Tuesday 25th November 2003

911 Wins another Gong

It's the worlds most beautiful open top sports car say a bunch of Italian blokes

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The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is the world's most beautiful open-top sports car. This was the verdict of an international jury consisting of 17 independent artists, architects, art historians and designers in Milan, Italy, which came together to select the winners of the annual "World's Most Beautiful Automobile" award.

It granted the 911 first place in the "Convertible, roadster and convertible coupe" category. The jury members looked at 50 new models from 20 automobile brands and manufacturers, competing in eight different categories.

Journalist and publisher Bruno Alfieri, who created the "World's Most Beautiful Automobile" award in 1993 and chairs the jury, says, "As far as I know we are the first committee that deliberately assesses only the car's beauty. For this reason none of the members are car journalists, who would be tempted to assess quite different, usually technical, aspects of the cars. This year, the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet was an obvious choice, though the decision was not an easy one."

The award is to be presented on March 5 in the Palazzo dell'Arte, during the Milan Triennale.

[Swilly]

The 911 is a nice looking convertible, but certainly not the best looking or even in the head-turning category.

Methinks too much cheap vino was consumed by the jury.

[jeremyc]

Their meeting didn't coincide with the Milanese RNIB convention did it?

[clubsport]

The photo above is about the best profile of the car.

With the 996 coming to the end of it's run, the term
"back hander" comes to mind....this being ever so slightly prevalent in Italian culture...Allegedly of course.

[hermanthegerman]

Swilly said:

The 911 is a nice looking convertible, but certainly not the best looking or even in the head-turning category. Methinks too much cheap vino was consumed by the jury.

jeremyc said:

Their meeting didn't coincide with the Milanese RNIB convention did it?

Just take it on the chin Tivvers.

You're starting to sound like Aussie rugby fans.

[docevi1]

if thats the nicest looking, what were the other cars in the catergory

Then again, it's a nice looking car, well proportioned and the likes, just, well, bland.

[Swilly]

hermanthegerman said:

Just take it on the chin Tivvers. You're starting to sound like Aussie rugby fans.

G'day mate

Without turning this into a TVR vs Pork arguement......the 911 is fundamentally a coupe.

The 911 cabriolet, like so many other manufacturers cabrio's, is very much an after thought by Porkers to fill out the model line....which is why it looks... awkward....from the rear.

I would even go so far as to say it looks snail-shell like. Just my opinion.

[unlicensed]

porsche looks a lot better as a coupe methink. kinda even ugly for me in the convertible form.

[dazren]

Bollocks.

The porsche may be the best convertible due to things like engineering and build quality etc. It is also the one I would buy with my own money. However if the judgement criteria is solely the looks of the car, then it has to be the 360 spyder.

DAZ

[DustyC]

Struth!

Its nice alright but Im sure theres a huge list of rag tops that would be voted as better looking, even on their home turf.

[v8thunder]

The only word I can think of to describe any 911 is 'functional'. Some border on 'too functional'. This one is a little too 'hairdresser' for my liking .
IMO the most beautiful (ie nothing to do with the handling or performance - the JC Cool Wall criteria) open sports car on the market at the moment is either the Lotus Elise S2, Ferrari 360 Modena Spider, or the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante.
IMO, of course.

[Don]

dazren said:

Bollocks. The porsche may be the best convertible due to things like engineering and build quality etc. It is also the one I would buy with my own money. However if the judgement criteria is solely the looks of the car, then it has to be the 360 spyder. DAZ

Couldn't agree more, daz. Which would I buy with the hard-earned? The Turbo Cab of course...but the 360 Spyder is one of the world's all-time classic best looking cars. And I'm afraid I can't think of a Porsche convertible throughout their history that could compete on looks...

[clubsport]

Dunno...the 968 cab was a bit of a look-er especially in some of the more leary colours..

[danger mouse]

Ok, that's like me saying the convertable CRX was one of the best looking drop-tops ever...

...but that would be a blatent lie.



Obviously

They sound good though!

[Griffmeister]

Dont tell me,

They'll be voting for Blackpool as the style capital of Europe next.

Saying that, maybe if they went there they might get a better idea of what constitutes a 'beautiful open top sports car' !

Not that I am biased in any way - even though my name may imply that.

[david hype]

Well Blackpool`s style rating is really going to come on "leaps and bounds" now that Bet Lynch and Liz McDonald are in residence!

[steve-p]

I seem to remember that the Italians really went for the Rover 75 in a big way with design awards etc. And in fact, in March this year another bunch of Italian design experts in Milan voted the MGF "Worlds Most Beautiful Cabriolet", so as far as I am concerned these people have no credibility whatsoever.

I can't say any convertible 911 has ever been a looker. I've always assumed they only built them for people who want to make sure that everyone else sees them driving one

[farmer]

Can only agree with 90% of the above , great car , spoiled in the looks dept. by slicing off the top , 360 much better , but maybee wasn't on their list .....must have been a few mingers

[Melv]

Alfa Romeo Spider?

Melv

[domster]

steve-p said:

I seem to remember that the Italians really went for the Rover 75 in a big way with design awards etc. And in fact, in March this year another bunch of Italian design experts in Milan voted the MGF "Worlds Most Beautiful Cabriolet", so as far as I am concerned these people have no credibility whatsoever. I can't say any convertible 911 has ever been a looker. I've always assumed they only built them for people who want to make sure that everyone else sees them driving one

These pillocks voted the Fiat Strada 'Car of the Year'

Wouldn't trust them an inch.

[blueyes]

domster said:

These pillocks voted the Fiat Strada 'Car of the Year'.

What could you expect when all you Brits had to offer was the Metro... or the Maestro.... or the Allegro!