In a past article, I noted that it was amazing to me that Chrysler was using great names from the past to market their products. The 8-speed automatic gearbox that backs their cars isn’t simply a ZF 8HP45. It’s a TorqueFlite. It’s not simply a Challenger R/T+. It’s a Challenger Scat Pack, and the world is a brighter and happier place for that. That got me into thinking, what other names from the past would be cool to see today?
It’s really a shame that those futuristic sounding names just went off the wayside as time moved forwards. That’s not to say that those Jetson-esque sounding names completely disappeared from the automotive world. Mercedes-Benz has dispensed with the “ABC” acronym for their latest generation of active suspension control and have given it the considerably more grandiose name “Magic Body Control”. Call me an old romantic, but I can see an old American car that had been fitted with the best suspension technology that the 1950’s could’ve given us fitted with “Magic Body Control”. Or even better, “Space Body Control”; suspension so advanced you’ll feel as though you’re traveling through the infinity of space.
Personally a name I’d really love to see again would be Turbo Hydra-matic. Like TorqueFlite, it takes a rather thankless component, one you tend to ignore until it starts slipping or it misses a gearshift, and somehow adds that much flair and passion in it. Of course, GM still uses Hydra-matic as their trademark automatic transmission name, but you wouldn’t know it from build-your-own configurators, which only refer to it as a “6-Speed automatic transmission.”. I mean, wouldn’t you like to say “Yeah, I bought this new Impala…with Turbo Hydra-matic!”? I would. You could even call the conventional automatics “Turbo Hydra-matics” and the CVT they’re now fitting to Sparks and such “Powerglide”. And before my more traditionalist readers organize themselves to throttle me, consider this: would a world with a new Powerglide be a worse one? You could even fit badges like these:
But what about you, what names would you like to see plucked from the great ones of history and brought back from the dead?
Edsel. Definitely Edsel.
Gyromatic. Liquamatic. Ranger. Pacer. Corsair. Citation. Utopian Turtletop. Mongoose Civique.
Oh, wait. These are supposed to be names that actually sell cars?
Bel-Air. Impala Super Sport. Bonneville. Catalina. Grand Prix. Fleetwood Sixty-Special. Eldorado. Ninety-Eight. Dual-Range Hydra-Matic. Fairlane 500. Four-door hardtops. Two-door hardtops. Station wagons.
Not a name, but the fuel filler hidden behind the driver’s-side taillight (I’m looking at you, Cadillac!). Fender skirts (yes, I like them; I imprinted on them as a child, and luxury cars have never been the same without them).
I think a lot of really great suggestions have alreadxy been made, so I’ll try to keep it original.
Cadillac Talisman. It wasn’t around long before and I think it’s a great name that would work well on a flagship Cadillac model.
Dodge Phoenix and Monaco.
Fiero, though I don’t know what brand would use it since Pontiac is no more. I like the name and the fire-breathing dragon emblem they used.
Dodge Ramcharger, though I’m not holding my breath for this one.
There’s a car that floats around in my mind, a car I draw and redesign constantly, a car that’s not actually a car, but a movement. In the 1960s we lost Studebaker. Their last true effort, the Lark, was a grand idea. Build a “modular” car, one that could lend some or even all of its parts to create a new design by simply rearranging them. I could imagine Studebaker coming back as an independent company once more, using the soon-to-be-released Tesla platform to create a new modular car. A new Lark. By licensing the Telsa chassis and battery pack, by using 3D printing methods to create all the little parts, by putting them together outside a factory environment (and thus earning “kit-car” status and avoiding crash test standards), and by selling them through an online dealership… We might see something very great. Or not, knowing that America’s regulation of everything makes achieving a dream such as that nearly impossible nowadays. Still… A new Lark! Maybe.
Biscayne (Chevrolet), also Delray and Yeoman-1958 only
Chieftain (Pontiac)
Cranbrook (Plymouth)
Super (Rambler)
Looking back at some of the cars that I owned over the years and its modern focus group polished names:
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT —- (AR – GS)
Oldsmobile Delta 88 —- (Olds – 88)
Austin Clubman Estate —- (Mini Estate)
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham —- (Cadillac YTX)
Chrysler needs a premium, ultra-soft nappa leather seating option called – what else? – Corinthian leather. It’s a Chrysler trademark that nobody else can use and is fondly remembered. It also has no real meaning so it can be whatever they want it to be. But it sounds elegant (and of course “soft” and “rich”) and it’s associated entirely with one brand. Who else has their own brand of leather?
Buick have a convertible called Cascada..is that a laxative..why not Skylark?
LEGEND LEGEND LEGEND! As a matter of fact Acura should consider bringing back the Integra name too. Why throw away years of recognition and trust in a name? Totally stupid if you ask me!
The Legend name is still used in Japan, although it has a definite “not long for the world” vibe. (They didn’t introduce the latest version until a month ago, more than a year after the latest RLX.)
Spitfire4 MK2……..
Falcon……
Rambler American…..
As Van Halen once sang, ” Baby where have all the good times gone? “
The comments section here is so brilliant, there is no other name I can add. Other than say that I would put my hat in for Galaxie and Falcon from Ford. Nova on the Cruze and build a sweet wagon body for that super epsilon Impala and make us a Nomad again. Lastly, make a proper SUV for Jeep to carry the Grand Wagoneer name again.
“Probe”. With the special “Osis” interior trim package….
I would be afraid of a Probe with Powerglide.
I am surprised that nobody has used either Adventurer or Scout for an SUV.
Studebaker had some names that would so well again like Champion and Hawk. I think Jeep did recycle Commander a few years ago, but put it on an unpopular vehicle.
Hornet and Wasp should be back as well.
Humber Super Snipe
It’s not just a regular ol’ Snipe, it’s a SUPER Snipe..
That would be fitting on a Chrysler 300 for the UK market.
Not super minx then?how about sceptre ,stiletto? Rootes put great names on dull cars.
The Dodge Durango would wear the “Husky” name well.
If Buick ever decided to do a version of the “Volt”, “Electra” would be an obvious name!
Datsun
Actually, the Datsun brand has returned in 2013, in India.