You Didn't Expect These Car Designs To Hold Up This Long

Readers seemed to agree that the Saab 9-5 had wonderful and timeless design, as well as other models from the late Swedish carmaker. But it's clear that Volvo was the darling of the timeless design awards, with many Volvos making it onto this list. It's fitting that the relatively unpopular Volvo C30 — at the time of its release, anyway — got a shout-out. Truly, the Volvo C30 is one of the greats of the last few decades whose design has held up in the ensuing years.

We asked readers what other car designs have unexpectedly held up to the passage of time, and while some readers disagreed over what was or wasn't unexpected, readers made good arguments for either case. But Jalopnik, and certainly QOTD, is all about the demos, so here are just some of the cars with design that our readers say have surprisingly stood the test of time:

I have no idea why I feel this way, but I feel like the 2004-2008 Acura TL has aged pretty well. Especially in Type S trim.

Something about it has aged better than most cars of the same era, and the design holds better than the 2009+ TL.

Submitted by: shanepj13

I would say the Aston Martin DB9. Despite being almost 20 years old, it still looks like a brand new car. Modern designs aren't as cool as this. And ignoring classic cars like the E-Type for example, it's just one of the best designs ever conceived.

Submitted by: eightythird

And...

DB7 laid down the vibe, DB9 perfected it.

Submitted by: Atomic

I think the obvious answer here is Porsche 911.

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If you transported someone from 1963 to today, they would still recognize the current model as a Porsche 911. Some folks joke about Porsche's "lazy designers" but it's actually just a classic design that has stood the test of time and survived multiple attempts to replace it.

Submitted by: Earthbound Misfit I

And...

This. This is the only answer.

There are old out of production cars that still look good. And cars that keep being produced despite their outdated design.

But the 911 is the only car that can have a decades old design and still look brand new and current.

Submitted by: Snooder87

I still love the Volvo V50. And don't even get me started on the waterfall dashboard.

[...]

Submitted by: RWK

And...

This is a really good example. At the time, it was just another Volvo wagon. I just saw one the other day and had to remind myself that the car I was looking at was over 10 years old.

Submitted by: dolsh

And another...

Was going to say something similar for Horbury's V70. That thing has not aged a day since release almost 25 years ago.

Submitted by: Amoore100

Another offering.

Chevy C/K series. Not only did they build them forever (about 40 years), but keep going back to design concept, the trying to break-away with some ugly headlight/grill look only to go right back (GMT K2).

Submitted by: FutureDoc

The '99-02 Mercury Cougar. I don't see these much on the road anymore but I had one of these and thought they looked very unique and sleek for their time (and still do now). My high school girlfriend called it a "spy car." Such a stark move away from it's older sibling.

Submitted by: Unokid722

While this isn't a particularly inventive suggestion, I can't help the fact that my knees still get weak some 30 years later when I see a first-gen Acura NSX in person. My friends all had posters of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porches on my wall, but for me it was this all day long. To me, it's simple, unfussy design still looks so achingly gorgeous compared to modern supercars (the newer NSX included). I would consider cashing in my kid's college fund to buy one in good condition, if nothing else but to just stare lovingly at it all day long.

Submitted by: paradsecar

And...

Both that and the 300ZX both looked straight out of the future compared to most of the sports cars of the say and still look futuristic to this day.

Submitted by: liffie420

[...]

300zx

It still looks good today. I honestly can't think of a single time that I thought that car looked old or out-of-style.

Submitted by: SlickS30r

Hate to say it but,

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Damn near unchanged from 2008 (or 1969 depending on how you want to define it) and it still looks good.

Submitted by: WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAthenGTInowA4

The Pontiac Aztek.

It has lost none of the (zero) attractiveness and appeal that it had when new.

Submitted by: iska2000

And...

This is what I was going to suggest, but unironically. It was considered one of the ugliest cars ever made when it came out, but car design went in its direction as vehicles moved toward "ruggedized" crossovers and so now the Aztec somehow looks better than it did when it came out. I still don't love some details, but it's much less offensive to the modern viewer. That's "unexpectedly held up" to me.

Submitted by: MarcusBrody

The Mercedes Benz w124, all variants, by Bruno Sacco.

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Indeed the 300e was, and still is the most perfectly designed, and well-built sedan ever created.

Submitted by: pFfft

love these. look great. Design over a decade old that still looks totally fresh

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Submitted by: cfboyd

And...

Part of what makes this interesting is that car design really hasn't changed as much as we all thought it would while watching Minority Report or Demolition Man. There are easy "timeless" choices that litter the comments right now that I don't think hit the mark of "unexpected." There was one very good Volvo choice in here that had me thinking of a better Volvo choice:

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The C30 was pretty cool when it came out, and I kinda maybe regret choosing a GTI over one back in '08. They're rare now, but when I do see one I'm kinda instantly reminded of how cool it was. Stack this up against some modern designs (looking at you Veloster), and this would absolutely look current and modern if Volvo were to reintroduce the car unchanged some 10 years after the model was cancelled. (Yes, I'm very curious about the EX30).

Submitted by: dolsh

Fruit so low it's touching the ground:

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Submitted by: dbeach84

2008 Alfa 8c. Looks brand new today, in '08 or years before it's introduction. Will look "new" a decade from now is best guess (other than the interior's lack of screens throughout!)

Submitted by: Defiant2

The 1990's RSX-7, obviously! It's 30 years old and I think that on the outside (minus the pop-up headlights), it could pass as a brand new car today.

Submitted by: RandomUsername324

And a counterpoint...

I cant think of any car whose design has held up better than the fd RX-7. But is hasnt unexpectedly held up, it was a clear classic the instant they showed it.

Submitted by: boneheadotto

I always choose the 90s cars (BMWs, Acuras, etc.), but the car that I have been double-taking on when I see one is one of these.

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Clean and sporty without being all boy-racer. I had an 05 that I messed with and had a great time in for 9 years. My brother liked mine so much he bought an 08 in blue right off the showroom.

Submitted by: FijiST

I gotta go with this design, that hasn't changed in 60+ years:

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With the only variation being either with or without a nose.

Submitted by: Knyte