What should be the next 'retro' car?

[Formula Autos]

Starting with the Nissan Figaro, through the New Beetle and MINI, and onto the recent crop of retro muscle cars in the US, it seems that retro sells.

 

What though should be the next car revived for the modern age?

 

My idle thought on the subject would be for Skoda to produce a new Rapid coupe - perhaps Octavia based. I know the Rapid was rear engined and all that, but it didn't bother VAG in the past - witness the FWD new Beetle.

 

Shonky MS Paint images to back up ideas are most welcome.

[Split_Pin]

I certainly agree, 'Rapid' sounds loads better than wanky old 'VRS', and these cars are indeed meant to be pretty quick.

 

They should replace the Transit Conect with a Squire

[Alexg]

Vanden Plas Allegro?

 

In all seriousness Citroen DS or 2CV.

[Guest]

MK3 - 4 - 5 Cortina.

[Tayne]

.

[boobydoo]

[pogweasel]

STUTZ BEARCAT.

[Cavcraft]

The Morris 1000. A modern version of one of those done the right way should be ace. Would also like to see a modern A30/A35.

[Guest]

BMW X5.

[eddyramrod]

It's obvious, really. Put the General right back at the top of the executive-car pole with a smooth, powerful, well-equipped, well-built, handling-sorted...

Game over, the Germans go home empty-handed! Could even call it Velox or Cresta, two names which mean absolutely nothing, at least not in English, therefore fit in perfectly with all current marketing. One rather important proviso: under no circumstances must it be made available in monotone black or silver, it'll look awful.

[scaryoldcortina]

BMW X5.

 

That might work, if you badge it as an AEC Matador.

Room for a "Scammel Routeman" based on the audi Q7 too.

[Albert Ross]

Strictly speaking, Vauxhall already have one. The Astra "life". Life also translates as Viva if you squint.

 

I would like to see a 2 door coupe with basic trim and a range of engines. Something no-frills for gadgets. No ABS (Except Brussels tells us to fit it) Keep fit windows, quarter lights, 1100cc, 1300cc Diesel, 1400cc petrol Turbo, and a 2.5 V6......... Just for shits and giggles. Therefore making it eligible for circuit racing and WRC aswell. Trouble is, some knobber would probably shovel in Shat Nav, AirCon, Multi disc changer, IsoFix, Panoramic electric roof, Leather seats, and all the other bollocks, but in order to "save weight", they will remove the spare wheel.

 

A new Manta anyone? They could call it the erm... Calibra?

[Negative Creep]

ALLARD CLIPPER

[eddyramrod]

Strictly speaking, Vauxhall already have one. The Astra "life". Life also translates as Viva if you squint.

 

I would like to see a 2 door coupe with basic trim and a range of engines. Something no-frills for gadgets. No ABS (Except Brussels tells us to fit it) Keep fit windows, quarter lights, 1100cc, 1300cc Diesel, 1400cc petrol Turbo, and a 2.5 V6......... Just for shits and giggles. Therefore making it eligible for circuit racing and WRC aswell. Trouble is, some knobber would probably shovel in Shat Nav, AirCon, Multi disc changer, IsoFix, Panoramic electric roof, Leather seats, and all the other bollocks, but in order to "save weight", they will remove the spare wheel.

 

A new Manta anyone? They could call it the erm... Calibra?

 

In a version of this body, perhaps? RWD, of course....

[Alexg]

ALLARD CLIPPER

 

[ashmicro]

In these difficult economic times, and with a retro slant, what about a restyled Escort II. Ford brought out the Popular range because every fucker was skint, and it was a very clever idea. My Grandfather had an Escort II 1.1 Pop. Cheap as hell and fuck all kit, but cleverly done - nice bright range of colours (his was Daytona yellow) unique trim (what there was of it!) only half carpeting, reversing lights, but no switch in the 'box or bulbs in the lamps etc.

 

Something specc'd like my Rover 25 would be a Pop by todays standards - keep fit windows, no aircon, no shat-nav, no ABS, TC, etc.

 

Restyle an old "icon", spec it like a mid 90s supermini, job jobbed.

