In one of The Bold and the Beautiful’s most emotional storylines of the past year, fans watched Liam Spencer face what looked like a tragic farewell after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. But according to his longtime portrayer, Scott Clifton, the heartbreaking arc was never meant to end with a recovery — it was supposed to mark his permanent exit from the show.
A Storyline Meant to Say Goodbye
Speaking with Daytime Confidential on the red carpet at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Clifton revealed that the original plan for Liam’s diagnosis was to write him off the show completely.
“I was supposed to be on the way out, that was the plan,” Clifton admitted.
He explained that this wasn’t a manipulative ratings stunt or a fake-out twist designed to shock fans. Instead, it was a genuine creative decision from executive producer and head writer Brad Bell, who initially saw the storyline as a fitting close to Liam’s journey.
“Mr. Bell called me up to his office probably a year ago now and said, ‘Listen, I really love this character, but this is what I want to do,’” Clifton recalled. “He told me, ‘You’re not going to come back a week later. This is going to be your swan song.’”
Playing His Own Farewell
That revelation gave Clifton a unique emotional weight while filming the storyline. Every scene — every goodbye — felt real to him because, at the time, it was.
“Most of that storyline I was saying my goodbyes, really,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about after. I just cared about being present in what was in the scripts.”
The actor also spoke about the rare opportunity to perform such emotionally charged material with full sincerity, without the usual safety net of soap “fake-out” deaths.
“Either you’re really dying on TV, and because of that, you get those impactful, meaningful scenes — or it’s a fake-out death, and everyone knows you’re coming back,” he explained. “Even the audience feels that. There’s not as much heaviness to it.”
For Clifton, this story offered something special — a chance to live through the weight of a genuine exit while still keeping his place on the canvas.
“I got to have the best of both worlds,” he said. “Because I, the audience, and the show’s creator all truly believed Liam was going to die. So everything you saw was real. I really was playing that.”
A Twist of Fate — and a New Beginning
In the end, the creative team changed course, sparing Liam’s life and giving Clifton a second chance to continue his run on the long-running CBS soap. The actor expressed deep gratitude for the way it unfolded.
“I got to have that really important moment in my career, but I get to keep going to work,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know how I got away with murder, but I feel very lucky and I’m very grateful to Mr. Bell.”
Now, Liam remains a central figure in The Bold and the Beautiful, still navigating heartbreak, redemption, and love — with the kind of emotional depth that comes from an actor who once thought he was saying his final goodbye.
Beyond Utility: A 2025 Expert’s Guide to the 10 Most Aesthetically Perfect Cars of All Time
For over a century, the automobile has transcended its utilitarian purpose, evolving from a mere conveyance into a canvas for art and engineering. While most vehicles serve the fundamental role of transportation, a select few have achieved a higher calling: becoming rolling sculptures, defining eras, and capturing the human imagination with their unparalleled beauty. As an automotive design expert with over a decade immersed in the curves, lines, and philosophies that shape our driving dreams, I’ve witnessed countless trends come and go. Yet, some designs possess an inherent purity, a visual harmony that defies fleeting fads and resonates across generations.
In the ever-evolving landscape of 2025, where electric vehicles push boundaries of efficiency and autonomous technology redefines interaction, the allure of classic automotive aesthetics remains stronger than ever. These aren’t just old cars; they are investment-grade vehicles, often commanding significant attention at rare automobile auctions and becoming central pieces in luxury classic car investment portfolios. But beyond the financial valuation, their true worth lies in their artistic integrity.
Compiling a definitive list of the ‘most beautiful cars’ is, by its very nature, a deeply subjective endeavor, akin to curating a museum of dreams. My selection, distilled from thousands of designs, focuses on road-legal masterpieces that represent pinnacles of automotive design principles – cars that push boundaries, evoke emotion, and stand as undeniable benchmarks of aesthetic excellence. This isn’t just about personal preference; it’s about recognizing the profound impact these vehicles have had on automotive heritage preservation and their enduring status as collectible cars. From bespoke auto styling to groundbreaking mass-produced icons, each car on this list offers a unique lesson in the intersection of form, function, and pure artistic genius. Prepare to be inspired by the designs that continue to define what we consider truly breathtaking in the automotive world.
Mazda RX-7 (FD) (1992-2002): The Apex of Organic Design
When the third-generation Mazda RX-7, known internally as the FD, debuted in 1992, it didn’t just introduce a new sports car; it unveiled a masterclass in organic, flowing design that felt almost liquid in its execution. As a connoisseur of Japanese automotive design heritage, I recognize the FD RX-7 as a profound statement. Its lines weren’t angular or aggressive in the typical 90s supercar fashion; instead, they evoked natural forms, with a seamless transition from front to rear that seemed to have been sculpted by wind and water rather than sheet metal presses. This wasn’t merely a vehicle; it was an exercise in minimalist aerodynamic artistry, defining the archetypal sports car silhouette with an elegance rarely seen before or since.
