Hooniverse Asks: Has there ever been a good new-car-modified-to-look-retro?

Jeff Glucker

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Old cars rule. Plenty of new cars are cool. Can you combine those two worlds and make something special? No. No you cannot, at least with respect to vintage looks from a modern machine. Swapping modern internal bits is great. Putting a real old body on a modern chassis can make for a fun ride. But every time I’ve seen an example of a modern car made to look retro, I find it never really works.

I’d love to be proven wrong here. I’m open to the idea  of this sort of modified car, yet I’ve never found one I think actually looks any good.

And it seems that’s not changing anytime soon.

See, for example, the latest offender. A builder has created an old K5 Blazer look for a modern Chevy Tahoe. The result is almost there. I actually like the blue and white two tone paint. The metal bumpers are weird but also sort of work. But the rest of the proportions are off.

Have you found any examples of a modern car made to look old, where the finished product looks good?

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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37 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Has there ever been a good new-car-modified-to-look-retro?”

  1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Almost. There have been a few that would seemingly look good in a vacuum. Had the inspiration vehicle never existed, they might look cool. Unfortunately, that is a double-edged sword. The modern retro designs are at once reliant on the original to offer an emotional connection to the past, while being relegated to the “uncanny valley” by the same.

    I kind of like the Mitsuoka Rock Star. Being based on a Miata, it feels like it’s “in on the joke.” The styling is clearly evocative of the C2 Corvette, but it straddles a line between homage and parody that seems to work.

    https://static.pressfrom.info/upload/images/real/2018/10/11/a-close-up-of-a-car-mitsuoka-rock-star__659719_.jpg

    Reply
  2. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8f/b7/9f/8fb79fba64bbb024f6856efac8a648c2.jpg

    Reply
  3. onrails Avatar
    onrails

    There’s lots of examples of taking the old and putting new hardware underneath that do the job quite well. But taking new and trying to make them look old never seems to work. And this is the most egregious of the lot. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cfc34385a40f5890f6ca56846eee436d580f2203542c273e3e596bd910b24ff8.jpg

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      There’s no need to modify Mercurys when the spirit of the Edsel lives on in Toyota and Lexus. The Edsel’s ugly mug is almost elegant in comparison to the Avalon’s front end.

      Reply
      1. ptschett Avatar
        ptschett

        almost

        Reply
    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Yes, but that’s EXACTLY what the Edsel would have become if Ford hadn’t killed off the marque.

      Reply
  4. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    http://singervehicledesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/01-singer-911-milwaukee-540×320.jpg

    There’s one blatantly easy option, although it’s more “new(er) car modified to look retro,” and benefited from the relatively minimal development over the 911’s first 35 years.

    http://www.overseaslane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/00V0V_2K0IT3pAyYo_600x450.jpg

    I’m also fond of the VW Bus front end on assorted Kei vans – since it’s not meant to be serious, it doesn’t matter if it’s imperfect, it’s just a fun, goofy little thing.

    Reply
    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      I think it’s the kitsch that makes that Sambar(?) VW work. There is (was?) a company called Dream Factory Blow in Japan that made a bunch of kitschy little kei-based copies of vintage US trucks and vans. They are adorable, and awesome.
      https://carfashion.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/nte3mtqxnjc1mja_o_dream-factory-blow-in-sagamihara-japan.jpg

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        I didn’t want to specifically say Sambar knowing that it could be any number of small vans, but exactly.

        Reply
        1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
          SlowJoeCrow

          I think most of their Chevy tributes were Suzuki Wagon R based

          Reply
      2. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        These are awesome.

        Reply
      3. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        I love the mini Dodge Vans, funnily enough Japan has an odd subculture of people taking Dodge Vans to track days. https://www.automobilemag.com/news/find-dodge-van-racing-thing-japan/

        Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      With you on the Sambar conversions because they’re tongue in cheek, and while Singers are lovely, not sure how I feel about visually backdating a 964.

      Reply
    3. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      (replied under wrong post… relocating)

      Reply
  5. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Almost. There have been a few that would seemingly look good in a vacuum. Had the inspiration vehicle never existed, they might look cool. Unfortunately, that is a double-edged sword. The modern retro designs are at once reliant on the original to offer an emotional connection to the past, while being relegated to the “uncanny valley” by the same.

    I kind of like the Mitsuoka Rock Star. Being based on a Miata, it feels like it’s “in on the joke.” The styling is clearly evocative of the C2 Corvette, but it straddles a line between homage and parody that seems to work.

    https://static.pressfrom.info/upload/images/real/2018/10/11/a-close-up-of-a-car-mitsuoka-rock-star__659719_.jpg

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Both of these are based on an MX5 too, the Miura and the 2000GT. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fc584c5f816d73a556c8366b35c83ccf4c20ce4e7e056aabf5aa3dbcf9dcc34c.jpg

      Reply
  6. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    People are all the rage about 911s with retro liveries. Given the evolutionary shape of these cars, it often worked (Rennsau at Le Man’s).
    https://newsroom.porsche.com/image/teaser_720x406x2/5fcf8ea1-bad4-4796-bf24-1f7a0d44e3b5.jpg

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I never understood the popularity of the pink pig livery. I wouldn’t even paint my daughter’s bicycle in that scheme– it’s heinous.

