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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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GTPlanet, this topic is not about if you have a vintage-style Houston Astros or Detroit Pistons jersey in your closet. Instead, this topic is about retro and retro styling in general. This thread is a discussion about retro trends in modern automobiles. It is also about some of the best and worst of retro styling. We're seeing some sorts of comebacks in style. Look at Morgan's Aero 8, the latest (should be out now) Mustang, the next Camaro (I have mixed reactions), and others. The move to the past and past styling in a post-modern world may be a bad call by car companies based on some people. Likewise, retro trends are better than most modern designs. So GTPlanet, it's all about moving in retrograde here. What are some of the best retro designs? the worst? What constitutes a machine to go back in time instead of stick with more modern designs? How do you do it right? GTPlanet, hit me up with replies.
 
I think that all cars should pay tribute to there previous generations without looking exactly like them. The Corvette is a great example of how to progressively change a cars appearance. The new ford GT & Mustang look too similar to their 1960's counterparts. Cars like the Morgan Aero 8 or Chrysler PT Cruiser are just overdone flamboyant monstrosities. Then, there are cars like the Volkswagen Beetle, Mercury Cougar, Toyota MR2, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 350Z that aren’t anything like the originals.
 
Quick_Nick
I think that all cars should pay tribute to there previous generations without looking exactly like them. The Corvette is a great example of how to progressively change a cars appearance. The new ford GT & Mustang look too similar to their 1960's counterparts. Cars like the Morgan Aero 8 or Chrysler PT Cruiser are just overdone flamboyant monstrosities. Then, there are cars like the Volkswagen Beetle, Mercury Cougar, Toyota MR2, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 350Z that aren’t anything like the originals.
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Hiya! :D :O :lol: Meow! (='.'=)

I agree with Quickie Nicky! :O 👍 :cheers:
 
Some say that the Mucielago payed homage to the countach with its fold out intakes.

I think Retro is good, If you can do it right.

The new charger doesn't look anything like the old one, they'd be better off calling it a 1957 Chrysler C300 (II)
 
McLaren'sAngel is just about to hit 300 posts seems like. Quick Nick, you mentioned that the Nissan 350Z looked nothing like its predecesors. As I said once in the past, I agree that it didn't really bring back the Datsun 240Z, one of my favorite Japanese cars of all time. Just look at the 240Z. The fastback thing probably would be changed for modern times, but didn't really show off the old beauty of the 240Z. And if you look at a thread 98Cobra provided, he noted a sort of sports car from Toyota that may be the next Supra. But I've been going on the premise that the next Supra would have design cues taken from my favorite Japanese car, the Toyota 2000GT. And if you ask me, a modernized 2000GT with designs from the latest Supra should be the next Supra.

So does anyone want to talk about the best and worst of retro designs?
 
BAD -
new beetle- just a golf under the skin, no revolution as the original was
ford gt - too close to the original, just looks like a GT40 kit car.
ford thuderbird - not the worst offender, but whats the point?
chrysler 300 - badly proportioned and just plain ugly
corvette - retro clues not strong enough, modern elements not modern enough
prowler - weren't hot rods originally hot?
pt cruiser - weren't hod rods originally average family cars with bigger/hotter engines and wheels- not just 'average' cars?
Merc SLR - styled by Liberace with some heavy-handed nods to the old 300SLR from the 50's
New Mini - great car, but looks like a original mini's skin stretched over a much larger car

GOOD
350z - enough nods to the 240z without taking it too far
Viper - modern and retro without the pastiche
Elise (S1) - like Lotus never stopped making cheap sports cars
errr.....can't think of any others
 
a great example for retro-styling is in my opinion the bmw z8.

it combines classic lines and modern styling elements and honours the old 507 without being a cheap replacement like the new beetle is. instead the z8 is a very unique new car.


and i wouldn't call the aero 8 a retro-styled car as morgan just never introduced a new shape. they just made the old shape a little bit more areodynamic. ;)
 
Morgan Aero 8, Chrysler PT Cruiser, & Plymouth Prowler are retro. They are not designed to take after any model, like some cars are. They are just designed to look old.
 
The Morgan Aero 8 isn't retro, its a much modernised version of the style of car that Morgan has always made, and continues to make to this day
 

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