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
’57 or ’58 Eldorado. Hands down.
Volvo C30
66 Grand Prix and 68 Charger. Makes me sound way older than i am. Loving the inspiration for newer models. I think i’ve been scarred by being driven to school in a variety of 80s and 90s American models.
Saab 9-2X aka the SAABaru is always a favorite https://www.theautopian.com/the-saab-9-2x-was-an-excellent-subaru-impreza-but-a-disappointing-saab-gm-hit-or-miss/
996.2 base Carrera! IMO the best looking 911 overall. The 4/4S light bar and wide fenders never did it for me.
Best car butt: the original Porsche Cayman. After it came out, I never really lusted for the Boxster.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcarlook.net%2Fdata%2Fdb_photos%2Fporsche%2Fcayman%2F987%2Fporsche_cayman_987_coupe2d-4655.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=bf88b5c3acf2b4912d3e3dbecad37de1010c241564372f3b8a12eadb884ed2c6
Honorable mention (somewhat self-serving perhaps): the first-gen Volvo XC90. Yah, a SUV. I say this not necessarily because of how the XC90 butt looks, but rather because it works so well: first, it has a split tailgate, which I always love. Second, it’s got those odd stretched triangle tail lights from that gen of Volvo where their cars and SUVs all had significant ‘shoulders’ that carried on into the tail lights (a minor niggle is that they don’t light up all the way to the top). And finally third: unlike so many swoopy ‘SUVs’ (crossovers) sold today, this early ’00s XC90 is largely vertical in the rear, maintaining the long, flat roof and wide opening for maxiumum cargo flexibility.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dsf.my%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F08%2FVolvo-XC90a.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1ff7cc2eccc753c05fe115fd0e922646a05c164b2978d5616840acfdfbef5c54
Series 2 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe – Kammback like the Charger but with quad round lights.
I’ve always enjoyed the styling of the boattail Rivieras, from all angles. It was loud, audacious and polarizing.
But Kaiser-Frazier had their day in the sun too. Not enough money for both an automatic transmission and a V-8, they kept the forklift engine and Hydramatic tranny and went with this:
https://share.google/uAjoszcUxG1bGRIG2
I nominate the AMC Pacer, not the wagon, with a butt so good Porsche copied it for the 928.
2nd gen Ford Probe. 1st gen Dodge Intrepid.
Even if the ’59 Caddy is even taller and wilder, I have a crush on the 57 Desoto (saw it as a teenager and can’t forget it. I also tend to like rearends where the bumper and trim frame the tailights and rear panel, and I prefer fastbacks, 67 Mustang fastback is probably my favourite as a whole, the 69 isn’t bad. https://www.streetmachine.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/de-soto-rear-768×472.jpg
Easy. It’s the Porsche 356 coupé
–And… While we’re at it, the worst is the Alfa Romeo 155 😀
1st gen Z4, both in coupe and roadster guise. That was the one good Bangle butt.
Datsun 240Z. That liftback is just classic.
OG Mustang sportback, because duh.
The (my) Z4C’s design is aging nicely, but I still LOVE the rear three-quarters of the Z3C, aka clownshoe; not only nice butt, but THOSE HIPS, too!
65 or 66 Impala. Triple round taillights on the 65 or the first rectangular combined taillights on the 66, it’s a study in clean lines and elegant simplicity.
My old 99 Firebird Pewter Metallic. I honestly wouldn’t buy a modern car in a color like that, but those honeycomb tail lights on that color, sexy as hell.
Gotta show some love to my Fiji Blue Pearl 04 Element. It’s basic but still looks semi futuristic, but I might be biased.
Honestly the vehicles color can make a difference on how that ass pops.
VW mk1 Golf and T3 Transporters are boxy robust goodness.
Citroens but mostly C6 and of course the DS are complex and poetic.
Renault Avant Time that inspired the below Megane has the bustle butt with incredible tail lights.
My 2 favorite have similar motifs. The 1970 to 73 Firebird and the De Tomaso Mangusta.
Your question just reminded me of that old infamous commercial for the Renault Megane II.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGRKQ7z65w
I like this, primarily because it’s unusually unnecessary for a small functional cat
Saw the headline and thought of this. I loved my 2003 Mégane 3dr.
Lamborghini Muira and Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale
Dang. I forgot about the T33. It’s sooo goood…
I’ve been on this soapbox before and I’ll say it again. The late 60s Tipo 33 Stradale is the most beautiful car ever made. Fight me.
I had a ’72 Riv. I loved that car – the 455 drank gas like it owned Texaco stock. The rear window always made me nervous. Can you even buy one today?
That said – is there even a question? ’59 Eldo for the win.
https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1959_cadillac_eldorado-biarritz-convertible_Cadi6-37894-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365
Haven’t read all the comments but give a vote for the Alfa Romeo Spider before it got a kamm back
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, 1967 Mercury Cougar, 1970 Dodge Challenger, 1970 Chrysler 300H, 2026 Honda Prelude.
Alfa SZ!
Kidding. Well, sorta. I like tall tails, so I’m going with the Shelby Daytona Coupe. It’s the Kammiest of Kamm tails. Such a simple design that it’s hardly even there.
The Riviera up top works for me too.