Ferrari styling - best appreciated a few years on?
Discussion
Just looking at the pics of the Zymol treated 360 CS in another thread. Looks beautiful from all angles.
However, when the 360 came out, I recall walking around one in complete and utter dismay wondering how the hell they got it so wrong compared to the 355. A few years on, I love them.
Ferrari 430? Not remotely keen on the styling at the moment but past experience suggests it'll grow on me favourably over time.
Does anyone else only start to apprecaiate a model when they're out of production? I could quote numerous example from all ends of the market...
However, when the 360 came out, I recall walking around one in complete and utter dismay wondering how the hell they got it so wrong compared to the 355. A few years on, I love them.
Ferrari 430? Not remotely keen on the styling at the moment but past experience suggests it'll grow on me favourably over time.
Does anyone else only start to apprecaiate a model when they're out of production? I could quote numerous example from all ends of the market...
I think it's more a case of familiarity and context.
I remember the first time I saw a 360 coming down Southampton Row it seemed so wide and out of proportion against all of the other traffic that it looked as though someone had sat on it and squashed it.
Then I saw a few of them together at a Ferrari owners club meet (I was there in observer capacity only unfortunately) along with some earlier models from the Dino onwards and the styling started to make sense. There was a sense of progression, particularly through the Dino, 308, 328 lineage.
I think you also have to see them for real rather than just on the pictures to appreciate the overall styling. I have never seen a picture of a 308GT4 which made it look good and I definitely prefer pininfarina designs but whenever I see a GT4 out on the road I can see why some people like the angular styling. Somehow when it starts to move it begins to make sense.
Still don't like the testarossa though.
I remember the first time I saw a 360 coming down Southampton Row it seemed so wide and out of proportion against all of the other traffic that it looked as though someone had sat on it and squashed it.
Then I saw a few of them together at a Ferrari owners club meet (I was there in observer capacity only unfortunately) along with some earlier models from the Dino onwards and the styling started to make sense. There was a sense of progression, particularly through the Dino, 308, 328 lineage.
I think you also have to see them for real rather than just on the pictures to appreciate the overall styling. I have never seen a picture of a 308GT4 which made it look good and I definitely prefer pininfarina designs but whenever I see a GT4 out on the road I can see why some people like the angular styling. Somehow when it starts to move it begins to make sense.
Still don't like the testarossa though.
well one can get used to anything and find it acceptable in time
reality is that on a recent poll on F chat 75% felt that after the 355 ferrrari lost the plot a bit in design terms.
My opinion for what its worth is that the 360 will never go down as being - how shall we put it...... the nicest design. When it cake out I thought it was ugly and still do....maybe in time.....
reality is that on a recent poll on F chat 75% felt that after the 355 ferrrari lost the plot a bit in design terms.
My opinion for what its worth is that the 360 will never go down as being - how shall we put it...... the nicest design. When it cake out I thought it was ugly and still do....maybe in time.....
I think that works the other way round as well.
Some models looked fantastic on their launch, but are a bit ordinary now.
The 456 has such a great look about it, but looks daft with the standard "tiny" wheels.
There is a lovely blue one down here with 19 inch Compomotive 5 spoke wheels on it. It looks like it should have left the factory like that.
The 612 Scaglieti is the same. Put on the optional split-rims and it starts to look quite appealing.
Some models looked fantastic on their launch, but are a bit ordinary now.
The 456 has such a great look about it, but looks daft with the standard "tiny" wheels.
There is a lovely blue one down here with 19 inch Compomotive 5 spoke wheels on it. It looks like it should have left the factory like that.
The 612 Scaglieti is the same. Put on the optional split-rims and it starts to look quite appealing.
No mention yet of the 599GTB. While I assume no one on here has yet seen the 'real thing'... The press pictures are interesting to say the least..
One thing I'll say for Ferrari, the launch of a new car does seem to get everyone talking about design as they push the barrier, rather than stick to any same old formula.
I'll go out on a limb here... I'm thinking the 599GTB looks like it may be one of those cars we come to love to look of. Only time will tell.
One thing I'll say for Ferrari, the launch of a new car does seem to get everyone talking about design as they push the barrier, rather than stick to any same old formula.
I'll go out on a limb here... I'm thinking the 599GTB looks like it may be one of those cars we come to love to look of. Only time will tell.
MJK 24 said:
One thing I'll say for Ferrari, the launch of a new car does seem to get everyone talking about design as they push the barrier, rather than stick to any same old formula.
This is very true.
Yes i agree that this is perhaps a good thing for Ferrari to keep doing something different. On the other hand Astons Martin's Range has pretty much stayed the same in the way looks go since the DB7 was launched back in 1993 (except the 90's V8), but i wouln't say for them its time for a change.
V12AML said:
One thing I'll say for Ferrari, the launch of a new car does seem to get everyone talking about design as they push the barrier, rather than stick to any same old formula.
This is very true.
Yes i agree that this is perhaps a good thing for Ferrari to keep doing something different. On the other hand Astons Martin's Range has pretty much stayed the same in the way looks go since the DB7 was launched back in 1993 (except the 90's V8), but i wouln't say for them its time for a change.
I think Aston must be struggling for ideas now. They launched the Vanquish to universal praise re the styling. Then the DB9 came out. Far prettier that the DB7 (in my opinion) but very similar looking to a Vanquish. Now we have the little V8 and the styling remains VERY family orientated to the point where someone who had a little knowledge about cars, but wasn't as Aston enthusiast, may struggle to tell the cars apart.
Likewise the 4 door saloon that appeared in Autocar a few weeks back. Lots of (over?) familiar styling queues on show.
I think the Astons mentioned above from recent times are very attractive, but I can't help thinking that they're making a rod for their own back having such a 'look' across the whole model range. They're struggling to do something different in my opinion.
I think this is a typical response from the hardent enthusiast.
It is the same way with Porsche, everyone loves the model prior to the current one, 993 vs 996 etc.
I think that the general public would favor 360 over 355 or 996 over 993.
I am huge fan of both Porsche (I drive a 996) and F cars. I think the 360 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time, by far a better looking car than the now dated 355. Just as I think the 996 to be better looking than the (again dated) 993. Don't get me started on the 997 though
It is the same way with Porsche, everyone loves the model prior to the current one, 993 vs 996 etc.
I think that the general public would favor 360 over 355 or 996 over 993.
I am huge fan of both Porsche (I drive a 996) and F cars. I think the 360 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time, by far a better looking car than the now dated 355. Just as I think the 996 to be better looking than the (again dated) 993. Don't get me started on the 997 though
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