Top Gear
In the latest issue of SuperyachtDesign, Q14, we invited a selection of studios to provide us with their all-time favourite automobile designs and the reasons for their choice. Here Luiz de Basto shares his thoughts on his dream machine.…
A sketch by Luiz de Basto of the Jaguar XK120
In the latest issue of SuperyachtDesign, Q14, we invited a selection of studios to provide us with their all-time favourite automobile designs and the reasons for their choice. Among those invited were Andrew Langton, Eduard Gray, Espen Oeino, Igor Lobanov, John Munford, Evan Marshall, Mike Reeves, Terry Disdale and Luiz de Basto. Here de Basto shares his thoughts on his dream machine.
I cannot decide which car is my absolute favourite—it really is mission impossible. When I force myself to think of only one car that can hold the title of the best ever, I am immediately filled with a feeling of doing an injustice to a few others, so I jump from one to another. In a rather futile attempt to be rational, let me list them and try to pick one.
The 1937 540K Mercedes-Benz Special Roadster is virtually a work of art. I am particularly attracted by the power and elegance of the high hood and the gentle slope curve at the rear end. At the other end of the scale, the Jeep, introduced by Willys-Overland in 1941, is a perfect match between form and function and was one of the cars that my family had when I was growing up in Angola.
540K Mercedes-Benz Special Roadster
The 1954 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, which was launched in 1949, was pure elegance, while the later 1961 E-type was a natural progression. Both models were designed by William Lyons and were the most beautiful cars of their time. The XK120 profile is a masterful combination of two curves: the fenders’ side line, expressing the wind flow over the wheels, and the top one, which is interrupted by the cockpit niche cut-out and the straight line of the windshield. An interesting detail is that the head of the driver is located exactly at the golden ratio proportion to the overall length. This was no coincidence and is one of the subtle reasons the design looks so balanced.
To keep the list short, the 365 GTB/4 Ferrari Daytona (1969-74) by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina is a clean design and features essential lines that were ahead of their time. Looking at a more modern car, the 2007 Aston Martin Vantage by Henrik Fisker is a car I could not resist when I saw it for the first time and placed an order a year ahead of its release, which I still own today. I enjoy its stance, how the surfaces change smoothly, never revealing a bad angle. Intrigued, I even designed the Voyage 55’, a sport boat inspired by the lines of the car as a homage to the iconic brand.
Looking at the cars mentioned, I can see they are all extremely well proportioned. I like each of them in a particular way and can sketch all of them from memory.
See which cars made it onto the designers' favourite list by ordering your copy of Q14 today!
Related Links:
De Basto Designs - company profile
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