Five years ago, I was lucky enough to attend a lecture given by famous General Motors designer Bill Porter. He highlighted some of his favorite designs and explained why they were so successful. At the end, I asked him what car he considered to be the most beautiful, and his answer surprised me.
He told me his favorite car was the Bugatti 57SC Atlantic, but he wondered out loud if the ’65-’67 Corvair sedan wasn’t the most beautiful car ever designed–high praise from a guy who has forgotten more about automotive design than I’ll ever know. In particular, Mr. Porter noted the C-Pillar of the sedan and how much more well-proportioned it was than the coupe’s when taken as a whole, especially when considering the interface between the sail panel and the rear wheel opening.
I own a Corvair convertible, so there’s a little Corvair bias coursing through my veins; however, when speaking of sedans, I must humbly disagree with Mr. Porter and offer the 1936 Cord 810 Westchester as the most beautiful. In fact, this is one of the few bodystyles where the sedan may be the most attractive variant.
On a more international note, while it’s not my personal favorite, I feel a fair number of folks may choose the Citroen DS as the most beautiful sedan. At the very least, it’s striking.
Let’s narrow this down. Maybe the late Corvair sedan isn’t the most beautiful car in the world, but is it the most beautiful sedan? Is the Cord? Is the Citroen? Is something else? What do you think is the most beautiful sedan of all time?
I agree with Mr. Porter: I too think the 2nd gen Corvair was the most beautiful car ever created. Aside from the hood being a trifle short, there’s not a bad line on it anywhere!
61-69 Continental. Maybe the only car in history where the sedan looks better than the coupe
Agree with you on the Continental, but would stop at the year 1964 as the grill in the 65 didn’t look right; oh and make sure it’s black.:-)
Totally agree with you on the ’61-’69 Continentals, although my favorites of the lot are the ’64-’65. Interesting how many people have mentioned these Lincolns here. Crisp, formal, loved the thin fixed B pillar, and the hardtop-style metal-framed windows were elegant. Having had an all-black ’65 in the family back then colors my perception just a teeny bit, though. And I loved the ’65 grille, much more presence than the ’64. My second most favorite 4-door hardtop would be the ’62 Cadillac, for similar reasons, and combined with that signature swoopy curved vent pane window on the front doors, an elegant, sculptural look.
Lots of cars would qualify to be the most beautiful sedan in the world at one time or another.
For my money, I would have to begin with dad’s 1966 Impala Sports Sedan – that was a real looker, especially in red. The 1972 Impala Sports Sedan is a close runner-up, particularly in that nice brown color.
Next, the 1983(?) Audi 5000.
After that, many VWs & Audis especially in recent years.
Right now, my personal favorite is the 2014 Impala. Am I biased? You betcha!
When I saw your heading, the first car thst came to my mind was–the 1965-67 Corvair 4 doors! Glad to know I am in such good company. These Corvairs are always at the top of my list when the subject turns to 4 doors. #2? Easily the 1961-69 Lincoln Continentals.
The 61-63 Contis are quite lovely. Good pick.
I’ve always loved the 65 Corvair also. Its beauty is simple, undeniable and, to me, very apparent. I like it quite a bit more than the hardtop coupe. Popular opinion, or my impression of it, seems to favor the two door, so I feel quite validated by Mr Porter’s opinion.
As for the answer to the QOTD, I’ll have to think for quite a while. Perhaps I’ll have to take a mental journey to Milan or Turin. Time break out the cough syrup, then (JUST KIDDING!).
I always liked Jaguar XJ6’s from the early-mid 70s. It looked both athletic and luxurious at the same time, an impressive feat considering most 70’s cars I picture in my mind are either land yachts or tiny econoboxes. Too bad they didn’t have the reliability to match their beautifully sculpted sheet metal.
X2
My first reaction was the Corvair, but then you reminded me of the Jag. yes, X3….
This.
right. the XJ must score very high on this list!
Amen.
Agree, the XJS Mk 1’s were stunning….but then I saw a program on the ’60s early Mk II.
+1
+1
The Pininfarina-facelifted Mk3 (1979 to 1987–88) ain’t bad either. Some people (including me) find them better looking than the earlier cars because they retained all the litheness — there is really not a bad angle — while eliminating all the gawkiness the earlier cars had been saddled with by the need to meet U.S. regulatory requirements.
Having owned a ’76 XJ6L, I must state that the sedan looked far better than the coupe version (the XK6C). Now if the engine didn’t let me down too often I might have even kept it.
I’d agree with this, and I’d like to nominate the M-B W123 for honorable mention status. (And a more durable/reliable car!)
I’m a bit confused as to that you’re asking. To me, a “sedan” may have 2 or 4 doors but has a B-pillar. The Wikipedia definition of sedan agrees with mine as well.
The 4-door Corvair has no B-pillar, making it a “hardtop”. I also note that all of your examples have 4 doors. In that context, is the question: What is the most beautiful 4-door sedan/hardtop?
