5 Classic Car Nameplates That Deserve a Comeback
Ford CEO Jim Farley stopped by The Smoking Tire podcast earlier this month to talk vintage sports car racing, EVs, and driver assistance, so if you’re a fan of events like the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, you should give it a listen. We also took note of some of Farley’s comments about the new car market—comments specifically about cars rather than SUVs.
“I do not like generic cars and trucks,” said Farley as he railed against “appliance-like vehicles” while defending Ford’s decision to leave the sedan market. It’s a segment that Ford hasn’t completely written off for good, and he noted that there are good reasons to keep them in mind. “The bottom line is sedans are very aero[dynamic]. In a world where batteries are expensive,” Farley noted. “A sedan or a hatch is a great silhouette for aero.”
Farley didn’t commit to any future products, but did say, “If we do one, it’s probably gonna feel, look, and smell a lot different” than current offerings. One vintage nameplate he brought up was Fiesta, mentioning that Ford could make a more premium compact car relevant in the market.
After listening to this comments, we couldn’t help but wonder what such a car would look like, and how it would fit into Ford’s current lineup. With the recent resurrection of both Bronco and Maverick (the latter could have made a nice midsize sedan) there are a few nameplates we’d like to see considered for a possible return to production. Of course, while daydreaming about Ford resurrecting a few, we couldn’t help but pine for a couple other nameplates from Detroit that deserve a comeback.
XR4Ti/Sierra
When we spotted this beautifully customized 1987 Sierra built by JH Restorations, we were suddenly nostalgic for an ’80s car that never even happened here. We got the three-door Mercur XR4Ti in the States, but never the smallest Sierra, as Ford didn’t sell the full range of European-market Sierras in the United States. It’s time to fix that. There’s been a bit of a resurgence in ’80s style, so why not bring big wings back with a rally-inspired XR4Ti hot hatch at the top of the lineup? Let’s not let the Hyundai have all the fun.
Galaxie
Ford could lean into the futuristic Galaxie name and build a large, powerful sedan in the vein of the Lucid Air. Let designers go wild as they have with past concepts, like Lincoln’s L100 shown above. This was one of the first vehicles that came to mind when Farley mentioned a sedan with great aerodynamics. Add just a bit of height to the greenhouse, some smaller wheels, and shorten up the wheelbase just a touch and we can already start to see how a production version could look as a Ford.
Thunderbird
Ford has a history of adding a pair of doors to models that previously only had two. We’ll give them the mulligan and pretend the Mach-E was never affiliated with the Mustang name—yes, that dead horse is still taking a beating and it still bothers us. OK, OK, ignoring the Mach-E, the brand also built four-door Thunderbirds, so how about the Thunderbird name applied to a big, luxurious sedan like the more recent Continental Coach? The fifth-generation Thunderbird, available from 1967-1971, also had rear-hinged doors like the massive custom-built Continentals, so it wouldn’t be that big of a departure.
Of course, plenty of other companies are redefining their brands and restyling their lineup to reflect modern style and powertrains. How about a couple from GM?
Nomad
It’s been 20 years since Chevrolet showed off the compact Nomad concept, based on the same Kappa platform that gave us the curvy Pontiac Solstice and sharp Saturn Sky. We think it’s about time for the storied wagon nameplate to make a comeback, and we like the thought of it returning as a sporty compact. How about a Cadillac CT4-sized two-door wagon to help relieve some of the sting of losing Camaro?
Wildcat
The full-size Wildcat was Buick’s answer to the Impala. In the late ’60s especially, it was offered as an elegant muscle coupe that we still feel is underrated. We don’t have to imagine what a modern version would look like, thanks to Buick’s 2022 concept. This one is an EV and brings the personal luxury car into the 21st century. Buick has been without a coupe or sedan of any kind since the Regal ended production in 2020. We’d welcome one back if it looked like this sleek, comfortable fastback coupe.
History has given us plenty of great automotive nameplates over the years, which ones do you think are due for a return at Ford and elsewhere?
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The headline said classic cars that deserve a comeback and there are no muscle cars at all so I’m confused because there are really no cars worthy of a comeback other than muscle cars.
Amen
Ford should make a retro HHR type (including Panel) vehicle with styling based on the 1932 Ford. Call it the 2032 Ford Deuce.
I see no connection between an HHR Panel and a ’32 Ford, but I do understand your attempt at cleverness.
1957 had to be the best design year for all the auto makers. The ’57 Bel Air is a work of art.
^that sounds like a community question Sajeev should ask.
Should and now will! Adding it to the list of questions now!
Hoo-Boy, now THAT is gonna be a contender for the most comments ever for a column.
Agreed. The 57 Bel Aire is the prettiest car ever to come out of Detroit. Or anywhere else.
