Picture a great-looking car in your mind. What angle do you see? Front view? Side? Maybe a three-quarter angle from the left corner? They’re all good, and certainly the views that designers focus on most to make what will be – fingers crossed – an attractive automobile. But that is not to diminish the importance of the rear end, which is how many more motorists will spend much more time admiring your car.
At the barest minimum, the rear end must inoffensively resolve the shapes flowing from the front of the car and neatly close off the shape. Although difficult to recall any one specifically, I know I’ve seen countless of rear ends that are just fine, completely as expected, no-chances-taken designs, which are perfectly OK. But when a design really goes for it, boy, does it stand out. I’m thinking of the Volvo 850’s skyscraper taillights, the Dodge Charger’s “racetrack” treatment, the Riviera’s boat tail in the topshot – you get it.
I asked the gang for their own takes:
“Yes, I’m biased, Chrysler Valiant Charger.” – Everyone’s favorite Aussie and Pal Of David, Laurence Rogers. Bias or not, that’s a great rear end. Fourteen rectangles, impressive.
“Testarossa,” says Mark Tucker, adding …
“Also gotta give a nod to my favorite tailfins ever, the 1960 DeSoto.” Fine choices!
“I’m nominating the FD RX-7 without the usual rear spoiler. Those lines just speak to me,” sayeth Antti Kautonen. And I agree – indeed, the FD goes beyond nice butt into great ass territory.
And here’s Stephen Walter Gossin, upon whom I can always count to go long with an AA answer, ’cause he’s a pal:
Gen 2 Sebring Convertible. You rarely see these anymore in traffic, and when you do, you’re greeted with styling that initially appears to be commonplace, but then you realize that it isn’t anymore. The design of these cars always reminded of more expensive Jaguars and other high-end Euro marques, but in a far more accessible price range. These were very handsome cars and were actually built on the Sebring/Stratus Sedan platform, meaning they had quite a long wheelbase and overall length for a 2-door vehicle. The amount of real estate from the trailing/rear edges of the doors all the way back to the rear bumper is glorious and massive. I’ve always had a soft spot for them, even as their number dwindle in this current era.
Your turn:
Which Cars Have The Best Butts?
Top graphic image: GM
Volvo wagons.
Hands down.
Bangle buttsssssss
I like Bangle booty and I can’t lie.
I’m going to go with the 67 Mustang Fastback. Not the fist fastback body style, but definitely the most iconic.
Really? No one has said Sally from Cars? With the little tramp stamp? Sheesh…
the iconic Rear that I am still partial to is the 63 Split Window Corvette.
Tuscan Speed Six.
Been in love with that car since Swordfish
One other thing I’d like to add… which is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nhFH25JNgc
I’ve always loved the C5 Corvette rear ends, MkIV Supras too. Going more classic, we have the Jaguar D Type, Chef’s Kiss!
1998 – 2002 Pontiac Trans Am (Long live honeycomb taillights) & C6 Corvette Z06.
Yes! I just commented this before seeing your post. I have a ’00 Formula, and the rear 3/4 view is my favorite angle of the car.
Aside from what was already mentioned, I’d like to put a vote in for the first gen Mercury Cougar.
https://i0.wp.com/www.indieauto.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/1967-Mercury-Cougar-rear-quarter-col.cov_.png?resize=678%2C382&ssl=1
And the late 1970s Camaro Z28
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7JHfAv5FBHKgnmVXncuZoyRBLnc4QvY-SiA&s
Polestar 2 has a nice one, the blocky shape helps.
I didn’t wanna nominate my own car but yes, I do actually like the whole tail light situation on the P2.
Series 1 E type Jaaaaag. No question.
inner dialog; “Don’t say your mom. Don’t say your mom. Don’t say your mom...”
Chrysler Turbine Car. Make me think that jet exhaust is about to shoot out the taillights, please.
’69-’70 Charger with the deep-inset taillights. That’s drama right there. The Jet-exhaust lights of the ’68 just don’t work as well.
C2 Corvette. Everything is perfect, even with the single piece window.
Ford GT40 Mk 1. Not a bad angle on the whole car. Beauty that serves a purpose.
VW Beetle. Because when you stop and think about it, the back isn’t too different from the front, especially with early decklids. That’s not easy to pull off without looking weird. Bug does it well.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34): …okay, I get it, it’s a flat slab with a bumper and a wing. But you never forget those taillights.
Porsche 930/late 911: I get that the early 911 is purer, but the big wing/cooler inlet, combined with the broad bar taillight…it’s a similar sense of drama to the Charger, just displayed in a different way. Maybe I just like inset or otherwise shaded taillights.
With the 911/930, it’s all about the hips.
I find that I prefer the ’68 charger taillights over the ’69-’70 but I am also weird.
Jag xke both hard top and convertible.
Volvo p1800
I once picked my first car, a 1990 Ford Fiesta, primarly because of the clever design at the rear, where all the feature lines are cleverly resolved.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/1994_Ford_Fiesta_1.3_Freestyle_II_%2824852281525%29.jpg/1280px-1994_Ford_Fiesta_1.3_Freestyle_II_%2824852281525%29.jpg
Volvo C30. So beloved that the designer of the taillights had a photo session with them.
Love the C30 overall, but the rear specifically.
Pretty much any and every Aston Martin. Also the previous gen Dodge Charger
Call me biased, but I’ve always liked the later 2nd-gen Formulas and Trans Ams with the ducktail spoiler (lots of acreage to spell out “TRANS AM” or what have you), and the blacked-out taillamps.
Dad has a ’72 Riviera so that also an excellent answer.
You remind me that I’d add, in an oblique way, any Pontiac from the excitement era that has a lighted P O N T I A C on the rear deck.
I always appreciated the 3rd gen Camaro (when paired with a deck spoiler, not the high-rise wing) and the E31 BMW 850.
I’ve always liked the simplicity and pure ‘business’ of the ’72 Pantera butt
https://ferraris-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/P006Web-37.jpg
Delorean DMC-12. That rear (esp with louvers visible) now serves as a totem that sums up not only the ethos of an entire decade, but also later stuff inspired by that decade. Instantly recognizable.
Somewhere out there is a psychologist writing a paper about abnormal fetishization of automobiles, with this website being the primary evidence.
Miata Is Always The Answer!
Take your pick of generation. The NA is classic with the tail lights even being exhibited in the museum of modern art! The NB has a JAG vibe, the NC brings in some heft, and the NDs add a modern
spintake on the original.Add a topless driver running through the gears and she flies through the twisties and you can’t help but admire the view!
Topless driver…. hehe…. hehe.
That entire last sentence wins the Matt Hardigee Double Entendre Award of Excellence.