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Journal: Which Classic Car Would You Love to See Reborn Today?

Which Classic Car Would You Love to See Reborn Today?

By Yoav Gilad
February 7, 2014
38 comments

Recently, Toyota has cashed in on the nostalgia associated with the “hachi-roku” (translation: eighty-six, the Toyota Corolla AE86’s nickname) by associating the Toyota/Scion FR-S with it. They did the same by associating the Land Cruiser/FJs with the new FJ Cruiser. Honda did so too with the CR-Z (CRX) and so have Dodge (Challenger, Charger), Ford (GT), Mercedes-Benz (Maybach) and Volkswagen (New Beetle). The majority of which have been quite successful in the marketplace.

If you’re cynical, you could argue that as a marketing tool it’s very effective even if the cars have nothing in common with their spiritual predecessors but a nameplate. But that’s not entirely true. They usually have the same drivetrain layout and styling that clearly nods to the antecedent. So with that in mind, tell us which car you’d love to see resuscitated. And if you think some golden memories are best left as such, let us know why. For me, it’s the Facel Vega FV2B, what presence! What an engine!

Which classic car would you love to see reborn today?

Image Sources: carandclassic.co.uk, wallpapersus.com

Tags Beetle/ Challenger/ Charger/ Classic Car Reborn/ CRX/ FJ Cruiser/ FR-S/ Maybach/ Question
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landgero
landgero
8 years ago

I aim to [i]hit two birds with one stone[/i] with this answer, a 1929 Bentley Blower.

Not only that most younger generation haven’t seen or heard of it, but also most adults undergoing mid-life crisis probably haven’t seen it as well except from watching old movies. It’s also sort of a related response to your latest feature, [url=”http://petrolicious.com/this-oakland-racer-fits-just-perfectly”]The Oakland Racer[/url].

Imagine yourself setting in a 2-seater car surrounded by Bentley luxury — a car a vintage body style with modern comfort and power under the hood. If only Bentley parent company, Volkswagen, will make a handful of these like what they do with Lamborghinis, and give it some retro look like what they did with the Super Beetle, wouldn’t that be awesome?

It’s a car both The 6-Million Dollar Man and Mad Max can agree on.

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Steve Goudy
Steve Goudy
8 years ago

I agree with Hayden on the 124 Abarth. I have a 124 Spider and would love for Fiat to produce a modern version that I could use as a daily driver. I think Ford has missed a big opportunity twice now. My father had a 1964 1/2 Mustang. In 1994 Ford had a newer body style on the Mustang and again this year they have a new car. Ford should have marketed them both as 1/2 ( 1994 1/2 & 2014 1/2 ) mpdels and sold them at a premium to the gung-ho collectors.

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Hayden
Hayden
8 years ago

These

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Hayden
Hayden
8 years ago
Reply to  Hayden

Lancia 037
Fiat 124 Abarth
Alfa 33 Stradale

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Jake Williams
Jake Williams
8 years ago
Reply to  Hayden

Just to see Lancia get out of this rut of rebadged Fiats and Chryslers would be a great thing to see. Be it fresh idea or commemorative, I need to see some rallying in the mix!

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Craig Wessman
Craig Wessman
8 years ago

I’d like to see a proper shooting-brake version (not the C30!) of the Volvo 1800ES or honestly any good smallish shooting-brake revival – Aston Martin, Citroen DS. Scimitar, etc. 2-door, RWD, no automatics, performance-oriented but definitely does not have to be a supercar. Disclaimer: I have a couple of ESes but I just love that form factor and can rationalize the day away about fun plus function. I think hot hatches have taken that niche but I like the lower (-appearing) profile of shooting brakes.

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Rene Borggreve
Rene Borggreve
8 years ago

I love to see a new Citroën DS Convertible. God, what a beautiful convertibele. After the DS the only nice French convertible was the Peugeot 504. So PSA wake up!

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Afshin Behnia
Afshin Behnia
8 years ago

Of course I’d love to see this green-lighted. And please give it a proper manual!