[Negative Creep]

In these difficult economic times, and with a retro slant, what about a restyled Escort II. Ford brought out the Popular range because every fucker was skint, and it was a very clever idea. My Grandfather had an Escort II 1.1 Pop. Cheap as hell and fuck all kit, but cleverly done - nice bright range of colours (his was Daytona yellow) unique trim (what there was of it!) only half carpeting, reversing lights, but no switch in the 'box or bulbs in the lamps etc.

 

Something specc'd like my Rover 25 would be a Pop by todays standards - keep fit windows, no aircon, no shat-nav, no ABS, TC, etc.

 

Restyle an old "icon", spec it like a mid 90s supermini, job jobbed.

 

 

That wouldn't work for the fact the public now see everything that doesn't have ABS, ESP, TC and 10 airbags as a deathtrap

[Guest]

Just say it's got all that, then when they crash we can all have a chuckle at their expense.

[Phrancofile]

Citroen GS?

[eddyramrod]

I would have suggested this:

 

But then I remembered this....

Good effort, if a bit slab-sided...

 

And Phranco... they all look like the GS these days! (Only with about 0.005% of the style.)

[Vinylseats]

Who would make any Austins or Morris's's's's seeing as they exist no longer?

[Guest]

Instead of basing these new retro designs on cars, they should be lifelike heads, but on wheels (car-sized obviously). You climb in through the mouth and see through the eyes. The only one available is Peter Sissons, but further ones are planned, including Peter Sissons.

[eddyramrod]

Who would make any Austins or Morris's's's's seeing as they exist no longer?

 

Allegro is a name that would look good on an Alfa Romeo.... Fiat have already purloined Maxi for a Ducato van. The Minor would actually lend itself really well to retro treatment (as would the 105E). Can't see anyone using the names Oxford or Cambridge, as they actually mean something in English, which of course is illegal now under Brussels.

 

Can you see a Chinese-built Rover P6 as a BMW 3-series rival? And P5 for the 5-series? Both with the B version in the range, obviously....

[Pete-M]

As someone suggested recently, I think they should bring back the Mk2 Escort.

 

Don't bother with the 1.1 / 1.3 or the four door / estate, but shove something with 200 bhp in as standard. Don't need electric everything, make it as simple as the old one wherever possible, but use a simple to tweak modern ECU to control emissions etc.

 

Redo the van to keep the worlds motorway lunatics happy.

 

Keep the weight right down by using modern materials wherever possible. Alloy bonnet, wings, doors, bootlid, bumpers etc.

 

Uprate bits that are simple to do. Discs all round, abs / tc, six speed box, xenons etc. Make sure it still feels the same as the old one, but just that little bit better. Keep the quick shift lever, uprate the suspension so it's closer to a well sorted original. 15" Supalite wheels, Scheel seats and a decent stereo for city work. Oh, make it a lot harder to steal using modern security stuff.

 

Flog it in 'motorsport' and 'lux' trims. Motorsport being white and stripped out with a cage and LSD, Lux having Recaros, nice carpet, electric windows, cd player, remote locking and bronze tinted glass.

 

I'd buy one.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I'd buy one fitted with a VM Diesel, preferably the near mythical 1.8 3 cylinder Alfa fitted to some 33s or 75s.

[Parky]

Renault 5. Just rebody a Twingo and you are there. It had plastic bumpers, square lights, would be too hard to fathom it out to a half decent designer.

 

Renault had a massive legal fight recently over calling their new zero emission vehicle "Zoe" as apparently it was offensive to french women called Zoe Renault. I'd squared it off a little, made it a four door and called it the "Neuf". Heritage restored and legal fight finished. Right, lunchy............

[KruJoe]

Citroen DS or 2CV.

 

I reckon this really works.

 

 

I agree on the bigger Citroens, too.

[Cavcraft]

Hindustani Ambassador.

[messerschmitt owner]

with luck, there will never be another retro styled car (says he, in his best Leonard Hatred voice)

[Formula Autos]

Instead of basing these new retro designs on cars, they should be lifelike heads, but on wheels (car-sized obviously). You climb in through the mouth and see through the eyes.

 

This has already been done, Hirst. Albeit access is via the rear. Witness the Dale Winton: