The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

While the chase for speed and performance may result in some odd looking cars, we’ve also seen many stunning open-wheel machines hit the race track!
The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

1. McLaren MP4/4

Image source: Honda
Image source: Honda

The MP4/4 used from 1988 remains one of the most dominant F1 cars in the series’ history. It also had beautiful looks to match, helped by the famous Marlboro red and white livery.

2. Jordan 191

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

This beauty wasn’t the quickest car, but it did look incredible (especially in green) and was driven by an all-time great; Michael Schumacher made his F1 debut for Jordan driving the car at the 1991 Belgian GP.

3. Mercedes-Benz W196

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

In either its ‘Type Monza’ or standard configuration, the W196 was a treat to look at and was also insanely fast. It won nine of the 12 F1 races it entered in 1954 and 1955!

4. Maserati 250F

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

The striking 250F was driven in 46 F1 rounds between 1954 and 1960. It won eight races with legends like Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel and has retained its beauty over the decades.

5. Reynard 96I

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

The Reynard 96I was driven in the 1996 CART single-seater series. It looked especially good in the Target Chip Ganassi livery and spawned a number of beautiful successors too.

6. Super Formula Dallara SF14

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

One of the lesser-known cars on this list and the most recent too, the Dallara SF14 is raced in the Japanese Super Formula series. The F1-esque exterior and performance, smart nose design and sleek bodywork makes this one good looking race car.

7. Ferrari 156

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

It’s no surprise the shark-nose version has become so famous. The F1 car raced between 1961 and 1963 stood out from the crowd and looked incredibly striking. Greats like Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips and John Surtees all won in this elegant single-seater.

8. Lotus 49

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

Compared to current F1 cars, the 49 looks gloriously simple and slick. The original car raced in the famous green and yellow Lotus livery and coupled with a Cosworth DFV engine, it was incredibly quick.

9. Dallara GP2/08

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

The GP2/08 was made by Dallara and raced in three GP2 seasons. The F1 feeder championship race car featured the more aggressive, cooler looking skinny front wing and lower, wider rear wing. It looked great and produced some exciting racing too.

10. Ferrari F2004

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

The car proved to be one of the most successful in F1 history, with Michael Schumacher and Ferrari easily taking the 2004 F1 titles. The clean lines, bright red livery and incredible success has made the car a classic, even if the season itself wasn’t particularly exciting.

11. Mygale M12-SJ (2013)

The 12 Best Looking Single Seater Race Cars Ever Made

A slightly unusual addition to this list, the 2013 Mygale M12-SJ used in the 2013 British Formula Ford Championship brought wings and aerodynamics to Formula Ford for the first time. It was a drastic change but the aero package suited the car’s small dimensions, making it a cute but fast-looking little racer.

12. Eagle Mk1

Image source: hiroboy
Image source: hiroboy

A stunner from the 60s, the Eagle Mk1 (sometimes known as the T1G) was a pointy-nosed, aggressive-looking single-seater racing machine which perfectly suited its dark blue and white livery. It claimed just one F1 win, thanks to Dan Gurney.

Agree or disagree with our choices? Let us know in the comments below!

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Comments

Anonymous

This beast.

08/29/2016 - 12:24 |
46 | 0
Mr.Roberts

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The type 88 and 89 were funny looking things. Faster than rust growth on Alex’s cars, sexier than a chick in a bar to a drunk man and more mental than Ferrari not being a**holes to customers, but still funny looking.

08/29/2016 - 16:20 |
4 | 0
DeKileCH (Opel Squad)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Everything looks good in a John Player Special livery. This one especially.

08/30/2016 - 14:32 |
4 | 0
BMrcock

Brawn GP?

08/29/2016 - 12:40 |
130 | 4

Stood out so
well, in many ways

08/29/2016 - 16:36 |
2 | 0

2009 and up f1 cars were pretty ugly

08/29/2016 - 18:55 |
2 | 2
Jakob Larsson

I have a soft spot for James Hunt’s McLaren M23

08/29/2016 - 13:04 |
34 | 4

Im 15 hours late

08/30/2016 - 04:58 |
2 | 0
DL🏁

I miss Marlboro liveries so much :(
Whenever I hear “F1” the first thing that comes to my had is the MP4/4 in that livery

08/29/2016 - 13:54 |
2 | 0

I kind of wish that they mad an exception from tobacco advertising ban for Marlboro because its such a classic design, like Martini, but even more remarkable

08/29/2016 - 13:55 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Can’t believe the 1997 Jordan F1 car wasn’t in this

08/29/2016 - 14:14 |
0 | 0
Stig's Police Cousin

I always loved John Force’s cars.

08/29/2016 - 14:41 |
2 | 8
Anonymous

boys,settle down! this is where it all begins!

08/29/2016 - 16:02 |
8 | 0
Santiago Massey

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Tony kart looks better

09/02/2016 - 13:39 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

????????

08/29/2016 - 16:06 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Leyton House

09/03/2016 - 05:35 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Always liked the March

08/29/2016 - 16:06 |
6 | 0