Earlier today, I posted a CC Capsule of one of all time favorite vehicle names, Lincoln Zephyr, which got an all-too-short one year revival in 2006.
What other automotive names do you think is ripe for a comeback?
My vote: Acura Legend.
QOTD: Which Automotive Name is Most Deserving of a Comeback
– Posted on February 21, 2017
It’s not just one, but several:
Monaco, Galaxie, Magnum, Thunderbird, Fury
However, some are too tied to a specific type of car (Thunderbird) or to a brand that is defunct (Fury).
‘Fury’ as a Chrysler or Dodge would be A-ok by me as long as the car was deserving.
Agree, and I feel the same about Barracuda as well.
+1 on the Cuda
I always thought that they needed to do a ‘Cuda version of the current Challenger. That would be awesome. Then maybe a Hemi Cuda wouldn’t be such a rare thing anymore.
Ok, some aftermarket company has already thought of this idea…
…Just spotted this at lunch today. While I like the front end treatment, the back end looks a little too simplistic. Oh and this person was a little far from home, as this picture was shot in Columbia Maryland. Sadly, I got out of the store too late to talk to the person about the car. He had already left, but I HEARD the car pull away. Sweet sounding V8 burble.
I’m tempted to add also Javelin and AMX.
+1 Galaxie
I never understood why Ford called that new sedan last decade the “500”. They should have put some round taillights on the thing and called it a Galaxie.
I have a Galaxie in my past too. That name was a function of the time. Lots of aviation and space references then…football team called the Jets (established 1960), basketball team called the Super Sonics (established 1967), and, of course, tail fins “jet thrust” and “rocket” engines.
In the 70s Spanish names were popular: Cordoba, Granada
Actually, Galaxie has been revived, by Ford Motor, in Europe and spelled wrong.
VW got Córdoba in Europe and assigned it to a SEAT model, sedan version of the Ibiza (Spanish locations form most of their names). Its now gone
Another “aviation” name I’d like to see is Terraplane. Even though it was long dead in my lifetime, to me, it sounded FAST. Made more sense than “corvette”, A small warship could never beat a plane in a race, even a “land-plane”. ?
Was hoping someone would mention that! Something just so cool about Terraplane…
Much nicer than Essex!
Agree!
It’s all part of Ford’s naming policy, they were trying for some alliteration. The Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Focus and renaming the Taurus 500. They left Mustang alone because of fear of backlash from Mustang owners.
Falcon, Fairlane and Fairmont all still work for me.
“However, some are too tied to a specific type of car (Thunderbird)….”
+1 Jason for Thunderbird! – and they should bring back that ‘specific type of car’, too!
I really miss personal luxury coupes….
I love the name Fury. Magnum is easily reusable. I’d like to add Cordoba… I’ve always thought Chrysler could make a slightly more upscale Challenger and call it that. Whether it would sell, though, is another matter.
New Yorker could be reused for, at least, a 300 trim. And considering Imperial has already been tarnished, why not rename the 300 Platinum the 300 Imperial?
Hell, let’s remember that Chrysler reused Aspen! Although at least they had the sense to put it on an SUV this time…
Here in Europe Cordoba sounds a lot more pedestrian 🙂 see my comment above
One name? Just one?
Lincoln Zephyr. Which was brought back for ONE year before disappearing into MKwhatever gobbeldy-gook. At least it’s the one I can always remember: MKZephyr.
MKZephyr is how I will forever see it too, it gets complicated with the followups – MKS….omething? MKT…ruck? MKX…. as in Solve for????
Mark Z(ephyr)
Mark X(rossover)
Mark T(ouring)
Mark L(ight)T(ruck)
Mark S… This one never seemed to have an intended moniker for which the S was a stand-in. Some of us guessed “Sedan,” but never heard the murmuring of confirmation.
And a fun fact-Lincoln MKC was originally a concept meant to be based off the then-upcoming global Focus. The C was, we were assured, not meant to stand for “Compact,” even though we all knew better. Given the current MKC’s roots, I think it still stands.
Of course, there’s no source except my memories of internal meetings and words used that happened to fit the letters at hand. There was never meant to be an association with the letter and a “name”; rather the “names” sort of gave birth to the particular chosen letters, in that sort of organic “we have to pick a letter guys!” sort of way that happens at meetings, or so it seemed to me at the time (not being present in the room when the names were chosen, obviously!).
Yeah, Lincoln’s naming system was the stupidest of the alphanumerics. Pontiac and Infiniti copped flack for theirs, but at least they made sense. There is NO logic in Lincoln’s system and I would love to see them drop it in favour of either real names or a more logical system.
It doesn’t help that when you search Google for “Lincoln MKS”, it asks if you meant “Lincoln MKZ”
Athough they haven’t said so publicly, I think Lincoln is going back to real names on all their cars as they’re redesigned. Aviator is already confirmed, and Continental and Navigator are current. I’m expecting a Zephyr at some point (entry level sedan) and maybe a Mark IX (a rakish “four door coupe”). New sames for the inevitable crossovers.
Zephyr is an awesome name. I guess they resist it because it was “downgraded” to Mercury status in the 70s. They should bring it back, 99% of the market probably don’t remember that. Ditto for LaSalle, another one I’d bring back.
Zephyr was a long-running Ford nameplate in the U.K., from the 50s through to the early 70s. It was the middle model of Ford’s “full-size” range – Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac, known as “the Three Graces”.
Here’s the link to a film of the patrician launch party for the second generation. No one introduces new automobiles like this any more: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AR7TKrfD7EM
Wasn’t there a British TV cop show called “Z cars” or something like that? Presumably based on cops driving Zephyrs or Zodiacs …
As I recall the name came from the fictional “Z” division or precinct which was the setting where the show took place, and not after the cars they drove.
Most of the police cars on the show seemed to be Ford Zephyrs during the early years of the show, though. It ran from 1962 until 1978.
Z-Cars – and that’s Zed Cars, not Zee Cars – was one of the first U.K. cop shows to show the grittier side of policing, moving away from the affable bobby-on-the-beat stories like Dixon of Dock Green. Its big initial point of difference was that it featured motorised patrols, code named Zed-Victor 1 and Zed-Victor 2. The theme tune is a classic: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PKiWcTg5cg0
For a while GM repeatedly flirted with reviving the LaSalle name. The ’63 Riviera, the ’75 Seville, and (heaven help us) the Cimarron were all at some point going to be LaSalles. In the case of the Seville, where the LaSalle name may have persisted the longest in the development process, the ultimate decision was the same as the one that got the brand killed in 1940, namely the realization that they could sell the same car for more badged as a Cadillac.
Someday there will be an electric Buick. Maybe a luxury version of the Bolt. It MUST be called the Buick Electra.
Awesome! I was going to say Electra, but hadn’t thought of the tie-in with an battery powered Buick – even more reason to bring that back but only if/when it goes electric.
Another Buick one I liked was the Invicta, and I loved the Wildcat (though I always thought it suited another brand better than Buick…something a bit rougher around the edges).
+1 to Fury too, and to those who said Eldorado.
Always loved the El Camino, though it could never be attached to anything but a ute style rig.
Remember the Firebird Firehawk? I wonder if just Firehawk would be revived in another division.
Didn’t Dodge have a model (or prototype) called the Interceptor?
I miss the days when cars had names instead of letters and numbers, with a few exceptions (Lincoln Mark series, Ford Galaxie 500, Chrysler 300 series).Something to fear and/or respect.
I remember when Mitsubishi and Chrysler had their joint sport model in the early 1990’s – if I recall correctly, one was called the 3000GTVR4 and the other called the Stealth. Which one do you think a 16 year old kid lusted over?
Reddy Kilowatt would approve ?!
Completely opposite to the question but Bolt is one of the worst names introduced in recent times, because it sounds too similar to the Volt. How much time do you think Chevrolet dealership staff will waste clarifying which vehicle someone is talking about?
Exactly, John. Especially with Latin American consumers. I know a lot of people from South America who pronounce “v” and “b” almost identically.
Absolutely needs another model called the Nut.
Ha ha! ? My first reaction to “Bolt” was “Bucket of……”.
Until recently I would have said Viva, but that name has come back. How about Capri?
Viva hasn’t really caught the imagination, has it? Probably too long since the last one was made – like Minx or Cortina, it just wouldn’t mean much to consumers today.
Capri would be great; also Stag (a touring BMW-based convertible?) and Dolomite.
Names that won’t ever be affixed to a car again: Allegro, Marina.
Names that have been sullied by reintroduction: DS, S-Type.
Didn’t Viva basically come back because somebody in Luton thought (rightly) that “Karl” is a dumb name for a car?
I dare say Karl Opel’s name doesn’t have the same impact as a Vauxhall. Perhaps they should have Anglicised it to Charles? 😉
The Viva name down under was attached to a Daewoo Kaleos as a Barina(Corsa) replacement they werent much of a car especially after ten years of Opel based Barinas and actual Opels in NZ anyway, Aussie had Suzuki rebadges instead.
Not quite. The Vauxhall Viva is the twin of the Opel Agila – a value orientated city car. The Karl matches the Vauxhall Adam -based on the Corsa, but styled and equipped to appeal to a younger demographic
> “Names that won’t ever be affixed to a car again: Allegro, Marina.”
also: Vega, Pinto, Gremlin, Edsel, Corvair, Cimarron
Some of those are perfectly good names but will forever be associated with craptastic cars and thus will never be uttered again by their manufacturers. “Gremlin” though is a horrifically bad name for a car.
Capri has been mentioned several times. Most recently:http://www.product-reviews.net/2015/11/04/new-ford-capri-release-rumors-for-2016-resurface/
Agree with Jason on the Galaxie. Please?
Nomad would be good to see too, IF it was attached to an actual station wagon (or even a CUV where the corresponding sedan shared the same front clip). However I suspect that’s pretty unlikely (even if it is brown with a manual transmission…)
Back in 2004 the local Ford Performance arm displayed this Galaxie 540 concept at their open day. It was based on the Fairlane, with power coming from the 390 hp DOHC 5.4L from the Falcon GT.
Here is the picture.
And the rear – the tail lights aren’t quite going into production like that.
For several years in a row they would build a concept car out of old test mules or the like.
Well, Lincoln brought back the Continental nameplate. I figure, maybe, just maybe, their could be a small chance that Cadillac could bring back the name Fleetwood and put on whatever large V8 powered full size sedan they’re planning on releasing in the future. If said hypothetical car looked the same or similar to the Escala concept they released, I could see it being successful.
But, I know that’s not going to happen, it’ll just be called the CT7/8//9/10/11 whatever, per the new naming plan that their CEO has. (Because bringing out a new naming scheme totally worked out for Infiniti)
At least from talking to Cadillac salesmen, they seem allergic to terms like “Fleetwood”.
I’m not surprised, they either want to sell you American BMWs or blingy Suburbans. They want to sell you cars, not aircraft carriers.
It’s an image that Cadillac has distanced itself from over the years, and I understand why. But I think if they’re serious about making a full-size luxury sedan again, they need to embrace that past somewhat, not hide it under the attic.
Couldn’t agree more! During Cadillac’s best years, the Fleetwood name conferred an extra degree of interior luxury, with abundant genuine wood trim, top quality leather, real chrome, comfort and convenience features galore–nothing about the car seemed cheap, which was the point.
The couple in this 1964 Cadillac brochure picture–young and clearly wealthy, would today have that same expression of lust/satisfaction opening the door of a Range Rover LWB SVAutobiography. Fleetwood carried that image for years and Cadillac needs to get that mojo back!
She’s probably thinking, ” Gee, I wonder if Bob is worried about getting pecker tracks on this beautiful backseat?”
So +1 on this. If Cadillac continues to try to be an imitation BMW, they will continue to be shopped, then not purchased, by the folks with the coin to buy them. They need to stop, look at post WWII but pre-1970 models and see what American luxury was all about. Then, take the Ciel and El Miraj concepts, add a V16, and sell the ever loving sh%t out of them to Americans. Big, honking monsters that make the S class MB and 7 series seem puny. Sell the special ones for $200K and up, and watch how aspirational they become.
And call one of them a Fleetwood, one a De Ville, or perhaps, ElDorado?
The Continental is FWD, which is what Cadillac did in the 80’s. Fleetwood was at one time a coach builder for the automobile industry and supplied premium bodies to some of the top luxury brands in the 20’s. Then GM took them over, and Fleetwood was a trim level on the Cadillac brand after WW2. Then the Fleetwood’s went to fake wood everywhere.
What I understand about the current automobile market is that Crossovers are where “it’s” at. Cadillac is way behind in this market. What they do not need is yet another sedan. Buick is doing about the right thing with a number of crossovers.
I think Infiniti’s naming scheme should’ve been based on the MG one from the ’80s – real model names, but instead of getting their “own” they should be shared with the Nissan model they’re based on. Infiniti Altima, Infiniti Maxima, Infiniti Rogue etc. It’s one of the few things late-stage British Leyland got right.
Except only one Infiniti is based on a US-market Nissan: the QX60. Oh, sure, the QX80 is based on the Armada/Patrol, but the QX80 actually arrived first.
The MG naming system worked only because the MG models were just high-trim Austins. I don’t see any parallel between Austin/MG then and Nissan/Infiniti today. Also, it really doesn’t work for a luxury automaker, does it? Why would you want to remind your buyer that your car is based on a humble Nissan? Your idea doesn’t really make sense…
Also, speaking more generally, I do NOT understand the hate for Infiniti’s new naming system. It makes a helluva lot more sense than the old G/JX/EX nonsense. If it’s a car, it’s Q. A crossover? QX. The number corresponds with its position in the hierarchy, much like it does with BMW. Ok, so a Q60 and a QX60 are two very different vehicles but still, you know that a Q60 is pricier than a Q50 and a QX60 is pricier than a QX50. This seems logical. Is it a perfect system? No. But what I don’t understand is people (not you, Nlpnt) who say, “But I got so used to the G and M names…”. Ok, so you got used to an alphanumeric name then, even though you hate them so much? So maybe your argument against alphanumeric names isn’t quite as solid as you think?
In fairness, I prefer real names too but I can also appreciate how they can become weighed down with baggage. Cadillac shouldn’t call the CT6 a DeVille, for example, because it’s a completely different car targeting a different audience. But let’s also remember that not all “real” names are good. We love the Acura Legend, yes? But is Vigor really that nice of a name? Is Passport? Alphanumerics are meaningless, yes, but isn’t a name like Integra or Celica also nonsense that we have become accustomed to and came to respect because of the product it was attached to?
At least with a numerical component in the name, it’s easy to ascertain a model’s place in the lineup. It’s much more logical and easier to understand and remember than a randomly-assigned combination of three letters.
And maybe F100 for a slightly smaller pickup, Colorado/Tacoma sized and not so dang high to access the bed.
This.
We’re going to get a Colorado-sized Ranger instead. With a bed as tall as the Colorodo’s, unfortunately.
Yes, an F100 the size of the previous version of the Colorado/Canyon would be ideal. I don’t get the point of the current model – almost the size and price of the full sized model, so where was the market outcry for that?
The current mid-size Colorado/Canyon and upcoming Ranger, despite their height, are still closer in other dimensions to older compact models than any full-size pickup since the early ’60s.
Aviator, Legend, Vigor, Integra. Can’t really think of anything else right now.
LEGEND. Yes!
I can think of a few. Imperial was a great name, but Chrysler does not seem to have plans to put it on a decent car.
The old Studebaker Commander was a great name, most recently resurrected on the Jeep Commander. Commander deserves to be on a new Jeep or Ram sometime soon.
Fairlane would be a great new Ford name, and starts with F as all Ford names need to these days.
Finally there is Bonneville. Buick Bonneville? Or maybe GM has let that name go.
That brings up an interesting question, JP… Do car companies still own the names even after letting the brand go? I suppose there would be a lawsuit from GM if another car company used a Pontiac name, or if say Chrysler wanted to review the Thunderbird name, I imagine that would ruffle a few feathers over at Ford. Sorry, that pun could NOT be ignored. ;o)
To hang onto a trademark, you need to periodically use it in commerce (I forget how long a trademark has to lie fallow before it’s up for grabs). That’s why, for example, Ford cycles through Cobra, GT350, GT500, Mach 1, etc., on high-performance Mustangs. It’s also why you periodically see classic names on concept cars.
Ford, apparently, waited too long to use the name “Falcon” on the current Fusion. A tire company was using the name, and a court ruled that 1) tires and cars are close enough for there to be a conflict, and 2) Ford waited too long to have dibs on the name.
I believe that there is also a specific registration requirement for use within the auto industry, or at least there used to be.
It was Futura that couldn’t be used in 2006, not Falcon. So it became Fusion.
No in fact it was futura, pep boys has a brand of tire named futura
Do car companies still own the names even after letting the brand go?
Nope, not unless they keep the trademark registration current. I read that, a few years ago, Ford wanted to revive the “Futura” name, again. Pep Boys objected as they were using Futura for their tires.
The irony there: I had a ’79 Fairmont Futura that I traded in on an ’83 Aero Bird. At one point I put Pep Boys “Futura” tires on that car and wondered how they got away with that name for those tires. It wasn’t that many years between those events. Unless my memory is fuzzy here, and it was my ’88 T-Bird and enough years later for that to have happened. I kept the ’88 until 1997.
Futura came back on Aussie Fords nobody down here has ever heard of pepboys.
Exactly. Nissan recently adopted the “Rogue” name that AMC used 50 years ago for the “sporty” 2-door hardtop version of the Rambler American. (There is not much similarity between the two vehicles!)
Dodge / Mitsu “Lancer” too.
BMW owns old BL brand names Riley and Triumph, and MG Rover was sold 17 years ago.
The Rover name was bought by Jaguar Land-Rover/Tata to ensure no one else got hold of it.
MG is now an utterly undistinguished Chinese brand. Rather than standing for Morris Garages, there was a period when we were told it stood for “Modern Gentleman”!
The old Studebaker Commander was a great name
“Leadership” names went through waves of popularity. Studebaker had, at various times, Champion, Dictator, Commander and President. Nash had Statesman and Ambassador. Opel has at times used Senator, Commodore, Admiral. Captain and Diplomat.
And Dodge used Diplomat…. so I guess it’s ‘snooze ya loose’ with respect to holding on to a model name. Come to think of it, didn’t someone else use the name “Suburban” long before the Chevy Truck of the same name?
