Most liked posts in thread: From Jalopnik-Ten Most Inspirational Car Designs

And no E-Type in the bunch??????:frown2:

 

Whilst I can agree that some of the cars on their list did indeed inspire others..... The whole list goes in the crapper when they included that AMC thing... Don't really think crossovers are the bees knees to begin with, but certainly don't think anyone and I mean anyone built another because of that pile of junk...

 

Yup.... AMC had several carpy car designs..

Matador
Pacer
Gremlin
Marlin

The only thing that they had of any value was Jeep....

 

We had one of those AMC Eagles back in the day for about a week. My dad thought it would be a great idea but once he had a chance to drive it a bit the POS went right back to the dealer.

 

It's hard to tell whether they really meant inspirational or influential.

I would think the big design (and not just evolution) left out is the minivan - if only because it allows yet another Yurp.v.Merka battle:

Was the true inspiration the Yurpeen Renault Espace:



or the Merkan Caravan/Voyager:



and are they both just copies of the really influential Italdesign Megagamma - one of the few concept/show cars that can claim to have created a new market segment:



though you might want to argue that also led to the Nissan Stanza Wagon or Prairie - described by the Espace designer as 'that visual bag of sh*t'.

 

I think it could be argued that the E-Type was influential in pretty much all front engined rear drive sports car design that came after it, including the 240Z and many others.

 

It has been said that the long nose, rear cabin design of the 240 was inspired by the Ferrari Daytona (365 GTB/4). However, that design was penned after the E-Type. So did the E-Type inspire Pininfarina?

 

They could have at least found a AMC with all it's body and trim parts:lol:

Mark

 

Mini hands down imo. How many transversally mounted inline 4bangers powering the front wheels have been made since? It wasn't the first FWD car, but it was the first successful mass marketed one. First one to have real racing accomplishments as well. We owe almost every "hot hatch" from the Omni GLH forward to the Mini.

 

^ This.

While the AMC might represent a failed attempt at such a vehicle, one has to have serious doubts that any of the designers of present day crossovers looked upon that hunk and said: "luv it, lets build a modern version!"

Nope, no way, no how.... that'd be like crediting the Pacer for the hot hatch or the mini van... Lol

 

An AMC Eagle! Really!? Someone at Jalopnik has their head firmly up their butt!
I think the reason they don't have a photo of one with all of it's trim, is that there aren't any with all of the trim.

The same goes for the Mercedes CLS. It looks like every other "Bar of Soap" on the road!
It is derivative as hell!

Dave

 

The Sting Ray was off of the Corvette Mako Shark design study. Larry Shinoda penned that in 1961. That car was used in the TV Series Route 66 and was also put on the GM show circuit.

 

As much as the E type and the Corvette deserve their place in history; under the definition of inspirational, neither could be said to have in fact inspired a segment. The front engined rear wheel drive roadster had been done already. They both are fine representatives of that segment though!

PS: Before flaming me please understand that I have lusted after a 66-67 E-Type sense my youth and owned for many years a 72 Corvette Sting Ray!!!!

 

I am surprised that the BMW 3-series didnt get at least an honorable mention.
It single handedly created the Sport Sedan segment in the car market and everyone has been trying to copy and better it ever since!
That, IMHO is a pretty big omission.

 

The 2002 begat the 3 series. Wasn't that the real inspiration for what is now the everyday driver sport sedan. The ti model being the most sporty for everyday use. The tii was a bit high-strung. Sort of the ///M of it's day.