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Since the dawn of civilization, Italy has been home to some of the world’s most beautiful creations. While its architecture, sculptures, and scenic landscapes are jaw-dropping, what captivates me most is its automotive legacy.
Decades before aerodynamics were micro-analyzed and regulations stifled creativity, Italian automakers sculpted rolling works of art — fast ones at that. Reminiscing about the golden era of coachbuilding, pop-up headlights, and creative freedom, here are the most gorgeous classic Italian sports cars ever made.
Making The Difficult Choice
Image Credit: Collecting Cars.
After spending days immersed in wallpaper-worthy images of classic cars, I selected the most beautiful Italian sports cars ever made — at least in my opinion. This article showcases jaw-dropping Italian sports cars built between 1950 and 2000.
Facts and figures are sourced from reputable third-party sources, including Stellantis Heritage and official automaker websites unless stated otherwise. The entries are ranked chronologically from oldest to newest.
1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Coupe
Image Credit: Stellantis.
Also known as the 1900 C52, “Disco Volante” translates to “flying saucer” in Italian — and it’s easy to see why. Its wheels hid inside its monocoque body shell, adding to its spaceship-like design, complete with side-exit exhausts. Yet, it retains classic Alfa Romeo design cues like the triangular grille.
Squint just enough, and you might even see a hint of the Jaguar E-Type. It’s worth mentioning that Alfa reimagined the Disco Volante in the 2000s with a coach-built version of the 8C Competitizone.
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
According to the Frist Art Museum — the perfect home for the Fiat 8V — only 114 examples of this jaw-dropping beauty exist.
For many, Fiat is synonymous with the 500, but the 8V Supersonic, built by Carrozzeria Ghia, proves the brand pushed design boundaries. And did I mention it had a tiny V8 under its hood?
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Image Credit: Sotheby’s Sealed.
The Ferrari Testarossa from the ’80s is an automotive icon. But the bubbly 250 Testa Rossa? That’s one of the most gorgeous cars ever to emerge from Maranello — and it’s the reason Ferrari won the Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1958.
That tends to happen when you stuff a 296-horsepower 3.0-liter V12 into something with a mere 1,764-lb dry weight.
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
Image Credit: Broad Arrow Auctions.
The Ferrari 250 was available in a few different shapes and sizes. Apart from the 250 Testa Rossa, the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso is my favorite of the bunch — yes, I think it’s even prettier than the uber-expensive Ferrari 250 GTO.
Styled by Pininfarina, Ferrari referred to its shape as “a statement of sweeping elegance, with a hint of aggression.” I couldn’t agree more!
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Sprint Speciale
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Designed by Bertone, the streamlined Giulia 1600 SS was the pinnacle of Alfa Romeo’s lineup at the time. Under its sleek hood, there was a 1,570cc twin-cam engine with 113 horsepower.
While it couldn’t match a Ferrari’s performance, it was beloved by what Stellantis Heritage describes as “gentleman drivers who appreciated their high torque at low revs.”
1965 Lamborghini 350 GT
Image Credit: Artcurial.
Usually, when trying something for the first time, you might stumble and struggle — unless your name is Lamborghini.
Designed by Carrozzera Touring, Lamborghini’s first sports car, the 350 GT, was a smash hit. In traditional touring car fashion, the 350 GT had a sophisticated appearance with a lengthy hood that hid a 3.5-liter V12 engine.
1966 Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider “Duetto”
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The Alfa Romeo Spider, famously known as the “Duetto,” became an icon thanks in part to starring in the 1967 film, The Graduate.
Designed by Pininfarina, the first-generation Spider’s rounded lines made it one of the prettiest roadsters of its era. Having a car with a similarly shaped front and rear sounds atrocious on paper, but in reality, it’s art.
1967 Iso Grifo
Image Credit: Bonhams Cars.
At first glance, you might mistake the Iso Grifo for a British muscle car, thanks to its mature and brutish stance. According to Autoweek, the Grifo comes from Italy and was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It’s still a muscle car, however.
