The earliest cars – those of more than a century ago – had no interior. There may have been a tufted cushion, and perhaps a rudimentary canvas cover, but for the most part you pretty much rode on the car, rather than in it. Oh how times have changed. Today, your car ‘s or truck’s – hell, especially some of the trucks – interior can be a home away from home, providing you with automatic climate control, Internet access and a place to warm or cool a tasty beverage. Your college dorm should have been so nice.
It’s not just amenities that have evolved over the decades, the materials, styling, and ergonomics have also seen several paradigm shifts over the years. Most of that is driven by the fact that we spend so darn much time in out cars that they better be both aesthetically and functionally pleasing. Today I want to know which car’s interior, in your opinion, possesses the the most alluring matchup of those aspects.
Do you shun the broad panoply of amenities now offered on cars for a more visceral appeal of the old school style over function approach, such as was the norm from about the mid ’30s on through the ’60s? Or, is convenience and gee-whiz technology turned tangible in soft-touch plastic more your bag? Whichever your poison, what car or truck do you think has the most awesome factory interior
Image source: fineartamerica
That unpronounceable car, the one that looks like a Victorians take on the 27th century.
<img src="http://raredelights.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-1.2-million-Pagani-Huayra-11.jpg" width=550>
I'll see your Huayra and raise you a Spyker C8
<img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/227013/2008-spyker-c8-spyder-interior-photo-227019-s-1280×782.jpg" width="600" border="0" style="border:none;" alt=" " />
Image from caranddriver.com
Center console gauge cluster for good measure:
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeTBLp13GZY/T62wKipF48I/AAAAAAAACX0/NLJWRt5mq8s/s1600/spykerc8la023.jpg" width="600" border="0" style="border:none;" alt=" " />
came here to post Spyker.
leaving satisfied.
One of my favourites, but that steering wheel is pretty lame compared to the one without an airbag.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Spyker_C8_Interieur.JPG" width="600" img="">
I think the mid '50's Fords have the most beautiful colors, inside and out. This is the gorgeous interior of a '55 Thunderbird.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2582061514_e0e3b8e15d.jpg"width="500"/>
Cord, definitely Cord.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/1937_Cord_812_interior.JPG" width=500>
I'm going to toss my vote in for the early Citroen DS. So elegant in its simplicity. Uncluttered. Smooth, flowing lines. Single-spoke steering wheel. Button where a brake pedal should be.
<img src="http://www.autopaedia.com/auta/Citroen/Citroen%20DS,%20Citroen%20ID/Citroen%20DS%20Series%201%201955-1963%20(sedan%204d)%20(01)%20%5BIN1%5D.jpg">
Has anyone here ever driven one? I've always wondered whether the gear shift was like the one in the 2CV, which the great Paul Cockburn once described as "like lancing a wombat."
I've never driven a DS, but I have driven several 2CVs… It's an enormous amount of fun for such a slow car.
However I cant remember it feeling like throwing a short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupial!
I think he meant something more along the lines of stabbing a short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupial with a spear. I understand the gear-shift is a twist-and-jab sort of thing.
Aha! That does make a bit more sense… But just a bit!
Here, now you can see for yourself how it works.
[youtube llak5zRDLf0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llak5zRDLf0 youtube]
DS's have Citromatic, which is easy-you just move the shifter from gear to gear, there's no clutch, it has a smooth, slightly notchy feel. ID's have a conventional 4 speed on the column and clutch, and that's a little bit vague but not too bad. 2cv's on the other hand, the shifter feels like shoving the quarters into the washing machine at the laundromat, very notchy, stiff & loud. Hope this helps.
It does, thanks!
I always liked the way the waterfall between the seats blended the interior with the exterior on a vintage Vette.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3905780465_af706a7db7.jpg">
Transparent cupholder? What ze hey?
Almost looks like one of those plastic inserts you find in a biscuit tin – I'd hope it's more substantial than that.
1961 Dodge, because transparent speedometer.
<img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/1961_Dodge_Seneca_413_Max_Wedge_Sedan_Interior_1.jpg">
Transparent speedometers are nice, but trumped by this Delahaye's transparent steering wheel.
<img src="http://www.hemmings.com/story_image/148151-500-0.jpg?rev=2">
The answer is clearly Lotus.
<img src="http://www.toddsclassiccars.com/images/lotus/int.jpg">
Make enough electrical repairs, and you can get enough packaging to repair the interior, too.
<img src="http://www.marblequeen.com/images/antiques/scotch.jpg">
Yijes! Warn a person! Thank the Lord I packed my thorazine…
I love it when very large luxury sedans decide they can only manage 4 people. A8L pictured, but Phaeton also works
<img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/10q2/342123/2011-audi-a8l-rear-seats-photo-346082-s-1280×782.jpg" width=500>
Additionally, I find the H1 interior fantastic for it's lack of space despite enormity of vehicle.
<img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2004/2004-Hummer-H1-Interior-Rear-Seats-View-1920×1440.jpg" width=500>
I doubt it's as impressive as a proper luxury car by an established manufacturer, but I appreciate how the Geely GE is taking this to an absurd extreme.
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XEEIzU0UA1M/SfKKTp4nmAI/AAAAAAAAOCg/W8OHXgdA6-k/s400/001.jpg">
Ah, "communism".
Have we come to that definition of "awesome"? I'll throw in the Volvo 340's dashboard to square things off a bit.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Volvo_340_dashboard.JPG/800px-Volvo_340_dashboard.JPG" width="600">
It's so awesome it's gone plaid…er…tartan.
