Hooniverse Asks- What Car Makes You Most Proud of Your Country?

Robert Emslie

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This blog is read all around the world, a fact of which we are all aware. As most of your humble contributors carry U.S. passports – with one notable exception – what you read tends to have a star spangled bent. That being said, we try to provide you all with stories that will appeal to both to our domestic as well as import readers. Not only are some of you reading this right now outside the confines of the U.S. border, but some of you inside those imaginary walls come from somewhere else. And today, we want to give each of you a chance to rattle your sabers for your country of origin, and the cars they build.

Many countries have automotive production, whether native, or, such as in the case of Mexico, immigrants who have thrived. Some of those are mere memories of past glories, while others are symbols of a burgeoning industrial revolution. Whichever, we’d like to know which of your county’s automotive products makes you most proud.
Sure, here in the states you have easy options like the Corvette, which has had a steady run, providing a blend of muscle and exotic car for nearly 60 years. We’ve also given the world the Jeep and the Mustang, two iconic offerings known the world round. Cadillacs, maybe even the Humvee, there’s a number of vehicles originating here of which you might take pride.
Germany, home of the most technically advanced and anally retentive engineering in the world seemingly produces a new standard barer annually, while over in France – home of the Cugnot Steam Wagon, generally considered the first auto-mobile – style and eclecticism appear to trump other considerations- and the choices for Francophiles is a tough one. Across the channel in Great Britain, you could do worse than Jag and their XK-120.
Japan has a plethora of contenders, if that is the nation you call home, while the Koreans have a much smaller selection from which to choose, but some worthy rides exist there too. In South America, Brazil has been building a number of cool cars for decades, while even  underestimated Uruguay has a history that includes Panhards, some of the craziest cars to ply the roads there, or anywhere.
So, what we ant to know is, where are you from, and what car do they build there that makes you puff out your chest and claim it as your own? We here in the U.S. sometimes forget that  there’s a whole wide world out there that we may not be fully privy to, and that to a great extent, is our loss. That being said, should you call the land of apple pie and Apple Inc. home, please don’t hesitate to throw in your vote for the U.S. car that most floats your boat.
Image sources: [Corvettefever.com, Forzamotorsport.net]

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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45 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What Car Makes You Most Proud of Your Country?”

  1. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    <img src="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/autos/photos/manufacturers/cadillac/vehicles/20100330_cadillac-ctsv-wagon-ny_630mz.jpg"&gt;
    Yeah Buddy

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Yes, but…wagons are such step-children in America, I would have to have named the coupe or sedan.

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        True, but an American company building a sports wagon makes me prouder than a coupe or sedan.

        Reply
      2. tonyola Avatar
        tonyola

        They're step-children now, but is there anything truly more American than a big Detroit station wagon? This is Cadillac's nod to that tradition.

        Reply
        1. muthalovin Avatar
          muthalovin

          That is how I look at it.

          Reply
        2. Charles_Barrett Avatar
          Charles_Barrett

          I agree completely… The station wagon (from the Woody to the Wagon Queen Family Truckster) is iconic American auto memorabilia…!
          <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XIRWX53FbH8/R8EOGr_kWeI/AAAAAAAAAiE/-4k-01YHaEQ/s400/Vacation_familytruckster.jpg"&gt;

          Reply
  2. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    As a Canadian, I think I have to pick the Bricklin.
    Then again, our best selling car is the Honda Civic, and there's a certain amount of pride both in that we build them, and it's the best selling car in the country (I'm just glad we didn't go for the Corolla). And, even though it might lose that #1 spot soon, it would be to the Mazda3, so there's no shame in that.
    I suppose I also appreciate that the three traditional American boats/police cars are all built in Ontario.

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Sure, it was a horrendous gullwinged folly that cost New Brunswick too much money, but it was ours. Why let Northern Ireland have all the displeasure?

      Reply
    2. FreeMan Avatar
      FreeMan

      Cut him some slack, there's not that much else to choose from, as he covered in the rest of the post. I'm sure that if you could drive bacon, he'd have selected that instead.

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Wait, can you drive bacon? We need our top men on this immediately! Maybe get a team on back bacon, and another on conventional bacon. But not turkey bacon. Screw that noise.

        Reply
        1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
          Peter Tanshanomi

          "Driving Bacon" is a Canadian euphemism.

          Reply
          1. Maymar Avatar
            Maymar

            Really? The mythical "they" forgot to tell me.

