Every fifteen years approximately, Autocar staffers past and present assemble to make a decision on the undecidable: an inventory of most beautiful cars ever made.

Hundreds of new cars are launched since the last list was put together.20 of the world's most beautiful cars of 2020 Despite the actual fact that safety regulations have undoubtedly complicated the lives of designers, they’ve still managed to form cars handsome enough to interrupt into not just the entire list of 100 cars, but right into the holy of holies: the very best 20. 20 of the world's most beautiful cars of 2020Which we bring you here.

20: 1956 BMW 507

BMW 507

Flattening BMW’s famous ‘kidney’ grille shape added extra elegance to the 507’s Italianate looks

19: 1957 Ferrari TR250

Ferrari TR250

Pure motorsports function involves the road in Ferrari’s ‘gentleman’s racer’, an apparently random collection of panels that somehow works

18: 2004 Porsche 911 (997) - NEW ENTRY

Porsche 911 (997) - NEW ENTRY

The 997 update of the 911 was one among the foremost successful during this iconic Sportster's long history

17: 2004 Aston Martin DB9 - NEW ENTRY

Aston Martin DB9 - NEW ENTRY

Early DB9s may need to be lacked a touch in terms of build quality but there was little question about its visual integrity

16: 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT

Ferrari Dino 246 GT

Seminal Pininfarina curviness that set an everlasting template for supercars – compare it to today’s McLaren 570S

15: 1966 Ford GT40

Ford GT40

Brutality and wonder in one ultra-low shape, the GT40 was a Le Mans winner with indicators

14: 1955 Citroën DS19

Citroën DS19

Hard to believe that this incredible shape was fashioned over 60 years ago: it still looks fresh and different

13: 1962 Ferrari GTO

Ferrari GTO

In the early 1960s, Ferraris were all about scalpel-sharp V12 engines: delicately carved body shapes were just a bonus

12: 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic 

Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic

Mobile art, and now with painter prices to match, the Bugatti Atlantic was as extravagant because it was exquisite

11: 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB 

Ferrari 275 GTB

The shallow glasshouse looks shouldn’t really work, but they do: the 275 was a rapid and refined grand tourer

10: 1954 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing 

Mercedes 300SL Gullwing

Hoist the doors skyward and hinge the wheel away and you’re into an unreal world of aviation ideas and materials – and 180mph

9: 2001 Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin Vanquish

Immediately identifiable as an Aston, the Vanquish began a design dynasty that lasted for over ten years

8: 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

An Aston that wasn’t created in Feltham, Newport Pagnell or Gaydon, the Milan-crafted Zagato uses curves to denote strength

7: 1962 AC Cobra 289

AC Cobra 289

Simple but potent, the Cobra took a comparatively inoffensive British sports car to an entirely new level of performance

6: 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900

Alfa Romeo 8C 2900

The kind of car a talented toddler might produce when asked to draw a sports car, the 8C perfectly captures the power, beauty, and romance

5: 1963 Porsche 911

Porsche 911

The first 911 appeals for its stark simplicity, its aerodynamic lines, and its almost human ‘face’

4: 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari’s most striking mid-engined car, offering an irresistible combination of power and pleasing proportions

3: 1959 Ferrari 250 GTO SWB

Ferrari 250 GTO SWB

Another ultra-functional racer for the road that over-delivers on the purity of line and near-sexual surfacing

2: 1970 Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini Miura

The first genuinely gobsmacking Lamborghini found favor among sports and film stars, racers – and enthusiasts who just wanted to seem at it

1: 1961 Jaguar e-Type Series 1 Coupé

Jaguar e-Type Series 1 Coupé

What hasn’t been saying about the E-type? Designed by an aerodynamicist, it went ridiculously quickly for the time, looked stunning – and price just over £2000