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Jake Williams
Jake Williams
8 years ago
Reply to  Afshin Behnia

Amen to that. Everything performance oriented anymore has week, fruitless paddle shifters. What’s the point of being fast if you’re not a part of it? Where’s the expression from YOU?

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Nicholas Brown
Nicholas Brown
8 years ago

The Saab Sonett. I always thought that the best thing GM could have done for Saab would have been to give them the Pontiac Solstice coupe and tell them to go wild. I even harbored dreams that a company with deep pockets would have bought the Saab name and the rights to the Solstice, dispensing with the sedans and wagons and other undifferentiated barges Saab was producing at the end.

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Alex Clise
Alex Clise
8 years ago
Reply to  Nicholas Brown

This is a good, realistic idea. Saab was designing some decent prototypes before they were shuttered. I’ve always had a soft spot for GM built british-style GT cars anyway. So while a MGB GT or a TR6 are out of the question, the Americans have a good shot at creating a fun, fastback, Toyubaru fighter.

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Louie crossfield
Louie crossfield
8 years ago

Oh that’s easy BMW e30 m3

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Ben Lamboeuf
Ben Lamboeuf
8 years ago

For giggles, I’d like to see VW riff on their iconic bus and bring it back, along with all its clever practical touches all over. The challenge would be to make it recognizable and keep it very simple and basic while packaging into it the mandatory safety equipments.

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Paul Steel
Paul Steel
8 years ago

Don’t bother with bring backs, the new car will have no mechanical or historical design connection to the original, and certainly no spiritual connection, it’s just a name. Make new interesting cars, give them new names that are inline with the old. fiat 500, is the new car 500cc ? Mini, is it mini ? No.. give it a more appropriate name.
Unless its a continuous evolution of a design, 911, 3 series etc. it just doesn’t work.

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Jake Williams
Jake Williams
8 years ago

The Lancia Stratos almost came back in a Limited run with a new Ferrari V8, but that was sadly dropped. If I were to see anything come back, I’d love to see some of the old British and Italian Roadsters come back. The Triumph Spitfire, the MGB, or any of those fun little cars would be a delight to see on the road with modern updates.
I’d also love to see homologation come back to the WRC. It’s been over 10 years since we got a road ready rally car like the Lancia Delta Integrale of Ford Escort Cosworth. More’s the pity.
Finally, I’d love to see the swooping lines of the 60s come back. The way cars are designed today may be eye catching and amazing, but nothing very elegant. Aston Martin has made a bit of a capitol on this, but the last time a car like the E-Type, with it’s long, aerodynamic bonnet and soft line, was probably in the FD RX7 of the 90s.

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Bertram Wooster
Bertram Wooster
8 years ago

[b]![/b]

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braunwagen
braunwagen
8 years ago

The Porsche 928, It was always better than the 911 and Steve Jobs drove one which verifies it. Let’s just be honest here, 911’s are for dorks. I mean obviously I love them but how predictable is that? Every 20 something year old car dweeb fetishistically obsesses about owning an early 80’s SC or a Carrera because they can almost afford one.. but not quite. The Toyota MR2, its like a mini Testarossa and how cool is that? Its way cool. Plus, now that Alfa is making the 4C Toyota has a modern day formula for a tiny mid engined sports car that they can look to and completely rip off, and it will be great!
Datsun 240Z, brought back under the Datsun brand NOT as a Nissan. Bring it back as a cheap, light sports car, with a manual transmission (stating the obvious here) thats similar to the Toyota GT86 but not an ugly turd.
And of course the Volvo 240! If Volvo re-invented the Volvo 240 similar to the way Fiat revived the 500, as a small, cheap, simple, utilitarian, retro styled wagon and sedan it would be a sales hit. Is Volvo being serious trying to compete with Merc and BMW? Todays Volvos are the blandest blobs on the road while the 240 is still one of the most distinctive cars on the road 21 years after ending production. It’s like Ellen Paige in car form and thats why every hipster in every American city would push their own grandmother down a flight of stairs to own a mint condition, pale yellow wagon. So why not bring it back?

