Not All Race Cars Are Beauty Queens

We often post about the truly rapturous cars we encounter, those pagent-worthy four-wheeled sculptures which make our hearts beat a bit faster, not today.  Today we are going to share some of the unattractive cars we’ve encountered this season. Gotta be politically correct and give the ugly ones their spotlight too. Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I dare you do disagree.

Homely, Gets Better At 50 Feet

A limited production AMT Piranha was conceived by designers working for Mabon Chemical in the early 60’s, later offered in the SCCA race version roadster pictured above as a kit car. Originally designed to show off use of a new plastic, called Cryolac ABS, this edgy design didn’t achieve mass appeal, then again it was powered by a Corvair, and we know what happened to that car.

Chunky Around The Middle

She may not be pretty, AKA “The Junkyard Dog” but Old Yeller has significant racing heritage and even bested some of the true beauty queens of her day despite the cankles.  Read about her fascinating history here.

Flat As A Board, But Beautiful On The Inside

While not one of those typical stunners, with a flat pinched angles more suited to origami, this car can run. Shares some characteristics with a certain stealth fighter plane, obviously flat planes aren’t all bad. World Champion racer John Surtees O.B.E. had a fabulous career on both two and four wheels.  He extended his run designing and building successful race cars.

Fugly, Unique or Ugly?

When I asked my husband if he had a better photo of the Consulier GTP 900, he replied, “No, I was worried it’d break my camera.”  Time Magazine listed the Consulier one of the worlds worst cars, even this car’s prior owner, John Fitch, didn’t like being seen in it. Built by Mosler Automotive and involved in controversy and drama worthy of a soap opera this first ever carbon fibre and kevlar bodied production vehicle does keep one looking, its just so weird. For better photos and highlights of the history, The Street Peep delivers.

Those glorious silver arrows of Mercedes-Benz, the Talbots, Bugattis, Maseratis, Ferraris, or the top of many enthusiast’s list, the Alfa Romeo 8C, these are commonly classified as beautiful. Long swooping hoods (or noses), bulbous fenders, unbroken sinuous curves, these elements gave race cars magnificent visual appeal. Current Formula One or Indy cars are cool-ish, not beautiful; modern GT cars offer their own form of sex appeal though not jaw dropping; and clearly there is nothing remotely good-looking about NASCAR rides. Maybe race cars aren’t supposed to be beautiful, time just renders them as such?