Community Question: what retro re-introduction after the Bronco?

[Sajeev]

We've had a LOT of Bronco coverage these past few weeks, which got me thinking: What is the next retro automotive icon that should come back into production?   

Let's make it harder by NOT allowing dead brands: You CANNOT buy something from a nonexistent dealer network! 

• Right answer: Acura Integra
• Wrong answer: Pontiac Fiero
• Right answer: Ford Aerostar (come on, MAKE IT HAPPEN!) 
• Wrong answer: Mercury Capri
• Right answer: Jaguar XKE
• Wrong answer: Jensen Interceptor
• Right answer:  Cadillac Fleetwood
• Wrong answer: Oldsmobile 98 Regency

[tamuscott]

Chevy Citation. It’ll give Chevrolet the opportunity to have another front engine muscle car for those who don’t like the new Vette. 

And they might be able to just flatten out a new truck to start. 

[Sajeev]

I like the way you think! The X-11 was very underrated to boot. 

[Patl]

 Ford Pinto.  Yes Pinto  2 door wagon, bear with me.

What America needs is a american made true proper shooting brake (think Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato shape). Ford could could use Mustang underpinnings. Their 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged 4 cyl engine, 310 horsepower / 350 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to 6-speed manual trans and IRLS rear axle, would be cool on a smaller and lighter 2 door shooting brake, they could offer AWD too. Name it the Pinto GT Country Squire Wagon. It won’t “muddy” the Mustang name or heritage. Make mine a Pinto GT 500 Country Squire Wagon. Ford would have to offer optional genuine simulated wood grain contact paper sides too.

[TomP]

Slabside Lincoln with a modern take.  Maybe something akin to the 2003-2004 Mercury Marauder, but with straighter body panels.

[Guitar74]

My friend's mom had an X-11 when I was in grade school. I remember it being very roomy for a smaller car. My brother in law just told me a story about one he had in high school that he gave $150 for. Checked the oil at the house and it was barely reading on the stick. Said he rat-a-tat-tatted all the way to the filling station (about 5 miles), filled the crankcase, and went about his business. "No matter how hard I tried to kill that car, it refused to die" were his exact words.

[Bradley]

The Mercury Cougar. Both a convertible and an Eliminator model. Based on the 2021 Mustang/Shelby platform.

[Patl]

You can’t go to a Mercury dealer today and buy one. Putting it in Wrong answer: category. I do like the idea. So have Ford call it the Thunderbird again….oh wait, the Thunderbird again would have then be called the Phoenix. Oh wait that also would be in the Wrong answer: category too. So does that mean @tamuscott had it right with the Chevy Citation X11?

[Sajeev]

Well if that's the case, the 2002 Thunderbird shoulda been called the Phoenix. 😉

[Patl]

Third times a Charm!…Oh wait, that would make it a Toyota Passo Moda in Japan. 

[MarkHiatt]

Nope! No dead brands, remember?

[Dggumby]

I agree. I think Ford should have reintroduced the Cougar right along with the new Mustang. Might’ve helped Mercury last a little longer...

[gerald102413]

I hope to one day see the Mercury Cougar with a real makeover with the 80's, early 90's exterior body style. 

[Guitar74]

Would have been WAY better than the front wheel drive version we got in the late 90s.

[gincledon]

How about a two door Charger.

[Guitar74]

I would have liked to see the Charger concept of '99 or '00 happen with the "hidden" rear doors and the 60s style gas cap. Great looking ride. Instead we got what we got.

[BIGHOCK]

Buick Grand National - GNX

[zeke]

The 1970 'Cuda (which I had in high school).  I know "Plymouth" is dead but not Mopar.

[Skipe]

I agree. The Cuda had some of the best styling ever. 

[BIGHOCK]

The HEMI 'Cuda was my 1st choice but as stated Plymouth is defunked. Another was a Pontiac GTO or the Solstice GXP but as Plythouth, Pontiac is long gone 😞

[BIGHOCK]

TOYOTA - MR 2 Turbo

[Guitar74]

Even though they were fast, I thought dumping the Trans Am and replacing it with the reworked Holden was a bad idea. It took them upping the power of the LS to get the GTO BACK to the performance of the Trans Am. All this and a much higher price tag for less performance for at least the first year, I can't imagine why the brand went away. Thanks G.M.

[70cuda]

Totally agree I also had a Cuda when I graduated high school and I have one now.

[Guitar74]

I had thought that someone developed a front and rear fascia to make the new Challenger look like the Cuda. Either way, the 'Cuda would have been a glorious retro ride. It was always my favorite of the two E bodies.

