Going Retro - return of older style cars

[sooznd]

With the return of the Lambretta and the Vespa PX150, I thought it would be fun to discuss which of the older models of cars we would like to see manufactured again--having that retro look, but with today's efficient engines.

I'd choose:

1950's Studebaker (bullet nose)
1975 AMC Pacer
1955-57 Ford Thunderbird
1965-67 Ford Mustang

[XPS1210]

this is one of my favorate car... just due to the story!

http://www.tuckerclub.org/1047aw.gif


made by Preston Tucker...

Kinda cool...

[Davey-boi]

1960-67 VW bug and buss
1967 mustang fastback
1969 mach1
1967 camaro RS/SS
1961-64 lincoln continental
1954-59 cadillacs
1957 chevy belair

Thats my list, but if I could choose just one... I'd buy a brand new VW bus. I think a reliable 60ies bus would be sweet, I';d travel the nation.

[XPS1210]

well...

I neglected to include my VW luv...

Any air cooled VW is a GOD IMO even if it needs work...

can't go wrong with an "air Vdub"...

I just think the story behind the tuckers is cool...

[sooznd]

:o Me, too I fogot my VW love bugs, too, any pre-1970's beetle.
Jered--I love the look of the Tucker--never saw the movie though. It looks very similar to the bullet nose Studebaker

[King Vino]

this is one of my favorate car... just due to the story!

http://www.tuckerclub.org/1047aw.gif


made by Preston Tucker...

Kinda cool...

I love that Tucker Torpedo, and the story that goes with them. I feel sort of bad about poor Ford and it's Edsel division. The Edsel Citation had a hell of a lot of innovation. The saying at the time went. Ford is selling safety while Chevy is selling cars.

[hybridrazz]

I saw a retro version of the 69camaro Z28 in a older issue of a magazine i get it looked good ,it was done the same way they did the newer mustang, i thought that camaro looked better. Maybe they'll make it again someday.

[King Vino]

What killed the Camero was that they were lousy daily drivers comfort wise. The fact that the national average for the Camero was 64 days sitting on the lot compared to the Mustang's 32 didn't help their bottom line either. I understand new Mustang is only lated for a five year run before returning to a more SN-95 based body.

Sadly retro based cars seldom do not do well long term. Retro cars do well for the first three years of production, then the novelty of the design dies as rapidly as their popularity grew. New Beetle, PT Cruiser sales are near dead. Mini Cooper sales are jsut now starting to slow. (The release of a convertible retro car is always the first show of declining sales) Hell, look at the Ford Thunderbird, released two years behind posted release date, three years of production, Ford had the good sense to drop the model before it became repetitive like the PT and New Beetle. Daimler's new PT will lose the retro styling according to D-C. Not sure what you could do with the New Beetle, though I found the New Bus design to be interesting, but not 29k interesting!

Ok, enough from me for now!

[Davey-boi]

Good point, but I think the camaro died because it was god awful ugly! It was easy to see where they cut costs too, look at the interior, bland and great use of plastic.

As for retro, King your right, first couple of years they sell like hot cakes. But the reason sales fade is cuz consumers relize that it's just another chrysler or whatever after they get over the cool design. Like the PT cruiser, everybody was like "wow, thats cool", hella people went out and bought em, and then after awhile we all heard about how under powered it was, not to mention it's horrible blind spots :eek: . Design goes hand in hand with function. As for the beetle, that just looks like a german honda civic to me :p, and I like hondas!

On the other hand we have a sweet ride like the GTO that is not retro, and still sells like ****. Why, cuz it's not retro haha! I think they coulda made that look way better, but thats pontiac for you :) . Isn't it normal for a car to have a 5 year run King? I like retro myself, and actually don't really want to buy a new car. But if I would buy a new car, it would be the new top of the line Jag. Wow, that is the ultimate retro... smooth classic lines yet still fresh and very 21st century. Of course, I'd need to rob a bank before I could buy one :eek: !

[King Vino]

Typically after a few years cars typically get a face lift and a few refinements, but typically cars usually go about 8 years before they get a frame up replacement. Seldom do retro styled vehicles get evolutionary face lifts. The new PT looses it retro fenders, but that's a good thing since the way the PT was designed to use the Neon's frame made it a real night mare for tuners to really do anything with it. Strangely enough the GT (PT Turbo) has a smaller motor than the straight PT cruiser has! If you've ever looked under the hood to the PT, it's pretty crammed.

Make note that Ford is not selling the new Mustang as retro, but rather using cues from older Mustangs. All Mustangs share many styling elements from older models. I don't think the Mustang is going to share the same fate as most retro-styled cars. Frankly, I'm glad they've finally done away with the FOX chassis and gone with the DEW98 platform.

[SuperDaveJr.]

No doubt, shelby Cobra. Candy Apple Blue w/ White racing stripe. Mmmmm.

I want one of the new stangs....

[SuperDaveJr.]

Frankly, I'm glad they've finally done away with the FOX chassis.
I love the old 5.0 fox bodies. Those things can be made FAST for just a few G's. Sooo fast.

[King Vino]

I do too, but regardless, the FOX chassis was designed in 78 for the 79 Mustang and stayed in producted until the last SN-95 Mustang rolled off the assembly line in July 04!

[Davey-boi]

Yup, that was pretty rediculous.

[hybridrazz]

i think they were trying to save money lol.

[no user name]

OK, thought I would exhume another old post and give it another chance at life.
I have a 1972 Chevy Camaro RS/Z28 authentic split bumper and I think they should make it again. Reminiscent of older Ferraris, the car looks fast even when stopped. I've seen some newer cars with that open grill look and "bumperettes" on each side but it's all plastic and there still is a support bumper underneath to meet government requirements....now what fun is that? I enjoy knowing that if I crash, the grill and everything behind it is going to be destroyed too. I love pre 1973 American cars with their lack of bumpers!
I also like the 1972 Buick Riviera with its "boat tail" and the 1969-1971 Lincoln Mark III.
I had thought about buying a Mark III and throwing a "fuel efficient" 4.6L Ford Motor in it...still would guzzle though with all that weight.
Anyway, welcome back old post!
-----------------------------------------


With the return of the Lambretta and the Vespa PX150, I thought it would be fun to discuss which of the older models of cars we would like to see manufactured again--having that retro look, but with today's efficient engines.

I'd choose:

1950's Studebaker (bullet nose)
1975 AMC Pacer
1955-57 Ford Thunderbird
1965-67 Ford Mustang

[speedfreak76]

not really retro, but I would love to see the return of some of the 80's Group B Rally cars, like the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo., Audi Quattro, and Ford Escort RS Cosworth. (most of which werent sold here to begin with)

[sooznd]

I had a car exactly like this one for two years in college then sold it back to my parents, so my boyfriend and and I could buy a Dodge Van 2 :dunce:s
My mom had it painted yellow ;no