For enthusiasts, there’s no question that cars are something akin to a living, breathing thing, and some can even convey emotions.
Automakers put anthropomorphic design touches on their cars, either intentionally or not. The expressions on the “face” of a vehicle not only signal the intended purpose but also shape how people perceive the vehicle’s character.
Modern performance vehicles have extremely angular designs to convey an emotion of aggression. “Fear me! I am a sports car!” they say to an unsuspecting driver who may catch a glimpse in the rearview mirror.
There’s enough anger in the world, and we would rather see a vehicle that can show its true emotions, even if that means it’s a sad boy like the Nissan 300ZX.
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We love the Z31 Nissan 300ZX with its wedgy shape and short wheelbase, but with the headlights popped up, it looks like a puppy dog that was just told there are no more treats. With the lights down, it looks like your dad napping on the couch after a big plate of spaghetti, giving new meaning to the term “sleeper”.
It seems to be a trend with vehicles that have pop-up headlights, such as the Lancia Stratos with its wide mouth that looks like it just watched you eat the last piece of pizza. Other notable sad boys are the Ferrari Testarossa, which peaks its eyebrows in despair when it realizes gas is too expensive to go for a spirited drive, and a BMW E31 8-Series, whose headlight’s glint as if it’s about to tell you it’s time for an engine service.
Of course, angry and sad are just two examples of a plethora of emotions. We’ve also seen vehicles that are extremely happy to see us such as the 1959 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite, and whatever emotion a PT Cruiser is trying to display – likely confusion.
Now, what do you think: Which car has the saddest face?