        2. Mr_Biggles Avatar
          Mr_Biggles

          You can always eat the bacon, then make bio-diesel from the grease and run something on that. If I could drive a car that always had the smell of bacon about it, I would be a much happier motorist.
          Also, as a Canadian, I'm with you on the Bricklin. Kinda odd and quirky, like the people who designed and built it.

          Reply
    3. engineerd Avatar
      engineerd

      I was totally expecting the Snowcat.
      <img src="http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/m/MikeTheiss/353.jpg&quot; style="width: 600px; height: 400px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        I wasn't sure if that would count as a car or not, but I'll throw Armand Bombardier's original snowmobile in the mix
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLI4RSYvgNo

        Reply
    4. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      What the hell is the matter with you? Be a proud goddamn Canadian! La:
      <img src="http://motorcrave.frsucrave.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/HTT-Plethore-LC-750-Canadian-supercar-5.jpg&quot; width="600">

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Eh, it's sort of strange looking, and (I might have to turn my hoon card in for this), supercars sort of bore me. Check back in about ten years to see if the company's had any staying power.
        The Campagna T-Rex, on the other hand, is something I can get behind.

        Reply
  3. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    <img src="http://culturedcouture.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/jag-xk150-2.jpg&quot; width="600">
    XK150. Hand on heart, seriously, who else in the world could have built this other than us?
    For me, the XK stands out as a beacon that, at some point waaay back in time, we could throw together some world class shit, on our own, without outside assistance.
    Isn't it funny how I didn't really feel able to pick anything from the last fifty years?

    Reply
  4. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    I'm not much of a Corvette fanboi, but I still would have to vote 2010 Z-06. Hubba.
    <img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs224.snc4/38545_1451666465117_1636945463_1038484_6067890_n.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
  5. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    The Ford GT40 with it's 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966, followed up with wins in 1967, '68 and '69. Along with plenty of success at Sebring and Daytona.
    <img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-def/Ford-GT40-LeMans-Victory-1966.jpg&quot; style="width: 629px; height: 487px; border: 0" alt="imgTag" />

    Reply
    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
      Rust-MyEnemy

      Are we able to do a UK/USA Joint Forces, Allied, Partial Credit divvy-up job on the GT40?
      Probably the most Anglo-American car of all time!

      Reply
      1. engineerd Avatar
        engineerd

        It's definitely way up there on the list. I would say England could take some credit for it. I guess it depends on which chassis you're talking about — the John Wyer ones built in England or the Shelby ones built in California.

        Reply
        1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
          Rust-MyEnemy

          Well, if we stick with the Mks I and II, (the pretty ones) I can submit my claim. Sort of like Gordons Gin with a Jack Daniels chaser.
          Am I too late for breakfast?

          Reply
          1. engineerd Avatar
            engineerd

            Never! I drank breakfast for lunch yesterday.

          2. Charles_Barrett Avatar
            Charles_Barrett

            "…Sort of like Gordons Gin with a Jack Daniels chaser."
            Hahahaha…! The PERFECT way to think of Anglo-American cooperative endeavors…!

    2. Clashtastic Avatar
      Clashtastic

      Totally meant to vote this UP. Ford GT40 and for a youngin like me to the Ford GT make my heart swell up w/ pride for Amurrrica.

      Reply
  6. tiberiuswise Avatar
    tiberiuswise

    Ford GT Gulf Livery
    <img src="http://www.shelbyforums.com/forums/attachments/open-community-forum/1688d1205639852-gt40-real-gt40-gulf-4.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  7. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    It may not have the best lines or the most performance, but it was the automobile that enabled affordable transportation for everyone.
    <img src="http://www.knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/1/15/Late_model_Ford_Model_T.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  8. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    RIP Joey. So genuine, so down-to-earth, so unassuming. He was sort of the "Anti-Barry."

    Reply
  9. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    It's easy to go historic on a question like this but I love that we are building modern four-wheeled rocketships. With that said, it has to be this:
    [youtube bq6Nfjmic_4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq6Nfjmic_4 youtube]

    Reply
  10. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    As an outside (or upside-looking-down) observer, I would have to say that anything from AMC makes me proud of you guys.
    there is a tendency for us to write all 300 million-ish of you off as the kind of people who could not be cast in Idiocracy because you would make the movie too hard to believe.
    However, AMC spent most of its life being 20 years ahead of everyone else. That they almost managed to pull it off, and even approach the volumes of the big three says a lot about the silent majority of US Americans, those who value innovation, quality, and sophistication over the lowest common demoninator, biggest-for-cheapest walmart sensibility.
    Of course, that the company ultimately failed probably shoots holes all over my argument. But I love you guys anyway. Just like Jimmy Carter loves Billy Carter.

