Gullwing doors are not just a design feature. They are a statement. The moment a car lifts its doors upward like wings, the whole atmosphere changes. People stop walking, heads turn instantly, and phones come out without anyone even thinking about it.
That reaction is exactly why gullwing cars have always carried a special kind of automotive magic. They do not only look rare, they look cinematic. Even people who do not care about cars understand that a gullwing door means something special is happening.
What makes gullwing doors so dramatic is their movement. Normal doors open out to the side like a regular machine. Gullwing doors open upward like a living creature stretching its wings. It feels futuristic, even when the car is decades old.
And because gullwing setups are complex and expensive to engineer, they are usually reserved for halo cars, limited runs, or vehicles that want to feel ahead of their time.
Historically, gullwing doors are strongly connected with innovation. Many gullwing models were built to showcase new technology, lighter structures, or bold styling.
Some were supercars built for speed. Some were luxury machines made for attention. Others were rare experiments that became legends later. But all of them share one thing: they created an instant crowd.
This list covers 14 gullwing-door cars that truly stopped people in their tracks when they arrived, and still do today. These are not random picks. They are vehicles that made gullwing doors famous, or used them so beautifully that they became unforgettable.
We will look at classics, modern supercars, and rare icons from different countries, because gullwing drama is a global language. Now let’s begin with the first two models that defined what “gullwing cool” really means.
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1) Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (1954–1957)
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is the car that turned gullwing doors into a legend. It did not just have unique doors for style.
It had them because of engineering. The high side sills of its tubular spaceframe made normal doors difficult, so Mercedes created upward-opening doors. The result became one of the most iconic automotive designs ever made.
This car stopped people in their tracks because it looked like nothing else on the road. Even today, when the doors rise upward, it feels like a scene from a classic film. The shape is graceful, the proportions are perfect, and the gullwing doors make it feel like a machine from the future, even though it is from the 1950s.
The 300SL was also a performance monster for its time. It was one of the fastest road cars in the world in the mid-1950s. That combination of speed and beauty gave it superstar status. It was not just eye-catching, it was genuinely advanced. When people saw one, it was like seeing a celebrity.
Collectors also made the car even more famous. The 300SL became a symbol of wealth, good taste, and automotive history. That collector aura gives the gullwing doors even more impact. It is not just a door design, it is a badge of legend.
The 300SL also matters because it created the template for future gullwing icons. Many modern gullwing cars borrow the same dramatic effect, even if their technology is completely different. The 300SL is the reason gullwing doors became associated with rare, world-class machines.
If you want the ultimate gullwing car that literally defined the category, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL is number one. It is the original showstopper, and it still has the power to freeze crowds in place.
2) DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983)
The DeLorean DMC-12 is the gullwing car that became a pop culture icon. Even people who have never studied cars know it instantly. The stainless steel body and gullwing doors make it impossible to confuse with anything else. It was dramatic, futuristic, and completely different from every other car of its era.
The DMC-12 stopped people in their tracks because it looked like it came from another world. Its sharp angles, brushed metal body, and unusual proportions made it feel like a science fiction prop. But the gullwing doors were the real magic trick. When they opened upward, the car instantly became a crowd magnet.
Its fame exploded even more through movies. Once the DeLorean became linked with “Back to the Future,” it turned into a global symbol. That film connection gave it immortality. Today, even kids recognize it, and gullwing doors are a major reason it became cinematic in the first place.
The DMC-12 also carries a strange historical story. It was a car born from ambition, controversy, and a company that collapsed quickly. That backstory adds to its appeal. People love machines with legends, not just machines with speed. The DeLorean is full of drama, both in design and in history.
In driving terms, it was never the fastest car, but that almost does not matter. Gullwing cars are often more about impact than pure performance. The DeLorean delivers impact in massive amounts. It is the kind of car that creates instant attention even when standing still.
The DeLorean DMC-12 remains one of the most famous gullwing cars ever made. It proves that design can make a car eternal, even if the company behind it disappeared. When those doors open, people still stop and stare.
3) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (2010–2014)
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is one of the greatest modern gullwing cars because it brought the classic 300SL spirit into the 21st century with serious supercar performance. From the moment it launched, it felt like a moving event.
People did not just look at it, they stopped, stared, and followed it with their eyes until it disappeared. The gullwing doors were the biggest reason. They turned every parking stop into a show.
What made the SLS special was that the gullwing doors were not a gimmick. They were central to the design, and Mercedes built the entire car around them. The long hood, short rear, and low roofline gave it a dramatic stance.
When the doors rose upward, the car looked like a predator spreading wings. Even surrounded by supercars, it demanded attention.
The SLS also had a unique presence because it was one of the last great naturally aspirated V8 supercars. The sound was loud, sharp, and full of character. In city streets, that engine note mixed with the gullwing door drama created a spectacle. People would hear it first, then see it, then freeze when the doors opened upward.
Another reason it stopped people in their tracks was exclusivity. It was never meant to be a mass car. It was Mercedes showing what it could do at the highest level. That halo status made it feel rare even when new. And today, it is already entering collector territory, especially the early clean models and special editions.
The SLS was also emotional. Many modern supercars are high-tech but cold. The SLS felt like a classic reborn. It had a long-hood grand touring vibe mixed with brutal power. That combination made it attractive even to people who were not car experts. It looked like art.
If you want a modern gullwing car that feels like a true icon, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a perfect example. It is dramatic, loud, rare, and unforgettable. When those doors rise, the world pauses for a moment.
4) Tesla Model X (2016–Present)
The Tesla Model X may not be a traditional supercar, but its Falcon Wing doors still qualify it as one of the most crowd-stopping gullwing-style vehicles ever made.
In a parking lot, on a street, or at a mall entrance, the Model X creates instant attention the moment its rear doors lift upward. People stop because they do not expect an SUV to perform that kind of mechanical theatre.
What makes the Model X special is that it brought the “gullwing effect” into the family car world. Most gullwing cars are low sports machines. This one is a large electric SUV that can carry kids and luggage.
That contrast is exactly why it grabs attention. It feels futuristic, like a vehicle from tomorrow, doing something unusual in the middle of everyday traffic.
The Falcon Wing doors are also practical, which makes the show even more surprising. They are designed to open upward in tight spaces, and the system is built to avoid hitting nearby cars. Watching them operate looks like science fiction.
It is slow, controlled, and dramatic. People stare because they want to see if the doors will clear the ceiling or the parked car next to it.
Another reason the Model X stops people is the electric factor. It has no engine noise, so it moves quietly. That silence creates a strange effect. A large vehicle glides in like a spaceship, then the doors lift upward like wings. It feels unnatural in the best way.
The Model X also has strong street presence. Its shape is clean, modern, and instantly recognizable. And because it is a premium electric SUV, it carries status appeal too. When a high-status vehicle does something visually dramatic, the attention doubles.
The Tesla Model X proves that gullwing-style doors are not just for sports cars. Even as a family vehicle, it creates the same crowd reaction. When those Falcon Wing doors open, people stop walking. That is exactly what a true gullwing icon does.
5) Bricklin SV-1 (1974–1975)
The Bricklin SV-1 is one of the strangest and most unforgettable gullwing cars ever built, and that is exactly why it stopped people in their tracks. Most people have never even seen one in real life, which makes the reaction even stronger.
When a SV-1 appears at a show or on a street, it looks like a forgotten movie prop that somehow escaped into reality. The gullwing doors are the star, and they turn the car into instant theatre.
The SV-1 was created with a bold idea: a “Safety Vehicle” that looked like a supercar. It had a wedge shape, a long hood, and aggressive proportions, but the gullwing doors made it truly wild.
When they opened, it looked like a futuristic machine from another timeline. Even today, it grabs attention because it feels like a rare piece of automotive rebellion.