I’ve amended the title…
Thanks Aaron. I would have a hard time narrowing it down to just one vehicle. The ones that come quickly to mind are:
1959 Buick Electra 225 Riviera
1960 DeSoto Adventurer (though I’d rather own a 1960 Chrysler to get the cool dashboard)
1961-3 Lincoln Continental
1966 Chrysler New Yorker
The 1959-60 6 window hardtops from Buick and Cadillac are another of my favotites.
My first choice would be a 1959 Electra 225 Riviera too! I’d order mine with the Flightpitch transmission and the “Auto Heat” and A/C as well as a working speedometer!
For me, the NSU Ro80 ranks up there as a beautiful modern design.
+1
That is one of my all times, too. It’s one of those designs that is so predictive that it is almost impossible to fathom it’s being from the mid 1960s. I would bet you could take a survey of the general public and ask them to append a year to a picture of it, and they would think it from the 1990s it’s just so gorgeous.
+2. There has been an Ro80 for sale on eBay with a ton of detailed pictures. Stunning car, especially in the context of the late 60s.
I’m always amazed by that car. At the time it looked like almost an “alternative universe” type of design, and it took the rest of the world something like 20 years to catch up, design-wise. Not like the Citroen DS, which was never imitated.
One more for the Ro80. Beautiful, and ahead of its time.
absolutely
My favourite vehicles here are the 1965 Corvair sedan, the Citroen DS, and the 1983 Subaru sedan and wagon AWD. The Subaru isn’t here, but it’s still my favourite. They may not be the most beautiful vehicles on the planet, but I like them, and would drive them if given a chance. 🙂
The sedan is meh, the hardtop only a 2-door (but one of the last on the market!), but I’m with you on the wagon. Which is and ever was the most-favored Subaru model anyway – make mine a GL with Dual Range 4WD, factory white spoke wheels and plaid seats…
I have a soft spot for the 1968 Olds Cutlass 4-door hardtop. I’m biased tho, as my grampa had one.
There are many choices, it depends on the year.
One of the first that pops to my mind is this….
That was a very pretty car, Carmine! Good choice! I chose a BMW below, which you probably won’t agree with, but I think this Seville fits all my criteria as well. Spacious greenhouse (if not quite upright), simple lines and minor details are all beautiful.
The only thing that spoils the design IMO is the transverse FWD positioning of the rear wheels.
It’s a pity there was no way to feasibly address this. The 91-95 Acura Legend sedan, though not quite as distinctive as the Seville, is also a very beautiful car, with its clean lines and RWD proportioning, despite being FWD.
I know you mean front wheels, and in most cases this is very true. But somehow, I think it looks just right on the Seville – the FWD proportions just don’t ruin it for me. This car’s design has aged beautifully.
In the latter case, that’s a function of the longitudinal engine, although the KA7/KA8 Legend fares better visually than the similarly configured Vigor/Inspire/first-gen TL, which end up looking a bit too much like a photochopped Accord.
There’s plenty of RWD designs in this era that have the so called FWD proportions. MN12 Tbirds and Cougars and SN95 Mustangs to name a few.
Short dash to axle ratios and longer front overhangs don’t equate poor design, I think it’s easy to get caught up with that notion out of familiarity since there were so many bad, or more often, bland cars that had them since the 80s, BUT keep in mind most mid engined cars tend to share those same proportions as well. Can’t exactly say the front wheels are too far back on one of these…
Not bad. The most attractive Cadillac since, oh, 1959?
No….not at all.
Since 1959?
Hell, the 1959 isn’t even as pretty as the 1960 to me…..
1961-62-63 and 64 Cadillacs
1968 Cadillacs and Eldorado
1972 Eldorado
1976 Seville
1979 Eldorado
1980 Cadillac
Then the dark times came……
The 59 wouldn’t make my most attractive Cadillac list to begin with. People can say what they want about the decontenting of Cadillacs of the 70s but as designs I think they remained pretty damn attractive right through the downsized Bs. Many of 60s ones were downright stunning IMO
My nominee: the 1998-2001 Chrysler Concorde.
I had wanted one, but it was just too bad about the 2.7 DOHC engine and its sludge problems. Where I live there seem to be more First Generation (1993-1997) Concordes and Intrepids with their reliable 3.5 SOHC and 3.3 OHV engines than the 1998-up version, which mostly were sold with the 2.7 engine. By the time the problem got fixed, the LH sedan was in its last couple of years.
And ultimately, despite the all-new styling, the newer generation doesn’t really drive or feel much different from the first, in comparable model lines.
I understand that nomination. Beautiful to look at. Also unmistakable.
To me, the most beautiful 4 door sedan is the 1968-1977 BMW “E3” sedan (Bavaria, 2500, 2800, 3.0s, 3.3s etc.). The upright and spacious greenhouse, and simple lines, and minor styling details are beautiful.
And if I can have a runner up to my choice, 1974 Dodge Monaco. Once again, simple lines, upright greenhouse and minor details!
Yes, the Blues Mobile was a stunner!
Those are pretty good looking, though I really like their hardtop coupe counterparts more.
