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