The Ten Greatest Car Designers Of All Time

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These guys really knew how to use a pencil and paper.


10.) Ian Callum

With the Aston Martin DB9 and the Jaguar F-Type credit, Callum may very well be the best designer working today. He's leading the incredible renaissance of Jaguar with beautiful design, and if anyone could pull off a "performance crossover" it'd be him.

Suggested By: Zergonn, Photo Credit: Jaguar


9.) Paul Bracq

Bracq not only designed elegant cars for both Mercedes and BMW, he also was a pioneer in automotive safety. The Pagoda SL was one of the earliest cars to have crumple zones, and it's concave hardtop (hence the name) was designed for rollover protection.

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That he was able to make beautiful cars that were also safe is a testament to his brilliance.

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Suggested By: TheDailyTurismo, Photo Credit: Paul Bracq


8.) Bill Mitchell

As a GM lifer, Mitchell personally designed, and oversaw the design of some of the greatest American cars of all time. He's the guy you can thank for the Corvette Sting Ray, and that alone earns him a spot.

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Suggested By: 472CID, Photo Credit: GM via Automobile


7.) Georges Paulin

Paulin designed some of the most beautiful Peugeots of the 1930s, invented the retractable hardtop, and was a French war hero. What have you done today?

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Suggested By: Raphael Orlove, Photo Credit: Peugeot via Curbside Classic


6.) Franco Scaglione

Many people will tell you the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale is the most beautiful car ever made, and that may very well be the case. Scaglione designed that,the gorgeous Giulietta Sprint Speciale and way too many other cars to mention.

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Try not to stare at the Tipo 33 too long.

Suggested By: vee-dub, Photo Credit: Brian Snelson


5.) Harley Earl

Earl was quite possibly the Chris Bangle of his era, and like Bangle, he was probably the most influential designer of his time. Earl brought GM to the forefront of the automotive world, and his ideas still have influence today.

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Suggested By: Stig-a-saw-us-wrecks, Photo Credit: GM via Jalopnik


4.) Batista Pininfarina

Pininfarina designed incredible cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and lent his name to one of the greatest design houses of all time. Some of the greatest Alfas, Ferraris, Peugeots, Maseratis, and Fiats wear Pininfarina badges with honor.

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Suggested By: svenskfox, Photo Credit: Eli Christman


3.) Malcom Sayer

Sayer was of the first to incorporate aerodynamics heavily into his car designs, yet they somehow turned out to be some of the most beautiful cars ever made. The Jaguar C-Type, D-Type, E-Type, and XJ13 are all to his credit.

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Suggested By: Hart88, Photo Credit: Jaguar


2.) Marcello Gandini

The guy designed the Stratos, Miura, and the Countach. Need I say more?

Suggested By: Chris_K_F, Photo Credit: Lancia


1.) Giorgetto Giugiaro

Just look at the list of cars Giugiaro has designed and tell me he doesn't belong at this spot. His output and incredible breadth is scarcely believable.

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Suggested By: Leon711, Photo Credit: BMW via Jalopnik

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

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Top Photo Credit: Bertone