As much of a Corvair fan as I am, I always thought the ’65-68 four door looked way too much like the ’66 Malibu four door hardtop sedan, and was just not very distinctive, unlike say the two-door coupe.
Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say the ’66 Malibu looks too much like the ’65 Corvair?
The Corvair’s ever-so-much prettier, though.
Yes, it would be interesting to know if the Corvair was designed first. I assume it was and then stylists took their lead from it when redesigning the Chevelle and full-size Chevy line. Amazing to think there was a time when automakers had to redesign up to four car lines in one year!
Why do you assume the ’65 Corvair was designed before the ’65 full size Chevy?
Undoubtedly, these ’65 programs were running concurrently. New car designs don’t just pop out of an egg one day; they are the culmination of months and years of design development before they’re “locked in”. Obviously, the Coke bottle look was the way GM and Chevy were going in ’65.
Not strictly speaking. It’s not a matter of which car is imitating the other; I just don’t think the ’65 Corvair 4 door is distinctive and unique enough. I could also have said it looks too much like the ’65 Impala four door.
Personally, the 67-68 Impala hardtops are my favorites.
There have been plenty of hits and misses through the years though. (The 68-72 GM A bodies being a big miss)
The most beautiful cars to me are the Figoni et Falaschi Delahayes and Delages from the 30s. Here’s an example:
http://www.autogaleria.hu/autok/delahaye/165-figoni-et-falaschi-cabriolet-1938/delahaye_165-figoni-et-falaschi-cabriolet-1938_r3.jpg
The 1965-67 Corvair Monza 4 door hardtop is my favorite Corvair. It was also the first non-full size GM hardtop sedan. A bodies got 4 door hardtops a year later.
I really like the 1967-68 GM “B” body hardtops too.
Another vote for the 67-68 Bs. Especially the Impala version.
+1
I may be biased because my first car was just like that one! But I prefer the style of these 4 door hardtops to coupes and convertibles!
Hello!? 95-99 Olds Aurora. duh.
I agree, the first gen Aurora is a very pretty car.
The aurora and the Riviera of that generation were both beautiful cars styled a little ahead of their time, I think the aurora was the prettier of the two, I have 65 corvair 2 door and one of the things I like most is the c pillars and the big open glass house. The 4 door loses that effect.
So pretty and distinctive, it could have been a Jaguar.
+1
The first time I saw one as a freshman in high school, I was blown away. This, coming from a kid with Porsche and Lamborghini posters on his wall.
Very close to the ’65 Corvair, my favourite is the Vauxhall FD, especially in VX4/90 form (definitely a B pillar in this one)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38601138@N05/4579102419/sizes/o/
The car that inspired the Mark 3 Cortina!
If I had to nominate a hardtop I’d pick any of the gargantuan American Luxury sedans of about the mid 1960s till the discontinuation of hardtops in the 70s. Those longer, lower, wider beasts made the sedan form look good stretched to its maximum.
As far as a plain sedan I honestly think that the Chevy Celebrity was a very pure expression of three box design. I know all the A-bodies were derivative of each other but the Celebrity was the purest expression of the design. It had a pretty low COD too for such a square shape.
For me it is the 91-96 Oldsmobile 98. Big car ride and a design that harkened back to the late 1950’s to late 1960’s with a long trunk and smooth lines.
I would rate the 1965 Impala 4 door hardtop very high on the list….My Dad had one….283 V8 with 3 speed manual….two tone paint…..Ermine white roof and crocus yellow body. The yellow was the same color as on the Corvair pictured at the top of this article.
Definitely the DS. It’s timeless. After almost sixty years it still looks futuristic.
I like the Citroen CX also.
True. But if I had to choose one of them, it’d be the DS.
+1
me too, especially 1st generation with the “pod” dash
Doesn’t that console look boring compared to that futuristic-looking dash?
But back then it was more like “Wow! That car’s got a CONSOLE!!
and all the switches on the pod, too bad this idea was not further developed
1976-79 Cadillac Seville. Perfect proportions, classic profile and a beautiful face. The wide stance and gorgeous colors make the Seville unforgettable.
There’s a number of 30’s true classics that might be good candidates, but then that was a long time ago. Here’s something a bit more modern, the Facel Vega Excellence.
+1
One of the most beautiful 4-doors of all time. But with almost zero side protection, a dangerous lady. Running neck and neck is the 61-63 Lincoln Continental, my all time favorite of this model.
When I thought we were originally considering four-door pillar-less hardtop sedans only, I was going to nominate the 55 Oldsmobile as it was the first example of this body style that rolled into our driveway. My aunt and uncle got one of the first produced, yellow over black, with white vinyl and black cloth upholstery, the latter with interwoven silver threads. As a six year old, I thought it was the most beautiful car I’d ever seen.
+1
The Excellence was the very first thing that popped into my mind, though there are many other worthy candidates (SII Jag XJ6 being perhaps foremost).
