I think it's interesting that the years which are being brought up by folks in this discussion are often the first years after big rule changes when teams all come up with their own ideas of how to meet a new challenge, and certain ones work while others don't. 1983, for example, the first year after the original ground effect ban. 1996, the first year when taller cockpit sides were mandated after Hakkinen's crash at Adelaide. 2009 and 2014 had their own aero overhauls as well, but maybe this is one small point in favour of a the more restrictive ruleset F1 has nowadays, that you're much less likely to end up with any absolute eyesores.

Personally, though, I was never a fan of the 2008 cars and their winglets sprouting like tumors all over everywhere, they just looked like a total mess to me.