The shooting brake isn’t just a station wagon that’s gone for a bit of plastic surgery. It’s a type of body that has a far more interesting history dating back to the 19th century, when horse-drawn vehicles were converted for shooting parties and days out. These were cars designed to carry large, wealthy landowners and their equipment, dogs and luggage to and from large estates. This design eventually developed into something altogether more thrilling in the automotive arena, and became svelte coupes with a long rear cabin and hatchback versatility.
One of the biggest appeals of the shooting brake is the fact that it goes against all car design. A sports car is made for performance and styling and a station wagon for utility and space. A shooting brake aims to offer the best of both worlds, without sacrificing too much of one side. You receive the style and excitement of a coupe, but with added space for luggage or for traveling the long distance, and with the practicality to carry day to day items. This balancing act has allowed this rather rare machine a faithful fan base amongst automotive enthusiasts that love unique cars with a little bit of flair.
The shooting brake has, for years, taken shape in all of its forms, be it a factory built masterpiece or an individual commission from a wealthy client or design engineer; a certain few became iconographic due to their style and beauty, while other attained legend status due to their sheer performance and styling oddity, each in its own way offering a deviation from the norm. These are, the greatest shooting brakes ever made.
1. Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake
This is an interesting approach to solving a real-world problem, one of practical accommodation of large amounts of luggage and, presumably, a pair of dogs when long-distance travel beckoned for DB Owner, David Brown, but not at the expense of the established good looks of the DB5 grand tourer. Rather than the traditional estate car route, the DB5 was reinvented in shooting brake guise but it retains the essential elegance of the car as well as the characteristic image of it too.
Rare Design Made The Car Legendary:
- Extended Roof Improved Cargo Space
- Coachbuilder Radford Handled Conversion Work
- Only Twelve Examples Were Produced
- Elegant Styling Remained Completely Intact
- Practicality Combined With Luxury Performance
Aston Martin worked with revered British coachbuilders Radford to produce the finished article. Radford thoughtfully lengthened the roof line into a smoothly integrating rear hatchback, making the end product look as though it had been developed from the outset by Aston Martin itself. Such was the level of finish, in fact, that it fooled many and made it arguably the rarest productionAston Martini the company had ever produced, only twelve were ever made.
Performance was similar to the original DB5, making the Shooting Brake a very practical, fast grand tourer. The balance of the car’s handling remained largely untroubled. With such rarity, enduring styling and a pedigree associated with Aston Martin, over the years, the DB5 Shooting Brake has developed into a true motoring icon. Today the car is considered among the best and most valuable shooting brakes in the world, with surviving cars commanding millions.
2. Volvo 1800 ES
The Volvo 1800 ES is undoubtedly considered as one of the prettiest shooting brakes ever made. As it was only manufactured for 1972 and 1973 model years, the elegant P1800 coupe turned in a suave, unique looking long-roof grand tourer. Scandinavian minimalist elegance met with timeless sophistication and created one stunning car that, still today, looks as cool and unique as when it rolled out of the factory.
Distinctive Design Defined The 1800 ES:
- Frameless Glass Tailgate Became Iconic
- Scandinavian Styling Looked Clean Modern
- Long Roof Improved Everyday Practicality
- Short Production Increased Vehicle Rarity
- Elegant Shape Balanced Style Function
The car is remembered for one aspect above all; the all-glass, frameless rear tailgate which had only been used sparingly and perhaps not since on a car. This feature not only looked very modern and clean-cut, but also added to practicality and access to the luggage space. This combination of sportscar aesthetics and pragmatic engineering was very distinctive compared to most coupes and saloons that existed in its time.
The American emissions regulations and a safety standards later caused Volvo to discontinue the car instead of re-engineering it for such regulations. Although the life of the car was extremely short, that in fact turned into part of its appeal. Today a clean car is highly desirable and prized across the world, with the 1800 ES regarded as the most honest and effective shooting brake car made.
3. Lamborghini Flying Star II
The Lamborghini Flying Star II showed that even the most outrageous Italian manufacturers could experiment with shooting brake styling with incredible imaginative verve. Presented in 1966 at the Turin Salon, the bizarre and beautiful one-off was conceived and built by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera on a shortened Lamborghini 400 GT floorpan, bridging futuristic styling and luxurious GT practicality as well as perhaps the most eccentric Lamborghini concept ever produced.