Part of its show-stopping effect comes from the unusual body construction. The SV-1 used acrylic panels bonded to fiberglass, giving it a unique texture and presence. The styling was sharp, dramatic, and very 1970s in the best possible way. It was the kind of car that made regular traffic look boring and ordinary.
The Bricklin story also adds to the fascination. The company behind it collapsed quickly, production was limited, and the car became a symbol of big ambition mixed with chaos. That backstory gives it a cult aura. When collectors bring one out, it is not just a gullwing car, it is a rolling conversation piece.
The doors themselves are legendary. They were powered, which sounded futuristic, but also made the car feel like a machine with personality. Watching them lift upward slowly adds drama, like a performance. People stop because they want to understand what they are looking at.
The Bricklin SV-1 may not be the most famous gullwing car, but it is one of the most attention-grabbing. It is rare, weird, bold, and unforgettable. The kind of car that makes crowds form without even trying.
6) Mercedes-Benz C111 (1969–1979, concept series)
The Mercedes-Benz C111 is not a normal production car, but it is absolutely one of the greatest gullwing machines ever created. When it appeared, it looked like something from the far future.
Even today, it still has that ability to stop people instantly. It was Mercedes showing extreme engineering ideas, and gullwing doors were the perfect design partner for that vision.
What makes the C111 so powerful visually is its shape. It is low, wide, and outrageously sleek. The proportions look like a spaceship on wheels. The gullwing doors add drama, turning the car into a living display of technology. When those doors rise, it feels like the car is revealing its secrets.
The C111 series became legendary because of what it represented. Mercedes used it as a rolling test lab for advanced engines, including rotary concepts and later diesel performance experiments.
Even though most people never saw one in person, photos alone created hype. Gullwing doors helped sell the idea that this was not an ordinary car. This was Mercedes engineering at maximum imagination.
Another reason it stopped people is rarity. It was not sold to normal buyers. It lived in museums, press events, and controlled displays. That exclusivity created myth.
Cars that become myths create the strongest reactions when they appear in real life. People freeze because they cannot believe the thing actually exists outside photos.
The design details also matter. The bright colors, futuristic curves, and smooth glass canopy give it a dream-car feel. It does not look like it belongs to its era. That timeless futuristic vibe keeps it shocking even decades later.
The C111 is the kind of gullwing car that represents pure imagination. It is not just a door style, it is a statement that Mercedes could build something beyond normal reality.
When people see one, they do not just stop. They stare, because it feels like looking at the future that never happened.
7) Toyota Sera (1990–1995)
The Toyota Sera is one of the most unique gullwing-style cars ever made because it brought dramatic butterfly doors to a small, affordable coupe. It was never meant to be a supercar, yet it created supercar-level attention.
In busy streets, the Sera has a magic trick: it looks normal from a distance, then the doors lift upward and everyone instantly stops to look. That surprise effect is exactly why it belongs on this list.
The Sera is special because of how different it feels from other Japanese cars of the era. Its glass-heavy canopy design gives it a futuristic bubble look.
When sunlight hits the body and the glass roof, it looks like a concept car that escaped into real production. Add the upward-opening doors and the whole thing becomes an attention magnet.
What makes the doors even more impressive is how wide they open. They create a huge opening that looks dramatic, almost like a mini exotic car.
People react because they are not used to seeing that on a compact Toyota. The Sera proves that gullwing-style drama does not require massive horsepower or a high price tag. It just requires bold design.
Another reason the Sera stops people in their tracks is rarity outside Japan. Since it was mainly a Japan-only model, it feels exotic in many countries.
Enthusiasts love importing them because they offer a unique JDM vibe that is different from the usual skyline-style hype. When something is unusual and rare, it naturally creates attention.
Driving-wise, the Sera is not built for extreme speed. But that almost makes it even more charming. It is a car you can enjoy slowly while still attracting attention at every stop. The focus is design and experience. The doors are the main event, and they deliver every time.
The Sera also has a strong cult following, which helps its public reaction. People who know cars recognize it instantly. People who do not know cars still stop because the doors look unbelievable. It creates curiosity from everyone.
