Automotive styling has undergone significant changes over the years, adapting to evolving customer preferences, economic conditions, and technological advancements.
This process continues to unfold today, benefiting from hindsight and a rich history of iconic designs that serve as sources of inspiration.
The overall design of modern vehicles can be traced back to the post-war period, a time when the automotive industry began moving away from the separate-mudguard designs that had been common.
This shift occurred alongside a growing interest in aerodynamics.
While a few streamlined models had appeared during the war, from manufacturers like Bugatti and Tatra, it was the 1946 Cisitalia Berlinetta that is widely credited as one of the first cars to feature the cohesive front end that we recognize today.
Car design in Italy continued to evolve beautifully after this, while in America, the economy boomed, leading to the creation of more extravagant models.
The 1950s saw the emergence of larger cars with prominent fins, and these trends soon made their way across the Atlantic to Europe.
The 1950s and 1960s were decades marked by a bold forward-thinking approach to design.
Many car models incorporated futuristic elements into their aesthetics. The Citroën DS is one such example, along with the Jetsons-inspired concept cars produced by General Motors and Ford during that time.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, automotive design took on more angular shapes, and the “wedge” design became popular, largely thanks to the work of designers like Marcello Gandini and Giorgetto Giugiaro.
During this time, round headlights were gradually phased out, as newer, more efficient rectangular headlights became the standard.
The widespread use of computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s marked another significant shift in automotive design.
Rather than relying solely on the perceived aerodynamic benefits of flowing, streamlined shapes or low-slung wedges, designers began using computer modeling to create cars that were specifically optimized for efficiency.
By the late 1980s, car designs had become more homogeneous, with a primary focus on reducing drag and improving fuel economy in response to the fuel crisis.
Also Read: Top 10 Retro Motorcycles Combining Timeless Design with Modern Performance for Every Rider & Taste
Ford played a leading role in this movement, with models like the Sierra and Taurus being marketed for their aerodynamic qualities, setting a trend that competitors on both sides of the Atlantic would soon follow.
In Japan, the late-1980s economic bubble saw the country’s car manufacturers producing a variety of exciting cars as sales soared.
Among these were the Nissan Pike Factory models, a lineup of retro-inspired vehicles that stood out as a refreshing departure from the “jellymould” revolution.
The Nissan Be-1, a retro-styled version of the K10 Nissan Micra, was the forerunner of this trend. Its design, which combined elements of the Mini and Fiat 126, was a success and helped to solidify Nissan’s commitment to the Pike Factory project.
The Nissan Pao, released in 1989, further embraced the retro trend with strong 1960s design elements, such as external door hinges, chrome bumpers, corrugated panels, and round headlights.
The result was a new car that looked much older to the casual observer, offering buyers a nostalgic experience without the risks of owning a classic car.
This approach was taken even further with the Nissan Figaro, a popular model whose charming proportions and elegant design captured the essence of a 1960s roadster, while being built on the reliable Micra platform.
The S-Cargo van, on the other hand, was heavily influenced by the “Tin Snail” design, maintaining little pretense about its retro inspiration.
The success of the Nissan Be-1 inspired the company to continue pursuing 1960s-style retro designs, which would later spread across the automotive world.
Although the Pike Factory cars were originally available only in Japan, their success had a lasting impact on other markets.
The trend of cute retro cars gained further momentum with the release of the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1997, which divided opinions but became a significant success.
Ford, after taking control of Jaguar, introduced retro-styled models such as the X300 XJ in 1994 and the S-Type in 1998. The S-Type, in particular, was styled to resemble Jaguar’s iconic 1960s sedans.
Although Jaguar initially resisted this retro approach for the S-Type, it ultimately embraced it, and the debate surrounding its design continues today. Jaguar would not fully depart from its retro phase until the introduction of the X351 XJ in 2010.
The S-Type was unveiled at the same 1998 British Motor Show as the Rover 75, another product of a British legacy brand under foreign ownership.
The Rover 75’s design, which drew inspiration from the 1950s and early 1960s, was arguably a more successful retro treatment compared to the S-Type.
In 2001, BMW embraced the retro philosophy with its MINI project, taking inspiration from the 1960s but presenting it in a more refined, modern package.
The production-ready R50 MINI became the foundation for an entire range of retro-inspired models, which continue to thrive today.
Fiat also joined the retro design trend, reviving its iconic 500 model in 2007 with a design that was as much influenced by the Pike Factory ethos as by its own 1960s predecessor.
More recently, the Alpine A110 reinterpreted the 1960s original, further exemplifying the popularity of retro design in the automotive world.
The Alpine A110 stands out as an exception to the current trend of retro design, which has recently focused more on the 1970s and 1980s.
This shift in inspiration can be traced back to the success of the MINI in the early 2000s, which has now sparked a wider movement.
Hyundai is often credited with solidifying this retro trend with the introduction of the Ioniq 5 in 2021. This model, which incorporates sharp-edged 1970s-style bodywork and pixelated 1980s-inspired details, wowed both the press and the public.
The Ioniq 5’s success has influenced Hyundai’s entire range, with the Santa Fe providing perhaps the most striking example of this bold, retro-futuristic approach.
In contrast to the more aerodynamic, streamlined design of the Tesla Model 3, which represents the evolution of the 1980s “jellymould” design, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 feels like a step back in time, drawing inspiration from what cars might look like if the 1990s and 2000s had not influenced design trends.
The success of the Ioniq 5 has encouraged other manufacturers to embrace the trend, with Renault unveiling its electric Renault 5, designed with inspiration from both the 1970s original and the wider-bodied Turbo variants.
Fiat is also set to revive the original Panda, another iconic squared-off design from the Giugiaro era.
Toyota, too, has embraced the retro trend, unveiling its 80s-inspired Land Cruiser, which features a bold front end, slab sides, and a retro color palette. Similarly, Suzuki has redesigned its Jimny to resemble the classic SJ30 model from the 1980s.
Even the updated MINI Countryman, a vehicle that has always been rooted in 1960s design, has shifted toward inspiration from the 1970s and 1980s.
Its new design features flatter sides, sharper creases, boxier wheel arches, and squared-off headlights, drawing clear parallels to vehicles of that era.
If retro trends in fashion and music are any indication, it seems likely that car designs will continue to evolve, potentially moving full circle.
Also Read: Top Car-Monitoring Cams with Advanced Features & High Resolution
Designers may one day look back at the “jellymould” cars of the early 1990s, which played a pivotal role in the rise of retro-inspired designs. Could we one day see a modern, all-electric version of the Ford Sierra? It’s certainly not out of the question.