Rare Concept Combined Style And Performance:
- One Off Design Showcased Creativity
- Touring Superleggera Crafted Unique Bodywork
- Lamborghini V12 Delivered Strong Performance
- Elegant Styling Looked Highly Futuristic
- Historical Importance Increased Collector Interest
Unlike a lot of the other concept cars of that era the Flying Star II wasn’t just for looks alone as under the car’s incredibly aggressive bodywork was an aluminium V12 coupled with a five-speed manual transmission and independent suspension, delivering the sort of pace a Lamborghini was known for with the car producing in excess of 320hp.
This meant the Flying Star II wasn’t all looks, with performance a key element. In addition, the car is significant in automotive history for being the last car built by the legendary coachbuilder Touring Superleggera before the company went bust for decades, adding another layer of history to the already very significant car.
4. Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake
Arguably the most recognisable and arguably the best-looking grand tourer Ferrari ever made, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake has had to “top” even itself. The car pictured here was built in the early-1970s for an rich entrepreneur from standard Ferrari Daytona with body by British coachbuilder Panther Westwinds giving it and even greater and individualistic look and yet also a bigger level of utility.
Custom Coachbuilt Design Created Rare Ferrari:
- Long Roof Improved Cargo Capacity
- Panther Westwinds Handled Major Redesign
- Unique Glass Panels Enhanced Styling
- Exotic Appearance Increased Vehicle Rarity
- Ferrari Performance Remained Fully Intact
Nearly every exterior part was altered in some way-just a couple of the original Daytona body panels remain-as almost the entire car was molded into the imposing shooting brake shape that gives it more cargo space and those strange opening glass rear sides. At the end result the Daytona Shooting Brake looked like a futuristic and elegant and exclusive machine which would be unique among the most exclusive Ferrari’s of the 1970’s.
Though many aspects of the car were changed so it became more practical and to attain its striking look, the underlying performance character of the original Ferrari Daytona remained intact. The enormous 350hp-plus V12 engine continued to put out prodigious power numbers and give the Daytona Shooting Brake the ability to accelerate rapidly and achieve high speeds as expected from such a grand tourer Ferrari. The result was proof that a practical Ferrari didn’t need to be unexciting and so we have yet another example of a unique Ferrari creation which offers both fantastic performance and practicality.
5. Jensen GT
The Jensen GT captured the character of the 1970s classic British shooting brake by blending sporting performance with added versatility. Based on the chassis of the Jensen-Healey sports car, the GT provided an extended roof and a more practical interior, retaining all the character of a light-weight British grand tourer. The combination of usability with a fun driving experience was one that drivers seeking an alternative to the standard sports coupe was seeking.
British Styling Added Practical Grand Touring Appeal:
- Extended Roof Increased Cabin Space
- Lightweight Platform Maintained Agile Handling
- Classic British Design Looked Elegant
- Practical Layout Improved Everyday Usability
- Short Production Increased Vehicle Rarity
Visually the Jensen GT was neat, well proportioned and well styled, even with the extra weight imposed by the shooting brake roof. There was of course a small increase in weight over the coupe model but the 2.0 litre engine provided decent performance in a mid 1970s context. The road behaviour was engaging and sporty with sharp handling and agile performance from the 2.0 litre engine, coupled with the added luggage space and superior long distance comfort provided by the shooting brake.
Although built in small numbers and not for a great length of time, the Jensen GT is a now an increasingly recognized classic. As survivors are relatively few they should prove to be a desirable buy to enthusiasts interested in the neglected side of motoring design; blending British motoring flavor with a unique practical and exotic shape.
6. Lancia Beta HPE
The Lancia Beta HPE which was High Performance Estate. It arrived in 1975 as the sportiest of the Beta’s looking perhaps the most stylish. This was one of the best looking cars on the market; with a sport coupé shape it managed to achieve this while also performing as well as a estate should. Its general shape can be seen echoed in numerous European hatchbacks and performance estates today.