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Mark Salomon
Mark Salomon
8 years ago

Triumph TR6 or Fiat 124 or Alfa–something a bit bigger than Miata. Has to be relatively inexpensive–certainly well under $30 K. We have too many supercars already. BMW needs to work the same magic that it has done with the Mini with the TR6.

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Andreas Lavesson
Andreas Lavesson
8 years ago

I have to say I’m a bit torn. On one hand, there are a lot of exceptional cars from days past that I’d like to see again, Alfas, Triumphs, some Japanese models etc. However, car design just isn’t what it used to be. I’m not saying there aren’t any pretty cars anymore, but with safety regulations etc. it’s just impossible to build cars as beautiful as they used to be.

Using a name with heritage as a marketing plot just doesn’t cut it for me and there’s just been one too many “revived” cars that doesn’t really reflect the “essence” of it’s predecessor. Take the Beetle for example. Sure, it is (was?) immensely popular in the U.S, but it’s essentially a VW Golf that is impractical and even more expensive, not the peoples’ car from which it stole it’s name. Also the Dodge Charger. Sure, they sold a lot, but reviving one of the most iconic muscle car names with a saloon just isn’t right (not to mention the FWD turbocharged Dodge Dart).

On the other hand, I have to say that I like the CR-Z. It’s not a modern carbon copy, but it’s still a spiritual successor in my book. As is almost the new GT86 and I too can’t help but feeling a little anticipation for the new Alfa Spider.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, if manufacturers are to revive old names, they have to do it in a serious way and really pay homage to the car they are reviving. Otherwise, I’m not interested.

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Darin Spyderdog
Darin Spyderdog
8 years ago

triumph spitfire/gt6!

nissan 240sx, toyota mr2, or a new porsche 944 would be a good ones too!

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JanMichael Franklin
JanMichael Franklin
8 years ago

I’m really into Japanese sports cars so I would love to see the return of the RX-7, a smaller lighter Z car in the spirit of the 240Z, and of course the Supra. I think the 2000GT and Cosmo should be replicated down to the smallest detail. That would be cool.

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Gary Groce
Gary Groce
8 years ago

BMW 2002….Early model “roundie” although I suppose it would conflict with their Mini market.

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Paul Steel
Paul Steel
8 years ago
Reply to  Gary Groce

BMW are already associating the 2 Series with the 2002;
http://youtu.be/YCR6rw1NZGs

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Gary Groce
Gary Groce
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Steel

Well that’s great that it’s called a 2 series but what resemblance does it even remotely have to a 2002? Oh I know….It has 4 wheels. Sorry, it just looks like every other boring new BMW, Lexus, KIA, etc,etc.

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Alex Clise
Alex Clise
8 years ago

Anything mid-engined. A new Fiat X1/9 would be great, as long as Bertone designs the body.

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Emanuel Costa
Emanuel Costa
8 years ago

The Ford Escort, but not just for the chinese market, as it is intended. A sporty coupe version might be successfull in Europe and US, I think.

The Citroën 2CV and the Renault 4L

The Volkswagen Kombi

And maybe a decent Cadillac convertible, relating to the Eldorado

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Ae Neuman
Ae Neuman
8 years ago

none of them !
like movies, you just know the reboot will not have the charm and specialness of the original.
:p

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Kirk Robinson
Kirk Robinson
8 years ago

I like the GTV6 idea^.
On a similar note, an obvious answer, but the Alfa Spider – I can’t wait for the new spider being developed with Mazda! It could be quite a car, I hope it doesn’t disappoint!

I too would love to see Triumph brought back, I think a revived GT6 could be a great competitor to the BRZ/FRS/GT86/WhateverElseItGetsBadgedAs, if it had a more powerful straight-6 engine and that classic long hood/short tail coupe proportions, all in a very lightweight body.

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BiTurbo228
BiTurbo228
8 years ago
Reply to  Kirk Robinson

I can’t wait for the Alfa Spider either. If it’s good, it’ll probably be the only modern car I’d consider buying. The F-Type and the 4C are up there as well, but they’re so far out of my price range as to be unattainable.

