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?
***
Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.
Please let me know when GM re-learns how to manufacture valve lifters and Ford does the same with automatic transmissions!
Then we can return to sheet metal!!!
And the coolest name for a vehicle – Jeep Commando
All great comments but re: re-introducing model names from the 60s – 70s. But as a third gen Challenger SRT owner, I gotta say the Mopar guys did the best job of reintroducing the Challenger. My car is 15 years old and still draws many admiring looks and compliments at car shows for its as-close-as-possible recreation of the original cars and is likely to become a fuel injected investment since the last Challenger with an ICE rolled off the assembly line ~ 12/30/2023. Can’t wait to see what the EV replacement will do. Mopar or No Car!
The problem with this conversation is we want the modernized cars that match the old nameplates, and in today’s world it’s impossible. I love the old nameplates, because I love the cars that they belong to. I would never buy a Nissan, but I respect their respect of their names, the GT-R is an amazing car but it’ll never be a skyline. The acura civic is a great car, but it’s not an integra.
Dodge ran the Charger and challenger long enough to give it it’s own personality. Is that going to transfer over to the next generation, i doubt it.
Does the new Hummer live up to the nameplate?
If they reintroduced the Nomad or Belair would it going to touch all the nostalgic buttons or just make us sad.
Leave the GTO, and every other legendary nameplate where it belongs, at weekend car shows. We don’t name our kid Ty Cobb thinking that is going to ensue he’s going to be a legendary baseball player.
I think auto manufacturers would be better off reintroducing great names that were attached to bad cars, but put them on great cars, and allow those names to become legendary.
Finally, I believe electric cars will vanish in the next 2 years; and the future is hybrid, but why are ALL electric cars ugly! I have now seen 2 cyber trucks, gag! I get the EPA rules for ICE vehicles, if i was a manufacturer, the electric vehicle is the opportunity to be nostalgic. Make the cars that have the 50’s curves and fins, or the 60’s flamboyance. Electric/Hybrid cars should be opportunity to throw the current design rule book out and make cars. And that is why i respect the cyber truck, it’s ugly, but it is so outside the box, and that is exactly what we need in showrooms, parking lots and driveways. Cars that ignite passion, because ultimately that is why we crave the old nameplates, we want the cars that ignite passion.
Most attempts that have been made to reuse old names have not gone that well. Chevy Malibu comes to mind. If car companies make new cars and reuse iconic names that don’t really fit then just leave em dead. For instance GM bringing back the Firebird/Trans Am name and it not being on a Pontiac is a no go for me. I would like to be a fly on the wall of these marketing departments that think bringing back a name like Eclipse/ Mustang/Blazer and slapping them on a boring SUV is a good Idea though. Who approves dumb ideas like that? Only one that makes since is F150 Lightning, even though as a gen 2 Lightning owner, I don’t like the new one.
Hmmm… the chrysler lebaron was used on several different platforms in ‘80’s. Lipstick on a pig. Maybe fiat will rebrand their minivan as lebaron. Not that anyone wants that shameful moniker to see light of day again.
I miss the unveiling every September of the new auto model years. Today, we are hard pressed to be able to tell one manufacturer from another….IE: it seems all SUV’s look alike. 🙁
I don’t know if you will post my last comments but I also have always loved Corvettes, but even the new Corvette not only does NOT turn my head but most of them sound like crap.
Like the article and all the social media type response threads. I don’t like to be marketed by car companies with name badges or recycling them. Just give me performance and styling that I like and I don’t care what you call it. The exception for me is when they came up with an icon car like the Nomad, with such low production and a lifestyle of the times concept. Take the family and see the USA in your sporty Chevrolet wagon. When you think Nomad, the iconic Tri Five’s immediately come to mind. Chevy’s carrying the badge through 58-60 was a marketing joke and it certainly wasn’t the family sports wagon Harley Earl intended. It’s one of many badges that should be left in history, not moved into the future. We’ve enjoyed our 57 for 40 years and hope they don’t reuse the badge.
Bring back some old Studebaker names! I’ll go first . . . Rockne! The horn could play the Notre Dame Fight Song. Or how about Dictator? Worth a try, if only to see the look on people’s faces. “Hey, here comes a Dictator!” Silver Hawk or Golden Hawk? Sounds good to me!
The names are mostly names – what matters most is if the car grabs our attention or not. Sure the new Bronco is modernized and superior as a driver to the old, but it is the execution of the lines that make it the success it is. Same with failures around Thunderbird – reincarnate the version that would resonate with today’s buyer and you’ve got something.
I own a 1976 MG Midget 1500 (among other cars) that I bought new back then when single. My buddies and I named him “Rodney,” after the actor Roddy McDowell, whose roles always seemed to include some ingrained ineptness on the characters’ part. It was fitting, because every time we came to a stop at a light, and girls sometimes smiled at us young guys, the sun visors would drop down and smack us in the face.
The car is distinctive, though, in a 1930’s kind of way (for a 1976 car).
NO, Just stop the madness. Don’t take a great name down with a crap box new car thats over computerized, plastic and a driving entertainment system. Bring back a real pickup with an 8 foot bed, 3 person cab, a stick shift , roll up windows, without all the computer crap, that we “Normal” people can afford. how about a two door hard top car, full size, V8, 6 speed stick, obviously rear wheel drive. New cars suck. too over priced, cant service them yourself.
Why would you lead off this discussion with a picture of the stunning Thunderbird Italien and then not say a single word about it? That’s a car I’d go deeply in hock to buy!
I enjoy the script on my ’71 Monte Carlo.