Chevy’s use of Suburban was as the Carry All Suburban and was a truck, a name that went back to the 30s. Plymouth chose the name for its first all-steel wagon in 1949-ish, so the Plymouth Suburban was a car, and was used up to the end of B and C body station wagons in the late 70s.
I think that in more recent years anyone would have trouble trying to use Suburban for anything automotive.
Dodge had a Suburban wagon in 56-7, and DeSoto used Suburban for a wagon in the late 1950’s.
“Suburban” was an old standard industry term for a body style that was sort of a station wagon on a commercial/truck frame, and it could be used by anybody and several used it. Somebody at GM was closely watching the situation after Plymouth stopped making Suburban wagons around 1978, and when 10 years went by without anyone else calling their vehicle a “Suburban”, GM was able to tradmark it for themselves.
Willys did the same thing with “Jeep”; it was originaly a generic term but nobody else caled their vehicles “jeeps” so Willys was able to trademark it, despite Ford (who also produced WWII jeeps) trying to stop them.
See also the Vauxhall Viceroy and Austin Ambassador.
Holden used Premier and Statesman.
Considering the ‘regard’ in which our political leaders are held these days, I can’t see these being recycled.
Maybe the model could be called Politician and the various trim levels could be called Stooge, Puppet, Sell Out, Shill, Crook, Brainless, Worthless, Spineless, Cash Grabber, they do have a certain ring, and seem to apply internationally these days.
IMPERIAL. Yes!
Tempest. LeMans. Grand Prix.
They’ve had plans a few times, but they don’t have any money to put the plans into motion. They need to be a lot more financially secure before they can consider bringing back the Imperial.
That said, I sort of hoped that Chrysler might consider bringing back some of their classic names for different versions of the 300. Bring back the LHS or New Yorker moniker for the high-end luxury versions for example, and maybe the Windsor, Newport or even the Royal for the 6-cylinder version.
I like reusing Commander – but Dictator is one Studebaker name NOT to reuse, please.
I doubt Scotsman will ever again be the name of a car or truck again either, at least not on a totally stripped-down model. Probably not Hawk either since that term now often refers to a warmonger.
I always thought Lark was a great name though with its appropriate double meaning (as in doing something spontaneous and whimsical “on a lark”), and perfect for the car that wore it, often sold to people buying a second car for their households for the first time.
Vega is probably too sullied to ever make a comeback, but perhaps Monza?
Monza was upcycled by Opel and Vauxhall some time ago, Chevrolet Commander were South African Holdens.
Oh wow, this is like putting me with a bag of Lay’s Potato Chips: “Betcha can’t eat just one!” Here are some of the many that spring to mind:
Acura: Legend, Integra
BMW: Accurate engine displacements after the series number (new 530i with 2.0L twin turbo 4-cylinder should be 520ti)
Buick: Riviera, LeSabre, Roadmaster, Electra, Skylark
Cadillac: Eldorado, Seville, DeVille, Fleetwood
Chrysler: Town & Country, Newport, New Yorker
Dodge: Magnum
Ford: Thunderbird
Honda: Prelude, Passport
Jeep: Commander, Comanche, Grand Wagoneer
Mercedes: Accurate engine displacement numbers to go with the series letter designation.
Toyota: Celica, Supra
The reason the Germans lie with their name designations is because of the switch to smaller-displacement but more powerful turbocharged engines. People might think, “Oh, it’s just a 520i? I want something with more power…” when it might actually be more powerful than a 545i from 5-10 years ago.
Another reason why Infiniti’s new naming system actually makes some sense. Instead of switching the names every time there’s a new engine (M35 becomes M37, etc), it’s now just Q70 3.7. Or Q60 2.0T. Actually accurate designations.
Those Infiniti ‘names’ sound awfully like Volvos.
The last Thunderbird was a dud, but the name has plenty of gas left in the tank. Stretch the Mustang platform 4-5″ to make a 4-door sedan, give it sexy styling, and name it Thunderbird. Then just take my money.
Runners up: Eldorado, Riviera, Supra, RX-7. But only if the new versions are truly deserving.
A four door Thunderbird?
We have seen that before. Did that go well? It had s short life.
Like the four door Mark VI.
Other than that, I would love to see a car worthy of carrying the nameplate Thunderbird again.
Big coupes are dead. That said, sedans seem to be headed for the same fate. If the T-Bird name does come back, it will probably be on a CUV, sad today.
We’ll see, all fads come to an end, and CUVs today are merely pony cars of the 60s.
Umm, the pony car fad of the 60s lasted barely to the end of the decade, and started in 1964. Let’s see, that makes…6 years, maybe. By 1969, Mustang sales were less than half of what they were in 1966. So really, the peak of the fad was 3 years.
