While there have been plenty of jaw-droppingly gorgeous sports cars over the years, few models are as stylish and desirable as those from the 1950s and 1960s.
Back then, car designers didn’t use computer programs and wind tunnels; they drew their designs on paper, and their main priority was making them look good.
We’ve compiled a list of (mostly classic) sports cars that any connoisseur will consider works of art. There are no prizes for guessing that many of them are Italian.
Jaguar E-Type
We may as well rip off the band-aid and get it over with. Any list of the best-looking sports cars must include the legendary Jaguar E-Type. It is so stunning that even Enzo Ferrari allegedly called it the most beautiful car in the world.
There’s more to the E-Type than its gorgeous sheet metal, though — it changed the sports car world when it arrived in 1961. Its price tag was much less than any Porsche or Ferrari, and thanks to a 265 horsepower (hp) 3.8-liter inline-six, disc brakes, and independent suspension, the E-Type was one of the best drivers’ cars of the era.
Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari only built 36 250 GTOs, and collectors clearly appreciate the car’s beauty, rarity, and performance, as it’s one of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction — one sold for $51.7 million in 2023.
As good as it looks, it was built to be a race car. “GTO” stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, Italian for “Grand Touring Homologated,” and “250” denotes the displacement in cubic centimeters of each of its cylinders. The 3.0-liter V12 produces 296 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Lamborghini Miura
In 1966, Lamborghini unveiled the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Miura. Thus, the world’s first mid-engined supercar was born, and the automotive world was changed forever.
Powered by a mid-mounted 345 hp 3.9-liter V12 engine, the stunning Lambo looked very similar to the cars that raced at Le Mans back then, such as the Lola Mk6 and Ford GT40. However, those were built to be raced, and the Miura was designed to be driven on the road.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Ze Germans are known for their no-nonsense approach to car design, and while they make great-looking cars, they’re usually not as stunning as what the Italians or British churn out. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is a different story, as it is easily one of the best-looking cars from the 1950s, and that says a lot!
American luxury car importer Max Hoffman recognized his customers’ wants and convinced Mercedes to build the road-going 300SL. It can trace its heritage directly to the W194 race car, so it truly was a road-legal race car. The 300SL had a lightweight tubular frame construction, a gorgeously sculpted body with a streamlined design, and the now-iconic gullwing doors. Thanks to its 212-horsepower 3.0-liter engine, it was also the world’s fastest production car, with a top speed of 163 mph.
C2 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Split-Window Coupe
Chevrolet introduced the C2 Corvette in 1963, almost ten years after its predecessor first saw the light of day. While the 1963 ‘Vette isn’t the fastest or most powerful C2, it’s still one of the most special versions.
It’s just as aesthetically pleasing as European sports cars from this era, and it has some unique features, such as the now-famous split rear window and the hood louvers. The split window was only available in 1963, so it’s one of the most sought-after and best-looking Corvettes ever.
BMW 507
The 507 may very well be the most beautiful BMW ever made. It’s got a hand-made aluminum body, and the long hood hides a 3.2-liter V8 with 150 German stallions. It was so expensive to make that BMW nearly went bankrupt. After four years, only 252 cars had been built, and they were all owned by some of the world’s richest and most famous people.
With BMW on the brink of financial ruin, industrialist Harald Quandt saw it as his chance to take control of the company — his family still owns a major stake in BMW today.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Alfa Romeo only built 18 units of the stylish 33 Stradale, and since these cars rarely come up for sale, it’s hard to estimate their value. Experts say they can sell for anywhere between $3 million to $10 million, or maybe more.
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is easily one of the most breathtakingly beautiful cars to ever emerge from Turin, Italy. It also has the power to match its looks, as the 2.0-liter V8 produces 227 hp — plenty for a car that only weighs 1,543 lbs. Getting to 60 mph from a standstill only takes 5.5 seconds, and it can reach a top speed of 160 mph.
Maserati A6 GCS
Maserati has built some stunners over the years, but the A6 GCS is one of the most beautiful cars the Italian carmaker has ever made. Only four cars were built, but just two of them are still around today. Interestingly, the same customer ordered all four cars.
Pininfarina designed the Maserati A6 GCS, and it had a sleek, muscular look, with a stretched-out hood, double side-exit exhausts, and a large grille where the Maserati trident was proudly displayed.
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is perhaps most famous for being the car of choice for British MI6 agent James Bond, and it’s easy to see why the world’s most famous secret agent likes this sleek beast.
The Aston Martin DB5 isn’t just one of the most stunning sports cars ever made; it even packs a punch to match its looks. Under the sculpted hood, it has a 4.0-liter straight-six engine that produces 282 hp, enough to send the DB5 to a top speed of 145 mph.
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Finally, we have a modern sports car on the list. Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione is so stunning it almost hurts to look at it… but in a good way. It cost over $300,000 when it was new, but its looks, performance, and rarity were worth every penny.
The 8C Competizione is powered by a Ferrari-derived 4.7-liter V8 engine producing 444 hp, and those horses are accompanied by one of the most glorious soundtracks known to man.
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante by Touring
If the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione wasn’t rare and beautiful enough, the Italian coachbuilder, Touring, had a solution. Inspired by the C52 Disco Volante from the 1950s, they resculpted the 8C’s body into the 2013 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante and made it available to a select group of customers.
Under the stunning sheet metal, the Disco Volante had the same engine as the 8C donor car, and when the throttle was floored, it sounded like a symphony to gearheads. This truly is one of the most impressive automotive masterpieces of the 21st century.
Porsche 356
Porsche introduced the 356 in 1948. It was a lightweight sports car with a rear-mounted engine, available as a hardtop coupé or a cabriolet. Over the years, Porsche continued to develop and update the 356, which kept it relevant and contributed to its success on both the road and track.
It was so popular that production of the 356 continued for eight months after its replacement, the 911, debuted. Today, the 356 costs a small fortune, but plenty of somewhat affordable fiberglass replicas are available.
Ford GT40
Ford tried to purchase Ferrari in the 1960s, but at the last minute, the Italian carmaker pulled out of the deal as they received more benefits from a partnership with Fiat. Henry Ford wasn’t pleased and became obsessed with destroying Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Ford built the GT40 on a Lola chassis, and it was fast and reliable enough to end Ferrari’s dominance at the French racetrack. It wasn’t just powerful; the GT40 is also one of the best-looking American cars ever made.
