| America's thirst for cars of significance | | | | production. No word if a retro Pinto is being |
| continues unabated. Long tired of copycat, | | | | planned by FoMoCo. |
| cookie cutter, uninspiring models, consumers | | | | |
| are demanding - and receiving - cars that | | | | Chrysler got in the retro craze with its |
| are, quite frankly, retro. Yes, America's | | | | introduction of the 2000 PT Cruiser. Based on |
| automakers are reaching back in time to build | | | | 1950s era panel vans, the PT Cruiser sits on |
| a bunch of models based on popular models | | | | the now defunct Neon platform, but sales have |
| from yesteryear. Let's take a look at the | | | | been strong for Chrysler. The Dodge |
| "Big 3" automakers and their current crop of | | | | Challenger, another Chrysler product, is the |
| retro cars as well as "future" models soon to | | | | car many are waiting to see if and when it |
| be released. | | | | debuts as an '09 model. Borrowing cues from |
| | | | the '71 model is part of the fun of this car: |
| Defined, retro cars are vehicles that take | | | | a hemi engine coupled with a fantastic |
| their styling cues from cars built a | | | | interior will certainly help move sales. For |
| generation or two ago. No, these vehicles | | | | the record, the current Dodge Charger isn't |
| aren't carbon copies of earlier models, | | | | retro - it has four doors - but I am |
| rather each retro car borrows much of their | | | | mentioning it because it is one cool car! |
| look from earlier models. | | | | |
| | | | Chevrolet went retro with the SSR, a "truck" |
| Although American automakers dominate the | | | | based on 1950s era pick ups. Word has it that |
| retro market, the Volkswagen New Beetle was | | | | the slow selling SSR - hey, $42K for THAT |
| one of the first cars to reach back as it | | | | thing - is on its last legs. Fortunately, the |
| went forward. Based on the VW Golf platform, | | | | HHR [Heritage High Roof] will keep Chevy in |
| the circular shaped New Beetle hearkens back | | | | the retro business as this new for 2006 model |
| to the flower child era with its current | | | | takes its styling cues from the '49 Suburban. |
| rendition of the people's car. Fortunately, | | | | Some would say the PT Cruiser! |
| VW had the presence of mind to include its | | | | |
| famed "flower holder" in with the dash, to | | | | Are we likely to see more retro cars in the |
| evoke memory of the earlier model. | | | | future? Maybe, but probably not a Caddy |
| | | | replete with fins or a Chevy Vega. America's |
| Ford pushed the retro market forward with its | | | | love with old models is strong, but |
| introduction of the Thunderbird in 2002. | | | | selective, and the automakers must be certain |
| Borrowing heavily from early sixties era | | | | that consumers really want a particular retro |
| TBirds, the car has had mixed success as Ford | | | | car before putting it into production. Oh, by |
| sold a very limited number of the model for a | | | | the way, the '09 Chevy Camaro concept is one |
| few years and then discontinued it after the | | | | hot looking car! |
| 2005 model year, citing poor sales. In 2004, | | | | |
| Ford introduced a retro version of the | | | | Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is a freelance |
| Mustang, based on the '67 Mustang fastback. | | | | writer covering important automotive topics |
| Unlike the TBird, the Mustang has been a huge | | | | and products including tie rod, Mustang tie |
| success and Ford can barely keep up with | | | | rod and Dodge tie rod parts. |