Show me a nice new car

robbeiflex

robbeiflex

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Based on the runaway success of kshapero's "Show me a nice old car", let's have a counterpoint for beautiful modern machinery. I recently got my Ziess Ikonta 521 all nice and light tight, and shot a roll of Superpan 200 in it. Here is something from that roll to get started:

8871537784_bfe8f5346c_b.jpg
 
Six years later and there still doesn't appear to be an alternative to 'Show me a nice old car', so hopefully this thread will gain some traction (pardon the pun)...

Spotted in Kuala Lumpur

Pentax MX, SMC-M 28/f2 and Tmax400

 
As I was composing this shot, a couple walked into the frame from the left and entered the crosswalk, passing in front of the car. I waited until they crossed the street and out of the frame before taking the shot. Turns out, it was the owner of the car. I said, "Nice car!" and continued on my way. :D

I think it's a McLaren 570GT.

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03524-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
Now that is a nice new car, especially well rendered into something older by the film!

My problem is as a car nut that I can hardly think of a single new car that I like the look of.
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Now that is a nice new car, especially well rendered into something older by the film!

My problem is as a car nut that I can hardly think of a single new car that I like the look of.
Click to expand...

Various and increasing regulations imposed on car manufacturers since the late 60’s by bureaucratic agencies have made artistic expression in sheetmetal almost impossible. There are a few modern cars one could point to that can legitimately be called beautiful , but even the nice ones all suffer from a certain sameness because they are all constrained by the same set of outside rules.

There are certain crash protection and fuel efficiency benefits which accrued from all this, but for those who viewed the automobile as an art form as much or more than a transportation appliance, it has been an esthetic tragedy of sorts.
It’s exactly as if some grey government functionary had walked into van Gogh’s studio, and took away 80% of the colors in his studio, especially the oranges and yellows because of “the dangers of cadmium”, and said “have a nice day, don’t forget to pay your fine.”

The Art of the Automobile is no longer possible, in any real sense. We are left with a few beautiful cars which tend to look vaguely similar, and a majority of transport modules which look like egg cartons.

Sic transit gloria mundi

Ah, for the days that something as different and as cleanly, outrageously beautiful as a Jaguar E-type could be sprung on an unsuspecting world, in 1961, seemingly out of nowhere, with no design antecedents to be found.

“Sir William Lyons, so sorry, but that thing goes to the crusher today, those bumpers!”
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Now that is a nice new car, especially well rendered into something older by the film!

My problem is as a car nut that I can hardly think of a single new car that I like the look of.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Charles! It's not every day you see a McLaren parked on the street.

I'm not a car nut, but I agree with your sentiments about the look of new cars. I much preferred the old 1950s T-Bird I saw earlier in the day. I think most denizens of this forum would also agree, seeing as the "Show me a nice old car" thread is near its 1,600th post since 2013, whereas this one is (pun intended) stalled at less than 10 posts.
 
Larry Cloetta said:
Ah, for the days that something as different and as cleanly, outrageously beautiful as a Jaguar E-type could be sprung on an unsuspecting world, in 1961, seemingly out of nowhere, with no design antecedents to be found.
Click to expand...
Maybe...
U77I1514253479.SEQ.1.jpg
Pentax K-1, 1.4/50mm SMCP
 
Larry Cloetta said:
Various and increasing regulations imposed on car manufacturers since the late 60’s by bureaucratic agencies have made artistic expression in sheetmetal almost impossible. There are a few modern cars one could point to that can legitimately be called beautiful , but even the nice ones all suffer from a certain sameness because they are all constrained by the same set of outside rules.

There are certain crash protection and fuel efficiency benefits which accrued from all this, but for those who viewed the automobile as an art form as much or more than a transportation appliance, it has been an esthetic tragedy of sorts.
It’s exactly as if some grey government functionary had walked into van Gogh’s studio, and took away 80% of the colors in his studio, especially the oranges and yellows because of “the dangers of cadmium”, and said “have a nice day, don’t forget to pay your fine.”

The Art of the Automobile is no longer possible, in any real sense. We are left with a few beautiful cars which tend to look vaguely similar, and a majority of transport modules which look like egg cartons.

Sic transit gloria mundi

Ah, for the days that something as different and as cleanly, outrageously beautiful as a Jaguar E-type could be sprung on an unsuspecting world, in 1961, seemingly out of nowhere, with no design antecedents to be found.

“Sir William Lyons, so sorry, but that thing goes to the crusher today, those bumpers!”
Click to expand...

Indeed, a concise and precise summary. Sadly I can't remember the last time I said wow.
 
Doug said:
Maybe...
U77I1514253479.SEQ.1.jpg
Pentax K-1, 1.4/50mm SMCP
Click to expand...

Doug,

That’s a heck of a car, in so many ways, but the design antecedents stretch all the way back to 1948 and the first 356, which Porsche never tires of reminding us.
Jaguar went from the XK-150 to the E-type basically overnight, which is what I meant by designers having a blank sheet of paper to work on every single year.
Automotive designers, from 1900 to 1965 or so, never had to “think outside the box”, because up until then, there was no box.

Would love to have your car, though, regardless:)
 
^^ True, it has antecedents, though it does demonstrate that even today some manufacturers are producing attractive designs. :)

Also, some newer cars may look good from the outside but have ergonomic problems, like a high belt-line that makes it difficult to see out, as one example.
 
Doug said:
Also, some newer cars may look good from the outside but have ergonomic problems, like a high belt-line that makes it difficult to see out, as one example.
Click to expand...

If you can’t comfortably hang your elbow out the window as you motor along, I don’t want it.
 
Good shot Dourbalister! In general it's very rare I come across any car that I can get a totally unimpeded shot of, and that McClaren is therefore doubly rare.

McClarens are made about 10 miles away from me and there is a big dealership at Ascot, so I see more than my fair share. If I ever had the money, and they are doubly attractive to this ex-old-Citroen owner because some of the suspension is based upon the old hydropneumatic system (hopefully without the puddles of green suspension fluid that used to greet me like a puppy accident!).
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Good shot Dourbalister! In general it's very rare I come across any car that I can get a totally unimpeded shot of, and that McClaren is therefore doubly rare.

McClarens are made about 10 miles away from me and there is a big dealership at Ascot, so I see more than my fair share. If I ever had the money, and they are doubly attractive to this ex-old-Citroen owner because some of the suspension is based upon the old hydropneumatic system (hopefully without the puddles of green suspension fluid that used to greet me like a puppy accident!).
Click to expand...

Thanks, Charles! It's the same car as Post #5 above. We actually spotted that McLaren driving past it on the way to a restaurant a few blocks away. We had to wait for a table, so after we parked, I walked back with my kids to pass the time and to take some photos. :D I agree it's rare to get unimpeded shots of cars, so I was pretty happy with that lucky find.

Come to think of it, Post #4 was another lucky, unimpeded shot...
 
$130,000 Revero

$130,000 Revero

Karma...Chinese(?!), well Fisker is gone...


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Arcadia, Los Angeles County

images by taipei-metro

panasonic g6, zuiko 14-42
media Siliconpower Taiwan
 
Is

Is

this a 720S(?)...don't answer!

mclaren driven by a San Marino high school (Chinese) kid
San Marino High School, Los Angeles County

a taipei-metro image

g6, 14-42, siliconpower
 
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