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Bertram Wooster
Bertram Wooster
8 years ago
Reply to  Kirk Robinson

I’m looking forward to it, too, but brace yourselves– Sergio’s said it’s not getting a manual transmission…

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Kirk Robinson
Kirk Robinson
8 years ago
Reply to  Bertram Wooster

OH NO! NoNoNoNoNo! They can’t do that!!!

Honestly, that would be socially irresponsible! Sure, most americans don’t know how to drive a manual, and are too lazy to be bothered to learn because porsche, maserati, etc. all offer flappy-paddle auto. ‘boxes, but, I’m sure we can all agree, manual cars offer a FAR more rewarding driving experience, especially when in a little lightweight sports car.

Honestly, even if it does hurt sales a little, they should ONLY offer a 5- (or maybe 6-) speed manual transmission. That way they can make their customers eat their vegetables learn to drive a stick, becuase in the end they will be far better off for it, truly!

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JB21
JB21
8 years ago

Honestly I hope they don’t.
Scion FR-S, thank god, has nothing to do with Hachi Roku except in spirit, it’s very different proposition from VW New Beetle, BMW Mini, or Fiat 500. I can appreciate FR-S, but I can’t see a point on the latter for the most part. When anybody tries to monkey with the past, they always ruin it, we end up with products that’s just not that good. Like Mini, it’s safer, better made, faster, all that, any it still has less charm than the rubber cone suspension bits of the original Mini. I can’t see the point of New Bug, Fiat Panda is way more genuine and authentic than today’s 500. So there, I think they should stop dicking around and get on with now and future. Think, VW UP! could have been such an enticing prospect if they pushed on with the original rear-engined concept.

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BiTurbo228
BiTurbo228
8 years ago

Alfa GTV6.

2-door hatchback coupe with the V6TT used in the Maserati Ghibli on a RWD platform.

They could get economies of scale by selling a Maserati version as well, and depending on how far the platform could be stretched potentially the Ferrari California as well.

Please 🙂

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The Obtainer
The Obtainer
8 years ago
Reply to  BiTurbo228

GTV6? Yes Please!

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James Kemp
James Kemp
8 years ago

BMW needs to do something with the Triumph Motor Company already and build a Z4 variant to sell at Mini Dealerships.

+1 to the full size Caddy but would also love to see a full size Lincoln (Continental)

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BiTurbo228
BiTurbo228
8 years ago
Reply to  James Kemp

I’ve convinced that the Z series were originally meant to be revived Triumphs. The resemblance they bear to the Spitfire and GT6 visually is uncanny.

I think if I was filthy-rich, I’d buy the name rights for Triumph from BMW, or persuade JLR to do it and use Triumph as a downmarket sporty marque. I doubt people would accept a Jaguar supermini, or even a Jaguar hatchback, but a Triumph one could strike a chord.

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Future Doc
Future Doc
8 years ago

MR2
A “true” 240Z. Smaller displacement inline six in a lightweight body… not a big displacement bruiser (370Z).
912
Fiat 124 Sport Spider
A full sized Cadillac
Any design from a true coachbuilder.

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Dustin Rittle
Dustin Rittle
8 years ago

Such a great question i don’t really know where to begin 😀 but i will try my best. First of all i like to see a reborn AMC AMX being the AMC fanatic i am. The AMX was a great looking car and the only other american two seater performance machine on the market. The AMX was a a great deal cheaper then the Corvette but still had good performance on hand. Not to mention the car was a sort of hybrid between muscle car and sports car ideas which i think could appeal to a wide range of buyers. Another car i believe is worthy of a reborn is the Chevy Corvair. I know what Mr. Nader said about the car but i just dont care. The Corvair i believe was a good looking car whose design was very influential in Europe also the car was such a departure from the usual way american car companies built cars at the time. The Corvair had a cool unibody construction with 4 wheel independent suspension and a engine made mostly from aluminum along with that fact you could get it equipped with a factory turbo. Plus a added bonus for the corvair was it was one hell of a race car just look at what Don Yenko did with them.

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