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15 Cars From the 70s and 80s That Looked Like Spaceships

Cameron Eittreim August 26, 2025

The 1970s and 1980s marked a golden era in automotive design, where visionary engineers and designers drew inspiration from the burgeoning space age and rapid technological advancements. This period witnessed the emergence of vehicles that transcended conventional aesthetics, embracing bold, otherworldly designs that seemed to defy gravity and time. These futuristic automobiles not only captivated the public imagination but also set the stage for the evolution of car design, blending form and function in ways previously unimagined. As we delve into this era, we’ll explore 15 iconic cars that epitomized the spirit of innovation and the allure of the cosmos.

1. Lamborghini Countach

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A striking Lamborghini Countach showcases its iconic wedge-shaped design and scissor doors, epitomizing supercar elegance. | Image from en.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

An angular icon crafted by Marcello Gandini, the Lamborghini Countach stunned with its wedge shape, scissor doors, and sharp lines. The Countach not only defined the supercar aesthetic, but with its spacecraft-like silhouette, it looked ready to blast off. (caranddriver.com)

2. Lotus Esprit S1

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A sleek white Lotus Esprit S1 with pop-up headlights, famously driven by James Bond in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’. | Image from en.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

Famously featured as an amphibious submarine in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me,’ the Lotus Esprit S1 boasted flat surfaces and pop-up headlights, making it look like it belonged on a space station. Its futuristic style set a new standard for British sports cars. (autoexpress.co.uk)

3. DeLorean DMC-12

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A DeLorean DMC-12 gleams under the sun, its iconic gull-wing doors open to reveal a sleek stainless steel body. | Image from en.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

With its stainless-steel bodywork and iconic gull-wing doors, the DeLorean DMC-12 seemed ripped from science fiction. Famously serving as the time machine in ‘Back to the Future,’ its spaceship vibes endure to this day. (history.com)

4. Citroën CX

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A Citroën CX showcasing its hydropneumatic suspension and innovative dashboard design. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

This French marvel paired hydropneumatic suspension with a teardrop silhouette and a futuristic dashboard, making it feel as advanced as a lunar rover. The Citroën CX was lauded for its ahead-of-its-time engineering. (citroenorigins.com)

5. Saab 900 Turbo

5. Saab 900 Turbo
A sleek Saab 900 Turbo with a deep, wraparound windshield showcases its aerodynamic design. | Image from tly.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

Sleek, aerodynamic, and with a wraparound windshield, the Saab 900 Turbo earned a reputation as a car that looked—and often felt—like it could take flight. Its unique turbo engine added to its “otherworldly” reputation. (motortrend.com)

6. BMW M1

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A striking BMW M1 mid-engine supercar with its iconic pop-up headlights gleaming under the spotlight. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

BMW’s first and only mid-engine supercar, the M1, featured an ultra-low stance, pop-up headlights, and sharp geometric lines, reminiscent of science-fiction spaceships. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, its wedge-shaped fiberglass body and distinctive rear slats contributed to its futuristic appeal. Rare and highly collectible, the M1’s radical look remains legendary. (bmw-m.com)

7. Aston Martin Lagonda

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A sleek Aston Martin Lagonda sedan showcases a futuristic digital dashboard, epitomizing luxury and innovation. | Image from en.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Lagonda’s digital dashboard, sharp creases, and bullet-like profile stunned with a vision of the future. It set itself apart not just with looks but also with cutting-edge technology for its era. (autocar.co.uk)

8. Lancia Stratos HF

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A striking Lancia Stratos rally car with its distinctive wedge-shaped design, poised for action. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

Compact, radical, and rally-proven, the Stratos HF’s wedge nose and panoramic windshield were pure space-age drama. Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, its distinctive shape and mid-engine layout made it a standout. The Stratos HF’s unique design and performance have solidified its status as one of the most outlandish and iconic rally cars in history. (topgear.com)

9. Maserati Boomerang

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A sleek Maserati Boomerang concept car showcases its futuristic wedge design and expansive glass canopy. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

A one-off concept, the Maserati Boomerang took the wedge theme to bold new heights. Its glass canopy and futuristic steering wheel influenced a generation of concept cars, embodying 70s ‘spaceship’ chic. (classicdriver.com)

10. Citroën SM

10. Citroën SM
A sleek Citroën SM with a streamlined design and distinctive glasshouse, showcasing its aerodynamic elegance. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

A marvel of French engineering, the Citroën SM combined Maserati power with a highly streamlined body and spaceship-like glasshouse. Its high-tech features echoed the Jet Age. (classicandsportscar.com)

11. Ferrari 512 BB

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A sleek Ferrari 512 BB showcases its mid-engine design and distinctive pop-up headlights. | Image from www.hippopx.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

Ferrari’s first mid-engine “Berlinetta Boxer” sported dramatic low lines, retractable lights, and broad flanks. The 512 BB looked every bit as space-age as it was powerful. (topspeed.com)

12. Plymouth Superbird

12. Plymouth Superbird
A 1970 Plymouth Superbird, featuring a distinctive nosecone and towering rear wing, stands as a testament to NASCAR’s aerodynamic innovation. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

Its towering rear wing and prolonged nose cone made the Superbird one of the wildest cars ever seen on American roads, resembling something that belonged on a lunar runway. Developed for NASCAR, the Superbird’s aerodynamic design included a pointed nose and a massive rear spoiler, enhancing its high-speed stability. Only 1,920 were produced in 1970, making it a rare and iconic muscle car. (motortrend.com)

13. Vector W8

1992 Vector W8
A sleek Vector W8 supercar with fighter jet-inspired design, featuring scissor doors and a digital cockpit. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

Boasting an aerospace-style cockpit and a design inspired by fighter jets, the American-made Vector W8 was less a car and more a land rocket, both visually and in performance. (supercarblondie.com)

14. Bricklin SV-1

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A striking Safety Orange Bricklin SV-1 showcases its iconic gullwing doors and sleek, safety-focused design. | Image from pt.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

With its gullwing doors and bold safety bumpers, the Bricklin SV-1 looked like some interplanetary rover. (hagerty.com) Its experimental approach earned it both admirers and critics. (hagerty.com)

15. Mazda RX-7 (First Generation)

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A sleek Mazda RX-7 with pop-up headlights and a distinctive rotary engine design. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Mazda RX-7’s smooth lines, pop-up headlights, and rotary engine lent it a sleek, technology-focused personality that channeled the optimism of a space-faring future. (mazda.com)

Timeless Space-Age Dreams on Four Wheels

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A sleek, retro-futuristic concept car with sharp angles and a low profile, showcased at a classic car show. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The 1970s and 1980s were a golden era for automotive design, with manufacturers embracing bold, futuristic aesthetics that mirrored the optimism of the space age. Cars like the Lamborghini Countach, DeLorean DMC-12, and Citroën CX not only captivated enthusiasts with their innovative designs but also set new standards for performance and technology. These vehicles continue to inspire designers and collectors, serving as enduring symbols of an era when the automotive industry dared to dream beyond the stars. (vehq.com)

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