Ranked Top 5: The Prettiest Ferrari's Ever Made

"Road Magazine" (roadmag) 12/30/2013 at 18:29 • Filed to: Ferrari, 250 GTO, 288 GTO, Prettyness, Eye Candy

2

62

After discussing about the prettiest Ferrari's ever made in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! post, it got me thinking, what is actually the most prettiest Ferrari ever made? Do you agree the fact that there was no good looking Ferrari after we entered the millennium (although the 458 could be an exception), or would you disagree?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This ranked list is based purely on opinion, if you disagree, show us your list!

Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 250 SWB California Spyder

Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari 456 GT

So I hear you chant, why the 458 Italia at 2nd place upon all these beautiful classics? Well, something modern can look better than something from the past too, and the 458 has such a beautiful design from every angle, it deserves 2nd place. The rest are pretty self explanatory apart from the 456 GT.

The 456 GT has a soft, innocent and very kindly look to it. It has a feminine touch to it that not many Ferrari's of that era had. It's sort of the unsung hero in my opinion, it may not of been particularly nice to drive, but just take a look at the swooping lines and the pop-up headlamps. I can honestly say, it is a beautiful car.

The F12 probably would of made it 6th for me, just the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! put me off. Thanks Jalopnik.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:33

0

I agree, BUT.. weird as I am, I'd like an honorable mention for the 308 and the 400. I'd even go so far that I'd say I think the 308 and the 400 are prettier than the 456 :)

Gamecat235 > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:33

5

1. 250 GTO
2. 250 GTO
3. 250 GTO
4. 250 GTO
5. 250 GTO

Honorable mention, 365 Daytona, 250 GTE, 330 LMB and F355.

dogisbadob > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:35

0

No Mondial?

phenotyp > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:36

1

Even though the 288GTO is my favorite Ferrari, I don't think it's particularly beautiful. I do, however, think that the 250LM should be on the list.

Road Magazine > dogisbadob 12/30/2013 at 18:36

0

Shoot me, but the Mondial looks like a very fat man sat on it.

Raphael Orlove > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:37

3

My faves:

500 Mondial Pininfarina Berlinetta

250 SWB

312P Berlinetta

512S Coda Lunga

Raphael Orlove > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 18:45

0

oooh, that's a good one

phenotyp > Raphael Orlove 12/30/2013 at 18:45

0

You mean, that's the best one.

phenotyp > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:48

4

...And some people say they aren't Ferraris, but fuck those people.

One of the most properly pretty cars ever.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:48

0

I felt that the Daytona definitely needed to be on here. I love the F40, and therefore I love the 288 GTO, but I wouldn't call them "beautiful" Ferraris, like what phenotyp up there said. Everything on that list should more or less just be all 250 "insert something here."

I'd like to add to my own personal opinion list would be: 410 Superamerica, the 60s racecars P3 and P4, occasionally the 365 GTC4 gets me too.

davedave1111 > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:48

0

Pretty isn't the same as beautiful, and I don't think there have been any actually pretty Ferraris since the mid fifties. Some stunningly handsome or beautiful ones, but not really pretty.

The 125 was genuinely pretty, in a cute, wide-eyed sort of way.

The 166 was more phallic, but still a pretty little thing.

Even the F1 cars of the era could be described as pretty.

All the MM's are gorgeous, and most are pretty.

By the late fifties, Ferrari was onto this kind of thing:

Absolutely beautiful, but not really pretty in the same way as the earlier ones. Just to be clear, I love the looks of the late fifties and early sixties Ferraris, it's my favourite period, but they're not the sort of thing I'd call pretty.

The 250 GTE is, in my book, one of the most elegant cars ever made, and truly beautiful as well. But elegance and prettiness don't go together the same way as elegance and beauty.

Kookanoodles > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:49

2

My Top 5 :

250 GT Lusso

250 California Spyder SWB

512 Berlinetta Boxer

308 GTB

308 GT4 (yes, it is too a real Ferrari ! Sort of.)

Kookanoodles > dogisbadob 12/30/2013 at 18:49

1

I like the Mondial, but it looks even more "I'll be a real Ferrari when I grow up" than a Dino.

Manuél Ferrari > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:50

0

I love all of the 458, except for the front end.

I'm really hoping that my mind changes on it though. Cause it's supposed to be one of the best cars to drive and prices will be tanking soon when its replacement comes out. And I'm not opposed to trading in every car I have and taking on more debt to get a truly amazing car.

I just wish it had come with the 6MT though :/ I know why it doesn't and how great the DCT is. The gated shifter would just be more fun when driving around town and stuck obeying low speed limits. The clackity clack shifting would keep me occupied.

