Cult Cars

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnBM01
  • 26 comments
  • 1,592 views
JohnBM01

JohnBM01

21 years!
In Memoriam
Messages
26,911
United States
Houston, Texas, USA
Messages
JMarine25
What's the most active segment that's lasted for quite a while? It certainly isn't the cult car segment. Why so? Because no one creates cult cars. Just like a championship in sports or motorsports, that title has to be earned. A cult car can be as low-powered as a Subaru 360 or as powerful as the Ferrari Enzo. If there are fans of the car and what it really means to the auto world and even to society as a whole, you have a cult car. GTP, this topic is just about them. Whether they are Kei cars, super-minis, sport compacts, classics and reborn classics, this is a topic for those sorts of cars.

I'll start.

I am a pretty big fan of the Mini Cooper. And if they weren't successful in Horsepower Nation (America), they surely were in its native England. I mean, the Mini provided the joy of driving in a fun, compact, unreal machine. I mean, you're not going to win a lot of high-profile drag races in a Mini, but you have a car that is fun and handles like a charm. The next is a "love or hate" car. The VW Beetle. Some love the classic ones more than today's New Beetle. I kind of like the newer ones a little more. Volkswagen makes a lot of "people cars." This is true for their Golf, Beetle, Lupo, and more. From Europe, here's a no-brainer cult car pair in Japan- the Honda Civic and the AE86 from Toyota. Name me one car fan that has never seen a Civic with at least one kind of modification. "Initial D" shown that a hachi-roku (86 in Japanese) that can take on an RX-7, an R32 Skyline, and more.

Cult Cars. You like them? Want to talk about notables? Reply now. Go ahead.
 
Land Rover Defender.

I don't really like it, but it's definitely a cult car.

Jeep Wrangler, too, among die-hards. Then there's 18-25-year-old women who have them as well. Then they're not such cult cars.
 
In order to be a "cult car", it has to be largely ignored or forgotten by the general driving public --even amoung people who like cars --but has a diehard following amoungst owners and fans.

Older cars are usually the best cult cars. Off the top of my head, I think of the Buick Grand National, Chevy Corvair, Porsche 914, BMW 2002 and Datsun 510. Not many people know about these cars, but there is a healthy following for them.

I predict the BMW M/Z3 Coupe a future cult car.

Land Rover Defender.
Click to expand...

In the same vein, the International Scout, a vehicle so butch, it makes the Defender look like a fancy lad in pink tights.


M
 
The Z3 may have a strong following in the USA, but in Europe it gets slated for its lack of performance (the biggest seller was always the 1.9 4 cylinder! - 0-60 in over 10 seconds!) and its poor build-quality. The fact that its a car favoured by the unpopular group of people known as 'estate agents' does nothing for its image.
 
TheCracker
The Z3 may have a strong following in the USA, but in Europe it gets slated for its lack of performance (the biggest seller was always the 1.9 4 cylinder! - 0-60 in over 10 seconds!) and its poor build-quality. The fact that its a car favoured by the unpopular group of people known as 'estate agents' does nothing for its image.
Click to expand...

I was talking about the Coupe version of the Z3... which in the US made, 190, 240 and 315 hp, not the hairdresser's Z3 roadster. Z Coupes are cult cars because they are so ugly that no one would buy one just to pose in.


M
 
No, i agree with you on the Z3 coupe. I personally think its a great looking car, but then we only ever got the Mcoupe in the UK, with the big wheels and arches.
 
I vote for the Citroen 2CV. There is no reason whatsoever for anyone but poverty-stricken French people (or other third world drivers) to consider owning one, yet they have a following throughout the otherwise civillized world.
 
///M-Spec
I was talking about the Coupe version of the Z3... which in the US made, 190, 240 and 315 hp, not the hairdresser's Z3 roadster. Z Coupes are cult cars because they are so ugly that no one would buy one just to pose in.
Click to expand...

Better than that, they're unbelievably rare. I can't think of the last time I saw either a Z3 coupe or an M coupe. I don't think they'll become cult cars, but I can't think of a good reason why not.
 
M5Power
Better than that, they're unbelievably rare. I can't think of the last time I saw either a Z3 coupe or an M coupe. I don't think they'll become cult cars, but I can't think of a good reason why not.
Click to expand...

Have you ever known an M Coupe or Z Coupe owner? These guys/gals are diehards. Most of them are track and auto-x junkies. They go to Z3 Homecoming in SC and crazy stuff like that. The kind of people these cars attract are not your average Bling Bling status-seeker.

The US imported the Z3 2.8 Coupe for MY '99 and '00 only. 800 each year, which makes it the most rare regular series production BMW in the US. I myself have only ever seen TWO. The M Coupe moved about 3500 units total over 4 years. Only about 450 are around running around with the 315 hp S54 engine. Rare cars indeed.


M
 
Cult.

Citroen-2CV--90.jpg

________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Buick GnX
Camaro BG3 (aah, I forgot its code. V-6 appearance with SS hardware.Special police package)
Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe (especially the 1986 model, only 200 were made) and Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2

All of these cars have developed a cult-like following near where I live. The 60 chasis Celicas/Supras are gaining popularity among the younger tuners, especially the MA and RA.

DQN, just for the info, it was called the Minibus, then Vanagon, and now EuroVan :)
 
Say as you might guys, but these two are the ultamate 'cult' cars:

Volkwagen Beetle
1975_VW_Beetle_conv1.jpeg


vw.gif



Mini
Austin.Mini.Cooper.jpg


mk1sina3232-02.jpg
 
In a sense, the AE86 has been a cult car for a while now. To those who didn't know, it was nothing more than a cheap, old, economy car.

However, its cult days are mostly over, now that everyone's seen Initial D and drifting.

The 240SX is similar, although it, too, is becoming mainstream.
 
Well, where we live (northeast) the Eight-Six is starting to gain a tremendous cult following, since just now people are discovering what Initial D is... they're hard to find but I do like the car for its stats. Its lightweight, rear-drive and moderately powerful. It's actually a pretty well balanced car for its size, price and performance.
 
In a sport of Drifting, yes I consider the AE86 Corolla series as a cult car in that sport, but for me (Internationally) the status is still not up there yet.
 
///M-Spec
Have you ever known an M Coupe or Z Coupe owner? These guys/gals are diehards. Most of them are track and auto-x junkies. They go to Z3 Homecoming in SC and crazy stuff like that. The kind of people these cars attract are not your average Bling Bling status-seeker.
Click to expand...

No, honestly, I haven't known a Z3/M Coupe owner, and while I've been to six or seven BMW autocrosses I've never seen one there either. But they're rare, and you know BMW better than me so if you say it's true then I buy it.
 
S-Trucks are a cult truck in the custom truck scene at least. I mean I can believe how many of them are out there now and what people have done to them. It truely amazes me.

Also since I've bought my Blazer I can't believe how many other Blazer's and S-Dimes park next to me when I go somewhere. Its like we all have a sixth sense to find one another.
 
^I'm trully amazed about you're infactuation on the Chevy S-trucks. :)
 
Its not only that I really like the trucks, its just that I mean...well ok its different for you...but here in the USA, and Michigan especially. They are everywhere and there are many custom ones. By far the most customized truck out there.
 
I don't know if it's a cult car, but the 300zx 90-96 has a very strong following, hidden for the most part but still strong, by hidden I mean you don't see too many in magazines, and I don't see too many on the road
 
Alot of the old mopar muscle has huge cult followers. And even though its silhouette is almost as unmistakeable as the luger, the 57' Chevy Bel-air has a wave of dedicated fans.
 
BlazinXtreme
Its not only that I really like the trucks, its just that I mean...well ok its different for you...but here in the USA, and Michigan especially. They are everywhere and there are many custom ones. By far the most customized truck out there.
Click to expand...

Dude, I also live in a state who also loves (and a lot of) trucks (Nevada), and also in the Philippines it is essential for a family to have trucks because of its very harsh roads and flooding during the monsoon season, In fact the best selling vehicle back there is also a truck (aka. Asian Utility Vehicle), so I don't blame you. :)
 
BlazinXtreme
Its not only that I really like the trucks, its just that I mean...well ok its different for you...but here in the USA, and Michigan especially. They are everywhere and there are many custom ones. By far the most customized truck out there.
Click to expand...
Yep, my favorite compact trucks of all time are the Blazer, Jimmy, S10 and Sonoma. 👍
 

Latest Posts

Back