Italian Styling Defined The Beta HPE:
- Coupe Inspired Shape Looked Modern
- Wagon Practicality Improved Everyday Use
- Sharp Lines Enhanced Visual Identity
- Multiple Engines Offered Performance Choices
- Spacious Interior Increased Driver Comfort
The body language of the Beta HPE was rather fluid; with hard edges blended together with more rounded curves, it was quite individual. In many cases the car gave much more cabin space and a more user friendly feel than many small sporty cars of the day and was available with a range of 4-cylinder engines, opening up to a buyer who was not necessarily searching for ultimate speed. In fact, with more attention paid to practicality, the Beta HPE can be seen as one of the first true sporty “hatchbacks”. In the course of time, few Beta HPE’s survived, mostly due to reliability and rust problems endemic with many Lancias of the era, but as a result, examples of this distinctive Italian classic are eagerly snapped up by many collectors.
7. BMW Z3 M Coupe
With its eccentric proportions and truly unique appearance, the BMW Z3 M Coupe became one of the most familiar modern shooting brakes on the market. More widely known by its somewhat derogatory nickname, “the clown shoe,” it was originally developed as an experiment for the Z3 roadster to enhance structural rigidity but within a contained budget. This logical and economical engineering exercise turned into a defining automotive collectible.
Unique Styling Created Cult Enthusiast Appeal:
- Unusual Shape Divided Early Opinions
- Compact Body Improved Structural Rigidity
- Inline Six Delivered Strong Performance
- Rear Wheel Drive Enhanced Handling
- Distinctive Design Became Highly Collectible
Almost immediately upon its introduction the design evoked polarizing responses throughout the automotive world. Some people fell in love with the aggressive, muscular dimensions of the Z3 M while others considered the styling to be ungainly and downright weird. Regardless, over the years the Z3 M Coupe began to gain a rabid cult following and drivers started to recognize and appreciate the unique, uncommon and engineering-focused nature of the machine.
Beneath the skin lay one of the best inline-six engines from BMW which endowed the Z3 M Coupe with prodigious amounts of power and offered an excellent rear-wheel drive experience coupled with the smaller dimensions and stiff body structure the car offered incredibly direct, sharp handling and an almost perfectly responsive feel. Eventually, the overall package of unconventional styling, potent mechanics, and enthusiast-oriented performance elevated the Z3 M Coupe to icon status among enthusiasts and earned it the title of one of BMW’s favorite modern classics.
8. Callaway AeroWagen
With the Callaway AeroWagen the automotive community found that the shooting brake could be modern, and could still be exciting. This was a conversion rather than a production-based model and the AeroWagen converts the Chevrolet Corvette C7 into a rather sleek and unique long-roof performer. It mixes American muscle and an extremely sleek and purposeful shooting brake with practical needs.
Modern Conversion Redefined Corvette Styling:
- Long Roof Design Improved Practicality
- European Inspired Styling Enhanced Appearance
- Corvette Personality Remained Aggressive
- Exclusive Conversion Increased Vehicle Uniqueness
- High Performance Capability Stayed Intact
The look of the Corvette’s rear end was drastically different. Standard body shape was replaced with an even sleeker fastback profile, giving the car an almost Continental look while keeping the muscular American presence that everyone knows from the Corvette. The AeroWagen was an elegant yet powerful-looking car which definitely makes it stand out from normal Corvettes.
Performance would stay as extreme as possible with Callaway’s fantastic supercharged enhancements producing insane horsepower. The Aero Wagen offered just as much brute acceleration and top speed as any other top Corvette, while having the practicality added to the exclusive, good-looking American shooting brake.
9. Ferrari FF
A new turning point was made for Ferrari with the production of the FF, as it was the first of a proper production shooting brake. ‘Ferrari Four’ was an acronym meaning it has 4 seats and a 4 wheel drive system, which also happened to be the first four-wheel drive production vehicle for Ferrari.
Ferrari Combined Practicality With Supercar Power:
- Four Seat Layout Increased Comfort
- All Wheel Drive Improved Stability
- Shooting Brake Design Added Versatility
- V12 Engine Delivered Massive Performance
- Grand Touring Comfort Met Everyday Usability
Originally many traditional Ferrari owners were sceptical of the concept of a ‘usable’ Ferrari with more seats and a hatchback rear. Opinions quickly changed once they witnessed how good a Ferrari FF was on the road. The car managed to blend comfort and load-carrying ability and long distance capability with a real Ferrari supercar feel. With its normally aspirated 6.3 litre V12, the Ferrari was producing in excess of 650 hp allowing the car to reach incredible speeds.