CUVs? They’ve been hot and growing very quickly since the late 90s. As in almost 20 years. And no let up in sight. Me thinks you’re indulging in wishful thinking. 🙂
Hey, what can I say, fads last longer than they used to! Shorter, taller and narrower fell out of favor once, and there’s no reason one going to assume it’ll reign supreme forever now. I know you’re fond of these kinds of vehicles so I’m not the only wishful thinker here 😉
Additionally I’d say the first half of that last 20 years traditional body on frame SUVs still were the truly hot ticket, CR-V type CUVs were sellers in their early days, but not Explorer good(still hasn’t hit their sales peak as segment leader). From that perspective it’s then comparable to the ponycar popularity transitioning to PLCs, as conceptually they were the same formula, but in the inverse in terms of size. The number of years aren’t so easy to write off from that standpoint.
I don’t expect this market will collapse the way Ponycars did mind you, they’re here to stay, but I do think the hotness will inevitably begin to cool at some point and balance out.
Everyone drive a truck now. How about some of the great old truck names like Apache, Bronco, Ranchero, Scout, Transtar, Viking, etc?
Scout was a great name for an SUV. Navistar/International is again building light trucks under contract for other companies; maybe they’ll decide to give it another go on their own and we’ll get a new Scout.
I’d personally say Cougar, but that name probably conjurers up a different image in today’s trashy society.
I’d say every Buick name used in the 1960s is awesome, and far better than any name in their current flaccid sounding lineup. Wildcat is possibly the greatest name ever.
The only name and model that Ford needs to revive is Bronco.
Most of Fords old names don’t translate well in 2017 though Falcon could work on the right car.
You got it Pontiac.
I just hope the Bronco resembles that even a LITTLE.
I have to agree, for me personally, Ford’s main products just look mediocre to terrible. If I had the cash for a new car, I would not look in a Ford Showroom. The hypothetical renderings of the new Bronco actually look good, if Ford can take cues from those and keep to the spirit of what made the old ones iconic, they’ve got a guaranteed hit. Hell, I think they could easily give the Wrangler a run for it’s money if they do it right.
The Falcon brand name only just died last year.
I’d agree. As much as I love the idea of Galaxies and Legends, the money right now is in the SUV/CUV/Off-Road market.
I’ve got to admit, as confused as I always am around Charger/Challenger/etc., I’d love to see a RoadRunner or Lil’ Red Express?
Hah! Late to the party but I don’t see anyone else making my suggestion. A name evoking freedom and free spirited travel: Rambler
+1
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep
While riding in my Cadillac
What to my surprise
A little Nash Rambler was following me
About one third my size
The guy musta wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn
I’ll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn.
Originally I remembered this as the song about the guy in a Nash, where the driver has his suspenders stuck in the door of the Cadillac?
That is why he keeps pulling up 🙂
Fury, as a 2-door (preferably hardtop) version of the 300S.
Magnum as another badass muscle wagon.
Duster/TrailDuster. I think it would work on a Hemi powered Wrangler 2-door with an appearance package mimicking the Ram Rebel.
Savoy. Beats ‘200’ all day long.
Avenger. But only on a coupe or hatch, NOT a sedan.
Corsair. It was briefly attached to the PowerTech 4.7 V8 so I kinda cheated. But it’s an awesome name.
Commando.
Honcho.
Chevelle. The ute aside (El Camino, DUUH) this would have been a slam dunk on a full line of Holdens here in NA.
Nomad. Could’ve been you, HHR.
Blazer
Galaxy 500
I know all their marketing emphasizes the HEMI , but I for one loved the application of “Magnum” to their engines, like on the 383/440s in the 60s and the Rams in the 90s. I wouldn’t mind seeing a rebranding of lower tune engines with that name with exterior callouts applied. I mean the current V6 is no slouch at 305 horsepower, so imagine how much cooler it would be if it were called Magnum instead of Pentastar.
For the first few years, the Hemi was branded as a ‘Magnum Hemi’ like on my ’05 Rumble Bee…at least in Dodge trucks. A 2005 Magnum R/T with the Magnum Hemi might have been a bit confusing.
I like the name in general. Attached to an actual car is what Id prefer but to the sub-Hemi engines is good too. The Pentastar 3.6 originally was called Phoenix, which I think sounds much better.
A name that should come back? I know it’s a brand name but…
Pontiac…anything. Bring the brand back!
Pontiac died because among other reasons, there was no room for it between Chevy and Buick.