Road Magazine > Manuél Ferrari 12/30/2013 at 18:53

1

The front is the best bit isn't it? Maybe it just comes down to opinion in the end! But the 458 is an amazing car to drive, honestly is. It turns heads more than a Gallardo. Oh, on the subject of Lamborghini, I think they have a sexy gated shifter. Just clicks into gear, such a nice sensation.

37deezee > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:55

0

must add 250 GT Lusso....

Gorgeous and Steve McQueen

Road Magazine > 37deezee 12/30/2013 at 18:57

0

How the hell did I forget the Lusso! Omg. Truly stunning car.

phenotyp > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 18:57

0

Bravo on the distinction between pretty and beautiful. A not-small amount of delicacy is required for prettiness.

The GTE is proper, for sure. Elegant, beautiful, handsome, even. But too much, too big to be pretty.

twinturbobmw > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:57

0

My favorites:

250 California SWB

288 GTO

308 GTS

458 (only if it's Abu Dhabi Blue)

250 GT

yeah, that guy > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 18:59

0

1. 458 Spyder

2. Ones not on fire.

3. Ones on fire.

4. Weird 2+2's.

davedave1111 > Gamecat235 12/30/2013 at 19:02

2

Oh, come on. There are at least five better looking 250's .

250 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta

250 MM

250 GTE

And of course the California

You can have the 250 GTO once. Now go away and pick four more. Oh wait, you did. Add them to your list properly then... :)

davedave1111 > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 19:06

0

It's not all about size, though, so much as well, not weight. But elegance requires grace, which in turn requires a certain degree of gravitas.

After everything I said, there's the odd exception. Maybe the 348 was pretty.

Manuél Ferrari > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 19:10

0

It it just down to opinion in the end. I want to love the front. I love mid engine Ferraris and I love all the other parts of this car. And I understand the technical reasons why the front was designed the way it was. I just don't like it. At least not yet. Sometimes I don't like something about a car but I later end up loving it. And sometimes I love a new car as soon as it comes out but don't like it as much after it has aged a bit.

I can definitely see why the 458 would turn more heads than the Gallardo. It's more rare since the Gallardo was made for so long. And the 458 looks unique. The rear 3/4 section is just pure sex. And that design hadn't really been seen (as far as I know) until the 458 came out. This section here is so sexy it should be illegal:

I wonder what prices will look like 4 years after its replaced. You can get a nice low-mileage early F430 for $135K now. Or for $150K you can get a 2008-2009 F430, including the Scuderia.

I checked 458 prices out of curiosity this morning and they are still so high. Looks like it still costs over $215K to buy a used 2010 Italia with over 20,000 miles. Newer coupes and spiders can easily go over $300K used!

I might go for a F430 Coupe with the 6MT one day if I can swing it. It's fast enough for me. And it's not as loved so prices keep dropping. I was originally going to be a 50/50 owner on a 2005 F430 F1 Spider but sharing got tough and I couldn't afford to help on the payments when I got a new house. So my father has full rights to it now. I drive it every blue moon but that's about it.

I would love the more modern interior of the 458. And of course the extra power would be nice. It would just be impossible to get anytime soon unless prices tank really hard when the replacement comes out. I don't see that happening because the 458 is so universally loved.

desertdog5051 > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 19:12

0

From a value point, there are several. But for plain looks, the 458 easily.

Big Bubba Ray > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 19:25

0

Nothing at all against Ferrari, but the 355 and 288 GTO are the only ones I've truly loved looking at. I could stare at these Ferraris for hours on end and never get bored.

Manuél Ferrari > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 19:27

0

Also - another awesome used car to buy would be a 599 6MT.

They are so rare and hard to find. Anyone who wants one needs to be financially ready to pull the trigger and search for the car daily. Last V12 GT with a gated shifter will be very desirable for collectors...

SLR999 > Raphael Orlove 12/30/2013 at 19:33

0

Late '60s Le Mans cars are the most beautiful cars of all time, and those two Ferraris are the unsung heroes of the group. Shame they didn't make more 312 Berlinettas.

It's not official Tifosi canon, but the 250 GT Drogo (Bizzarrini) is the perfect bridge between your two sets, in addition to being extremely unconventionally beautiful itself.

phenotyp > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 19:33

0

Yeah, I didn't necessarily mean physical size. Like you said, gravitas. Somehow gravitas and prettiness seem to be at opposite ends of the sexy continuum.

And if you're gonna say 348, I'm gonna counter with a black 355.

davedave1111 > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 19:36

0

I don't know. There's something about the 355 that shades it into beautiful instead of pretty. It's like the 348 was the pretty girl, and now the 355 is the beautiful young lady.

phenotyp > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 19:39

0

Oi. Now the discussion becomes potentially problematic.

davedave1111 > Manuél Ferrari 12/30/2013 at 19:39

1

The 458's the first Ferrari I've liked the look of in about a decade, but it's an odd one. I definitely wouldn't call it pretty. It's so unusual-looking that human terms don't really seem to apply.