This one right here. The 1975 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron. Sans vent windows, and with the smaller backlight, this is my favorite hardtop styling. The proportions are perfect to my eye. and the way the curve at the leading edge of the C pillar mimics the curve ahead of the rear skirts, very elegant. I also think the ‘halo’ vinyl roof accents these curves much more than the full vinyl roof used in ’78 on the New Yorker Brougham. the only flaw in this image are the door edge guards in chrome. Oh, the ’70’s!
I had a 77 New Yorker Brougham version of these, they were pretty good looking, though everyone used to ask me what model year Lincoln it was!
Must have been the hidden headlights.
Although the sixties saw some great Chrysler four door hardtops, they’re overshadowed by the two door fastbacks.That wasn’t as issue when the Fuselage cars showed up in 1969 (except for the couple of years of the last convertibles) and from that point forward until the last four door hardtops were built in 1978, a strong case could be made that, if not the best, they were still pretty damn good for four door hardtops.
I always thought that these were very attractive for a big 1970’s sedan.
Absolutely! Now I see how much the Dodge Monaco copied that Buick! Including the little uptick in the rear door above the downward sloping character line…
I think the 1971-1972 ones look a little to “Skylark-ey” with their simpler front ends and the 1975-1976 ones look a little too bulky with the square front end, but the 1973 and 1974 are perfect to my eyes.
I’m not crazy about the headlights on the ’74, so I’d pick the ’73. They seem like a cleaned up version of the ’58s.
As a lad of almost 10 when those were introduced I thought they were hideously ugly, now after 40 years I’ve mellowed to the point that I find them quite attractive.
While I do prefer the 1973 Riviera to the 1971-72, I can’t say that for the Electra 225, LeSabre or Centurion which are those I like the least among 1970s models. I don’t like the taillights on these and I’m not too found of the headlight arrangement.
I like both the 1971 and 1972 Electra 225.
And I do like the 1974 a lot. I agree about the 1975-76 and their too massive grilles. (even though I own a 1975 and owned a 1976).
I don’t like the modifications that were made on the beltline near the “C” pillar of the 1975-76 4 door hardtops and the opera windows.
Lambo Miura or The original GT40.
SEDAN?
Lambo
Four door sedan??
oops.
You could try this. Only two doors, true, but they do expose all the seats when open. And it is beautiful. And a Lamborghini.
W126 Mercedes 560SEL
And the W116 450SEL, the authoritative sedan of the 70s.
I second the W126. One of the very few sedans I prefer to the Coupe alternative. And that says a lot since the SEC is a hardtop!
Have to heartily disagree with that point. The sedans are indeed beautiful, but that coupe? Come on. Amazing.
To each their own though! That’s what makes this place so interesting…
The nose does it for me, I prefer the large headlights and traditional grille of the sedan to the SEC’s SL style grille and smaller headlight treatment. I think both are very attractive though, easily one of the prettiest coupes since the early 70s to date
Apparently the W124 has become a style icon too. Gets my vote.
The DS is definitely a stunning milestone, I would also nominate some of Mann-Egerton’s more rakish 1930s offerings and and the C3 generation of the Audi 100/5000 from 82-91. These were very striking looking cars that set the “aero look” template as well as including some clever engineering to get flush door glass.
1955 Lancia Florida I.
Really any Flaminia sedan would be a good candidate.
Well that is just stunning. There are so many pretty Lancias and Alfas that I’ve never seen in person, and they don’t get the fanboy exposure of Ferraris and such.
I assumed the question was about actual production cars…. otherwise I would have nominated it too 🙂
Even though I think I’ve only ever seen one here in the US this is my favorite
Rover SD1.
The looks of a Ferrari Daytona, with the practicality of a 4 door hatchback. Stuff a SBC and THM200OD in there and that’s pretty close to perfection, at least in concept.
Interesting choice, I always kinda of liked these, the few 3500’s that were imported into the US occasionally pop up for sale on ebay for give away money, I have been thinking that an 2006 GTO LS 6 speed swap would make a great sleeper, has anyone stuffed a small block into one of these yet?
I think there’s a reason why they sell for pocket change on this side of the Atlantic…
But, I like your idea about a LSx swap into one of these. Although, I would go with a 4 speed auto box behind it, only because I believe there would be a lot less fabrication to be done to make it work.
I like the Rover SD1 but have always hated the front air dam on them. It looks a bit odd compared to the rest of the car and reminds me of the 2000-2006 Ford Ranger STX with its front bumper.
1931 Packard 845 Newport Sport Sedans by Dietrich
1934 Packard Twelve Sport Sedan by Dietrich
1936-37 Cord 810 & 812 Westchester and Beverly sedans
1941 Packard Custom Super Eight 180 Sport Brougham by LeBaron
1938 & 1941 Cadillac 60 Specials
1948 & 1949 Cadillac 60 Specials
1961-63 Lincoln Continentals
To me, the prettiest 4 door car on sale right now is the 3rd generation CTS.
Its stunning.
I think most of the new Cadillacs look great (I’m not a huge XTS fan), but the new ATS coupe is really nice in person. The CTS is a real improvement over the last one.
Peugeot 406 one of Farinas best.
True. Maybe the prettiest Peugeot?
