Cars That Surprised You In the Flesh

[Slash]

I was just thinking about cars that pictures don't quite do justice for and thought, hmm it would be interesting to see what people say.

For example, cars that look huge in pictures or typically just don't photograph well or other things.

The first to pop in my mind is the 1971-73 Mustang fastbacks. In photos they look like huge barges, but in all actuality aren't that big. In fact they stun me every time I see one on the street because of how small they actually are....low enough that a 90s Jeep Cherokee looks like a lifted truck next to one. While they are long, they aren't as long as you might expect either. Your average 2014 Fusion and Charger will rival this car if they aren't actually bigger anyways.

What are some other cars that have surprised you that are bigger/smaller than you expected, have better proportions or just flat out better looking in person?

 

[Badasp5.0]

Bugatti Veyron They look huge in pictures but I saw in a car dealer window in Beverly hills CA. Alot smaller than expected. Still not a fan LOL

 

[LancerEvo7]

I thought the Lotus Europa was a lot bigger until I saw one in person.

 

[Earth]

Everyone says NASCAR stock cars are so big, but in person I didnt see what the big deal was.

First time I saw a F1 car I thought it would look more 'advanced'. Looked kind of like a big toy.

Also surprised at how tiny a Lamborghini Countach is. It looks so big and boxy in photos

 

[Slash]

I never would have guessed the Countach is deceivingly small. They do look pretty big.

 

[Doog]

The first to pop in my mind is the 1971-73 Mustang fastbacks. In photos they look like huge barges, but in all actuality aren't that big. In fact they stun me every time I see one on the street because of how small they actually are....low enough that a 90s Jeep Cherokee looks like a lifted truck next to one. While they are long, they aren't as long as you might expect either. Your average 2014 Fusion and Charger will rival this car if they aren't actually bigger anyways.

Man, you took the words outta my mouth. There's an un-restored Mustang of that vintage near my house (have seen it a couple times, most recently last week), and it is strikingly small compared to modern cars. Low and narrow, somewhat lengthy but not a large car by any means.

 

[mustang fanatic]

I was just thinking about cars that pictures don't quite do justice for and thought, hmm it would be interesting to see what people say.

For example, cars that look huge in pictures or typically just don't photograph well or other things.

The first to pop in my mind is the 1971-73 Mustang fastbacks. In photos they look like huge barges, but in all actuality aren't that big. In fact they stun me every time I see one on the street because of how small they actually are....low enough that a 90s Jeep Cherokee looks like a lifted truck next to one. While they are long, they aren't as long as you might expect either. Your average 2014 Fusion and Charger will rival this car if they aren't actually bigger anyways.

Same thing with the 69-70 Mustangs.

And they definitely don't photograph well. I find the same thing with most mustangs.

 

[Slash]

@mustang fanatic I'd actually argue that the 69-70s side by side look bigger than 71-73s overall , or at least close.


The Dodge Charger though (68-70) is GIGANTIC. The first time I ever saw one, my eyes almost fell out of my head.

Man, you took the words outta my mouth. There's an un-restored Mustang of that vintage near my house (have seen it a couple times, most recently last week), and it is strikingly small compared to modern cars. Low and narrow, somewhat lengthy but not a large car by any means.

I agree. The new Chargers are actually nearly 1 foot longer than the 71-73 Mustangs.

Another car I find looks better in person is the Mustang II, ironically enough. The car looks atrocious in photos usually but in person, for at least the fastbacks, I find look much better.

 

[xXKingJoshXx]

The old Lincoln Continentals are actually a lot smaller in person than they look in pictures.

LOL JK

 

[Slash]

Actually I am somewhat with you on that, kinda. They don't sit very high. An average person would tower over it.

They are incredibly long though.

 

[mustang fanatic]

I actually was really surprised when I saw these in person. They just look so small in person compared to pictures.

And I've always wondered why these look so ugly in pictures. They always do. It never fails.

 

[Slash]

I find they look good in photo's

 

[Downhill Dino]

I thought the Lotus Europa was a lot bigger until I saw one in person.

I felt the same about MGBs. I've seen them parked or driving about, but when I actually was close to one and walked up to it I was certainly surprised.

 

[ilikewaffles11]

The Fisker Karma, pictures just don't do it justice. I thought it was hideous in all the photos I saw of it, then I saw one in person... Beautiful looking car.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I suppose I kind of made it...somewhat of at tradition with friends to go to Mass to the exotic car dealerships every year or so. Being in Maine, I...pretty much never see supercars here.