It looks more like an insect than a person.

davedave1111 > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 19:41

0

I won't argue too hard. My first thought here was the 355, but looking at the pictures on GIS it wasn't quite right. The 348 seemed a better fit for pretty.

phenotyp > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 19:47

0

The 348 seems like costume jewelery.

Manuél Ferrari > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 19:51

0

So true! It is so out there that it's almost insect like. In a badass killer robot-insect kind of way. I used to have this Go-Bot as a kid that was an insect. The 458 could be one :)

The angle you posted is the one I can't get used to. I don't hate it. It's just not beautiful. The openings for the aero make it look busy. And the headlights are more angry than elegant. The F430's are elegant. The 458's look like a cross between a BMW E60's headlights and something else that's not coming to mind.

I don't mind the mustache. I know what it's there for and am cool with it. I just don't really like the angles of what surrounds it:

But I will say that the more time passes the more I get used to the 458. And I'm starting to like the aggressiveness over elegance design philosophy. And the rear 3/4 view is just soooooooooooooooooo nice.

And I know this is cliche but I do really like this car in red. If I ever got one I think it would need to be red. And I've never owned or wanted a red car. I don't think all Ferraris need to be red. But this one does look pretty sweet in red. Red is the color of anger and this is one angry machine that is out there to take on all competitors!

AMC/Renauledge > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 19:53

0

My top 5:

1. 365 GTS/4

2. 365 GTB/4

3. 250 GT Spyder California SWB

4. 275 GTB

5. 365 GTC/4

davedave1111 > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 19:58

0

Trash can be pretty.

phenotyp > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 20:02

0

... but you don't want to dig for it.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 20:03

0

What the heck, I'll throw up my list:

250 Lusso

308 GT4:

P4/5

458:

355:

davedave1111 > Manuél Ferrari 12/30/2013 at 20:03

1

It's not a moustache, so much as mandibles or feelers or something. And I totally agree, the front's not elegant, or beautiful - not from the front or anywhere else, to my mind. It's great-looking, but elegant and beautiful aren't the right terms.

For me the rear 3/4 doesn't work on its own. The car works as a whole because it's all insect-like, but it needs that insectoid face to pull it all together.

I'm with you on the red, though. I like it in black as well, because of the whole insect thing, but it looks fantastic in red. Not sure there are (m)any other Ferraris I'd even consider having in Ferrari red (when I win the lottery, natch), but that's one of them.

Oh, I guess the Mondial T cabrio, as well.

Almost all of them were red, and none of the other colours I've seen look right on them.

davedave1111 > phenotyp 12/30/2013 at 20:05

0

So... Buy a trash-heap?

Manuél Ferrari > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 20:20

0

now i want a Mondial cabrio in red

you are making future me poor. i'm already spending money i don't have yet, haha

i found the 458 in green for you. praying mantis color!

Sinanigans > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 20:41

0

250 Lusso

250 GTO

250 SWB coupe

365 Daytona

either 456GT or 355GTB

briannutter1 > Road Magazine 12/30/2013 at 21:14

0

I'll just leave this here for consideration. 599fxx and evo

davedave1111 > Manuél Ferrari 12/30/2013 at 21:19

0

Wow, no, that really doesn't work. Maybe because the black bits are too contrasting?

At least the Mondial T's relatively affordable still. You can get one for about $30-40k, if I remember rightly. Maybe even less.

Manuél Ferrari > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 22:39

0

It looks neat, but I wouldn't pick it in that color either. It looks too crazy!

You probably can get the Mondial cheaper than that. I bet there are some higher milage ones for $20K

Manuél Ferrari > davedave1111 12/31/2013 at 00:06

0

It kind of looks good in blue, no?

davedave1111 > Manuél Ferrari 12/31/2013 at 08:40

1

I* don't think the metallic colours work as well as nice bright primaries.

TheContradiktion > Road Magazine 12/31/2013 at 08:40

0

5) Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

The 458 is far and away the best looking Ferrari modern memory. It stunned after years of awkward looking F430s and 360 Modenas. Then the spider came out the jaws that were already on the floor somehow dropped a little further.

4) Ferrari SP12EC

Who cares if this was a hojillion dollar one off made for Eric Clapton, and who cares if nobody else in the world besides hojillionaire Eric Clapton and his friends gets to drive it? It's a real Ferrari with a real Ferrari name, and it captures the soul of the Berlinetta 512i while still being contemporary and gorgeous!

