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