      Reply
      1. nanoop Avatar
        nanoop

        Must be a German thing, every butcher had these in the shop, and even grandmothers* chuckle when they see it the first time.

        *) Number of samples: 2.

        Reply
  7. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Does “modified from the factory count?” I believe the Nissan Pike cars were pretty much all based on the Nissan March hatchback

    https://www-europe.nissan-cdn.net/content/dam/Nissan/global/experience-nissan-refresh/pike-cars/nissan-pike-cars-pao-advertisement-19tdigbpace101-3000×1250.jpg.ximg.l_12_m.smart.jpg

    Or the Honda N-One which is a retro styled version of the N-Box

    https://car-images.bauersecure.com/pagefiles/77097/1040×585/honda-kei-01.jpg

    Reply
    1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      The Pike cars succeeded because they were not made to imitate a specific car but were simply intended to look old. This saved them from being poor imitations like so many tribute cars

      Reply
      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        True, though the Pao riffs on the Renault 4, the Figaro on Wolsely and the Austin A35, while the S-Cargo (escargot, geddit 😉 ) makes the most obvious homage to the tin snail – the 2CV van.

        Reply
        1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
          SlowJoeCrow

          Which proves my point, the Pike cars are like a jazz variation, homage but not imitation, while the “K5” and some of the other horrors are a bad cover band

          Reply
  8. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I think windshield angle and greenhouse height are the biggest obstacles. Classic windshields are much steeper, and windows taller. This is the problem on the K5 homage you noted above, and why the Vettes don’t look quite right. The Trans Ams do a better job pulling off the look because they weren’t modified to look retro, they’re simply a Pontiacized version of an already retro-themed– but modern– Chevrolet design.

    Reply
    1. Tiller188 Avatar
      Tiller188

      My thoughts exactly — the glass/greenhouse seems to oftentimes be the Achilles heel, and yes, the Trans Ams avoid that nicely since they’re more a modernized version of an older look. (I actually like those better than the Camaro…)

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        So do I! I’ve seen one up close like that in the image P161911 posted below, and preferred the Pontiac front and rear design elements much better than those of the Camaro. I’m not a fan of the screaming chicken, but otherwise the car was pretty sweet.

        Reply
  9. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Does designing it to look like a bygone era count?

    https://www.kimballstock.com/pix/AUT/26/AUT_26_RK1192_01_P.JPG

    Reply
  10. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    So it’s merely paint and wheel changes, but I think it still looks great
    https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/retro-themed-silverado-placement-1532634186.jpg?resize=480:*

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I agree. There’s one in town where I live, and for such a simple modification, it really grabs your attention. I assume this is a dealer-performed conversion?

      Reply
      1. salguod Avatar
        salguod

        I’ve seen several around Columbus.

        Reply
    2. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Luther Buick/GMC in Fargo has a similarly two-toned red/white late-model Sierra on runabout duty, and it’s an eye catcher for me whenever I see it in traffic.

      Reply
  11. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The Bandit Trans Ams aren’t horrible. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aa19d121e3bce1a9e8030cbe4d084c8a936a1b20167bbb1d2c73b87d2c44223f.jpg

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I agree, they have good proportions, but that’s because they’re simply facelifted Camaros. There’s hardly more work in them (other than painting the screaming chicken) than there was in creating the G8 from the Holden Commodore.

      Reply
  12. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Retrobuilt Motors pulls off some respectable S197-based Mustangs with throwback styling. Like the modern Challenger, they’re a little chunky compared to their forebears, but overall I don’t think they look too contrived. I particularly like the homage to the ’70 Shelby.

    https://i.wheelsage.org/pictures/r/retrobuilt/fastback/retrobuilt_fastback_1.jpeg

    https://www.mustangevolution.com/forum/attachments/31823d1316128187-image-3285892560.png

    Reply
  13. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Has there ever been a good new-car-modified-to-look-retro?

    Many Easter Jeep Safari concepts would say yes.

    Reply
  14. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    The wheels on that Suburban are terrible. No. Just no.

    I have mixed feelings about the Corvettes. These are done by CR Coachworks and the build quality is excellent and the bodies are carbon fiber. The proportions are all wrong but, they are seriously well done. I find this C6 based split window somewhat compelling. Then again, at $174K to start (plus the C6 donor), it ought to be.

    https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c141dbfe17ba358eff629ab/1545338873174-8DYW4G00HDZ4C066JERZ/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kPLerjwc9T00S19UIx4D7DV7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UWQaL5Zc965r8V2AH38PHUO8HP8IE1QJFP1I8jNvddiftNpR-oeFwj2Ae_lbqFbpxA/CRC_Corvette_Gallery-2.jpg?format=2500w

    Reply
  15. desmo Avatar
    desmo

    Does MINI count? I think it works quite well.
    https://www.handelsblatt.com/images/der-kleinwagen-wird-unter-der-federfuehrung-von-bmw-seit-2001-gebaut-2006-gab-es-ein-neues-modell-/9420668/1-format2020.jpg

    Reply