Over the years, the automotive world has seen countless styling trends come and go. While some designs have stood the test of time, others quickly fell out of favor and now feel dated. Let’s take a look at 17 automotive styling trends that once seemed fresh but haven’t aged well. From impractical features to over-the-top designs, these trends show how quickly tastes can change in the fast-paced world of car design.
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Fake Vents and Scoops
In the 2000s and 2010s, car manufacturers began adding non-functional vents and scoops to create a sportier, more aggressive look. These design features, however, served no practical purpose and soon became criticized for their superficiality. Car enthusiasts saw them as an attempt to add style without substance, diminishing the vehicle’s overall authenticity. Over time, such gimmicks have largely fallen out of favor.
Large Chrome Grilles
Large chrome grilles became a staple of luxury cars in the 1990s, aiming to convey a sense of opulence and presence. However, their oversized, shiny appearance quickly became excessive, leading many to view them as gaudy rather than elegant. The upkeep was also a problem, as chrome is prone to tarnishing and requires constant care. As design trends shifted toward minimalism, these massive grilles began to feel out of place. Today, automakers opt for more refined and subtle front-end treatments.
Two-Tone Paint Jobs
In the mid-20th century, two-tone paint jobs, which featured contrasting colors on the roof and body, were considered the height of automotive style. Over time, though, this once-elegant feature began to look dated as car designs became more streamlined. The contrasting colors often clashed with modern aesthetics, and maintaining the paintwork was both expensive and difficult. As simpler, unified color schemes became more popular, two-tone paint faded into the past.
Vinyl Roofs
Vinyl roofs, a popular trend in the 1960s and 1970s, were designed to imitate convertible tops while keeping a solid roof structure. Although initially fashionable, vinyl was prone to cracking, peeling, and fading, making it look worn out within a few years. This faux-luxury look quickly lost its appeal, especially as the vinyl aged poorly. Over time, car designs moved toward more durable and authentic materials. Today, vinyl roofs are remembered as a failed attempt at mimicking more expensive convertibles.
Pop-Up Headlights
Pop-up headlights, a design hallmark of the 1980s and early 1990s, were once considered futuristic and innovative. However, they were fraught with mechanical issues, often malfunctioning and becoming stuck in one position. Additionally, the bulky design disrupted the aerodynamics of the vehicle. As lighting technology advanced, the need for pop-up mechanisms disappeared, and their impracticality became apparent.
Woodgrain Paneling
Woodgrain paneling, most often associated with 1970s station wagons, was initially used to add a touch of luxury and class. However, the faux-wood look quickly wore thin, as the material tended to peel and fade over time. What was once seen as a prestigious design feature came to be viewed as tacky and cheap. As car designs modernized, the fake wood trim clashed with sleek, modern aesthetics. Today, wood accents are reserved for interiors, where real materials offer a more sophisticated look.
Continental Kits
The continental kit, which extended a vehicle’s rear bumper to accommodate a spare tire, was popular in the 1950s. It added a distinct, elongated look to the rear of many classic cars. Over time, however, the extended bumpers became impractical, making parking more difficult and adding unnecessary weight. As car designs grew more compact and efficient, the continental kit fell out of favor. Today, they are mostly associated with classic car restorations, rarely seen in modern production vehicles.
Excessive Body Cladding
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, SUVs and even some sedans were adorned with thick plastic body cladding. This feature was intended to protect the vehicle from minor damage, but it often faded and cracked over time, detracting from the car’s appearance. The bulky plastic also added unnecessary weight and disrupted the vehicle’s sleek lines. Eventually, designers moved toward more integrated and minimal protective elements. The trend is now seen as a relic of an era when ruggedness was overemphasized.
Bubble Cars
Bubble cars, with their rounded, almost spaceship-like designs, were all the rage in the late 1950s. Initially seen as futuristic, their tiny frames and odd shapes quickly became associated with impracticality. While they may have been cute or quirky, their lack of safety features and cramped interiors made them less appealing over time. As automotive engineering advanced, bubble cars were left behind in favor of more practical and safe designs. Today, they are seen as little more than a novelty from the past.
Digital Dashboards (1980s)
During the 1980s, digital dashboards were introduced as a cutting-edge technology, replacing traditional analog gauges with digital displays. However, these early digital systems were often difficult to read in bright sunlight and lacked the reliability of their analog counterparts. Additionally, the technology was prone to malfunction, frustrating drivers with inaccurate readings. As a result, many automakers reverted to analog gauges or more refined digital systems. What was once seen as futuristic quickly became outdated as technology advanced.
Landau Bars
Landau bars, a decorative element found on luxury sedans in the 1970s, were inspired by the folding roof mechanisms of horse-drawn carriages. Despite their historical nod, these chrome adornments added no functional value and often felt out of place on modern vehicles. Over time, landau bars became synonymous with an outdated, overly ornate design language. As car designs shifted toward minimalism, these bars were phased out entirely. Today, they’re remembered as a fleeting trend from a bygone era.
Winged Tailfins
The dramatic tailfins of the 1950s, particularly on American cars, symbolized the height of futuristic design. While they initially represented innovation and progress, their exaggerated size eventually became impractical and even hazardous. These oversized fins compromised aerodynamics and added unnecessary bulk to the car’s design. By the 1960s, they were phased out as more streamlined and functional designs gained favor. Today, they’re often seen as an over-the-top expression of post-war optimism.
Whitewall Tires
Once a symbol of luxury and style, whitewall tires were a common sight on cars in the 1940s and 1950s. However, as tire technology and preferences shifted, the stark contrast of whitewalls began to look old-fashioned and out of place. The extra effort required to keep the white portion clean further contributed to their decline in popularity. By the 1970s, most manufacturers had moved away from whitewall designs, favoring more modern and practical options. Today, they are mostly seen on restored classic cars.
T-Tops
T-tops, removable roof panels that were popular in the 1970s and 1980s, gave drivers a semi-convertible experience. However, they were notoriously difficult to remove and store, and often leaked during rain. Over time, more efficient and reliable sunroof and convertible designs emerged, making T-tops obsolete. Their impractical nature and tendency to wear out made them less appealing as car technology improved. Today, T-tops are a rare sight and mainly exist in nostalgic discussions of past automotive trends.
Opera Windows
Opera windows, small oval-shaped rear windows that were a signature feature of luxury sedans in the 1970s, were intended to add a touch of sophistication. However, they were purely decorative and offered no real function, making the back seats feel more enclosed and less open. As automotive interiors evolved to be more spacious and airy, opera windows became an outdated design element. By the 1980s, they were seen as unnecessary and out of touch with modern tastes. Today, they are rarely found outside of vintage car restorations.
Overly Complicated Front Fascias
In the early 2000s, many cars adopted overly aggressive front fascias with multiple air intakes, angular lines, and busy designs. While these fascias aimed to give vehicles a more performance-oriented look, they often clashed with the overall design and aged poorly. Their complexity didn’t always serve functional purposes and could even hinder aerodynamic performance. As trends moved toward more cohesive and streamlined designs, these exaggerated front ends lost their appeal.
Boxy Designs
During the 1980s and early 1990s, many cars featured boxy, angular designs that were seen as modern and utilitarian. However, as automotive design progressed, these boxy shapes began to look outdated and lacked the aerodynamic efficiency of more streamlined models. The sharp lines and corners also made cars look heavier and less refined. Over time, manufacturers shifted toward smoother, more aerodynamic bodies that not only looked better but also improved fuel efficiency. Today, boxy cars are viewed as relics of an earlier design era.
This article originally appeared in MyCarMakesNoise.
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