In traditional muscle car fashion, the Grifo packs an American V8 under its hood — specifically, a Chevrolet small-block 327 with 300 hp. Unfortunately, only 412 examples were ever built.
1967 Fiat Dino Spider
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While the Fiat Dino Coupe was Bertone’s creation, the Spider was sketched by Pininfarina. Usually, I prefer hardtops, but there’s something special about this convertible that keeps drawing me in.
And on a side note, you can see that by the late ’60s, downward-pointing noses were becoming all the rage.
1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Image Credit: Stellantis
With only 18 examples ever made, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a true unicorn. It ticks all the right boxes you’d want from the ultimate Italian sports car — breathtaking presence, butterfly doors, and a high-revving 2.0-liter V8. The massive headlights were just the cherry on top.
Stradale is Italian for road, and this is the road-going version of the famous race car. Interestingly, it wasn’t built for homologation purposes; instead, it came after the racing version, meaning it was packed with all the greatest technological features available.
1968 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA 1300 Junior
Image Credit: Gooding & Company.
The Alfa Romeo Junior may not be as extravagant as some of its peers, but its beauty lies in its simplicity — with the GTA 1300 variant being the prettiest — in my opinion. The longer I look at it, the more its charm deepens.
On the one hand, it’s cute and compact, but then again, it’s pretty handsome too. A perfect contradiction that somehow works.
1969 Lamborghini Miura
Image Credit: Bonhams Cars.
Just a few years after launching their first car, Lamborghini was ready for the big leagues; however, their entry with the Miura’s design didn’t (and still doesn’t) sound all that convincing on paper.
A supercar with factory-fitted eyelashes that surround its slanted pop-up headlights and side vents mounted next to the windows. Yet, thanks to Bertone, it looks absolutely mesmerizing. And with the Miura SV’s top speed of 174 mph, not even the fastest American cars could keep up with it.
1972 Maserati Ghibli SS
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The Maserati Ghibli SS wasn’t just a grand tourer — it was a statement piece. Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro during his time at Ghia, the Ghibli SS combined sharp, angular lines with a long, sweeping hood that concealed a 4.9-liter V8.
I believe the kids nowadays would refer to the Ghibli SS as a car with infinite aura.
1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
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The Dino 246 is one of the most breathtaking cars ever made. But I only discovered the meaning of true beauty once I saw the roofless targa top version, dubbed the GTS.
Sure, it had a 2.4-liter V6 strapped behind the cockpit instead of eight cylinders, but we’ll let that slide. Maybe a Dino would be better off as a garage queen, but I’d want to drive this beauty at every opportunity.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera
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As MotorTrend writer Justin Fivella said, the De Tomaso Pantera is “more rolling artwork than car.” Surprisingly enough, the Pantera wasn’t sketched by an Italian design house.
Instead, it was the brainchild of American designer Tom Tjaarda and assembled by De Tomaso in Italy. Behind the driver, there was an even bigger American influence in the form of a 400-hp 5.8-liter Ford V8.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona Spyder
Image Credit: Bonhams Cars.
As you can see, the trend of wedge-shaped cars with razor-sharp front ends was far from over by the early 1970s. Ferrari’s fighter in the segment was its powerful, elegant, and achingly beautiful 365 GTB4 Daytona.
While the coupe is stunning, the convertible Spyder takes the cake in sheer visual appeal. If you’re a true fan of the unorthodox shooting brake, you’ll be happy to know that one 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake exists.
1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
Image Credit: Broad Arrow Auctions.
Being a homologation special, only 500 examples of the road-legal Lancia Stratos exist — which is an absolute shame, as this is one of the coolest-looking Italian cars ever made.
Despite its main purpose being Group 4 rally domination, its poised pop-up headlights and bite-sized razor-sharp body were marvelous to stare at. Its handling is best described as sketchy, but who cares when it looks like this?
