Recently, I saw a very nice collection of vintage ads posted by Abduzeedo (via Digg). Speaking of vintage design, I also have a nice collection of vintage websites that I dug up from my old bookmarks and Best Web Gallery submissions. I'm not a big fan of vintage design, but if you want to see more vintage inspiration, here are 23+ sites.
Warning: some of the sites that you are about to view might be very old (click at your own risk)
Travel & tour sites like vintage style?
I'm not sure if it is a trend or what, but vintage design seems to be very popular on travel and tour sites. Below are three great samples.
Visit Cascadia
This is one of my favorite sites. The design itself is not so "vintage" (in fact, very eye-catchy), but the designer did a great job on blending vintage elements with modern web design and coding technology.
Cottonseed Oil Tour
Another eye-catchy site. I particularly like the homepage and the highway signs.
Tennessee Vacation
The details spent on this site is extensive. Don't be shy to click around or you will miss out the inner pages (almost every page or section has a different layout).
Sexy models
One common subject, they like to use sexy models. Below are some samples.
Mouse to Minx
This is one of my favorite ecommerce sites. From design to coding, the overall site is nicely done.
Lana Landis (flash)
Ok, this is a very old site. If you have been in the industry for a long time, you have probably seen this site (it was quite popular back then). I first saw it back in 2003 - 2004(?), but she is still looking hot.
Target Scope (Flash)
Kretivia.com
Prahba.com (Flash)
Yesterday is Here
Vintage cars
Another common subject, beside sexy models they like to use classic cars.
Breeze Media
Jackson Fish Market
Verga Car
WebDesigner.ro
Collage
They also like collage style, torn paper and worn-out photo effect.
Sottocostoska
Avalon Rose Design (vintage design portfolio)
The Retrovert
Spadewerk
More...
Here are more vintage sites, enjoy.
Get Satisfaction
Hardees
Fisticuff Design
Lataka
Sauro Motel
Update (Jan 23, 2008)
Cameron Moll
Most of you is probably familar with Cameron Moll's website. Good use of CSS and typography, and of course very retro.
FortySeven Media
A newly launched retro design by Jonathan Longnecker and Nate Croft.
Media Boom
Big Rig Design
The Greg Brady Project
Prospect Denim
Don't forget to...
check out my weekly update Best Web Gallery for more inspiration.
I’m a big fan of vintage – thanks for this list. Without wanting to toot my own horn, my current blog design (which is currently living on borrowed time) is a reference to the ads in National Geographic that were standard cottage outhouse reading. People who like vintage might get a smile.
I was expecting a different type of vintage (particularly when I read the warning about very old sites.) Got any galleries of “vintage web design” (vs. “vintage” web design?) You know: splash screens. entrance tunnels, centered everything, 3d backgrounds, etc… :)
Thanks for the list!
Vintage webdesign is not my favourite style but I do like these sites.
The designs are very creative!
Thanks.. not a big fan either but it’s useful to take a look..
Great collection of sites!
w00t. I love retro design, and this has been an awesome post to read. So, thanks!
Nice run-down Nick, I’m not sure I’ve seen all of these…
Always love a bit of retro-nostalgic throw-back’s to a by-gone era!!
Thanks for this, I love retro and vintage designs. The Tennessee Vacation has been a favourite site of mine to visit, even though I live in Sydney, Australia. Thanks for all the new sites I can visit, my new fave is Mouse to Minx, not only for the design but also for the content and shopping!
This is a great collection. I would love to see a list of website that are both retro vintage looking but with Search Engine Optimization taken into account!
Nice Collection :)
wow… these are the great collection of vintage style websites. Good work! Thanks
All the designs are very creative and amazing. Thanks for sharing.
They are all lovely. I like it! Thanks
fantastic collection. I really like them.
Thanks really nice designs.
These designs are cool! I love vintage on the web because its something that is kinda… alian to digital work.
Wow! Great Collection!
awesome collection. I dont think I made it past the sexy models though, they are beautiful….the websites i mean.
Not only are they aesthetically pleasing graphics, there’s a chance that a ‘vintage’ design may also be a great way to attract an older crowd to websites by presenting them with a familiar visual reference (if that’s what the site is after) …so long as you’re also tackling usability!
Hi, thanks for another greate collection!! But, well… i don’t know, i dont like all sites! But vintage is a trend anyway!!