To start...not really a supercar, but something exotic to a Mainer. The new Maserati Quattroporte. In the pictures, I always thought of it as an ugly thing, but seeing it up close, it actually was pretty good looking. It might just be this trim, but it isn't as bad as I thought.

The F12 was also surprise...although it may have been the color combination that won me over. I didn't like it that much through pictures, but in white with these dark grey wheels. Perfection.

The Aventador was large, but in white...it seemed sedated.

F50 never seemed to pop out to me that much through photos, but in person...

Also...how low the Enzo was.

And man is the F40 small.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Farrari 612 I saw one a few minutes after I saw the Veyron and my god that is a MASSIVE CAR.

 

[Earth]

I never would have guessed the Countach is deceivingly small. They do look pretty big.

When I first saw it I was really speechless. My mind kept thinking it was fake because it is so much smaller then 99.9% of the cars you see day to day. I mean the Viper surprised me a bit with its size but this was a shocker.

@MedigoFlame says the F40 is small, but the Countach is 9" shorter in length and 2" shorter in height!

 

[Slash]

When I first saw it I was really speechless. My mind kept thinking it was fake because it is so much smaller then 99.9% of the cars you see day to day. I mean the Viper surprised me a bit with its size but this was a shocker.

@MedigoFlame says the F40 is small, but the Countach is 9" shorter in length and 2" shorter in height!

Vipers look huge to me for some reason. Especially the 03 generation. Compared to a 1965 Mustang Coupe (I watched them both drag race), it made the Mustang look rather small.

 

[Earth]

Vipers look huge to me for some reason. Especially the 03 generation. Compared to a 1965 Mustang Coupe (I watched them both drag race), it made the Mustang look rather small.

Looking at the specs the '03 generation is bigger then the late 90s model I saw.

Fisker Karma is bigger then it looks in pictures. And @ilikewaffles11 is right, its incredibly beautiful.

 

[XS]

A high-end dealer near my old house in Ohio had two Vector M12s in the showroom. They are actually very uninspiring in person, despite looking quite dramatic in photos. It's one of the few exotic cars that is actually disappointing to see in person. Sort of falls into the "don't meet your heros" category. Also while the body fit and finish is decent, the interior looks like it's from a Saturn. So I guess the car surprised me in a bad way. But don't get me wrong, I'd still drive the hell out of one.

 

[Slash]

Looking at the specs the '03 generation is bigger then the late 90s model I saw.

Fisker Karma is bigger then it looks in pictures. And @ilikewaffles11 is right, its incredibly beautiful.

That would probably be why then

________________

Alright, I can't be the only one who thinks this thing looks at least a little better in person:

 

[mustang fanatic]

I don't know. I've never seen one in person.

Anyways

Looks okay in pictures, but looks really fat in person.

 

[Slash]

Must be I'm one of the lucky few that's gotten to ride around in one.


The new Camaro's look really bloated in person that's for sure. I've been up close and personal with more than my fair share of them and good god are they 🤬 FAT.

That said, the new Z/28 looks quite good in person. In fact, I am seriously thinking it might be my new favorite modern muscle car. And that's coming from a Ford guy. I mean it just looks genuinely badass.

 

[GTboyz]

i thought F12 was small before i saw it in person. Looks a lot better in person too !

 

[XS]

That would probably be why then

________________

Alright, I can't be the only one who thinks this thing looks at least a little better in person:

View attachment 142949 View attachment 142950

You're not .

 

[Slash]

They really can be made into quite the performer despite being rather anemic stock.

 

[mustang fanatic]

That said, the new Z/28 looks quite good in person. In fact, I am seriously thinking it might be my new favorite modern muscle car. And that's coming from a Ford guy. I mean it just looks genuinely badass.

To me, it has too many body upgrades, and I'm just not feeling the front on the 2014 Camaros. It might look better in person, though.

 

[Slash]

That's what I like about it. It looks great in person, and actually looks smaller than the normal Camaro.

 

[Parker]

I thought the new Jeep looked hideous in the pictures I saw here but after seeing quite a few out on the roads I don't think they look bad at all.

 

[mustang fanatic]

That's what I like about it. It looks great in person, and actually looks smaller than the normal Camaro.

I've seen a modern zl1 convertible and a Hot Wheels Camaro in person. I guess they didn't look too bad.