Anything that Maserati calls a “Four door”, regardless its age.
My personal favorite:
And my second favorite:
I prefer the 1969 model, myself, for it’s cleaner details. But this was one very attractive sedan.
Late 1960s Lancia Fulvia Sedan.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the 91-96 Olds 98. It took the FWD C-platform, which, except for being too small for a real full-size, was still a competent vehicle, and masterfully blended retro styling cues with that early-90s bubble-top craze, all while still holding onto that sort of reserved ostentatiousness that made Oldsmobile Oldsmobile.
Whats funny is that you’re the 2nd person to nominate one of these, I like them too, though I was always more partial to the same generation curvy Park Avenues.
My view of Buicks will forever be tainted by their geriatric reputation. Any car in which I’ve thrown up is not one that I can view as entirely positive.
Really?
Not really doing this to make an argument, but “Buicks geriatric reputation”? As opposed to what?
The 19 year old bikini models that were buying 98’s?
Hey, a 45-year-old Minnesotan Olds buyer is a spring chicken compared to the retirees who bought Buicks.
My “not entirely positive” list of cars includes the GMC Envoy, 3rd-gen Dodge GC, and 2002 Continental along with the “geriatric” Buick. And I do agree with Leon’s comment that at least Olds made some distinction between their two full-size sedans.
Unfortunately where the Olds 98 had an exclusive look to it and did not look like the 88, the Park Avenue shared enough of its exterior and interior look with the 1 year later released Lesabre (I got a replacement door mounted headlight switch for my 97 Lesabre from a 1994 park ave) to make people stop and ponder if it was worth it to get the Park Ave over a Lesabre Limited which might be why they released a new Park in 1997 and held off coming out with a new Lesabre till 2000.
The 88 shares all of its interior with the 98 too. Same head light switches and dash, the only difference is the seat. The 88 is also pretty much the same as 98 until you get to the rear roofline, quarters and trunk.
The skirted rear wheels on the 98 do a nice job of separating it from the 88.
I like the curves on the Park Avenue, but when you shrink the design down for the LeSabre and Century I don’t think it works as well.
As to the geriatric question, I’ll just say the ’98 I bought this spring came with a ball, a tee, and a couple of golf pencils down in the spare tire well. 😉
I am a fan of the Park Avenue as well. Surprised? 🙂
I used to have a 1991 Park Avenue Ultra.
I really liked it’s looks. This one wasn’t the supercharged version but it had most options including the sunroof, Gran Touring package and CD player.
I might be wrong but I think this was also the very first car to offer dual zone automatic a/c in 1991.
Yeah, I always thought the Olds looked sort of top-heavy compared to that Buick, which is up there for best-looking sedan of the 90s.
I think this is another very handsome big car, probably the best styled out of the 3 big GM RWD cars. Also this car is menacing and imposing, especially in black, seeing one of these pull up at the curb in front of your house means that you pissed of the wrong guy.
Much like Paul Sorvino, the Fleetwood Brougham was born to play “the heavy” and play it well.
Many of the obvious choices are already mentioned, though I’m surprised nobody said BMW E38 7-Series, as it was the final and finest iteration of BMW’s classic sedan idiom. Very elegant and understated. However to me, it’s a late 80s MB W126 in “nachtblau”. Nothing says “class” like this car.
and for a non-production vehicle, how about the stunning Fiat 130 Opera?
Right!
If we’re going non-production, how about Pininfarina’s Lancia Gamma Scala?
You both have great choices; the Opera and Scala were so much better than the actual products sold to the public. It’s sad neither reached production..
The similarity of these is pretty close, so I’d pick the Lancia
In compliance with FCC Fairness Doctrine, I opt to reply with a Lincoln:
A Chevy:
And some ark blotting out a Lotus:
+1
Sedan: Current Cadillac ATS.
Hardtop: ’61-’64 Continental.
I simply do not like the looks of any sedan, at least the four door variety. It is impossible to give them the beautiful lines of a 2 door. To me they look clunky and utilitarian. Like a taxicab or something to haul a family in. But most of them I see aren’t hauling anyone but the driver. I don’t understand 4 doors unless you actually NEED them. I guess I do like them better than minivans and 4 door SUVs and trucks. I also have a thing for woodgrain station wagons, even those with 4 doors. I currently own a pretty decent ’73 Pinto 2 door woodgrain wagon. And I am currently driving a 4 door sedan for transportation. A 2001 Chevy Malibu. It is ugly. I bought it when I needed cheap transportation with A/C 4 years ago with 98,000 miles on it. I never expected it to last that long. It now has 200,000 miles on it. I hate it and want rid of it, but it just keeps running, and I am determined to drive it into the ground before replacing it. It is my first 4 door, and will be my last.
Sachi Wilson
The most beautiful cars to me are the Figoni et Falaschi Delahayes and Delages from the 30s.
Yes ! Haute Couture at the farthest and most creative end .
Stunning and the most desirable for me to.
Thank you. Someone else with great taste.
I think if we were to poll for the most beautiful decade, it’d be the thirties.