<img width=500 src="http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads13/plaid11946428411213881507.jpg">
You sensed me coming for you didn't you?
More Porsche luv…
<img src="http://www.928registry.org/CZ/P8050078.JPG" width="600">
The Tucker 48's dash apeals to me. The dash is so simple and the shifter column with its tiny shifter is a neat touch. As usual It wont let me post the pics from my phone. Try some google foooo.
<img src="http://www.laubly.com/TUCKER/Tucker10.jpg" width=600>
Maybe not the best, but for the interiors of the 70's I think the De Tomaso takes the cake.
<img src="http://www.classic-car-history.com/classic%20italian%20cars/detomaso%20pantera%20pictures/1971-detomaso-pantera-interior.jpg">
I always loved the placement of the gauges on the center stack.
Gt40
<img src="http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2-interior-w800-h800.jpg" width="600">
F1 (only if for the dual rear view mirrors)
<img src="http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/McLaren/94-McLaren_F1-DJV_08_RML_i01.jpg" width="600">
On the topic of factory interiors, the lede image is a 1950 Pontiac with a 1949 steering wheel missing its central clear plastic cover, an aftermarket 8-track player (not invented until the 1960s), missing trim above the glove box, an incorrect door panel, and a nonstandard paint job. Admittedly it's still not a bad-looking interior, but not factory.
I kind of hate when I have to upvote you for stuff like this. While all true and funny, it makes me think of Vogons.
"Oh freddled gruntbuggly/thy micturations are to me/As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes. And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon, see if I don't!"
I rather liked it.
Who knew Lewis Carroll was a Vogon?
<img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2606/3821385540_91ccab379d_b.jpg" width="500/">
It has all you need for a trip across Europe.
Far too much, one person here might reckon.
<img src="http://image.automobilemag.com/f/multimedia/photo_gallery/25810696+w1280+h1024+st0/0908_19_b+1980_kV_mini_1+interior_view.jpg" width=500>
True, although I acknowlege the potential utility of that carbon-tet extinguisher, if only my car had the spare room for it.
AMC Javelin Pierre Cardin.
<img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/09q4/301696/amc-javelin-amx-pierre-cardin-edition-interior-photo-305361-s-1280×782.jpg" width="600">
Stolen from Car and Driver
Grooviest interior EVAR!
The 1967 Imperial Mobile Director Coupe
<img src="http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1967/MobileDirector/1967/Amodt/MVC-009F.jpg"width=500>
Perfect for a candlelight dinner.
<img src="http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Chrysler%20&%20Imperial/1967%20Chrysler/1967%20Imperial%20Ad-05.jpg"width=500>
If you lived in a 3-bedroom house with your parents and your 9 younger brothers and sisters, and had a hot date with Peggy Sue, when you borrowed your boss's Nash with the seats that convert to a bed, you might find that interior to be really awesome.
<img src="http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Nash/1947%20Nash/album_001/1947%20Nash%20Bed-03.jpg" width=500>
Now I'm curious what exactly turns a regular window screen into a deluxe window screen…
This car has an amazing interior!
<img src="http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-20NvunS0m0k/UQyO_pV3t0I/AAAAAAACDZY/vUGKBG4lK20/s900/0_89f52_a00ba98f_XXXL.jpg" width=500>
Facel Vega FTW!
<img src="http://www.shorey.net/Auto/French/Facel%20Vega/Facel%20Vega%20Facel%20III%20berline%201963%20interior.jpg">
Photo by Andre Ritzinger by way of Shorey.net
<img src="http://pcdn.500px.net/8157956/569857c89adb4499426c957f58809e7b9b9a6ba6/4.jpg" width="600">
Jag XK140 gives me wood.
I like that you asked which was "MOST AWESOME".
I think that the Lagonda interior is pretty awesome. I'm not sure if it's good or bad, but definitely awesome.
<img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4633512105_cdd892ce1c.jpg">
I'm partial to the '58-'60 Thunderbird:
<img src="http://photos.aaca.org/files/6/0/3/3/4/1960_ford_thunderbird_convertible_with_top_down_-_red_-_interior_pat_d.jpg" width=600>
Not my car, mine has no AC and is leather so it's not two tone, it's all red.
But the '61-'63 has the better dash:
<img src="http://www.velocityjournal.com/images/full/2011/539/fd1961thunderbird53941687.jpg" width=600>
But the '64-66 has the cool, wrap around back seat:
<img src="http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/photogallery/1964-tbird-conv/64-tbird-conv-backseat.jpg" width=600>
Pretty much any '75 Cadillac with a Monticello Velour interior:
<img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2788/4173430107_e273cbdfdb_z.jpg?zz=1">
Although they lack the fancy consoles of the Fleetwood Talisman, the fabric is way more over-the-top. It's the most pimped-out car straight from the factory that you could imagine. The existence of these cars shows us how different the 70's really were. Banker and CEO types bought cars that looked like a Victorian bordello inside.
If a red one didn't strike your fancy, you could get it in bodacious blue:
<img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2709/4111195448_fb0c238ca0_z.jpg?zz=1">
or "Rosewood"
<img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6046/6258619877_7de3ea82ce_z.jpg">
The greatest interiors…EVER!!! Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!!!!
The 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. You know you're driving something crazy when your car has a 9000 rpm redline and no speedometer at all !
<img src="http://autoinjected.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/alfa-romeo-tipo-33-stradale-interior.jpg" width="700">
Also a honorable mention to the 1954 Fiat Turbina concept car. With a wooden steering wheel, a crapload of gauges and three gas turbine behind you, it has to be the coolest interior ever made.
<img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/349ctjs.jpg" width="700">