I agree, but the ’57 Ford was also a watershed evolution of the ’55 and the ’57 Plymouth Sport Fury was the flag carrier for MOPAR’s Forward Look. ’57 was a banner year for the Big Three. As far as prettiest, I think the ’64 Buick Riveria was the prettiest car ever.
I totally agree the 1957 Chevy was the best design ever
57 Chevrolets were a third year rehash. Fords and Plymouths were brand spanking new. Just sayin.
The ’57 Chevy was fast, tasteful (mostly), and rakish. I thought and still believe that the ’55 is the classic year, and the original Nomad the most distinctive and prettiest! The ’55 had the radiused rear wheel wells (’56 & 7 used the stock opening) and truly unique trim; it just carried the style better, for my money — as an ex-owner. You never see (ugh!) fender-skirts on a ’55 ‘Mad! Clair McKichan and Carl Renner said it was their fave, the purest Nomad. I got to interview them in 1978. When I asked Renner, the Waldorf Nomad/Corvette designer, why they didn’t fix the liftgate problems (cast pot-metal; it stretched when driven open, and then wouldn’t close tightly) he laughed and said “Oh, we did — in 1958!”
The ’57 Ford was also a third rehash of the ’55 body. The Plymouth was the all new design in ’57.
Jasonn there is no 1958 Nomad..1955-1957
There was a 58-60 Nomad. They had 4 doors and were Nomads in name only.
Just compare all vehicles to the Chevette. Elevates even the worst. LOL
All the new designs look horrible. No creativity anymore. Not worth the honor of putting classic names on new cars. It’s an insult.
The maroon Thunderbird featured in this article, was this a production model? If so what year model is it? I have always liked the early T-Birds, from the 55 model thru the 60’s, not so much the later ones, though I did own an 89 Model, and I still have a 1957 312 with a 3 speed w/overdrive trans.
Keith
That was an “Italian” concept car, restored by Tom Muriska
Looks like it was based on a ’61-’64 Thunderbird. That “Wildcat” never existed either. My dad’s first year ’62 Wildcat was basically an Invicta 2dr HT (big engine, small body) with Electra tail lights and chrome pieces.
Ford should bring back the “500” package back. Example… Galaxy 500…. They should never have re badged the Taurus as a 500. A Taurus 500 would have grabbed the attention of the people old enough to know this as a higher/performance option package.
If car manufacturers want to revive names don’t forget the Cougar name. A real part of auto history
I have a 38 DeSoto 4-door sedan and can actually sit on any fender without crushing it. The styling is unique, the back seat is like a limousine compared to what passes as a back seat these days and the original motor still runs on just about any flammable liquid. DeSoto was Chrysler’s experimental model (e.g. airflow, etc.). They could bring it back with some truly fresh design, not the common blob most cars look like these days.
Fiat has relegated chrysler to low end rental cars.
I had a new ’70 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe and I relegated it to the junkyard. POS. I replaced it with a ’72 Datsun 240Z and never regretted it.
Ford had the right idea with the last Thunderbird. It was just way over priced. I was car shopping and looking at a Focus when the little T-birds first hit the sales floor. Naturally I looked at one while at the dealer. A salesman said “get in!” I told him I was looking for a family car, just looking the ‘bird over, but I did. After looking it over real good the salesman asked what I thought. I honestly told him if I was going to pay a BMW price I expected BMW quality, and pointed a couple little things out. He had nothing to say! That was an early production car and I noticed that the little issues had been corrected later, but it was still a Ford at a BMW price, and not up to BMW quality. I seem to recall the dealer wanting very close to $40K for it, the most expensive Ford at the time. At $30K it might have sold well, but it just wasn’t worth what they were asking IMHO.
Most of the dealers were marking those baby birds up on the assumption that people would be storming the castle to be the first on their block. Some actually paid as much as 100% over MSRP. By the end of the first year they had a floater in the corporate punch bowl and most of the dealers were selling them below their cost. Chrysler had a disaster with the Crossfire at about the same time.
Lots of great comments/suggestions!
While we’re at it, I would love VW to bring back the Karmann Ghia and the Squareback. Had one of each. Beautiful creatures 😎
Thunderbird YES please.
Fiesta NO; biggest pieces of junk Ford ever made.
Wildcat… could be very cool.
Polara (Dodge) is overdue; espically if it’s slick looking and electric.
There are many great car names you can bring back, the key is the vehicle you attach it to. Many names were recycled onto junk vehicles as some previously mentioned. If you create something that looks good and is built well it will sell, a cool name will just enhance the sales.
Just re-using model names from the past seems pointless. If you want to update a model from the past, using styling cues from the past, with modern conveniences, I’m all in.