Here’s a late-thirties Riley Kestrel.
Honourable mention: Jaguar Mark V.
Definitely. I’ll add the Mk VIII.
Stunning.
+1
+1
Here’s another British car which really stood out when I was a kid. Riley 2 1/2 litre.
Agree with the Jaguar Mark V
+1
To me, this is the most beautiful 4-door sedan in the world –
For me, one that I love is the mid-90s Volvo 940. I found it a beautiful evolution of the 700 series with just enough curve added to the sharp edges.
Amazing varied list. Love the Continental, DS, XJ Series 1, Corvair. So how about another, the uber-elegant Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur?
You’ve saved me the trouble of finding a photo of these, they are very sleek.
+1
This is a tough one. Most 4 door pillarless hardtops are pretty exotic here in Europe, so I just love all of them, chooosing a favourite is a bit tough, but one of the early ones stand out.
Nr. 1 is the 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air ‘sport sedan’, closely followed by the ’57 Desoto.
I notice a lot of other people also share my affection for the ’67 Impalas, and all fuselage bodied Mopars look awesome without any pillars.
57 Fords and 58 Edsels, like the 56 Bel Air, also almost look better with 4 doors than with 2, as long as there’s no pillar
And thanks to Stephen King and John Carpenter, a 57 or 58 Plymouth belvedere 4dr hardtop (as in the book, a 2 door ht in the film)is near unbeatable, although like the before mentioned Ford and Edsels, it lacks some of the 56 Chevys coherent elegance and nicely fitted bumpers.
If it has any b-pillars I usually prefer 2 door cars though, so not many Europeans on top of my list, although I’m a huge fan of the classic Citroens too.
An I almost forgot the Jaguar Mk2…
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6236/6258214691_4a440d6a34_z.jpg
Tough question, and I could go several ways. The 1969-70 Mercury Marquis was an exquisitely proportioned 4 door. The 1964 Continental was another.
The 1971-72 Oldsmobile 98 was quite attractive as well. Going back farther, the 1957 New Yorker may have been the best looking 4 door of the 1950s. As for the 1960s, I am partial to the 1967 and 1968 Chrysler 300 4 door models.
The 63 Impala 4 door hardtop was another real looker in my book.
I think most of my faves have been represented so far… or have they?
Of course, the late ’60s GM full-size hardtops were tough to beat. The 14″ wheels on my former ’69 Impala threw off the proportions a bit, but I still thought it to be mighty sharp for a four door.
Somebody else above mentioned the ’90s C-body Buicks. Though I can’t say I’m in love with their somewhat curvy looks, I do like them more than their Olds and Pontiac counterparts.
My “winter driver” this year is a ’95 Park Avenue Ultra, black on black, with mismatched (much newer) wheels… not my dream car by any means, but I sure do like its trim better than in the years that followed, and its lines far more than the later Park Avenues/LeSabres.
And, of course, there’s also my ongoing tormentor, the XJ6. The rounded-off tail never really did it for me, but I really do like the rest of its lines.
Will it ever see the road again? You betcha it will!
Two words: Beetle tank.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll want to carry a gas can at all times.
Gotta get the latest chapter written up – hopefully in the next few weeks, assuming most other calamities can be kept at bay for a while…
While not the most beautiful sedan EVER, I think Chrysler did a great job on the 1971 Satellites and Coronets by giving them a completely different but very attractive body than the coupes.
I would also add the 67-68 and 69-71 big Chrysler pillarless hardtops as sexy 4-doors and I think the 11-14 Charger sedan looks great too compared to other modern jellybean sedans.
+1
1961 Impala/Fullsize Chevy.
Photo credit Google Images.
my vote would be either a 1967-70 Cadillac Sedan Deville, 1967-68 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight, 1969-70 Buick Electra, 1967 Ford LTD, 1971-72 Mercury Marquis Brougham and 1968-72 Oldsmobile Cutlass
The 2015 Charger SRT 392 hits all the right buttons for me.
I like the 11-14 was a pretty nice design but that new facelift is way too soft looking for the body, looks like the Dart nose was grafted on.
The more I see that new nose, the more I like it.
I would have to say that to my minds eye, mid 1980’s xj6-xj12 are beautiful sedans, low and sleek and not an ugly line anywhere!
There can’t be just one.
My two cents;
Datsun Skyline 110 sedan
Bucciali
Jaguar Mark 10
1965 Cadillac
My favorites are the ’65 LTD and the ’55 Imperial. Both preferably in black and the ’60 Edsel hardtop in a metallic blue.
Its a trick question…4 doors are ugly! haha! WelI Im known for my bias there, so I wont elaborate.
I will admit a 4dr h/t DOES pull off the look worlds better than any pillared version. The Corvair and early Conti’s are living proof of that. I can even play a few mental mindgames convincing myself that the Conti is more of a quad coupe (a-la the Saturn ION and Mazda RX-8) by way of the door configuration. And put me down as a fan of the 67 T bird with the suicide rear doors. The blending door handles and long front side glass with shortened rear door glass makes it look just like a coupe at first glance.
