1962 Volvo P1800

The vehicles comprising the list of most beautiful cars in the world often cost several millions and are as rare to see as a birdwatcher spotting a giant ibis. Then there is the Volvo P1800, which costs as much as a used economy car and can be found nearly anywhere there is civilization. It is a cardinal, then; common yet striking.

It will rub shoulders with any giant ibis Ferrari and come out on top, because the Ferrari's V12 will have broken down and needed a $100,000 rebuild, while the P1800 will circle the globe ten times without breaking a sweat.

This 1962 example comes in the color of a common cardinal drunk on merlot. With only 125,000 miles, it's really just as reliable as the three-year-old Ford you might buy instead. Still sweating the details? It even comes with air-conditioning, a rare 60s option.