[joepags]

I would absolutely love to see a new RX-7!  The FD was one of the most beautifully sculpted bodies - mated to a hair curling red line.  We need a new version that follows that lineage - NOT the RX-Vision with the king sized mattress of a hood.

[Vcdoorco4]

Yes, stay true to the RX-7 roots. Keep it simple and target sports car guys. The dash should have gages, the console should have a stick, and it should make your ears bleed at redline. (So, no $3500 Bowers & Wilkins sound system needed)

[Guitar74]

"The dash should have gages, the console should have a stick, and it should make your ears bleed at redline. (So, no $3500 Bowers & Wilkins sound system needed)"

I couldn't agree more. 

[Karmannn]

Fiat x-19

[Hagerty Fan]

 

@joepags 

You beat me to it...by a number of months.
But inorder to keep it in lineage it needs to be rotary. Mazda still produces the short-block used for the 13bREW. Maybe modernizing the sequential system and shipping the car to the owner for “final assembly” could get them around the CARB and CAFE hurdles. ??

Fun to dream. 

[Marktodo]

How about a 356. Keep it light  , miminimal electronics, the turbo four from the Cayman . 250 hp , great suspension . Under $50 grand . It would kill it . I am ready with a deposit

[Vcdoorco4]

👍

[Malulo]

Subaru BRAT, complete with the rumble seats in the back. And no, the Baja doesn't count. 

[Guitar74]

Those were great little trucks.

[win59]

Bugeye Sprite.

[zachary]

I would like to see the return of the 70-71 Monte Carlo SS. Make it a true 2 door hardtop with the a powerful LS engine.

[northsideirish]

Triumph TR6, which technically is not dead as the rights are owned by BMW, if we could convince them to get rid of the crappy Mini Cooper.

[BIGHOCK]

BMW ---- M1 

Germany's 1st Super Car .... Bring it back with sick HP or 4 wheel electric motors !

[BIGHOCK]

Here is another oddball this time..... bring it back revised to compete with the new Bronco.

VOLKSWAGEN - THING

[tuko66]

Lincoln Town Car.  Use the same last generation design but upgrade with AWD and modern technology. Pull the V8 out of mothballs because hey...it's a Town Car. The car will sell like hotcakes. This SUV virus has to be stopped.

[Rick2]

Toyota MR2, make it light and affordable. Also any small regular cab pick up without all the bells & whistles.

[Rusty]

Honda Prelude. 

[Karmannn]

Porsche 914

[Karmannn]

Porsche 914

[1980]

a full size 2 door chevy blazer based on the silverado.

[Werblink]

1968 thru 1970 Dodge Super Bee ( or an R/T if you wanted a convertible). I had one of each year through high school and college, although the 69 was a parts car. Liked the Coronet Bee cars better than my 71 Charger R/T. They were all cheap during the oil embargo days.

[61Rampy]

Easy... bring back the late model Corvair!  Modern, flat 6 or 8 DOHC engine, still rear mounted. Air cooling probably gone, as Porsche did, but with modern electronics and fuel injection, plus turbocharging (remember, the Corvair was among the first).  Make it a drivers car. Don't hang a bunch of useless electronic crap on it. Sell it for about $25-30k. Too bad GM didn't have bigger balls back then, and they probably still don't.

[Jmoore58]

Roadrunner on charger frame , make it two doors , charger with two doors ,make lock like 68 to 70,

el camino ss using camaro frame and part front end 

falcon or fair lane using Taurus frame using 63 spirit , 

nova 67 to 70 

ranchero using Taurus frame , make look 68 to 72 ,

62 impala using the 2018 impala frame and v8 and v6 motors

[CarciergeGlenn]

A full AMC line-up.  No SUV's, car.  Hear me out.  AMC was purchased by Chrysler in 1987, so could be resurrected.  Just as Plymouth could be.  There's a dealer network, called Jeep?  You know, the company AMC bought in 1970?  Back in 2008, Hot Rod magazine did an April fools spoof, but to be honest, the cars don't look too bad!  When the SUV craze ends (and it will some day), people will be wanting CARS again.  Build them in the USA, you know, AMC stands for AMERICAN MOTORS CORPORATION.  http://nspmotorsports.blogspot.com/2010/02/future-amc-concept-cars.html

[Sajeev]

You bring up a good point.  In theory Mercury/Plymouth/Pontiac & Oldsmobile could be also sold in Lincoln/FCA/Buick dealerships.  Someone would have to pay for the signage, but I guess that's a drop in the bucket relative to building a retail presence from scratch.