If you want a gullwing-style car that shocks people without being a supercar, the Toyota Sera is one of the best examples. It is small, rare, and ridiculously memorable.
8) Autozam AZ-1 (1992–1994)
The Autozam AZ-1 is a kei-class gullwing sensation that looks like a tiny supercar. It is one of the most crowd-stopping gullwing cars ever because it creates instant confusion and excitement. People cannot believe what they are seeing. It is small enough to look like a toy, but it has real gullwing doors that open upward like a serious exotic machine.
The AZ-1 stops people in their tracks because it breaks expectations. Most tiny cars look cute and basic. This one looks aggressive, low, and futuristic. It has sharp lines, a wide stance for its size, and proportions that resemble a mini mid-engine sports car. When those gullwing doors rise, the whole car transforms into a display piece.
The best part is the contrast. The car is extremely small, yet the doors create huge drama. That makes spectators smile instantly. It feels playful, like a cartoon supercar, but it is also a real engineering achievement. This combination makes it one of the most photographed gullwing cars in the world.
Rarity makes it even more powerful. The AZ-1 was produced in limited numbers, and it was mostly a Japanese-market product. In most countries, people have never seen one in real life. So when one appears, it draws a crowd fast. The gullwing doors add the final shock factor.
The interior also feels special. You sit low, the cockpit feels tight, and the whole experience is like being inside a miniature race car. The car’s structure was designed around those doors, which makes it feel more exotic than many full-size sports cars.
Even in motion, the AZ-1 looks dramatic because it is so low and sharp. Park it and open the doors, and it becomes a show. That is why this car is a true gullwing icon.
The Autozam AZ-1 proves that gullwing doors are not only for rich supercars. Even a tiny kei car can stop a street if the design is bold enough. And this one is bold in every way.
9) BMW i8 (2014–2020)
The BMW i8 is one of the most dramatic gullwing-style cars of the modern era, mainly because it looks like the future arrived early. Technically it uses butterfly doors that open upward, but the effect is the same as gullwings: crowds stop and stare.
The i8 does not look like a normal BMW, and that is why it grabs attention instantly. It feels like a concept car that somehow became a real production vehicle.
The design is the main reason it stops people in their tracks. The shape is low, wide, and full of sharp futuristic curves. The body looks carved by wind, with strange floating lines and sculpted surfaces. Even parked, it looks like it is moving.
Now add those upward-opening doors, and it becomes full theatre. People often pull out phones the moment the doors lift.
Another reason it creates such a reaction is the contrast. It looks like a supercar, but it is a hybrid. That surprises people. Many expect a loud engine and aggressive exhaust.
Instead, it can glide quietly in electric mode. That quiet futuristic motion makes the i8 feel even more like a spaceship, and that increases the shock factor when it arrives in traffic.
The interior adds to the impact too. The low seating position, cockpit-like layout, and modern lighting make the car feel special. Even casual passengers feel like they are entering something rare. When the doors open upward, it feels like stepping into a high-tech machine, not a normal car.
The i8 also gained attention because it became a celebrity car. Athletes, influencers, and luxury buyers used it as a status symbol. Once a car enters that public culture, it becomes even more recognizable and crowd-stopping. People want to see it in person.
Another reason it turns heads is that it still looks modern today. Many cars age quickly. The i8 does not. Its styling was so futuristic that it still feels fresh, even years later. That means it continues to attract attention everywhere it goes.
The BMW i8 proves that gullwing-style doors do not need a V12 engine to feel dramatic. Sometimes design alone is enough to stop a street. And the i8 is pure dramatic design.
10) Pagani Huayra (2011–Present)
The Pagani Huayra is one of the most extreme attention-grabbing cars ever built, and its gullwing-style doors are a major reason why.
It is not a common supercar that you see in rich neighborhoods. It is a rare hypercar that feels like rolling art. When a Huayra appears, people stop instantly because it looks unreal, like it is not supposed to exist outside a museum.
