Friday, April 9, 2010

Friday Fun Thread, Or Lack Thereof...

Sorry folks, no full-fledged automotive fun thread today. I racked my brain for a decent topic, and came up with a couple interesting ideas but couldn't quite fill them in. I figured I'd toss out a couple half-baked ideas and see what we could come up with, kinda shake up the Friday Fun thread concept a bit.

Idea #1: Cars that exist only in Hollywood.

Examples of such would be the Family Truckster from "National Lampoon's Vacation", the MonkeeMobile, or the XKE Jag Hearse from "Harold & Maude". Whether they be amalgamations of existing cars like the Truckster (a genericized Ford Crown Vic wagon) or permutations on existing cars (like the Monkeemobile, a heavily modified Pontiac GTO).

Obviously, the most famous of these would be the 1960s Batmobile.

Idea #2: "Retro" cars we'd like to see made.

Given the success of the MINI and the New Beetle, coupled with the PT Cruiser and the Chevy HMR, there's a decent market for "throwback" retro-styled cars. The new Mustang evokes the 1960s Fastback, as does the new Camaro and the Dodge Challenger. What other models would be fun to see re-done in the 2010s? I'd love to see a modern version of the El Camino, or perhaps a Ford Flex with new sheetmetal to re-create a woodie.

For me, the coolest to see (and therefore the hardest to do "right") would be the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air re-done.


What other make-believe or retro cars would you like to see?

That is all.

17 comments:

nguyenhm16 said...

Don't forget the 6000SUX. Big is Back, Because Bigger is Better.

Anonymous said...

I am still dying for a VW Thing. There used to be a place in Houston that restored them w/ military gun mounts, etc.

Tass

Jake (formerly Riposte3) said...

I'd like to see modern "retro" versions of the Auburn 851 "Boattail Speedster", or the Cord 810/812.

ExurbanKevin said...

A retro Chevy Nomad.

Something cheap and mid-sized with a two doors and a tailgate that can be easily worked on so it goes like spit. Ten yeas ago the Honda CR-X filled that role (just like the Cosworth Vega before it), but we don't have that car today. We need a car that a young kid can buy that without breaking the bank and is useful in everyday driving but can be easily hot-rodded into something else with a few spare weekends and some common tools.

Chris said...

I'd like to see a 1959 Cadillac El Dorado.

Fins FTW.

WV: mockin- What our current administration is biblically worthy of.

notDilbert said...

1. Although you don’t see this much anymore in movies and TV ( probably because the a very few dirt roads any more). The tires on Hollywood screech and howl on any dirt surface.
2. No car in Hollywood apparently is equipped with seat belts and the airbags never go off during a chase scene or when they crash.
3. Hollywood car magically repel cars coming the other way when you drive down the wrong side of the road at high speed. --- although, conversely, flower and vegetable carts are magnetically attracted to Hollywood cars. Fortunately the carts burst into a million small pieces when hit.
4. A crash from similar speeds will always end with a very injured bad guy while the hero’s hair is still neat.
5. Somehow, Hollywood cars can hit curbs at speed or can jump off 5 ft ramps without breaking a wheel, blowing a tire or destroying the suspension.
6. Movie cars never need gas. ( unless the gas station is about to explode)
7. Flying through the air off a cliff will cause a Hollywood car to spontaneously burst into a ball of flames.
8. You can drive a Hollywood car through the plate glass window in the showroom with a 4 foot drop and still roar away down the street, because all cars in the showroom are full of gas and have the keys in the ignition.
9. Hollywood cars and trucks will continue to speed down the road even when noboby is close to the gas pedal or the wheel since the driver is fighting with someone else on the hood of the car/truck.
10. Some Hollywood cars are surrounded by a force field since you can fire untold numbers of rounds at them and cause only superficial damage.
11. Hollywood trucks can slid sideways for long distances without their load shifting.

KurtP said...

I'd like to see a new Dodge Power Wagon.

...Of course I'd only be seeing one since I can't make myself buy ANY brand owned by Obama.

Robert McDonald said...

I've always had a thing for the Roadrunner. Weird, I know, but I'd like to see a new look at it like we've seen with the Mustang, Charger, Challenger, etc.

Ritchie said...

I modestly propose Idea #3: Imports That Didn't Make the Grade and Why.
I will lead off with the Morris Minor (for which I still have the shop manual). Why? Bad winter starting due to the starter drive, minimalist heater, 948cc motor and 4.55 rear gears.

Anonymous said...

1948 Lincoln Continental Coupe V12

http://www.cars-on-line.com/34873.html

SCI-FI said...

heh heh heheheh

Ypu said 'woodie'...

(say it ala B&B)

Unknown said...

Retro cars...

How about Ford releasing a small compact to compete with the new Nissan Cube

http://www.nissanusa.com/cube/#/en/home/

But retro styled after the original Model T ( I think that'd be pretty cool).

Would also like to see a new production car with the big wings of the 50's.

Steve said...

You can have a brand new '57 Chevy: http://www.1957chevybody.com/
These guys will build you one for a cool 180K.

Anonymous said...

I want a modernized 1946 Chevy Deluxe.

Veeshir said...

I had an opportunity to deal with some Ford lawyers and I told them a way to make the new "Hot Car":

A new Ranchero based on the new "retro" Mustang.

I'll second that we need stuff with fins. Big, slice your leg off, Caddy fins.

Ross said...

'69 Camaro... not that... that... THING they're calling a Camaro now.

Volvo P1800 station wagon. Just looks sooo cool.

1970 Chrysler Imperial. Full size. Screw the polar bears.

'32 Ford Coupe.

Dixie said...

For me, the coolest to see (and therefore the hardest to do "right") would be the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air re-done.

Yes, please. I'd like a four door coupe, 283 V-8 with the Ramjet package, and the 3 speed Turboglide.

Either that, or the Buick GSX.