Cars We’d Love to See Resurrected
All this chatter surrounding the design of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, the possibility of a new Ford Ranger, and the return of the Dodge Dart has really got us thinking. Wouldn’t it be nice to see some of those modern classics resurrected? Now, this list could surely go on forever if we were to include some of the classics of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, so let’s stick to, say, the ’90s and 2000s. Let’s skip the ’80s, because it’s well known that we all love the Grand National and just about every Datsun ever created. Without further adieu, here’s a list of 10 vehicles we’d love to see resurrected.
Sleek and Sporty Rides
This is the VW we yearn for most, but whose name we cannot pronounce. The Scirocco is the quintessential, “No fair, why does Europe get that and we don’t?!” car. Maybe someday we will reunite again…
Don’t get us wrong, the CR-Z is cool and all, but there’s something to be said for its predecessor, the CRX. While the CR-Z is pretty much a modern, more fuel-efficient CRX with more features, we sure miss being able to make a tiny Honda go fast for pennies on the dollar.
Given the success of the Subaru BRZ and the Scion FR-S, the return of the Acura Integra would undoubtedly be a hit. Pop a turbocharger in there, make it rear-wheel drive—the possibilities are endless!
Sure, we could have gone with the Toyota Supra, but there’s only one spot on this list for a The Fast and the Furious racer. We’d love to see a fourth generation and bet you would, too.
No matter where you fall in the love/hate Saab dichotomy, the 9-2X, or “Saabaru” as many of its fans call it, is a true champion. The build quality of a Subaru and the looks of a Saab—what’s not to love? Bringing it back might be tough, though, considering the whole Saab situation.
SUVs, Trucks, and Vehicles Named After Warriors
The styling isn’t for everyone, that we know. The Wagoneer, though, invokes a sense of sentimentality in all of us, regardless of one’s feelings on fake wood adorning the outside of one’s vehicle. Marketing-wise, the return of the Wagoneer could be a slam dunk for Jeep in light of the new Cherokee’s departure from traditional styling. After all, the Wagoneer is nothing without its looks.
Is there a compact pickup more iconic than the Ford Ranger? No, probably not. Rumblings around the industry point to a future return for the Ranger, but only time will tell. We’d certainly love to see it and guess that you would, too.
So here’s the thing: If the Bronco were ever to return, it would need to come back as big and beastly as before. Maybe we could work with a V6 a la the Toyota FJ Cruiser, however a resurrected Bronco would ideally have a V8. We realize that CAFE standards make this a highly unlikely possibility, and that’s okay, but engine size is a non-negotiable factor. We will not settle for an I4 Bronco II!
The Trooper has all the intangibles that you’d want in an SUV. Likely to return? No—Isuzu doesn’t ship passenger cars to the U.S., and that probably won’t change that anytime soon. Would it be awesome? Totally.
Last, but definitely not least, we have the Suzuki Samurai. With a name to kill (pun intended), and a fun factor of one million, a return of the Samurai would surely have saved Suzuki in the U.S.
What car would you bring back if you could?
-hspitzer
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I’d like to see the Dodge Magnum back with maybe a Hybrid version in the V6 & Hemi versions! Power and MPG’s, what a concept!
VW Cabrio… I miss the one they had in Remington Steel.
Toyota MR2 Spyder, although with a little bigger storage compartment in front, a little more power (or turbo) and much more Lotus-like looks. (might be hard to do for ultra-conservative Toyota.)