Cars that have "aged gracefully"

malazn mafia · 11-06-2009, 06:58 PM

Hello all,

I thought it would be fun to have a similar thread to the one about 'ugly cars', but in reverse. More particularly, older cars that have gotten better with time, still look great/new despite their age or are timeless in their design.

My personal favorites:

1) Ford EF/EL Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia
2) Ford EL GT
3) Ford NF/NL/DF/DL Fairlane/LTD
4) Nissan 300ZX
5) H*lden Commodore VY SS

:
6) Ford Mustang GT500 '67
7) '91 Mazda Miata
8) '97 Mitsubishi Verada

What are your thoughts/opinions on "nice" older cars you've seen lately

redauxr8 · 11-06-2009, 07:01 PM

AU T3's (TE 50, TS50) for sure.... Even AU XR's are still looking the goods....
VX SS still look the goods IMO

Bmobile · 11-06-2009, 07:02 PM

Leyland p76

gcg2503 · 11-06-2009, 07:03 PM

why call it a mazda miata?

we are in oz mate

mazda MX5

timmo · 11-06-2009, 07:04 PM

300ZX what the?
Nissan 200SX (S15 only) for sure...nearly 10 years old and ageless

**CAT600** · 11-06-2009, 07:05 PM

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill

: ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

Sapper · 11-06-2009, 07:09 PM

MY97-99 WRX's seem to still look the goods.
R32 GTR will always look fantastically mean.

My 2 cents...

Mr Brooksy · 11-06-2009, 07:09 PM

AU TS50 (T3 obviously)
XA XB XC coupes (like em all)
XE Fairmont (Hey I like it!)
VT Calais - VX SS
Latest Pre Bangle Butt BMW 3 series
04 Mustang SVT
HK Monaro
Jag XJ220
Fezza Daytona
Lambo Murcielago

needaXYGT · 11-06-2009, 07:10 PM

late AU models just to name one out of many.

malazn mafia · 11-06-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

why call it a mazda miata?

we are in oz mate

mazda MX5

Haha, too many youtube videos of mazda 'miatas' (aka MX5 down under) in the States with ford 5.0L/Chev LS1 conversions..

XC-351 · 11-06-2009, 07:13 PM

in terms of holdens id say:
vr/s ss
vx clubsport

Ford:
not including the classics, ef/l xr6/8

**DJM83** · 11-06-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill

: ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

Totally agree, i also think the VX/VU SS has aged pretty good. Infact the VU SS ute is the best ute made IMHO

Dezza · 11-06-2009, 07:25 PM

I may be biased but I reckon the old EA still looks good for it's age... when they're looked after

malazn mafia · 11-06-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill

: ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

What's a mitsubishi 360? If you mean Magna, i'm pretty suprised, as the '96-'04 Magna had the 'pull' door handles (commodore only had this with VE and falcon with FG), high 'waistline', raised rear boot, and door moulding strips that sat lower to the ground, rather than smack-bang in the middle like an AU/VT.

barbarian · 11-06-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Hello all,

My personal favorites:

4) Nissan 300ZX

What are your thoughts/opinions on "nice" older cars you've seen lately

Agreed.

After 20 years 300zx still looks good as new, one in good nick & mechanically sound still fetching above $13k

barbarian · 11-06-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

What's a mitsubishi 360? If you mean Magna, i'm pretty suprised, as the '96-'04 Magna had the 'pull' door handles (commodore only had this with VE and falcon with FG), high 'waistline', raised rear boot, and door moulding strips that sat lower to the ground, rather than smack-bang in the middle like an AU/VT.

Not only that but the doors didn't also have window frames giving it that sporty/luxury appeal to it

Dave_au · 11-06-2009, 07:45 PM

Agree on the 3rd gen Verada. Perhaps it was because the KE-KJ shape were built from 1996 to 2003 and were unoffensive in any way. Obviously MMAL misread the market a little bit with the more offensive KL-KW variants from 03-05.

Other cars that come to mind as being "timeless":

Toyota Cressida 1990 model.

Mazda Astina 323 1994 model

Nissan 200SX 2002 model.

R0BD0G · 11-06-2009, 07:50 PM

Honda NSX series 1 still looks good and stylish as does the Nissan Silvia S15(200SX) and the Porshe 911... still basically looks the same as original design with some subtle changes

Mr Brooksy · 11-06-2009, 07:55 PM

Its a Mitsu 380 not 360

Mongoose · 11-06-2009, 07:57 PM

EF/EL and to be honest I'de also have to say VR/VS love those mid 90's shapes.

Coogs289 · 11-06-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAT600

All AU Falcon sedans with the exception of the AU 1 low series cars (Forte and Futura...... whale mouth grill

: ). Anything with a high series bonnet or XR based is looking great for an 11 year old design, and looks quite current compared to VT-VZ and Mitsubishi 360 based vehicles.

Daniel

Agreed. Whenever I see an AU XR, :sm_drool: Still looks the goods...

Dave_au · 11-06-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mongoose

I'de also have to say VR/VS love those mid 90's shapes.

Really? I'm suprised at the level of appreciation for the VR/VS shape. Having owned one previously, it was certainly a good evolution of the VN body shape but those high mounted rear brake lamps still look a little funny to me!

Bad Bird · 11-06-2009, 08:08 PM

C3 Corvettes. They certainly don't look like something out of the late 60's, especially with some modern wheels.

Falc'man · 11-06-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezza!

I may be biased but I reckon the old EA still looks good for it's age... when they're looked after

I totally agree.

Qwik6 · 11-06-2009, 08:12 PM

Porsche 911's haven't aged a bit

seXCmont · 11-06-2009, 08:25 PM

definately the 1923 Ford looks just as good as it did back then lol

Mr Hardware · 11-06-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Really? I'm suprised at the level of appreciation for the VR/VS shape. Having owned one previously, it was certainly a good evolution of the VN body shape but those high mounted rear brake lamps still look a little funny to me!

Nah mate. I love the rear end of the VR-VS. The VS is probably one of the best Commodores made, apart from the VY.

But back to the point, the crown has to be given to the high-grilled AU's, most definitely.

XR6_190 · 11-06-2009, 08:59 PM

i would have to say EL falcon aged well in my book, compare it to a VS and it looks much more modern. Also unusually, the Citroen DS, it does not look like a car from the 50's, late 60's or 70's maybe. while it isn't the sort of car i would buy, it's design has aged remarkably well.

naddis01 · 11-06-2009, 09:10 PM

Sorry but I dont agree about the AU. Surely a car has to look good before it can age gracefully. I cant say the AU has ever looked good (T3s excepted).

Flame suit on.

Mr Hardware · 11-06-2009, 09:12 PM

that's okay naddis01, we're all entitled to our own opinions, even if you're wrong

And i wholeheartily disagree with anyone suggesting the EF or EL. They are decidedly prehistoric for how young they really are. Put one up against an AU and the EL looks like a dinosaur with its flat roof and boring styling.

I worked in taxi-land when the EL's and AU's were the go, and the ELs were relics of a time long since passed.