I wasn't saying the Riviera (or the Veyron) is a retro "fender/hood" type of design as you call it, I was saying it isn't. Sure, the Ram falls into this category, it's a truck that goes back 50 years. But I consider pinched fenders, forming the "W" across the front end, to be something else. To me, it's a progression from the old into something new.

But I don't disagree that the Veyron takes a majority of its styling cues from vintage Bugattis. It's pretty obvious. Only part I'm talking about is the front end, particularly how the hood and fenders and headlamps come together.

We can at least agree that the designers at Bugatti had seen both the Riviera and the Dodge Ram before they designed the Veyron. I think that most good designers are curious and inquisitive types, taking note of all significant trends and milestones they might come across. I also believe that all things perceived have some type of impact on the creative output of those who perceive. If I look at '60s Mustangs long enough, I'm going to start drawing new designs that look like '60 Mustangs, whether I'm aware of it or not. Now, between a Riviera and a Ram, which would appear to have made more of an impression on the designers of the Veyron, be they conscious of it or otherwise?

As for the front-end style of the Riviera, I don't think it's entirely accidental. If you look at a '65, like the one below, you can clearly see a similarity between the old and new style. Note how the fenders on the old car come to a point right above the head lamps. If you took that '65 and rounded its hood, then curve the fenders in toward the front, you'd have something very similar to our late model Riviera.

If you check how the fender resolves on the Veyron, it's almost identical to the Riv - to a point right above the head lamps. I realize they had a lot of sources to pull from the inspiration box, but I can't rule out the possibility there was some Riviera influence in there. Remember, the Riv has its roots in Rolls/Ferrari (not French, but European), and the name "Riviera" is a very French one. There's also a whole lot of Euro (Jaguar) influence in the last model. If Bugatti did decide to reference an American car, I can't think of a better candidate.

I WISH MY CAR WAS TWO-TONE

I am a big fan of this style paintwork. The black and burgundy are a very rich combo. I wonder how a Red or Black body would look with a Mother of Pearl (off-white) paint accent. I'm thinking of the old Corvette paint combo's. A neo-Buick combo that would look excellent would be the new Enclave Bronze with a light-colored Gold. Now I really want another Riv. I can have 2 right.



I'm refferencing the lower left hand pic. I didn't realize they were all together

1989 Bugatti ID90 -



Very hard car to find pics of - this is the best I can do for a top view -



You can see the influence of the ID 90's front on all later Bugattis. Bugatti was doing pinched fenders before the Riv came along. I'm sure the look goes back much further than the ID90 though.

The Veyron's front is just a retro-ized version of the ID90, with the horse shoe grill re-introduced on the EB110.

The cross-section shape is a natural interpretation of vintage Bugattis. The fenders may come up higher, but they have to, to clear the tires.

The fenders don't look pinched from that angle. Just looks flat to me, like a Nissan 300 ZX.

If they are in fact pinched, maybe it was the Riv that gained its influence from the older Bugattis?

Have we got some major confusion going on here or what? The internet sure does suck at times.

Are you referring to the top of the car, or the sides?

I've been referring to the sides as "pinched in."

If you're referring to the top as "pinched in," then yeah, the ID90 doesn't have that. It has the sides of the nose pinched in.

I think you're right that we have a communication problem happening here. I could be wrong, but I always referred to the to sharp tops of fenders or fenders with apexes (subtle indications of fins) as "pinched fenders".

I think you're referring to the actual narrowing of the front end into round as pinched fenders.

Here's a few made-up front ends with different types of pinched (my definition) fenders:

I don't know if it's the correct terminology, but I've seen those referred to as "bone lines." It could refer to other raised edges too for all I know. Heck, it probably does.

Ok, we'll call them bone lines, meaning fenders that form a peak between the edge of the hood and the outside of the fender. Not all cars have this, and almost none feature them nowadays. I notice Imports tend to do the opposite. They used to be quite prevalent in American cars from the '60s on. The Riviera was one of the only cars in the '90s to have them. Now you have the Dodge Charger sporting a subtle interpretation:



American sports cars like the Viper and Vette have them as well. But in these cases, the front fenders are working as stand alone elements, more rounded and muscular. I like to call them bulging fenders.:





Anyway, I feel the Veyron's bone lines are a lot like the Riv's.

They're similiar in that they both have bone lines on the fender tops, but the Rivi's curves in to meet the inside of the headlight and the grill -



whereas the Veyron's stays straights and runs into the outer edge of the headlight -

Putting those pics together, the Veyron looks like the next gen Riv.

Which would you pick? Any other rims you'd suggest? Anyone got a link to a good preview site?

How much do you think tires will run (these are 20's)? What would you recommend?

im in love with the last rims the panthers, dont get them cuz i am

I dont like any of them really to be honest. If I had to pick one I guess it would be the Panther's though. They all look too ricey to me for a Riv. I guess there arent many muscle car style rims for FWD cars. I used to my RWD cars