s ugliest car.”
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
4. Marcos Mantis
Not only did this model not sell very well, but it’s also frequently touted as an unattractive sports car. However, the Mantis remains a rare vehicle with Marcos Engineering only making 32 of them between 1970-71. A handful were made in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but you’ll likely only see this little weirdo at car shows.
5. Donkervoort D8 GTO
Complete with butterfly doors and an elongated hood, production for the Donkervoort lasted surprisingly long—despite the aesthetics. The originals made their first appearance in the ‘90s with the GTO hitting roads between 2013-22, but barely anyone wanted to shell out $240,000 for a car that looked like that.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France on Wikimedia
6. Chevrolet SSR
The Chevy SSR flew a little too close to the sun on this one. Part pickup truck, part sports car, part convertible, this bizarre vehicle missed the mark on every count. Production didn’t last more than a few years, which is probably for the best.
7. Plymouth Prowler
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Prowler caught a lot of dirty looks back in the ‘90s. While some admire the unique look, others quickly dismiss it as a failed hot rod with too much junk in the trunk and a Batmobile-esque hood.
8. Caparo T1
We’ve all wanted to steer a Formula 1 car, but not everyone wants to spend $300,000 for the privilege. Though this car was technically road-legal, it also had a crazy design and several problems. Caparo planned to sell about 25 a year, but only clocked in 15.
Robin Corps from Crowthorne, England on Wikimedia
9. Audi Quattro
It’s hard to get excited about such a boxy sports car, even if it performs well. The 1985 Sports Quattro looked like any ‘80s hatchback and though 2010 and 2013 brought some new concepts to the floor, those styles weren’t any better.
10. Lamborghini Veneno
2013 was a rough year for Lambo enthusiasts. Edmunds crowned the Veneno, a sleek model with admittedly mismatched angles, as the ugliest car that year. That said, plenty of petrolheads vehemently disagree with the title.
Clément Bucco-Lechat on Wikimedia
Now that we’ve gone through some of the worst, it’s time to relish in some of the best.
1. DeLorean DMC-12
How could we leave this classic car off the list? This two-passenger sports car looked great without Doc and Marty behind the wheel (though that certainly upped its popularity). Gull-wing doors and a stainless steel exterior quickly marked it as one of the coolest cars around.
2. Chevrolet Camaro
The DeLorean might be a classic, but it’s the farthest thing from the only beloved beauty. Camaros turn heads wherever they go, and Chevy’s first-gen models from the ‘60s have done it for decades. They’re still in production but our hearts belong to the original model.
Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan on Wikimedia
3. Austin-Healey 3000
It’s retro, it has a sleek design, and it’s like something out of a 007 flick. The Austin-Healey 3000 is a popular boy, the best-known from the Big Healey models, and a cherished sight from the ‘60s.
4. Porsche 911
This little number’s been around since the ‘60s and still garners attention today—despite forgoing the traditional look of today’s sports cars. Whether it’s a newer model or an original one without all the bells and whistles, the 911 withstood the test of time.
Johannes Maximilian on Wikimedia
5. Alfa Romeo Spider
We loved seeing Dustin Hoffman behind the wheel of this baby, but the Alfa Romeo Spider was cool before The Graduate. It had a good run between the ‘60s and the ‘90s, and though it maintained old-school cool, we’re forever fans of the original model.
6. Jaguar E-Type
You know a car’s special Enzo Ferrari allegedly called it the “most beautiful” one in the world. It’s hard to disagree! Jaws dropped over this coupe when it first hit streets back in the ‘60s, and we haven’t stopped fawning over it.
7. Lamborghini Diablo
Alright, we’ll admit it—the original interior shocked us too. Everything from the dash to the hideous airbags that jutted out of it almost knocked this Lambo off the list. However, the exterior has always been amazing, and after a facelift, the interior soon matched.
Ralf Roletschek (talk) - Infos über Fahrräder auf fahrradmonteur.de on Wikimedia
8. Shelby Mustang GT350
Who doesn’t love a good Mustang? Better yet, who doesn’t love a reliable supercar equipped with knockout racing stripes? First gen models were released in the ‘60s (the ones we love best) with today’s versions still boasting impressive paint jobs and those signature stripes.
9. Aston Martin DB5
If we’re going to talk about gorgeous cars, you know we’re going to talk about James Bond’s car. Not only has this model appeared in several films, but it’s also become synonymous with 007. Some days, we’re not sure which is cooler.
10. Ferrari 458 Italia
How could we omit Ferrari from the list? While we had dozens to choose from, there’s just something about the 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia that gets our motor running. Maybe it’s the sleek design, maybe it’s the naturally aspirated V8 engine—or maybe it’s simply one of the best-looking cars around.