The doors open upward in a dramatic motion that matches the car’s entire personality. Every detail of the Huayra is handcrafted and visually intense.
When the doors lift, they reveal an interior that looks like high-end jewelry mixed with aircraft design. That moment creates a crowd, because it is not just a car door opening. It feels like an art piece revealing itself.
The Huayra also stops people because of rarity. Pagani production numbers are extremely low, and every car is basically a custom build. That means spotting one is like spotting a rare animal. In car culture, rarity equals attention. Even in places filled with supercars, a Pagani stands above the crowd.
The design is another major factor. The Huayra looks alive. It has flowing curves, exposed carbon fiber, and details that feel sculpted rather than manufactured. The car’s rear section with its active aero elements and quad exhaust design looks like science fiction. The front looks elegant but aggressive, like a predator.
Sound is also part of the shock. The Huayra has a brutal, high-drama engine voice that makes people look even before they see it. The sound grabs attention, and the doors seal the deal. When you hear it and then watch the doors open upward, the experience becomes unforgettable.
The Huayra is the kind of gullwing-style car that does not just stop people in their tracks. It makes them stand there in silence, just watching. It is rare, beautiful, and overwhelming. That is exactly what the best gullwing icons do.
11) Porsche 918 Spyder (2013–2015)
The Porsche 918 Spyder is one of the most shocking attention-grabbers ever made, and its upward-opening doors play a huge role in that impact.
They are not classic gullwings, but they create the same wing-like drama when opened, and the reaction from people is identical. The 918 looks like a science experiment turned into a real car, and when the doors rise, it becomes a full supercar event.
The first reason it stops people is its design. It looks wide, low, and extremely advanced. The lines are sharp but clean, and everything feels engineered rather than styled. It has the kind of body shape that makes you believe it was built for speed, not for decoration. Even parked, it looks tense, like it is ready to launch forward.
The doors create a moment of theatre. When they open upward, they instantly show that this car is not normal. Supercars already attract attention, but the 918 takes it further because it feels like a rare weapon. People stop because they sense this car is important, not just expensive.
The hybrid power story also adds to the fascination. It is part electric, part petrol, and brutally fast. That makes it feel like the beginning of the modern hypercar era.
Many people have heard about it but never seen one. When it appears in real life, it feels like seeing a legend come alive, and the doors make that moment even more dramatic.
The 918 also has a unique presence because of exclusivity. Porsche did not build these in large numbers, and most are tucked away in collections. When one is driven on the road, it becomes a moving museum piece. The moment it stops and opens the doors, crowds form naturally.
Sound also adds to its track-stopping nature. The engine note mixed with electric silence creates a strange futuristic vibe. It can whisper or scream. That unpredictability adds to the spectacle, because it feels like a machine with two personalities.
The Porsche 918 Spyder is the kind of car that makes people pause, even in places filled with luxury. The door design, the technology story, and the extreme rarity combine into one thing: instant attention. It is not just a hypercar, it is an event on wheels.
12) Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (1997–1999)
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of the most insane gullwing-style cars ever created, and it stops people in their tracks because it was never meant to exist as a street car. It was built for racing first, then turned into a road car only because rules required it. That makes it feel like a race machine wearing number plates, and that alone guarantees attention.
The first shock is its shape. It is long, low, and brutal. The car looks like it is built from pure purpose, with almost no softness in the design. Even today, it looks extreme. Most supercars try to look beautiful. The CLK GTR looks dangerous. When you see it in person, your brain does not process it as a normal car.
The doors open upward, giving it a dramatic gullwing-like entry. When they lift, it feels like a race car revealing its cockpit. People stop because they want to see inside. The interior is not luxury. It is function. That is what makes it so powerful. It is a street legal racer.
Rarity is another massive reason it stops crowds. The CLK GTR is among the rarest road cars in Mercedes history. Spotting one is like spotting a myth. Most enthusiasts only know it from magazines, documentaries, and posters. When it appears, people freeze because they cannot believe it is real.