Buick Century. The mid-Fifties series name was I think itself a revival; seems to me there was a similar big-engine/smaller -chassis model in the Thirties. As is so often the case with our manufacturers’ Good Ideas (also see Riviera), the first one out of the chute was the best of the lot: Special chassis with Super/Roadmaster engine, springs and brakes, only real visual clue being four portholes in the front fenders instead of three. That was 1954, and I STILL want one!
The original Century was a 1936-42 series that did use the big engine/smallish body formula later made famous by the Olds 88, and even later by the Pontiac GTO.
Buick revived it twice: in 1954, using the 1936 formula. When the old names were retired for 1959, Invicta,and later Wildcat, Centurion replaced it in the full sized line. In 1973 Century returned as a midsizer and spawned the Regal.
Century and Roadmaster are 2 of my favorite car names of all time.
I feel like the Century name had to be canned because by the mid-’90s (if not sooner), all it brought to mind was the age of the buyer, not the speed of the car.
Seeing as we’ve had Aries, Scorpio, Gemini and Taurus (although understandingly never a Cancer) why not resurrect the daddy of them all – Zodiac.
The trend towards numbers instead of names – and VW excepted – I’m looking at the German marques generally, sometimes strikes me as bit of a cop out.
Other than that, I’ll go with the only US car I’ve ever owned – a ’71 FIREBIRD …
One, that NEEDS to come back…For a company that is losing it’s identity, trying but not succeeding, to be another Mercedes or BMW, is this name:
The Cadillac Eldorado
+1 They should have put Cadillac Sixteen on the road
Yeah thats a real Caddy not the stuff they peddle today, an opportunity missed.
The other, is this name, for a company that has all but abandoned luxury cars, for bloated, boring SUVs??
The Buick Riviera
+1 I am so tired of SUV’s and AWD’s
+2. However if there’S AWD variants of future Riviera/T-bird/etc.. I won’t see no with our winters in the Great White North. 😉
Merkur, but do it right this time.
LEGEND LEGEND LEGEND!!! Please Acura bring back the Legend! And the Integra would be a nice name to see return too! Acura – you took away our luxury car and our entry level car which we desperately need to have a complete line of cars…LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO HEAR YOUR CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY PLEASE!!!
As far as domestics are concerned, I truly miss Riviera, Eldorado and Toronado!!!
And as far as brands are concerned don’t even get me started on Oldsmobile and Pontiac……
Funny how Honda has seen the benefit of keeping the Honda model names in the North American market constant – Civic and Accord, and you know what you are getting, and they sell in huge numbers – yet did not even try to do this with the successful Acura badges. You can bloat the model in each successive iteration and folks will keep buying it, just as has happened with the Civic, Accord, Corolla and Camry. Yet the de rigeur fashion is to go to alphanumeric crapola….
And since nobody has called it, how about a new Vista Cruiser wagon? Just add a funky sunroof with 2nd row visors and off you go.
The Acura RLX is still a Honda Legend in other markets, but I don’t think changing the name would really bring a lot of buyers back. The RLX is nice enough but it’s a slow seller in an intensely competitive segment. It’s not the breath of fresh air the first Acura Legend was.
Still, it’s an easy switch. Swap RLX for Legend, ILX for Integra (hey, there was an Integra sedan…), give the TLX a different name. But then you’re left with picking names for the crossovers.
Maybe they could be X,XX,XXX,XXXX etc in order of ascending size.
One more thing – although it got the snot beat out of it from overuse, “Cutlass” was a great name that GM should find another use for.
I actually liked the name “Tercel” over “Yaris” and some other names for small Chevys like Prizm or Monza. I can’t stand the name Cruze. I also think Skylark was a nice name for Buick.
Yaris sounds like a feminine hygiene cream.
Here we have joked about it for years,
making “He’s got Yaris”
sound like he has got some kind of STD.
Pantera.
Why not Adventurer? Although DeSoto’s Fire… series names were eclipsed by Pontiac in 1970, Adventurer is still available; I think it would be a great car name.
Adventurer – esp Suv, Cuv or other truck.
Dodge used “Adventurer” on trucks in the past, So there’s no reason Ram couldn’t.
And a Prospector trim or model variant. That’s western enough to work on a truck today.
Seven Little Buffaloes?
Another vote for Tercel. Also, with all of the names Chrysler had I wonder why they picked Aspen for their SUV a few years ago.
Brougham! 🙂
Yes.
GM recently replaced the LTZ trim package with “Premier” in one of the saddest looking badges in recent memory. Cut the bull$hit and let’s bring back Brougham.
Cruze Brougham, Malibu Brougham, Impala Brougham, the ultimate Silverado HD 3500 BROUGHAM!
I’m imagining a Suburban with pillow tufted Velour seats. I’m surprisingly okay with that being a thing.
Humber Super Snipe
Runner-up: Jensen Interceptor
Caribbean
Cavalier
Clipper
Constellation
Executive
Mayfair
Pacific
Patrician
How about some new names?
The New 2018 Ford Gelding. Power everything with a 2 speed automatic.
Agree, those old Packard names were excellent.They just exuded class,especially with Patrician-the upper class of ancient Rome, the Clipper-images of fast and rakish tall ships, and Carribean-tropical isles, azure beaches,and the easy life.
AMC: Ambassador
Buick: Riviera – Roadmaster
Cadillac: Seville – Fleetwood Brougham – Fleetwood Talisman
Chevrolet: Monte Carlo
Chrysler: Imperial
Ford: Thunderbird
Pontiac: Firebird – Trans Am – Bonneville
+1 on the Talisman, which is one of my all-time favorite names.
I’d have to vote for Terraplane and Dictator…
People around here know my inclinations by now, but dang it – bring back an Ambassador! (Marlin…let it die.)
Also…Electra.
Lastly, if ever an American automobile again is built, worthy of the names…Beverly and Caribbean!
Chrysler New Yorker. Make the emblems in brass like they did in the early 60’s. Put those brass emblems on a car worthy of the name.
Ford Galaxie, Ranger.
Plymouth (Chrysler?) Fury.
Chevrolet Apache, Scottsdale, Bel Air, Chevelle.
Hornet
Wasp
Matador
Rebel
Pacer (oh wait, that one failed twice)
What about Eagle? I ‘m surprised Chrysler/FCA hasn’t revived that for an Outback-fighting SUV-ish wagon.
Newport, Invicta, Wildcat, Montego, Maverick.
How about Dragon as in Kaiser?
Hands down….Pontiac, especially…Tempest!
hands down
Aura
Airflow
Goldbug
Starlight coupe
VALIANT
Probe – NOT Ever
Sooo many come to mind, and I wouldn’t mind seeing names from defunct brands migrate to surviving brands:
FoMoCo: Galaxie, Cougar, Skyliner, Marquis, Marauder, Park Lane, Meteor, Monterey, Cyclone, Torino, Thunderbird, Ranchero, Country Squire, Colony Park
GM: Eldorado, Seville,Fleetwood, La Salle, Roadmaster, Invicta, Wildcat, Electra, Park Avenue, Le Sabre, Riviera, Grand National/GNX, Toronado, Cutlass, 98 Regency, Delta 88, Grand Prix, Bonneville, Le Mans, Firebird, GTO, Grand Safari, Estate Wagon, Vista Cruiser, El Camino.
Chrysler: Imperial, Town & Country, New Yorker, Fifth Avenue, Newport, Barracuda.
And lastly, if the styling was cutting edge enough – Avanti
I know I got carried away here……sorry ’bout that!
Any old Playboy readers around here?
Do you remember the little book “Real women don’t pump gas”?.
It was first published in Playboy.
Women and car (not the whole “chapter 20)
Real women do not drive cars with names of animal which kan bite or eat them:
No Jaguar, Cougar, Spider or Cobra
Friendly animals is something else i.e. Impala or Mustang.
A Corvette sounds stately and can be accepted.
A Mercedes is too big, but a small Fiat or a Mini (remember the original) is suitable vehicle.
Volvo sounds like a Swedish tank, but she feels attrackted to the new Volkswagen.
Large Americn cars appeals to women, because they remind them of their first love. And who has ever heard about a women who got in trouble in the back seat of a VW.
Real women dream about cars, named after places they would like to visit:
Monte Carlo, Biarritz, Seville, Capri or Grand Prix! But a DAF has no interest.
A real woman would love her husband to buy har a convertible or sun roof. But she always complains when he takes the top down, saying the wind ruins her har.
A real woman doesn’t lease her car. She would never dream of having it financed. She rather has her husband pay for it in cash.
Dodge POLARA!
My first thought when I saw the headline was the Acura Legend…supremely fitting for peak-era Honda’s flagship automobile. It needs to be applied to something along the lines of the new Infiniti Q60, and not an oversized TL.
Riviera- on a range topping elegant four door coupe.
Armstrong Siddeley, the best name in history.
Ironic, the same time that Lincoln was changing the Zephyr to MKZ, Ford was changing the 500 to Taurus. Nothing like (in)consistency!
I always thought that the Chrysler 200 should have been named the Newport, but since Chrysler has axed it, it is just as well.
Seems like few want the forgettable alphabet soup letter/number combinations and would rather have a real name. It worked OK for BMW and Mercedes and other European cars, not so much when American cars came up with weird obscure combinations.
I too would like to see some of the old classic American names to come back, but with todays generic styling it probably would really be kind of pointless.
900 and Defender, but do it properly!
The silver ghost