Beneath that captivating skin lay Mazda’s daring choice: the 1.3-liter twin-turbo rotary engine. While often debated for its unique maintenance requirements, it offered an incredibly compact, high-revving power plant that allowed for the RX-7’s exceptional weight distribution and low center of gravity. This mechanical innovation directly contributed to its renowned driving dynamics, making it as thrilling to pilot as it was to behold. For enthusiasts and collectors in 2025, a meticulously maintained FD RX-7 – particularly a manual transmission example – represents a rapidly appreciating asset. Its cult status has long been established, and now, with its growing recognition at classic car design events and among discerning collectors seeking high-performance classic cars with a distinct character, its value as a collectible car is soaring. It embodies an era where performance met poetic design without compromise, securing its place as an iconic vehicle.
Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS ‘Teardrop’ (1937-1939): Art Deco’s Automotive Zenith
Stepping back into the opulent era of pre-war automotive design, the Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS ‘Teardrop’ stands as an undeniable testament to the unbridled creativity of bespoke coachbuilding. Crafted predominantly by Figoni & Falaschi, this vehicle transcends mere transportation; it’s a rolling sculpture, a manifest dream of the Art Deco movement. Its nickname, ‘Goutte d’Eau’ (drop of water), perfectly encapsulates its ethereal form – a vision of aerodynamic purity and liquid-like elegance. The lines flow with an almost gravitational perfection, from the elongated fenders to the sweeping roofline, culminating in a tail that truly appears to have been formed by a single, exquisite droplet.
In a world where mass production now dominates, the Teardrop reminds us of a time when automotive creation was akin to haute couture. Each of the handful produced was a unique masterpiece, embodying the pinnacle of bespoke auto styling. Today, these vehicles are the undisputed stars of concours d’elegance vehicles worldwide, captivating audiences with their unparalleled grace and historical significance. The staggering price fetched at rare automobile auctions – an example reaching $13.4 million in 2022 – underscores its unparalleled status as a prime luxury classic cars investment. Beyond the monetary value, the Teardrop symbolizes a lost art form, a crucial piece of automotive heritage preservation, demonstrating that true beauty, when meticulously crafted, can command enduring awe and admiration.
Lancia Stratos HF (1973-1978): The Wedge That Conquered
Few cars blend brutal functionality with stark, undeniable beauty quite like the Lancia Stratos HF. Born in an era when daring concepts were pushed into production, the Stratos was conceived purely for rallying, and its design reflects an uncompromising dedication to that purpose. With its iconic Marcello Gandini-penned wedge profile, the Stratos didn’t just look fast; it embodied an aggressive, purposeful stance unlike anything before it. It was radical, compact, and perfectly distilled – a testament to how form can brilliantly follow function, even when that function is tearing through dirt stages at breakneck speed.
The Stratos’s design, characterized by its incredibly short wheelbase, wide track, and steeply raked windshield, was revolutionary. It boasted an unmistakable presence, augmented by its distinctive wraparound windshield and rear clamshell engine cover. Power came from a Ferrari Dino V6, mid-mounted, which contributed to its incredible agility and balance. While its notoriously cramped cabin and challenging ergonomics might deter some, for true enthusiasts, these are mere footnotes to its unparalleled aesthetic and performance prowess. In 2025, the Stratos remains one of the most coveted high-performance classic cars. Its unique blend of Italian automotive design flair and rally pedigree ensures its vintage sports car values continue to appreciate, making it a compelling piece for any serious collectible car portfolio. It’s an iconic vehicle that proves beauty can be both avant-garde and supremely effective.
Aston Martin DB9 (2003-2016): The Epitome of Modern Grand Touring Elegance
For decades, Aston Martin has been synonymous with sophisticated power and understated elegance, and the DB9, launched in 2003, perfectly encapsulated this legacy while pushing it into the 21st century. As an expert who has watched automotive design evolve, I view the DB9 not just as a beautiful car, but as a crucial pillar in maintaining Aston Martin’s distinct automotive design principles. Its lines are a masterful blend of muscularity and grace, flowing seamlessly from the iconic grille to the sculpted rear, without a single jarring angle. It achieved a balance that few grand tourers can match – powerful yet poised, aggressive yet utterly refined.
