20 pairs of doppelgänger cars

[Bryan]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? If that’s the case, there must be plenty of automotive designers doing an awful lot of blushing, because we managed to outline a long list of cars that share more than a passing resemblance to totally different models. We’re skipping badge-engineered cars or captive imports—that’s just cheating. Without further ado, here are 20 sets of cars, trucks, and SUVs that look a lot alike, whether by accident or by intent.

Read the full article on Hagerty.com:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/lists/20-pairs-of-doppelganger-cars/

[Ragtop69]

How about the Jaguar XKE coupe and the Datsun 240Z?  I owned one of the latter and always wished I had owned one of the former.  I was looking at my Z car one day and realized how much like the XKE it looked.  R.E. the Porsche 925 and the AMC Pacer, what were you guys thinking.  They both had big rear glass.  That's about it.  Also, wouldn't the Porsche 944 be a better match up with the second gen Mazda RX7?

[Egodriver71]

Cadillac Catera and the Chevy Malibu

[jelliott]

What? No mention of the Honda Civic CRX and Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato?

Also, speaking of cheap rear-engines lookalikes of the Dino 246, I’m pretty sure there’s a (Fiat 850-based) Moretti that also fits that description, even more so than the Puma. 

[awc13]

I remember when the first generation Celica appeared in the US - I think they called it the GT Liftback - and I thought to myself, it's a Japanese Mustang.  Fast forward two & three decades to sedans by Lexus, Hyundai, and Kia, and the derivative styling becomes more widespread.

[Frank]

How about the Glas 1300GT (1964) and the early Porsche 912/911

[espo70]

I would have went with Starion and Mk II Supra. They angularity between the two is closer than with the RX7. I think they even have the same wheels!

[Dale]

How about the FIAT 124 coupe and the Chevy Vega? Roof line, grille, even the steel wheel treatment....

[bahabilly62]

In my opinion you missed the Porsche Panamara and the Honda Crosstour.

[cestor01]

1961 Lincoln Continental and 1964 Imperial?

[Brandan]

Yeah, I can see it.

[Engmuzza]

I always thought the pointy nose Mazda RX3 coupe from around '75 - '76 looked a bit like a shrunken '69 Camaro. Both had pointy noses, squared off wheel arches, similar profiles and those coke bottle hips.

[Engmuzza]

The U.S. Pontiac GTO was actually a 'badge engineered' Holden Monaro from here in Australia and the Monaro was nothing more than a two door version of the Holden Commodore sedan. Holden basically took the Euro Opel/Vauxhall Omega and widened them for Australia to produce the Commodore so that's where the GTO's styling originated from.  

[LPMosher]

1966 Triumph GT 6 and Jaguar XKE coupe. The GT6 was a 5/8 scale model of the Jag from the side.

[Mochajohn]

doesnt really work when they're the same company (thats more cheap partsbin rebranding) couple more. Mustang and the 70s Aston Martin. E type and GT6+. Bently and the newer Chrysler 300.

[gulfcoastPnut]

I think the story pitch should have stopped with 10, the ones after the Ferraris are almost a laughable stretch.  Noone that cares the slightest about cars would mistake an RX-7 with a Conquest and Noone period could mistake a Pacer for a 928 🙂

[GnGlk]

Bitter-Khamsin should be Ghibli-Bitter. Some are straightforward copies other not really. Examples from the same year can not be imitations for the whole process takes more than a year. Similarities arenmore a sign of the time.

[Bill]

beetle vs beetle

[Bill]

Tesla vs Detroit Electric

100 years apart

[Bill]

Seep vs Amphicar

[Bill]

First gen Edsel vs Pontiac Aztek

[Bill]

Lada Niva vs Fiat 128

Theres a story in there

[ZZZPR]

How could you miss the VW Rabbit and Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon?  Virtually indistinguishable without a close look.

[Guitar74]

Agreed. Then you have the GTI and GLH versions.

[OB1Kubota]

Some yes, some, not so much. Being in the car design biz for 36 years it has always been of interest to me how people relate to comparing designs. But Porsche/Pacer??!! Flat out copying has been a mainstay for every car company since day one. What better way to get your new car noticed than to copy a successful design and then bring it to market thousands less. Let's be honest, many a car and truck has been bought on first impressions and nothing more. Especially when you consider that the vast majority of cars through the 60's and 70's were mainly marketed toward men. An easy mark with the use of a sexy line or a claim of exceptional horse power. It continues. New car. New spin. 

[Guitar74]

Ok. I was with you until the Chevy Monza/Ferrari comparison. Both that comparison and the 928 Pacer were good for a laugh though.