Call it a shout out to nerd-dom, but I dig the ’66 Imperial Black Beauty from Green Hornet. Im partial to Impys anyway but that ones not bad even as a 4 slammer.
In my warped mind, the K based Dodge Lancer and LeBaron GTS are really 5 door hatches, akin to 5door Saabs. Perfectly acceptable, with a turbo and manual. I would LOVE a Shelby Lancer as a tuning project. Those always looked slick to me and with the right tweeking, they will ROLL.
And no mention of the 1st gen Chrysler 300C? That car’s bodystyle is beyond frustrating to me. Its so linear, blocky and dare I say it ‘masculine’ as 4 doors go. With the single piece quarter windows (rather than the clunky triangular wing glass on 2nd gen 300s and most other sedans) and that strong notchback roofline, its just BEGGING for a 2 dr coupe version. Hell, Id settle for shavng just the rear door handles and adding poppers back there, as well as a subtle applique at the doors C pillar to trim down the quarter window (think ’67 Tbird sedan without vinyl roof) to give the illusion of a 2 door. A ‘phantom coupe’, if you will. In black, such a beast would resemble the car from ‘The Car’, modernized.
1st gen XJ with the huge tires and the incredibly sexy rear end
+1
+1
The Studebaker Avanti-it still looks very attractive and current today after 50+ years.
But it was a coupe…
There was a (non-Studebaker) Avanti four-door in the ’80s, but it’s not what I would call pretty.
And, like you said, it’s not a Studebaker.
Blech…
I don’t know. In a darker color with not so 1990’s-tastic wheels on it, they don’t look too bad.
Gotta admit it, the `65 Corvair 4 door hardtop is a pretty car.Interesting that GM made a compact car in this configuration as opposed to a pillared sedsan which would probably be cheaper to produce. Also…
`61 Lincoln Continental
`65-66 Cadillac Sedan de Ville
Any Citroen DS
The proposed but never built `58 Continental “Berline” a suicide door 4 door hardtop version of the Mkll.
I guess that I`m somewhat prejudiced since I owned a `66 de Ville and a `77 DS Citroen.
I’ve lost track of whether we’re talking about all sedans or just hardtops. In the former category the XJ6 is probably my choice. But I do think the VW Passat B6 deserves a shoutout. When you see one 25 years from now, you’ll swoon.
How about the W108-9? Timeless elegance.
Also love the ’65 Corvair. As note here, it is of a piece with other, also very good GM designs of the era, but the overall resolution and restraint puts it a cut above. If only the interior was equally inspired.
What else? I’ll second the Citroen DS, ’61 Continental, the Florida-inspired Flamina, the XJ6 and the ’57 Chrysler. Plus the ’63 Fleetwood, ’65 Electra 225, and the ’69 Chrysler 300.
I’ve owned a couple of 300SELs and a DS, and I’d pick up any of these if I had a garage – especially a ’65 Corvair with Stage 4 Yenko mods…
My Dad had one of these. Very sleek, especially in “black gold iridescent”.
nice
Yes, one of my 90’s favorites.
I had a 1995 Intrepid ES (badged as a Chrysler in Canada) with the 3.5L V6. I did like it’s looks but the main reason why I got it is because a friend of mine wanted to get rid of it for really cheap! I kept it a few weeks and sold it at a great profit (and still relatively cheap, for about the price of the brand new tires that were on it!).
One of these has been drafted from its spot in the garage to being my Daily Driver this week.
It’s a base 1995 Dodge Intrepid in teal. In our recent heavy rainstorms the carpet in my Taurus wagon got sopping wet from numerous trips when my shoes filled with water which then leaked all over the driver’s side floor. Water was actually standing in the left rear footwell at one point (it apparently drains from the front and winds up back there). The sun hasn’t come out in days and the only way to dry out the carpets has been a Shop-Vac® and a spell in the garage with the windows open.
Driving the Intrepid reminds me of just how “right” Chrysler got the handling dynamics on this car. And it does, indeed, look beautiful from most angles.
My top pics have been taken at this point but as runners up I haven’t seen mentioned, I’m pretty fond of the E34 and E36 BMWs as sedans, especially the M5 and M3 variants. I actually prefer the latter over the coupe version by a pretty wide stretch
E34
I’ve always liked the E34 far more than any of its successors–a really striking design with the round headlights and distinctive taillights. Also makes for a beautiful, and increasingly rare, wagon.
E36
A current car- the Mazda 6. If it had Alfa or Maserati badges, could you imagine the press it would get?
After some deliberation and on the more humble side: I think the Peugeots 405 and 406 are really the best-looking sedans. Both were just exactly right. Both Pininfarina-designed as well, although he copy-pasted that design a lot at that time (think Alfa Romeo 164, Peugeot 605).
Although it was a close call against the BMWs E34 and E36 and the NSU Ro80. All of them were very influential.
