Looking up, systematically, for four thousand years.
The DB6 is a functional evolution — not a revolution — in Aston Martin’s grand touring line. Its Kammback tail and lengthened wheelbase directly address aerodynamic lift identified in wind tunnel testing. It retains the live-axle layout, rejecting the more complex de Dion prototype to prioritise production readiness. It is recognisable, stable, and rooted in continuity — not novelty.
The Ferrari 250 GTO is a front-engine, RWD grand tourer built between 1962 and 1964. Giotto Bizzarrini led its development from 1960 to improve aerodynamics over the 250 GT SWB. It used wind tunnel testing at Pisa University, a hand-welded oval tube frame, all-aluminium bodywork by Scaglietti, and a dry-sumped Tipo 168/62 Comp. 3.0 L V12. Only 36 were built after Ferrari counted earlier 250 GT SWB units toward FIA Group 3 homologation. It features a belly pan and underbody spoiler formed by the fuel tank cover.
The Peugeot Quasar is a 1984 in-house concept built on the 205 T16’s chassis and engine. It features scissor doors and an exposed engine bay. Its interior draws from science fiction. It never entered production. It now resides at the Peugeot Adventure Museum.
The Giulia Sprint GT was revealed at Alfa Romeo's new Arese plant on 9 September 1963 and built until 1965, when the Sprint GT Veloce replaced it. Giorgetto Giugiaro drew its Bertone body, known as the step front for the raised edge of its bonnet. It paired an all-aluminium 1570 cc twin cam four with a five-speed gearbox and four disc brakes, and 21,902 were built.
The TZ2 was shown at the 1964 Turin Auto Show on the Zagato stand. It swapped the TZ's light alloy body for a more streamlined fibreglass one and dropped the weight to 620 kg. It was a racing version only, with an Autodelta-prepared 1,570 cc twin plug engine, and 12 were built. Development of the TZ cars stopped at the end of 1965.
The BMW 1500 was shown at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show and built from October 1962 to December 1964. It was a compact four-door executive saloon with the new M10 four-cylinder engine, MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear suspension. It was the first car of the New Class, the line that arrived as BMW broke even in 1962 after years of losses.
The BMW 2002 went into production in January 1968 as the larger-engined derivative of the 1966 1600-2, itself a shortened New Class saloon. It used a two-litre version of the M10 engine, and the range grew to include the fuel-injected tii, the Touring hatchback, a Baur TopCabriolet and, in 1973, Europe's first turbocharged production car.