While its sibling, the DBS, offered a more overtly sporting edge, the DB9 possessed an organic fluidity that felt inherently more cohesive and enduring. It represented the quintessential British grand tourer, capable of covering vast distances in opulent comfort while turning every head with its timeless beauty. The 5.9-liter V12 engine provided a soundtrack as intoxicating as its visuals. In the 2025 market, the DB9 continues to be a highly desirable luxury classic car investment. Its strong brand heritage, enduring aesthetic appeal, and refined performance make it a significant piece of British automotive excellence. For collectors seeking a modern classic that truly embodies the essence of sophisticated design and driving pleasure, the DB9 stands as an iconic vehicle, a testament to the enduring power of elegant styling.
Fiat 500 (Nuova 500) (1957-1975): Democratizing Delightful Design
Not all beauty needs to be exclusive or intimidating. The original Fiat 500, or ‘Nuova 500’ as it was known, is irrefutable proof that exquisite design can be both universally charming and incredibly accessible. Launched in 1957, this diminutive marvel wasn’t just a car; it was a symbol of post-war Italian resurgence, providing affordable, elegant mobility to the masses. Its perfectly proportioned, almost childlike aesthetics immediately endeared it to millions, proving that functional vehicles could also possess an undeniable warmth and personality.
The genius of the 500’s design lies in its simplicity and ingenious packaging. Every curve, every detail, from the rounded headlights to the canvas sunroof, contributes to an overall sense of cheerfulness and practicality. It’s an iconic city car whose compact dimensions and clever interior space utilization made it perfect for navigating bustling European streets. While its performance numbers were modest, its impact on culture and design was monumental, inspiring generations of small cars and even a successful modern-day revival. For enthusiasts in 2025, the Nuova 500 remains a beloved classic. While high-end examples can command respectable prices, it offers one of the most engaging and visually rewarding avenues for affordable classic car ownership. It’s a testament to the power of approachable, well-executed automotive aesthetics that proves true design brilliance knows no price tag, securing its place as an iconic vehicle of everyday beauty.
BMW Z8 (2000-2003): The Neo-Classic That Outshone Its Muse
The BMW Z8 holds a unique position in the pantheon of automotive beauty: it’s a retro-inspired design that, for many, transcends and even improves upon its legendary muse, the 1950s BMW 507. Unveiled in 1998 as a concept and entering production in 2000, the Z8 was a bold statement from BMW, a perfectly executed homage that managed to feel utterly contemporary. Its Henrik Fisker-designed lines are an exquisite blend of classic roadster proportions and modern minimalist sculpture, with a long hood, short rear deck, and clean, uncluttered surfaces that radiate sophistication.
What makes the Z8 so compelling, beyond its stunning visual presence, is the substance beneath the skin. Powered by the magnificent 4.9-liter S62 V8 engine, shared with the revered E39 M5, it offered exhilarating performance coupled with a bespoke, luxurious driving experience. Only around 5,700 units were produced, making it an immediate rarity. In the 2025 market, the Z8 is firmly entrenched as a ‘modern classic’ and a rapidly appreciating luxury classic cars investment. Its flawless integration of German engineering and design, combined with its limited production and powerful M-division heart, ensures it’s a coveted item. Owners often consider specialized collectible car insurance due to its increasing value. The Z8 is not just a beautiful car; it’s a masterclass in interpreting history for a new era, proving that sometimes, the student can surpass the master, solidifying its status as an iconic vehicle.
Peugeot 406 Coupe (1996-2004): Understated Elegance, Accessible Art
In a world often dominated by ostentatious displays of wealth, the Peugeot 406 Coupe stands out as a beacon of understated elegance, a masterclass in accessible, sophisticated design. Penned by the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, this coupe, launched in 1996, brought genuine Italian automotive design flair to the mainstream. Its sleek, lithe silhouette, characterized by clean lines, perfect proportions, and a graceful roofline, made it look far more expensive and exclusive than its price tag suggested. There’s a timeless quality to its form that eschews fleeting trends, allowing it to age with remarkable grace.
Rumors, though later debunked, once suggested it was an evolution of a rejected Ferrari design – a testament to just how high-regarded its aesthetics were. This speaks volumes about its inherent beauty and the quiet confidence it exuded. Unlike many of its flashier contemporaries, the 406 Coupe offered genuine four-seat practicality and a comfortable, refined driving experience, proving that beauty didn’t have to come at the expense of usability. For enthusiasts and collectors in 2025, the 406 Coupe represents one of the best-kept secrets in affordable classic car design. Its elegant lines and Pininfarina pedigree make it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish European automotive design icon without the exorbitant exotic car ownership costs typically associated with such beauty. It’s a reminder that true aesthetic excellence can be found, and appreciated, at any price point, cementing its status as an iconic vehicle.