The CLK GTR also has history. It is connected directly to GT racing and a time when manufacturers built wild machines to win championships. Collector cars with racing roots always trigger strong emotion, but the CLK GTR hits even harder because it feels almost illegal.
Everything about it screams exclusivity. The wide body, the extreme rear section, the huge aero shape, and the cockpit-style interior all tell the same story: this is not an ordinary luxury car. It is a weapon.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of those gullwing-style legends that makes even supercar fans stop talking and just stare. It is rare, brutal, and unforgettable.
13) Aston Martin Bulldog (1979, concept)
The Aston Martin Bulldog is one of the most shocking gullwing-style cars ever created because it looks like pure science fiction from the late 1970s. It was a concept machine designed to push speed and technology ideas, and the gullwing doors made the whole thing feel like a spacecraft.
Even today, when people see it, they stop instantly because it does not resemble a normal Aston Martin at all. It looks like a wedge-shaped weapon.
The first thing that stops people is the design. The Bulldog is low, flat, and unbelievably sharp. It looks like it was carved from a single block, with brutal angles and a futuristic canopy-style cockpit. This is not the classic elegant Aston image.
It is Aston Martin going wild and futuristic, and the result feels more like a movie car than a real vehicle.
The doors add even more theatre. They lift upward like wings, and because the car is so low, the motion looks dramatic. When the doors rise, it feels like a fighter jet opening up. People do not just look at it, they walk around it in disbelief, because it looks unreal from every angle.
The Bulldog also has a legendary story. It was designed with the ambition of being extremely fast, targeting huge top speed numbers for its time.
That ambition became part of its myth. Cars built with extreme ambition always gain cult status, even if they were never produced widely. This car is basically an Aston Martin fantasy turned into metal.
Rarity makes it unstoppable in terms of attention. It was not built in large numbers. It is not something people casually spot. When a rare machine like this appears at an event, it becomes the center of the entire venue. Many people may have heard of it but never expected to see it.
The Bulldog proves gullwing cars are not just about beauty. They are also about boldness. This car is bold in every way, from the wedge styling to the spaceship cockpit. When it appears, it feels like a forgotten future arriving late, and people stop because their eyes cannot ignore it.
The Aston Martin Bulldog is a gullwing-style legend because it represents extreme imagination. It is strange, rare, and unforgettable, which is why it still stops people in their tracks.
14) Lancia Stratos Zero (1970, concept)
The Lancia Stratos Zero is one of the most extreme gullwing-style concept cars ever built, and it still shocks people like few cars can. It looks less like a vehicle and more like a moving design sculpture.
The moment it appears, people freeze because it seems impossible that it could even drive. That is the power of the Stratos Zero. It was made to break rules and expectations.
The design is the biggest reason it stops crowds. The Stratos Zero is unbelievably low, almost flat. It looks like a wedge slicing through air. From the side, it resembles a futuristic triangle more than a car. In real life, it looks like a spaceship from a 1970s sci-fi dream.
The door concept is also wild. Instead of a normal side opening, the Stratos Zero uses a canopy-style entry system that lifts upward, creating the same wing-like dramatic effect as gullwings.
The whole front and roof section works like a futuristic hatch. When it opens, people react because it looks like the car is opening its entire body to let you inside.
The car also has a legendary place in design history. It was created during the era when Italian designers were experimenting with extreme wedge concepts.
The Stratos Zero became one of the strongest symbols of that time. Many later supercars borrowed inspiration from this style. That means seeing the Stratos Zero is like seeing the source code of modern supercar design.
Rarity makes it even more powerful. It was never a normal production car. It exists as a concept icon. That makes it feel like an artifact rather than a car. People stop because they know they are seeing something almost museum-level.
The Stratos Zero is not about speed. It is about presence. It is about shock value and pure design courage. And gullwing-style entry makes it even more theatrical.
If gullwing cars are meant to stop people in their tracks, the Lancia Stratos Zero does it better than almost anything else. It is extreme, futuristic, and unforgettable.
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