Creating a list with the most beautiful cars ever made is not an easy task. Especially when tastes differ, and you have to select only a handful out of dozens of incredible designs.
But here we are, with a list that could at least serve as an introduction to the vast field of automotive beauty. Part of a series that will go through almost a century of automotive art, the current list starts with the cars that saw the light of the day before World War II. And what an incredible time was this for beautiful cars!
1. Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe (1925).
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| Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe (1925) |
Jonckheere Carrossiers of Belgium were the unlikely choice for building a Rolls Royce Phantom I body, perhaps because they were specialized in buses and trucks, not necessarily in luxury cars. But what they did is one of the finest examples of Phantom I cars ever made. With a 7.7-liter engine under the bonnet, this Phantom I started off as a Hooper Cabriolet but was transformed by Jonckheere in an Art Deco masterpiece. It won the 1936 Prix d’Honneur at the Cannes Concours d’Elegance, but then found its way to the US, where an East Coast entrepreneur covered it in gold and displayed it in malls for the paying rednecks to enjoy. Luckily, its current black form dates back to the 2000s, when it was acquired by Peterson Automotive Museum and restored to classic beauty.
2. Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix (1925).
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| 2. Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix (1925) |
Bugatti Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars in history, with more than 1000 wins, from the Targa Florio to the Monaco Grand Prix. The 35B had a supercharged 2.3-liter engine that developed 138 hp. A monster for that time. Regularly sold today for more than $650,000 at auctions, it has a simple yet immortal body, as any legendary racing car should.
3. Duesenberg Model J (1928).
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| Duesenberg Model J (1928) |
What can you do one year before the markets come down crashing? You create one of the most expensive and powerful luxury cars in history, of course. Bought and driven by famous people like Al Capone, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and many (extremely) rich people, the Model J was the pinnacle of luxury cars before World War II. Its 6.9-liter straight-eight engine produced 265 hp on the normal version and 320 hp on the supercharged SJ model. With an average current sale price of $1.5 million, it can reach up to $10.3 million for some special editions like the Murphy-bodied 1931 Duesenberg Model J.
4. Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Trossi Roadster (1930).
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| Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Trossi Roadster (1930) |
What can be said about a car that was ordered by one of the initial Ferrari investors, designed by Ferdinand Porsche and made by Daimler-Benz? Count Trossi, the future Ferrari President, loved this Super Sport Kurz (Super Sport Short) car made for hill-climbing and bought one after its competition days were over. With a body reworked by Willie White and an impressive 7.1-liter straight-6 engine under the hood developing 300 hp, the Trossi Roadster is one of the most exclusive cars in the world. Ralph Lauren really enjoys it in his collection.
5. Mercedes-Benz W25 Silver Arrow (1934).
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| Mercedes-Benz W25 Silver Arrow (1934) |
Yes, it’s the racing car that replaced the Mercedes-Benz SSK after Porsche’s departure from Daimler. It wasn’t as successful in racing as its engineers hoped for, but it still managed to take the Drivers’ Championship in 1935 with Rudolf Caracciola at the wheel. Most important, its simple and perfect shape makes it one of the most iconic cars in history.
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