7 ugliest racing cars ever

Sometimes motorsport creates things of real beauty, sometimes it creates astonishing bits of industrial design that you cannot help but marvel at/ But soetimes, well, everything goes a bit haywire, and then what should be absolutely wonderful, ends up being downright ghastly. These are the racing cars that no matter how much we want to like them, have a face that really only their mother could love.
That's not to say that we don't like them in some way, whether it's because they really are so damned ugly it's almost funny or others it's because the story behind them is impossible not to like, but all of these cars were hit several times with an entire ugly tree.
There is at least one of this list which we know will cause some anger, but let us know which ones you think we missed in the comments below.
#gwflatout #F1 #ugly
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:53 Caterham CT05
02:32 Dallara DP-01
03:50 Panoz Abruzzi
05:39 Ensign N179
07:05 Porsche 917/20 “Pink Pig”
08:38 Renault R29
10:30 Deltawing Coupe
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[@GoodwoodRR]

We stand by the Pink Pig.

[@maddee2548]

Oh yeah, thats not ugly pls

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

I think the pink livery ruins it. Dip it in yellow or green and it'll look superb.

[@LogicalQ]

chaparral 2j instead?

[@maxxedredlineproductions]

I think it looks awesome, in a way that it's iconic.

[@Official_MikeyT]

Porky Porsche would look great if it had a wider front and rear track.

[@AlexandervanderDander]

There's several cars on this list that i unironically like

[@gummostump4217]

"There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion."

[@digitalcamaro9708]

The Renault looks sick imo.

[@nikonordman7624]

Deltawing and the Porsche atleast in my oppinnion

[@vvv70v]

The question is which ones?

[@jeremiahgeorge6994]

Same 😄

[@5thearth]

I would nominate the Chaparral 2J. It was a brilliant vehicle and insanely fast but it had all the aesthetics of an industrial washing machine.

[@aisu8481]

Perfect description 😂😂

[@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo]

That thing looks badass, something striaght from star wars....... It was industrial design before Bertone or Giugiaro made it popular.........

[@Repulse96]

Looked like an air conditioner at the back, too

[@niismo.]

That's what first came to mind when clicking this video

[@tbc5902]

My dad and I actually call it washing machine in gran turismo

[@rhodrage]

I love how the best car in F1 in 2014 was the only one without a weird nose.

[@jamdc2000]

if you are talking about the Mercedes, it looked awful too; the most "pleasant" nose was in the RB10

[@rhodrage]

@@jamdc2000 In this case awful is a matter of opinion. I love that Merc.

[@Pandamasque]

Ultimately, all F1 cars of that era look like lobsters due to narrow rear wings looking like tails and thin wide front wings with flaps on the sides looking like a pair of claws.

[@rhodrage]

@@Pandamasque I still like them

[@albertorodriguezfernandez5956]

I think the F14T looked good. This was its best quality though.

[@mrtom2854]

I actually loved the 2009 Shark Fins. The Renault livery wasn't bad either.

[@apexinstinct]

Yeah I love the 2009 to 2013 cars, when I think of a f1 car I first think of them

[@Xiphactinus]

@@apexinstinct me too!

[@mionellessi3086]

They were beautiful compared to current ones.

[@mrtom2854]

@@mionellessi3086 A couple of the current ones are alright. The Alfa Romeo livery is gorgeous, the Alpine one is pretty nice and the Gulf McLaren livery was beautiful.

[@scuckplexity]

It would look nicer if the white part is just yellow

[@cas5447]

The 917/20: **Is literally one of the most beautiful race cars of all time** This list: Okay but what about a no?

[@GoodwoodRR]

We stand by our decision and our reasoning.

[@cas5447]

@@GoodwoodRR And I value that

[@hillclimbracingfan5821]

@@GoodwoodRR In that case,honorable mention for this list goes to new BMW M4 GT3 since it really has a “face only mother can love” as you put it for Porsche 917/20.