Combined with its advanced four-wheel drive system the FF had outstanding road holding and performance in virtually any driving condition. The outcome of this combination was a shooting brake that was as competent as any luxury four-seat family grand tourer as well as an impressive and desirable supercar.
10. Lotus Elan S4 Estate
The Lotus Elan S4 Estate stands out as one of the most unusual and charming shooting brakes ever created. Lotus was traditionally known for building lightweight sports cars focused purely on driving enjoyment and simplicity, which made the idea of a wagon-inspired Lotus feel highly unconventional. Despite that, this custom-built project successfully combined practicality with the lightweight philosophy that defined the brand.
Quirky Design Gave The Car Unique Character:
- Longer Roof Improved Practical Functionality
- Lightweight Construction Preserved Agile Handling
- Rear Hatch Added Extra Versatility
- Custom Design Looked Unusually Creative
- Nickname Reflected Playful Personality Perfectly
This one-off creation extended the compact Lotus Elan with a redesigned roofline and practical rear hatch while carefully maintaining the car’s lightweight structure. The unusual appearance and creative concept earned it the affectionate nickname “Elanbulance,” a title that perfectly captured its quirky and memorable personality. Rather than focusing on luxury or extreme practicality, the design celebrated originality and experimentation within automotive culture.
Although its small engine produced relatively modest power, the Elan S4 Estate still delivered lively performance because of its exceptionally low weight and agile chassis. Drivers could enjoy the same responsive handling and driving purity that made the original Elan famous while benefiting from additional practicality. Over time, the car became a symbol of creativity and individuality, demonstrating how flexible and imaginative the shooting brake concept could truly become.
11. Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake
The Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake brought a refined and understated sense of luxury to the shooting brake body style during the early 1990s. Developed by Aston Martin’s Works Service division, the car combined elegant grand touring design with added practicality and exclusivity. Rather than focusing on aggressive styling, the Virage Shooting Brake emphasized sophistication, comfort, and handcrafted British craftsmanship.
Luxury And Exclusivity Defined The Virage:
- Limited Production Increased Collector Value
- Long Body Enhanced Grand Touring Style
- Practical Design Added Extra Versatility
- V8 Engine Delivered Smooth Performance
- British Refinement Shaped Overall Character
Only a very small number of Virage Shooting Brakes were ever produced, largely because of the car’s extremely high price when new. That rarity quickly transformed the model into a sought-after collector’s item among Aston Martin enthusiasts. Its extended bodywork, boxy proportions, and subtle styling details created a sophisticated appearance that felt elegant and distinctive without becoming overly dramatic or aggressive.
Under the hood, the Virage Shooting Brake featured a powerful V8 engine capable of delivering strong acceleration along with relaxed high-speed cruising performance. The car may not have been the most extreme or fastest shooting brake ever built, but it offered a unique combination of muscle, luxury, and exclusivity. This balance of British refinement and grand touring capability helped make the Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake one of the most memorable and desirable examples of the body style.
12. Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake represents a modern interpretation of the classic shooting brake formula, combining luxury, exclusivity, and supercar-level performance. Developed through a collaboration between Aston Martin and the legendary Italian design house Zagato, the car blended dramatic styling with grand touring practicality. The result was a vehicle that felt both artistic and powerful while preserving the elegance associated with the Aston Martin brand.
Modern Design Elevated Shooting Brake Styling:
- Zagato Collaboration Enhanced Vehicle Exclusivity
- Flowing Roofline Created Elegant Profile
- Limited Production Increased Collector Appeal
- V12 Engine Delivered Massive Performance
- Practical Layout Added Everyday Versatility
Every aspect of the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake was carefully sculpted to create a striking visual presence. From the aggressive front fascia to the flowing roofline and elongated rear section, the car looked dramatic from every angle. Aston Martin limited production to only ninety-nine examples worldwide, instantly making it one of the rarest and most desirable modern Aston Martins ever produced.
Under the hood, the naturally aspirated V12 engine generated nearly 600 horsepower, giving the car breathtaking acceleration and true supercar performance. Despite its focus on speed and luxury, the shooting brake design still provided useful rear cargo space, making the vehicle more versatile than many traditional exotic cars. The Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake ultimately demonstrated that the shooting brake concept continues to have relevance in the modern automotive world by successfully blending performance, practicality, and breathtaking design into one exclusive package.
