So a funny thought occurred to me the other day.  I was pining over some of the classic cars of yester-year that I lust after and it occured to me that modern car companies are missing the boat.  Rather than designing NEW cars for their entire lineup why don't they make some of the classic cars i.e. 55 Corvette, 69 Camero etc.  But instead of making them like they used to, which I think would be pretty darn near impossible, why don't they just use them as a base and modernize the builds using modern material, building practices etc?  Seems like we'd have much cooler cars on the road... 

I'm sure I just got loose in the funny powder and someone will be along shortly to explain why I'm off my rocker, but honestly modern cars are just so predominately bland.  And people pay big money to restore classic cars, and in some cases, restore the outside while modernizing the inside. 

[Drool]

The cars of yesteryear were crapping oil at 100k.

My '95 chevy is at 200k and hardly broken in.

I'll pass on the old cars, thanks.  Let's move ahead.

What part of Chevy Camero, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, did you miss?

Ford Taurus SHO.

Geoff
Who still wants a new Econoline E-100.

Harm's not talking about old cars built the old way, he's talking about classic styled cars built the modern way with your 200+K mile capable engine, automatic overdrive, and all the modern amenities in the interior.

Ford figured it out with the Mustang, and Chrysler and GM followed with the Challenger and Camaro, but I think Harm's talking about restyling some of the more 'white bread' mid size cars.

Later,
Joe

Seriously.  What horrible combination of accountants/lawyers turned 90% of all cars in America into '97 Jellybeans?  I mean, is there any real difference between any of them?  Do their lines evoke ANY emotional response whatsoever?  Harm is right - why not remake a '57 Chrysler Imperial instead of a minivan?  They hold the same number of people.  How about the old Woody station wagon,  pre-WWII coupes, even the old Ford Falcon for a small car.  With modern technology and improved engineering mated to some beautiful designs, you could have cars people would FLOCK to.

That white one looks like a mustang with a new body kit on the front. From the axles forward looks mostly new, but everything behind that looks like pony car to me. Even the headlights look like a new Mustang's.

I do like that black Trans-am, though.

One thing for guys to consider as far as older cars and reliability is the lubricants etc that have changed over the years. New lubes in older cars and you get fair to good reliability:)

I agree with the idea of remaking older cars though, crossed my mind years ago and I can't come up with any good reason not to strap a vintage body on a modern car. I would buy one in a minute, the thing they would have to do is keep the interior fairly vintage also though:) That would be really nice, modern comfort and ride(and handling) and vintage style. Awesome;)

Luke

What I want;

• Very retro-styled Chevelle SS454 with the Vette ZR-1's LS9 engine.
• Corvette w/ Stingray styling and a splitback window.
• A new GTO that looks like a real muscle car.
• A Miura for the 21st Century.

I'd like to see a new Gremlin.

Ben

Wow...that is awesome.

Ben

Where on earth did you find THAT Jesse? I have to admit though, it doesn't look half bad. Are there any other views of it?

Later,
Joe

OK I miss AMC.  They made some major mistakes, like inventing the muscle car and then abandoning the project as too performance oriented.  Then going all GM marketing first and quality 5th or 6th... But I loved the American, a small car with the same seats as a mid-size and big doors...

Family had a 1968 AMC American Station wagon with a 200 hp V-8, heavy duty suspension, limited slip, 3 on the tree and disk brakes and radial tires.  It was nice and stable up to 110... when the GTO got in my way...4.11 rear ends do not turnpike cruisers make...

Mom lost it one night on a slippery curve in Cleveland...sigh.

Geoff
Who notes his Uncle Looie couldn't follow my Dad over the railroad tracks at the speed limit in his new Chrysler.   

OK I miss AMC.  They made some major mistakes, like inventing the muscle car and then abandoning the project as too performance oriented.  Then going all GM marketing first and quality 5th or 6th... But I loved the American, a small car with the same seats as a mid-size and big doors...

Remember the AMC Eagle?  The 4 wheel drive station wagon from the early 80s?  They were 25 or 30 years ahead of the times.  now everyone and their uncle is building "crossover" vehicles, AWD station wagons etc.

Those Eagles were surprisingly capable off road too.  We drove one equipped with snow tires through several miles of creek bottoms and kept up with several full size pickups and a full size Blazer.

I can't come up with any good reason not to strap a vintage body on a modern car. I would buy one in a minute,

That is done with old pickups in my area all the time not for nostalgia but to do an end run around the taxman and insurance man.  We not only have to pay license fees (which are excessive) on vehicles but we have to pay personal property tax on the vehicle every year.  This of course is also high for a new truck.  It wasn't long before guys were buying rolled or cosmetically totaled new trucks with turbo diesels and fuel injected engines and putting truck bodies from the 70, 80s and early 90s on the perfectly good new model frame.  Every so often you'll pull up to something like a 79 Ford extended cab 4x4 and hear a turbo diesel start up.  Take a closer look and the thing has IFS and a modern undercarriage.  It's a bit of a hassle sourcing parts and costs some money to do a conversion like that but you can save thousands in taxes, license fees and insurance that will more than make up for it.