    Reply
  11. Floyd Avatar
    Floyd

    Sure a GT40 or Corvette would do, but actually a Ford truck with a 4.9 six does me proud enough

    Reply
  12. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Corvettes are an obvious answer and a good one, but I'd like to name the 2011 Mustang. Even in "cheap secretary car" V6 form, it can scare European machinery costing twice the price, live axle and all. All-American "unsophisticated" bang-for-the-buck wins in the teeth of adversity.
    <img src="http://www.motorward.com/wp-content/images/2009/12/2011-mustang-11.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  13. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    <img src="http://www.bangshift.com/assets/images/news/2009/Mar/1-7/67win.jpg&quot; width="650" height="423" />
    Yes, I know the engine was British, but work with me, people!

    Reply
  14. alewifecove Avatar
    alewifecove

    Dusenberg SJ
    <img src="http://www.rpmgo.com/cars/d/4797-3/1935_duesenberg_sj.JPG"&gt;

    Reply
  15. Conrad Bon Honk Avatar
    Conrad Bon Honk

    Sweden.
    The usual suspects: Volvo and Saab. A third contender is of course Koeningsegg. Mmm… CCX. I used to live quite close to the airfield where they testdrive the cars. Of course Christian von Koeningsegg was, among the little people at least, accused of burning down his old buildning to collect the insurance money.
    So, uhm. Koeningsegg it is. And a bunch of hot rods for a number of reasons, quite a few of them historically interesting but not now.

    Reply
  16. pdb Avatar
    pdb

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Covered_Willy%27s_jeep_Wings_Over_Wine_Country_2007.JPG/800px-Covered_Willy%27s_jeep_Wings_Over_Wine_Country_2007.JPG"&gt;
    A humble, simple, reliable conveyance that got our soldiers where they needed to go in an era when most land armies were still largely dependent on feet and horses.
    The Jeep remained in US service for over 40 years, and some probably still do useful work around the world today.

    Reply
    1. Chad Avatar
      Chad

      Came here to say this.

      Reply
    2. busted_cam Avatar
      busted_cam

      you beat me to the theme, but I was going to go with this:
      <img src="http://www.4x4offroads.com/image-files/old-army-trucks-sept05-251.jpg&quot; width="600">
      Not only did Gen. George Patton call say "The 2 1/2-ton truck is our most valuable weapon." but you can get these from govt surplus for under $1500 if you are brave enough to fix em up yourself (alternatively 7-10k will buy you a real nice running example from a slew of resalers) I love the fact that these trucks are still out there churning up the backroads.

      Reply
    3. zaddikim Avatar
      zaddikim

      One of my managers when I worked in the auto-parts biz had a yellow&black F-head Jeep. Apart from an insatiable appetite for oil (he ghetto-rigged a dash-mounted oil filler tube for on-the-fly dino-lube replenishment), that thing was un-killable.

      Reply
  17. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    I used this as my answer some months ago to a different question, and I'm using it again, even if it is electric.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Apollo15LunarRover.jpg/800px-Apollo15LunarRover.jpg&quot; width="500"/>

    Reply
    1. Chad Avatar
      Chad

      Ok, I initially thought "Jeep" but this is the ULTIMATE off-roader. Well done sir.

      Reply
  18. dr zero Avatar
    dr zero

    Australia here. I (unimaginatively) nominate the Ford Falcon Phase III GTHO.
    <img src="http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2008/05/16/FordGTHO2_m_m_m.jpg"&gt;
    Image from: ” target=”_blank”>http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleId=52547

    Reply
  19. bzr Avatar
    bzr

    I was born in China. Well, cock.
    <img src="http://thecityfix.com/files/2009/04/electriccarconcept.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  20. straight6 Avatar
    straight6

    Mercedes 300SL Uhlenhaut. German engineering and styling at it´s best.
    <img src="http://www.autowallpaper.de/Wallpaper/Mercedes/Mercedes-Benz-300-SLR-W196S/Bilder/Uhlenhaut-Coupe.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply