Culture|Garage

5 Responses to “Is going retro a curse?”

1. 

   bryan Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

   you HAD to post a picture of that PT Crapper. Now i’m just angry today. thanks a lot.

2. 

   Ryan Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

   While I like the idea of a throwback car design, the only ones that pulled it off were the new Beetle and the new Mini.

   The PT Cruiser/HHR is easily the ugliest car I’ve ever seen.

3. 

   b dash Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

   funny story about the PT loser and HHR. They were designed by the same person. He first designed the PT for chrysler, then left chrysler, and GM picked him up. They told him that they want a direct competitor for the PT, and alas… the HHR.

   of those pictured, the beetle and mini certainly pulled it off well, as did the mustang. The prowler would have pulled it off, had it have been equipped with something other than the V6 that Chrysler also put in say… the Eagle Vision and the like. The HHR and somewhat the PT, would look sweet as a two door mini panel van (which has been done) but look terrible with the mods that people who own them do. You know, magnetic flames, stick on portholes, neon lights, wood grain tack paper….

4. 

   Jim Says:
   February 14th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

   I dunno- I think it’s kind of a tough question to answer- but a valid one.
   I think “retro” styling on models that have real history or were cut short works, like on the Mustang, or the FJ Cruiser. Heck, the Porsche 911 has looked the same, well, forever! The reason this is, in my opinion, is because when a model is cut short or changed drastically (i.e. Mustang II) fans of the original don’t see the later models as the real deal. Now that there is a redesigned ’60s style Mustang, I think people have reconnected with that car. Style means a lot to people in the car world (check out Peter Egan’s book, Side Glances, for proof-he owns a new Mini next to his innumerable classic projects and bikes).
   The PT cruiser and HHR are, in my opinion, attempts at creating a vehicle history that doesn’t exist- and the PT cruiser is an awful car anyway, but these two are selling, and chrysler has been making ‘em for years, in the same vein that they have been making the 300c for years, without a single change- to anything.
   The Mini works the same way as the Mustang, a continuation of a good design that is timeless. It’s the shape of the Mini or the Mustang that indeed makes it what it is- it is character. That’s the reason no-one has “restyled” the F-150 to look like the old truck, because it has had a natural progression to what it is, it has never been, like the Mustang or the Mini, cut short. Same goes for the beetle.
   Okay, I’ll stop, this reply is getting a little long in the tooth, but I’m glad you asked- it is certainly a good point to ponder. I’m certainly not “pissed off”- though I did have a good chuckle over that. Thanks.

5. 

   johnnymac Says:
   February 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am

   I think the best looking car out of the big three in the last 20 plus years, aside from limmitted stuff like the ford gt, is the new mustang. I’m a camaro fan myself, but they have’nt generated any impulse purchasing out of me sinse the designs of the early 70’s. As for the new stang. It has that same timeless design- and it appears to be doing very well. But I would hate to be the guy in charge of improving it. You have a great point. Where does one go from here? Is the designer supposed to repeat the cycles of decades past? Introduce t-tops again, or perhaps keep the same body, and replace the powerplant with an over-engineer a supercharged, intercooled 4 cylinder motor. But this time make it a hybrid? They could call it S.V.O-zone. All written in green, of course.

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