[@Ramtamtama]

the livery made it look good, but without that it would just look bloated

[@thecloud1432]

The pink pig is definitely not one of the most beautiful race cars of all time lmao. And I don't even think it's ugly.

[@themangix357]

The Narrator is doing a damn fine job murdering the cars omg LOL

[@jacquesparpaing3217]

With this british accent, it's even more funny 🤣

[@benmaciver4190]

No way did you seriously pick fault with pronunciation. Even thieves don't slander stolen Goods after they have nicked them.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Ugly F1

[@hi_c.v7289]

The 2009 f1 cars looked awesome:( I loved the shark fins

[@THESLlCK]

SAME, the shark fins were fantastic

[@fidan2fast]

2009 to 2013 had the worst looking cars in modern F1

[@aronagmar]

I loved the shark fins! I really loved them on the 2008 F1 cars!

[@hi_c.v7289]

@@aronagmar I think they looked best on the 2017 cars the first year of the extremely wide cars was awesome

[@aronagmar]

@@hi_c.v7289 Agreed! They looked great on them as well!

[@thirstyhorse7803]

Can't believe the 2014 Lotus "twin-tusk" nosed F1 car is not on this list.

[@THESLlCK]

honestly not terrible in my opinion

[@hexgraphica]

@@THESLlCK the caterham was prettier to me, it reminded the 312T4

[@nathanstroud2223]

The Lotus might've been alright if the tusks were symmetrical in size and more fang-shaped, like the Audi R15+.

[@graysonbyass-rascoe4326]

@@nathanstroud2223 What mate the R15 PLUS didn't have tusks unless I don't remember the 2011 le man's 24 that well

[@nathanstroud2223]

@@graysonbyass-rascoe4326 The R15+ was the 2010 car, the one that set a distance record at Le Mans while all the Peugeots retired.

[@aronagmar]

Despite all the Deltawing's many flaws, it will forever remain my favorite racing car ever because it was so unique and different and crazy. I miss it.

[@coleorum]

Like you I miss it....The Deltawing was never meant to please anyone with its appearance. It was an experiment in creating a lightweight highly aerodynamic and fuel efficient racing machine. Far from being a failure it ran strongly at Le Mans until a careless Toyota hit it. At Petit Le Mans the same year it finished 5th after being 3rd at one point. Sadly it never fulfilled the potential it was showing when Don Panoz took it over and ruined its looks with the coupe version.(The Nissan Zeod was a much nicer looking rendition of the concept). For me it made motorsport more interesting and I enjoyed following its trials and tribulations. It was a clever attempt at bringing some fresh ideas to the sport.

[@callummclachlan4771]

Agree. Also like the GTR LM Nismo. I've driven it in games and I don't like driving it, but from a uniqueness standpoint, it ticks the boxes. Looks pretty cool as well, probably the most unique looking LMP when it raced.

[@brflynn17]

I miss it too. I remember one year they didn’t do the qualifying session at the Rolex 24 so they started 13th and within the first few hours Katherine Legge got the car all the way into the lead and then as soon as they swapped drivers their driver hit a PC car. Car was cool though.

[@trwilliams22]

Remember when it went balls deep into the tires at Petit Lemans?

[@coleorum]

@@trwilliams22 That was during practice, if I remember right, after being hit by a Porsche GT. It seemed destined to be an ill-fated project after what happened at Le Mans so it was a great effort to get it re-built in time for the race.

[@Official_MikeyT]

"Daytona prototypes, at least the one's from the 1st and 2nd generation were hideous, all of them." Yeah truer words have never been spoken.

[@THESLlCK]

wow that's sad

[@DapperHesher]

Dark times indeed.

[@edgiestofcars]

The corvettes didn’t look that bad

[@DapperHesher]

@@edgiestofcars EVERYTHING else did.

[@edgiestofcars]

@@DapperHesher yea the size of the cockpits and wheels didn’t match up

[@Thors_Garage]

Some say that Lindsey Lohan and Kim Kardashian bought the nose cones from the CT05 for private matters. (Clarkson's voice)

[@johanfernandez4616]

Should have kept "(Clarkson's voice)" in the beginning of the comment

[@jeff119990]

the chrome delta wing is exactly what dark helmet would drive.

[@THESLlCK]

I think the renault F1 had an acceptable livery

[@elvine2149]

7:05 , this car is objectively not ugly even with his first white test livery. Just why this spaceship appears in it.

[@TougeSolo]

Delta Wing with a roof, truly was ugly. But then again, there is something about roofless LMP/DP cars that is forever iconic and yet makes the cars just look better. But sometimes I guess you just have to take function over form. In the perfect world, we'd have both. But in the racing world, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[@oliviersavard8676]

same, i miss the open top LMP/DP/protos, it added variety and it continued the tradition of open top sports cars from the 50s

[@markjohnson8352]

Ugliness is in the eyes of the beholder 😊

[@dashcam2417]

🍺 holder

[@THESLlCK]

I behold ugliness, Mark

[@zan7838]

you mean someone likes how the panoz on the list looks..?

[@afterburn2600]

I'm a year late here, but was that a nerdy DND or possibly Dungeon Siege reference? Because I like it.

[@halweilbrenner9926]

Kinda like the pig

[@Sigil_Firebrand]

You had me up to the R29, I wish I had watched F1 in that era, not just because of all the great drivers of the era, but I genuinely love how cars looked in that era, to include the livery and design of the R29.

[@petezaria9409]

You're out of you mind when it comes to the 917/20. My favourite black and white glossies are of of this car in stock white

[@65oh7]

I think the the 1950 Cadillac "Le Monstre" 61 deserves an honorable mention.

[@alieffauzanrizky7202]

isn't that the car that won it's class?

[@harrytodhunter5078]

No, but it did come 11th, which is pretty respectable

[@graysonbyass-rascoe4326]

Yo that car is a beauty if you like land speed cars this is a looker scca champ

[@locaog4mesyoutube612]

I like the Abruzzi to be honest, it looks crazy, but really cool

[@THESLlCK]

you can't be serious

[@locaog4mesyoutube612]

@@THESLlCK too bad, i am serious

[@THESLlCK]

@@locaog4mesyoutube612 I just died

[@ianrynerson6904]

Having seen the abruzzi in person and sat in it I kind of like it too, it’s what I liked about Panoz they were quirky and weird and all had there own character

[@thejekky_br5022]

it looks fine to me not good but not bad either

[@THESLlCK]

the nissan wedge looked great without a roof, sad

[@afoxwithahat7846]

Out of all cars, I think the Renault R29 is the one that shouldn't be here, it's just a cute thicc "little' boy

[@GuyBrooke]

Someone get this man a thesaurus!

[@sdx3918]

Shame that Caterham's car looks so ugly and painfully slow, that color of green looks so good.

[@yusuf11106]

The 2014 F1 season shouldve been sponsored by Durex because most F1 teams needed protection in case of a crash (inspired by araava)

[@britishfilmguy]

The delta wing was one my favourites, shame they never competed in the world endurance championship before retiring the car.

[@cringelast5341]

I was annoyed at first because the 917 but then he used “objective” in the context of an opinion and brought me back to reality where it is just an opinion not objectively a fact

[@qoekeur]

Yep

[@firefightszz]

I’ve always thought that the pink pig looked great, I’ve never thought it was ugly

[@spinyslasher6586]

917/20 is still one of the most beautiful Porsche cars ever made.

[@barty8980]

I would also add the original AVS Shadow mk. 1 of 1970. A radical very low slung design, it had terrible teething problems in trying to cool the radiators mounted in the tail. Eventually they had to mount them in airflow above the rear deck, then added every enlarging wings to provide some downforce to the rear. They even tried a batwing design in later iterations of the small tired versions. It really looked so cool and unique in the Road and Track cover photo and drawing, but eventually had to evolve into much more of a full size more typical shovel nosed Can-Am race car, eventually becoming very successful as the Mk.III and UOP Shadow DN4, winner of the 1974 Can Am Championship.

[@hellknightf1]

I still remember I was so disappointed to see the downgrade of the 2009 cars, and being a Renault fan it made it especially depressing, it's like you could tell by the shape and livery that it wasn't going to be a good car or get good results...

[@albertorodriguezfernandez5956]

The Deltawing looked futuristic, not really ugly. Ugly was the Caterham CT05, the king of the F1 dildo times!

[@thesteveruss]

The Caterham actually looked cool ...

[@gseric4721]

I thought I was the only one who thought that :/

[@aisu8481]

Looks like a bbc neglectfully hanging out someone’s zipper

[@user-jc1cl9tx7d]

I didn’t think it’s cool but in the same time don’t look that bad I think the Toro rosso was worse

[@berlinermaurer]

The 2009 F1 Season was actually one of the prettiest car generation in it's history imo.

[@lukemontgomery9683]

i live close to Dallara’s US headquarters and they have a DP-01 in the lobby. you can see it from outside and the nose mouth thing sticks out really bad even from the street.

[@deltazero3796]

Yell as much as you. like but Panoz Espersnte looks awesome even today :D Race Driver Grid good memories :) And Piiggie is awesome

[@JenGM24]

Love the delta wing, will always be one of my favorite experimental prototypes car ever made.

[@MacJunior696]

I actually like the design of every car you guys included! probably just because their uniqueness or probably because they are so hated! Dont really know, but I sure enjoy watching them

[@andrewcutler4513]

In 2010 I saw the Delta Wing on display at IMS, & had a chance to talk to the designer, Ben Bowlby. As I had been a long-time attendee of the 500, I was among a handful of folks chosen at random to attend a question/answer session that day with Eddie Gossage (the long-time owner of Texas Motor Speedway) to get our thoughts on the upcoming (for 2012) series spec changes. Most folks were adamant that they did NOT want that "phallic symbol" - to put it in terms that will acceptable here - on wheels to be the next IndyCar!

[@gavalant366]

Caterham's green is better than Jaguar, Jordan, and Aston Martin's green. Change my mind.

[@HilbertXVI]

Nah Aston Martin is better

[@cozzaronero]

They payed someone just to spit insults to some cars.... i love it!!

[@tgwelfle]

Abruzzi raced twice. Sebring and Mosport. Saw it at both races. Actually showed pace at Mosport before being stuffed in the tires at turn 3

[@silaswolfsberger2119]

I really like how they are not so correct and non offensive. They just roast those ugly cars straight away!

[@gseric4721]

I do have to admit. I had to stay away from the Panoz GT car when playing Gran Turismo 4 as a kid :( edit: Am I the only one who actually likes the look of the Caterham CTO5?

[@kidwhosucksatrc5135]

I’m pretty sure your on your own😂

[@gseric4721]

@@kidwhosucksatrc5135 I guess so 😅

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

"they all looked awful." Tbh the 2014 Mercedes was by far the best looking,and the only genuinely beautiful car.

[@izanagisburden9465]

i will say rb10 looked better.. i dont like the gap between the nose and front wing on the merc

[@whizkidbricks9740]

For someone who grew up loving the deltawing, I’m kinda sad hearing it’s awful

[@1999Subaru]

"Focus your eyes on the cheese grater at the front." I'm literally trying not to!

[@s3curityfr34k]

It's kind of amazing just how subjective looks are

[@joe125ful]

What about Cadillac “Le Monstre” or Eagle Aircraft Flyer Special?

[@PurdueAl]

Still remember those ungodly front wings F1 teams used in 2014

[@brownwrench]

I was keenly watching the Deltawing when it was around. It was literally in a class of it's own.

[@sergeanthartman5103]

Speaking of being objective when talking about the beauty of cars is really bold

[@Maximus20778]

No cap I actually like the Caterham cto5

[@LukeTansiongco]

Same here too

[@C.I...]

I like how you're calling the narrator "Captain".

[@roka3611]

@@C.I... no he's not

[@laszlokaestner5766]

The Panoz Abruzzi looks much, much better as a standard road car. The Caterham was a bold attempt to do something while having no money, it was radical and not the worst offender when it came to bad nose jobs that year.

[@Need1738]

This script was definitely written on a typewriter while in a smoking jacket

[@probablygraham]

I remember the first time I saw the Peterson/Lauda March 711 and wondering why somebody had decided to stick a surf board on the front of the car. It really was ugly. The fact that it was racing against what I still think is the prettiest F1 car of all time, namely the Lotus 72, just made it worse. Then there was the Eifelland Ford, designed by Germany's answer to Salvador Dali - Luigi Colani. It was so weird that you couldn't really say whether it was ugly or beautiful. There were different versions of it, but if you google for it you will find some weird pics.

[@Durbanite2010]

A surfboard? That's being polite. A tea tray is more accurate. Looks like it needs a few cups to complete "the look".

[@walnut5]

F1 cars have been ugly since they introduced the narrow rear wings, was that about 2008?

[@k_hristov27]

Actually I did really liked the livery of the Renault R29 when it came in, and still do :D

[@hd591]

All this while I have been pronouncing Caterham wrong. Didn't know the 'h' was silent. Cater-em. Been saying Cater-ham.

[@afoxgod3837]

Honestly somehow the R29 is one of my favourite F1 cars

[@alphatrion100]

Panoz never made a goodlooking car. EVER.

[@stuartliddle7228]

I like the m-179, its like i opened PAINT and pasted 2 photos together... from whatever angle

[@sos15_yt]

Wow,you know how to use Paint.You're talking with the "master" (I'm still a noob because I'm doing this for 4 months).Experience is important

[@diethersantos6404]

F1 cars from 2010-2013 and Formula E cars from 2016-2018 facelift are my favorite cars

[@danieljones8658]

ngl I actually liked the Daytona Prototype cars.

[@mutantryeff]

Should have looked at some of the Pike's Peak cars

[@THESLlCK]

like that Scion FRS with a bigger wing in front than in the back, mounted to the hood?

[@DapperHesher]

Time Attack cars too. You really want to start with a blank sheet of paper with a high downforce car, not try and modify something that wasn't intended as such to begin with.

[@leyn39]

A desperate attempt to create something aerodynamic and a lack of knowledge on the matter led to some of the biggest monstrosities. Such as de Cadillac spyder (Le Mans 1950) which was nicknamed Le Monstre, or the Bristol 450 (Le Mans 1953 and 1954). The Bristols did finish Le Mans 1954 within the top 10 though.

[@robertjackson8728]

The walrus-nose Williams should get a mention in dispatches too...

[@tomorrow5774]

6:19 "Oi, Dave" 😂

[@benediktwindisch2778]

Panoz remembers me of the ugly, disgusting Pontiac Aztek xD

[@eriksantoso1741]

Yes the front was ugly for me

[@Joeyy99]

I actually love the Dallara DPIs they just look so cute!

[@thanh_12]

my dudes at goodwood just burnt everycar in the list 💀

[@lang9872]

The pink pig is one of the best looking cars ever made.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

I hope you're not serious

[@LogicalQ]

Was with you until the 917 made the list. Chaparral 2J belongs in its place.

[@LB1973]

I agree on the Pink Pig , the Caterham is a bit harsh when you even have a photo of that toro rosso with that nose alongside it. But you missed the Eiffelrand.

[@adamclarke7394]

I'd add the Toleman TG184 to the list. It was a car that brought Ayrton Senna to the world's attention, but it was unspeakably ugly. It was a slab-sided monstrosity with louvered side-pods and 2 rear wings. There's a winner right there!

[@Berchol]

Don’t forget that the engine was completely exposed at the top

[@BorisNoiseChannel]

Main criterion, presented as an argument: _"Well: just look at it"_ ?

[@timothyverbist5795]

The Caterham is so ugly it's beautiful!

[@JackF99]

The 917/20 stands out as atypically ugly because at that time race cars and sports cars were still typically beautiful. For not many more years after that though. A journalist years ago lamented the transition: "If aesthetics equaled aerodynamics the E-Type Jag would be the fastest car in the world".

[@ollie-t7862]

Its amazing how simple F1 cars from just 8 years ago look. The amount of aero on today’s cars is ridiculous

[@drmaulana2600]

You havent seen mid 2000 era F1 then

[@oliviersavard8676]

@@drmaulana2600 these are the ugliest by far imo, i just can't bring myself to like them

[@3dimitrije30]

@@oliviersavard8676 just when you think it cannot get worse, it gets worse

[@samb2334]

In the 2014 f1 season I think ferrari had the best looking car

[@jimsvideos7201]

One _of_ though; as in, the engineer draws something and sends the print downstairs with an annotation "make one of these, we'll see if it fits."

[@mase8832]

2:32 if there ever is a poggers motorsport team, I'd be mad if these isn't their car

[@ol1mar]

I love the Brawn era cars and honestly I don't mind the yellow and orange Renault livery

[@xtlm]

I never knew the Deltawing actually became a car that competed. Neat!

[@SyLens1]

The avezzero is imo good looking, and the radiators at the front are kinda badass imo

[@Dual_80]

Id like to add a honorable mention being nascars twisted Sister concept Gen 4 cars making it look from the top view someone taking the warp tool on photo shop

[@anthonyxuereb792]

I like your version of why the Ensign looks the way it does, it's funny.

[@Mercman1010]

I was really wondering how you were gonna justify the delta wing. Also thank you for noting it as a panoz with a little help from nissan.

[@GoodwoodRR]

OG Deltawing: 👌 Deltawing coupe: 🤦‍♂️

[@MrVarwor]

I actually think the original ct05 design worked quite well (along with the livery). During the actual races when the cars were moving it looked as if it just had a higher squared off nose with a little hump which is quite reminiscent of the bulging hood that flowed into the front grill that you see on 80s and 90s car designs (think of the alfa 155 or the e30 for example). Compared with the other cars of the era it was amongst the better looking ones in my opinion.

[@abyss18]

the narrator of the video is absolutely perfect. brilliant job

[@InertiaCreeps]

LMFAO! The narrators deadpan sarcasm REALLY makes this vid a masterpiece!!!

[@asdrubalegirolamo660]

6:31 Imagine being in a crash, you would get covered in hot boiling cooling fluid. Nice.

[@mrtom2854]

The Caterham had an epic paint job though

[@robertroot6317]

The narrator is so casually savage.

[@Secretlyalittleworm]

It’s a shame about the Caterham, that livery would look stunning on a modern car

[@speedhunter7156]

In my opinion I liked the look of the DP-01 even though yes the rylie is better and well...that's how I remember Pontiacs DPI efforts and the porsche looks good in other liveries you just gotta experiment with it and well the delta wing I like it more with the roof kinda helps with the charicter of how unique it's trying to be amongst a very boring crowd of prototypes

[@lupuszzz]

Judging a race car by its aesthetics is like judging a piece of music by the number of notes.

[@Lobstersarefabulouz]

At first I wanted to get mad they said the pink pig was ugly... but man.. when I imagined the livery away and just pictured the car... it do be pretty damn ugly

[@RodneyAEvans]

I would be super stoked to have any of these cars in my garage...track day, here we come. :-)