Can’t believe nobody mentioned one of these…
Even better Dolomite
As usual, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. 2 or 3 saloons have been mentioned here that are all saloons trying desperately not to look like a saloon, by somehow disguising the appearance of the second set of doors. Some have clearly not got it, and posted up posters of rugged looking Pickups. The ubiquitous, but clearly not “pretty” Delta rally car was posted up; take away the rally frippery, and you are left with a pretty dull early 80s car, from a manufacturer struggling to go mainstream.
Posters on walls; the only people I know of who festoom their walls with posters of cars tend to be 10-15 year old boys. “Pretty” is usually not a criteria for selection of posters by small boys. Today, they may have posters of Imprezas or Evo Lancers, both of which are pretty substandard saloons once you strip of the tupperware. But they score well on Top Trumps.
"Pretty and “Beautiful” are feminine adjectives; coupes are often described in these terms. Freud could have had a field day explaining that.
Saloons tend to be described in more masculine terms; “handsome” springs to mind.
I’ve never found the DS beautiful, pretty, nor handsome. Different maybe. All the motoring journalists tell me its a beautiful design. I don’t see it. I don’t know who else told them it was a beautiful car. Neither did anyone else for that matter. Austin toyed with a CX-look alike, but instead built the Maxi. The BX was a rejected Volvo design, after Citroen ran out of ideas after the CX.
Actually, the only time I have ever heard someone call a car “pretty” was a grinning Raf Vallone before he had Michael Caine’s Aston trashed.
I could say that the sight of a 4-door car sparks subliminal suggestions in males of a ball and chain, and hence they can’t bring themselves to call such a car “beautiful” (there’s no logical reason why a 4 door car isn’t as pleasing on the eye as a 2-door car, but then feeling of pleasure or displeasure are deeply rooted in the psyche).
Thanks AT for that highly articulate outburst
. I still think that the Dolly is a “Pretty car”, I have to say that the only time that has ever sounded good though, was in the aforementiond Italian Job. There again I also loved the TR7, maybe I need help…
AT,
A fascinating retort to what is clearly a very frivolous thread. I wonder what Freud would have made of that!?
Best wishes and festive cheer!
Stu
BURN THE HEATHEN !!!
In my generation’s pubescent bedrooms that was THE sports car pin up of choice.
The Lamborghini Countach was too long in the tooth and the Escort Cosworth hadn’t been made yet !
It was a real man’s car, For the sort of man that didn’t care about crash test ratings or side impact protection. It was built in an era when men could be men (None if that modern chest shaving and moisturising ■■■■ ! 
) and women had big hair dos.
It was a car that even motorcyclists would nod approval too… If I ever made enough cash that I could afford 20 grand for a really nice one, even now I’d be out there looking for one !
Scotty “Going to have a look on Ebay” B
Nope Scotty, I have to agree with AT here. The Integrale certainly has presence and purpose, but he’s right it can’t honestly be called good looking - the RS200 certainly can if you are talking about WRC cars, but we’re concentrating on 4-doors.
I tend to have a thing about estate cars and think that there are some gorgeous looking ones but haven’t said anything because they are 5-doors…
I’ll stick with my Michelotti cars - such fine design and sweet lines!
So what does a Delta look without all the tat
A tad plain, a wwd. Can you believe, you could get this with a 1.1L engine, topping out at about 90mph. Calling this a sports car is like suggesting the Impreza is one.
As I was saying, whatever car went up on a 13 year old’s bedroom, it had little to do with aesthetics, and more about a Tonka-type machismo.
Does it for me.
That’ll look bl@@dy silly when the hardtop raises
Been thinking about that but can’t work out the answer. Great fun for four people in the sunshine though. Shame only four can share it … now there’s a thought…
4WD on a road car is for people who are scared of crashing. If you want a Lancia for MEN you want a Stratos (definitely pretty, but too few doors for this thread).
I’d say Freud had issues with his winkle.
Sadly it’s a short step from “handsome” to “rugged” and then the pick-ups are back on the table. “Petty” to me seems linked with graceful flowing lines, restraint (please, no Freudian analysis of my choice of that word), neatness and elegance. So that’s the RX8 out.
I nominate:
OK, If we’re not allowed to add any two door cars, How about a one door?
The rules: four doors, a car, pretty.
Within those three rules you just go mad.
Here’s 2 from me (agree with the Quattraporte and DS too):
Old:
New:
+1 for the rx8, and of course the aston rapide. 
very pretty car indeed!