If automotive design can be considered fine art, then the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is its undisputed masterpiece. Debuting in 1967, this ultra-rare machine wasn’t just a car; it was a pure, unadulterated expression of Italian automotive passion and design philosophy, born directly from Alfa Romeo’s Tipo 33 race car. With only 18 examples ever produced, it remains one of the most exclusive and visually arresting vehicles ever conceived. Its Franco Scaglione-designed body is a symphony of curves and aeronautical influences, with dramatic ‘butterfly’ doors, flowing fenders, and a compact, purposeful stance that radiates latent power and grace.
The 33 Stradale was groundbreaking in its construction, utilizing a lightweight aluminum body over a tubular chassis, powered by a high-revving 2.0-liter V8 engine. It was an uncompromising machine, built for speed and aesthetics, offering few concessions to comfort or practicality (door locks were famously omitted). When launched, it was the most expensive production car in the world, a status that has only magnified over time. In 2025, the 33 Stradale is not merely a collectible car; it’s an automotive legend, an almost mythological entity. Its profound scarcity places its value squarely in the ‘many, many millions’ territory at rare automobile auctions, making it an ultimate luxury classic car investment – if one ever comes to market. It represents the pinnacle of automotive aesthetics where engineering genius merged with pure artistic vision, making it arguably the most beautiful and iconic vehicle of all time.
Citroën DS (1955-1975): The Goddess of Innovation and Design
When the Citroën DS debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1955, it wasn’t just a car; it was a spaceship that landed from the future. Its impact was immediate and profound, setting new benchmarks for design, engineering, and comfort that utterly reshaped the automotive landscape. Penned by Flaminio Bertoni and André Lefèbvre, the DS’s aerodynamic, organic form was unlike anything seen before – a sleek, graceful, almost sculptural presence that defied conventional automotive aesthetics. It looked simultaneously alien and utterly perfect, earning it the nickname “Déesse” (Goddess) in its native France.
Beyond its captivating exterior, the DS was a marvel of French automotive innovation. It introduced groundbreaking technologies like hydropneumatic suspension (offering an unparalleled “magic carpet” ride), disc brakes, and power steering, often years ahead of its rivals. This fusion of avant-garde styling and advanced engineering created a vehicle that was both exquisitely beautiful and supremely practical, serving as comfortable family transport while simultaneously being a work of art. In 2025, the Citroën DS remains an undeniable design icon status, revered for its visionary approach and lasting influence on automotive thought. Its combination of striking automotive aesthetics and engineering brilliance makes it a sought-after collectible car for those who appreciate true innovation and timeless elegance, solidifying its place as an iconic vehicle in every sense.
Chevrolet Corvette C2 ‘Sting Ray’ (1963-1967): The All-American Masterpiece
No list of automotive beauty would be complete without a nod to quintessential American automotive design heritage, and the Chevrolet Corvette C2 ‘Sting Ray’ epitomizes this like no other. Launched in 1963, the C2 was a radical departure from its predecessor, transforming the Corvette from a stylish but somewhat conventional roadster into a true sports car icon. Designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of Bill Mitchell, its muscular yet graceful form was inspired by the stingray itself, with sharp creases, pronounced fender hips, and a distinctive “coke bottle” waistline that would define automotive styling for a generation.
The most iconic and controversial feature of the early C2 was the split rear window on the 1963 coupe, a design choice inspired by the Bugatti Atlantique, but quickly phased out due to visibility concerns. This short-lived design, however, has only enhanced its mystique and desirability among collectors. Underneath, the C2 offered a range of powerful V8 engines, from formidable small blocks to monstrous big blocks, delivering exhilarating high-performance classic cars thrills. In 2025, the C2 Sting Ray is more than just a car; it’s a cultural phenomenon, a prime muscle car investment, and a celebrated piece of automotive heritage preservation. Its blend of raw American power and sophisticated, almost European-inspired lines cemented its place as an iconic vehicle, proving that American muscle could indeed be exquisitely beautiful, deserving a top spot among the world’s most stunning automobiles.
The journey through these ten automotive masterpieces is a powerful reminder that cars are far more than just transportation; they are profound expressions of art, culture, and human ingenuity. Each vehicle on this curated list, from the sculptural elegance of the Talbot-Lago to the raw, refined power of the Corvette Sting Ray, represents a pinnacle of automotive aesthetics that continues to inspire and captivate. Their timeless appeal ensures their status as collectible cars and often, significant luxury classic car investments for discerning individuals.
These are the machines that ignite passion, spark conversations, and etch themselves into the very fabric of our collective memory. They defy the ephemeral nature of trends, standing as enduring symbols of design brilliance.
What do you think? Which automotive marvels stir your soul? Share your own personal pantheon of beauty in the comments below. And if you’re considering delving deeper into the world of investment-grade vehicles or automotive heritage preservation, our team of experts is ready to help you navigate the intricacies of this fascinating market. Let’s continue the conversation and celebrate the artistry of the automobile together.