1976 Fiat 131 Abarth
Image Credit: Iconic Auctioneers.
I understand if you don’t consider the Fiat 131 Abarth gorgeous — it does resemble a Lego Technic car an awful lot. But it’s undoubtedly cool. The 131 will resonate with those who appreciate an acquired taste — and I do.
Beyond its rally-winning pedigree, there’s an undeniable charm to its boxy aggression. It’s like an Italian version of the legendary Mk2 Ford Escort.
1982 Lancia Rally 037
Image Credit: Broad Arrow Auctions.
Remember the Lancia Stratos? Meet its big brother — the homologation special built for Group B rally racing, called the Lancia Rally 037.
Styled by Pininfarina, the 037 looked like a Ferrari that’s been prepped for battle. Its body was made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester, and panels were easily detached for easy access to the mechanical parts. With only 200 road-going versions in existence, it’s an ultra-rare gem.
1984 Lamborghini Countach
Image Credit: Gooding & Company.
The original Lamborghini Countach was a show-stopper. In the mid-’70s, Lamborghini unveiled the Bertone-designed LP 400 with its low, wedge-shaped body, scissor doors, and pop-up headlights.
Somehow, every new iteration of the Countach revealed, Lamborghini found a way to make it wilder without losing its beauty. The most stunning example, in my opinion, is a white 1984 Lamborghini Countach 5000S, like the one that starred in The Wolf Of Wall Street
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
The Ferrari 288 GTO was the first prancing horse to flaunt the GTO badge after the 250 GTO from the ’60s. Although it shares a silhouette with the 308, Pininfarina made the 288 GTO bespoke by embracing its muscular persona. Added was an emphasized front lip and rear duck tail, wider fenders, and an array of stylish vents scattered across its body.
The 288 GTO was originally intended to be a Group B rally car, but that racing series was shut down before it was ready. Behind the driver, it had a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 2,855cc V8, ensuring mind-blowing performance.
1986 Fiat X 1/9
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Marcello Gandini, the visionary behind the Lancia Stratos, conjured up the Fiat X 1/9 while working as a head designer for Bertone. It was the ideal choice for someone who wanted a convertible sports car without spending oodles of cash.
Though it wasn’t as in-your-face as some of the other cars in this article, the X 1/9 was just as charismatic despite its small size. Its razor-sharp lines, Targa roof, and intricate wheel designs made it one of the most stylish mid-engine sports cars of its era. Normally, I loathe rubber bumpers — but here? They just work.
1991 Alfa Romeo SZ
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If there’s one car in this article you’re allowed to disagree with me on, it’s this one — the Alfa Romeo SZ. Designed by Zagato, only 1,000 examples of the SZ were ever made, and they didn’t look like anything else on the road.
Instead of smooth, flowing lines, the SZ flaunted a bulky, almost brutalist aesthetic with a high beltline and an unconventional chunky look. It’s obscure, weird, misunderstood, and, dare I say, objectively ugly. But somehow, I still consider it stunning.
1995 Ferrari F50
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
Some may argue that the F40 is Ferrari’s most beautiful supercar from the 20th century, but for me, the F50 takes the crown. Unlike its predecessor, the F50 embraced a curvier, more organic Pininfarina design, with smooth, flowing lines and an integrated rear wing.
The fact that Ferrari dared to make it a Targa just adds to its appeal. Admittedly, the public didn’t feel the same way, considering the F50 started life as a supercar failure, but fortunately, time has been kind to the F50.
The Never-Ending Italian Charm
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
Despite their flaws, these classic Italian sports cars prove that “pretty privilege” has a place in the automotive world — even in the 21st century. Their timeless designs are more than just eye candy; they’re a badge of honor for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
These cars stand as testaments to an era when the spec sheet wasn’t the be-all and end-all. It was about the marriage of artistry and engineering. While there are cars that objectively outperform these and will likely outlast them, these classic Italian masterpieces — complete with wheels and an engine — will always remain some of my all-time favorites.
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