I suppose if I absolutely had to pick one, it would be a pre safety bumper Jaguar XJ6. Even with 4 doors, these cars exuded class. The Jag XKE convertible is one of my all time favorites. It’s style will almost certainly never be equaled. It was an exquisite piece of rolling sculpture from the golden age of automobiles.
I have many favourite 4-doors that I could list, but my all-time fav. is the fifth-generation Ford Thunderbird Landau sedan, produced from 1967-1971. I love how Ford was so bold to bring back the “suicide” rear door design, and how the rear door sail panel blends into the roofs’ landau (“s”) irons. Very striking!
Of course, being a huge Edsel fan, and in response to the pillarless hardtop question, my favourite would be any hardtop Edsel! Here is a pic. of the 1958 Edsel Corsair 4-door hardtop. The Corsair was the second-from the top Edsel line, just under the top-rung Citation series. Below that came the Pacer line, then the entry-level Ranger series, all which offered hardtop sedans.
I guess the Rover 3500 SD1 doesn’t quality ;-(
Somebody posted the SD1 halfway through the threads.
As several above have said, I think the 65 Impala is the best in my eyes, particularly to my 9 year old eyes in the fall of 64. The 65 Corvair would be a close second. Both beautiful cars but probably a Ford Galaxie or Plymouth Fury would have been the better car over the long hall, at least here in the southern US.
Others that I have an affection for:
57 Eldorado Brougham
62 Imperial LeBaron
68 Thunderbird
69 Dodge Monaco
74 Imperial
71 Impala
94 Chrysler LHS
The Jaguar XJ was probably my favorite Import.
Cars available now I would go for the Chrysler 300 as the best looker.
Unlike now, most cars in the 50- 70s were really works of art. I was lucky to have experienced the yearly changes at the high point of the American Auto industry.
I’m prejudiced BUT my all time favorite design is a 1957 Chevy 2 door Bel Air hardtop.
I was so pleased to see the 91-96 Oldsmobile 98 listed. What a distinctive look, especially the straight-through “fender skirt” look. This car STILL turns my head. A car on my top 5 4 door beauties has got to be the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. The iconic post-war Rolls-Royce. Of exotic 4 doors, the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and the Aston Martin Lagonda also come to mind. On the other end of the spectrum, the 1963 Rambler Classic/Ambassadors. Timeless.
I’ve always loved the 1956 Oldsmobile 4-door hardtop. The way they integrated the door lines and handle into the body is the most successful design I’ve seen that mimics a 2 door hardtop without sacrificing the practicality of the rear doors or throwing off proportions.
The Cord 810/812. Runner-up, NSU Ro80.
The D Citroen was a landmark car, of course. IMO its styling is cool in an individualistic only-Citroen way, but it isn’t conventionally beautiful.
Another sedan I love: The Bitter SC. It too, is another Ferrari in drag. Maybe I like Ferraris?
The 1965-67 Monza four-door hardtops were beautiful, but they were a rare sight even when new.
From Chevy to Cadillac, GM consistently made great-looking four-door hardtops. The 1961 Impala, 1965 Impala/Caprice and 1971 Impala/Caprice had graceful lines. Other favorites included the 1962 and 1965 Bonnevilles and 1965-68 Buick Wildcats. The 1971-72 Olds 98 and Cadillac DeVilles were also impressive.
Best-looking post-war four-door car? The 1961 Lincoln Continental, hands-down. After 1963, it was death by a thousand cuts for the beautiful Lincoln. Sales increased in later years, but the flat side glass in ’64/’65 and bloated look of the 1966-69 cars destroyed the integrity of the original design.
I was very fond of the Alfa Romeo 159, which for my tastes was the last good-looking Alfa to date. The 164 was also a handsome thing, although the later facelifts didn’t help it, as was the similar (also Pininfarina) Peugeot 605. The 605 is more color-dependent than the 164, though — the Pug looks very sharp in certain colors and not so much in others.
Because I’m weird, I rather like the T160 and T180 Corona ED and Carina EXiV hardtops. The T180 EXiV is probably my favorite, although again some of the available colors don’t do it any favors.
In the coulda, woulda, shoulda category would be the Porsche 989, which was much better-proportioned and better-looking than the eventual (and conceptually similar) Panamera.
other cars I liked that I’ve forgot to mention are
1969-70 Ford LTD (pillarless form)
1969-70 Mercury Marquis
1967-68 Oldsmobile Delta 88
1965-70 Pontiac full size
1965-70 Buick Wildcat
1967-70 Chevrolet Caprice
1969-72 Chrysler New Yorker (never liked the ’73 front end)
1975-78 Mercury Marquis (the best full sized car built during the 1973-78 period IMO).
The 73-77 GM mid-size sedans, from all of the divisions. My favorite was the Regal because I dig stacked headlights.
I also nominate my ’68 Impala, just ’cause I’m biased and what-not.
Can’t believe we forgot this masterpiece. Shame on Us. I present the Aston Martin Lagonda.
It’s even got four doors.
’33 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow. Put on your 3d glasses for this one!
from the recent years I would have to say a 2005-11 Toyota Avalon, I always thought these cars could have easily been Lexus’s due to its plushness.