3) Ferrari Enzo

This one has to be here because I was twelve once, and twelve year old me would kill thirty year old me if I didn't put on the Ferrari that let every boy who dreamed of owning a Formula 1 car instead dream of winning three back-to-back lotteries and owning a Ferrari Enzo. It is sleek, sophisticated, but more importantly than all of that, it looks like a God damned Formula 1 car that I won't get arrested for driving through the mountains in.

2) Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB

In an era of titans the 1959 250 GT Berlinetta SWB managed to hold its own against some of the most gorgeous designs the likes of Jaguar and Aston Martin could put on paper. I'd say that earns it a spot.

1) Ferrari 250 GTO

Oh. My. God. It doesn't matter that I had a better chance of growing up to be a former NBA star turned theoretical physicist that used his paired inheritances from Bill Gates and the Sultan of Brunei to build a time machine to go back to 1980 to invest my entire fortune in the original IPO of Apple Computer Inc. while on my honeymoon with Natalie Portman than to own one of the thirty-nine 250 GTOs made. All that matters is some human somehow put these lines on a paper, and then some other humans managed to make not one, but almost forty of them a reality.

davedave1111 > Manuél Ferrari 12/31/2013 at 08:41

1

You may find one cheaper - there was one which had been slightly pranged on US ebay with BIN of about $16k.

X-cchannel-M > Road Magazine 12/31/2013 at 11:36

0

The 456 GT was a beauty. The 550\575 sharpened its suit

You can't go wrong with the 308/328. The specific 308 GTB that pushes the right buttons for me is the one with the factory body kit (note the much bigger front spoiler - larger than the standard Euro one). Makes all the difference.

Chris Harris' review reminded me why I fell hook, line and sinker for the F50 when it was launched. The F40 was legendary but the F50 had a level of class on a different plane.

Was never a fan of the bathtub 430. The Scuderia cleaned it all up and made it right.

*This space is reserved for the 458 Italia once they fix those eyebrow inlets by the headlights.*

Saracen > Road Magazine 12/31/2013 at 11:55

0

No Lusso on this list. That is a crime. IMO the best looking of the 250's, and the prettiest Fezza ever.

The rest of my list...

2. 330 P4

3. 250 GTO

4. 288 GTO

5. 365 Daytona

Manuél Ferrari > davedave1111 12/31/2013 at 14:04

0

OMG

Not sure if these two colors are the same or not. But the top pic is AMAZING

I agree metallic doesn't work as well. Dunno why most the default colors for these cars are metallic.

I want the 458 in the top pic. That blue with the black rims and yellow shield. I'm in love

DollaMoneyAve > Manuél Ferrari 01/02/2014 at 21:29

1

I thought the 458 front end was hideous as well. And then I saw it in person. It's beautiful.

Manuél Ferrari > DollaMoneyAve 01/02/2014 at 21:49

0

I do like it a bit better in person. Still looks kind off off to me but I dislike it less and less over time.

I kinda wish I still hated the front end. That would make me want the car less. It's bad to like a car that expensive because I have a bad habit of borrowing every dollar I can to buy what I like...

DETROIT > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/04/2014 at 10:54

0

The 308 GT4??????????????

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > DETROIT 01/04/2014 at 11:57

0

I know, right? It only recently appeared on my radar, but there's something I love about its proportions. It may not be the among the truly great Ferraris overall, but aesthetically speaking it's up there for me. Maybe not firmly in 2nd place, but in the top 5 for sure.

DETROIT > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 01/04/2014 at 12:37

0

The eye of the beholder.... I think the GTB has far better proportions. I guess if you are into the wedge style design this fits the bill. But the prettiest for me are the Zagato 250 GTZ, the 275 GTB 4S Nart, the 250GTBs. 1960's were a golden era of design. The 355 is lustworthy though :)

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > DETROIT 01/04/2014 at 14:26

0

I've always loved the Bertone wedge style, and the GT4 so simple and clean, I love it. Not to knock on the GTB, beautiful car as well. I tried to get some variety by hitting all the decades/periods.

SpeedSix > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 16:49

0

In no particular order:

Testarossa

365 GTB/4 Daytona

250 GT Lusso

330 GTC

Dino

Road Magazine > SpeedSix 01/04/2014 at 17:14

0

Lovely list. Doesn't that yellow just make them look a whole lot prettier.

Maxton86 > TheContradiktion 01/04/2014 at 23:40

0

As to the 250 GTO... I've often wondered if Ferrari ever got around to doing body drawings. Instead they might have just let the panel beaters start hammering away until someone said "Thatsa good"...!!

I can imagine it happening that way, as only the Italians could pull it off.

TheContradiktion > Maxton86 01/05/2014 at 00:18

0

The irony is that's much of my understanding of how the Miura came to pass.