Cars are rarely built for very long. This is, after all, the industry that invented the concept of planned obsolescence, and ever since GM surpassed Ford in the first half of the 20th Century cars have come and cars have gone. Of course there are a few exceptions. South Africa’s Citi Golf was a 25-year run of slowly-evolved Mk1 VW Golfs. And here’s news of another Volkswagen Methuselah: ChinaCarTimes reports that FAW will build the same Mk2 Jetta it’s been pumping out since 1991 until… 2015. If you could (given the hypothetical resources and market necessary for such a foolhardy venture) start with one car and slowly evolve it for 25 years, what would you start with and why? Are there any modern cars you could see being built for a 25 year run? Me, I’d do for the Lotus Elise what several small British companies did for that other great Lotus, the 7. Not because it would necessarily be easy, cheap or popular, but because it’s a vehicle that will likely never be replicated again, especially with Lotus now aiming for the Ferraris of the world. In 25 years, I’d be shocked if it had any real competition. Or if I ever got bored with it. What about you?
1. Chevy El Camino
2. VW Scirocco 16V
3. Mitsubishi Starion
4. Porsche 928S
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV vin 1971 to 1974
You mention the Golf and Jetta but missed two far longer runs: the Beetle and 911.
I’d like to see more of the Mercedes W123 and W124, which I think have been extended nearly 25 years by knockoffs in other countries.
Ditto on the W123/W124 run from Benz. To it I’d add the R107 chassis as well, but offer it with all the engine choices from the contemporary 123 & 124 sedans, namely the bulletproof 5 & 6 cylinder turbodiesels.
In so many ways those cars were truly the pinnacle of pre-CAD automotive engineering. Their build-quality still stands above much of today’s market offerings.
1989 Pontiac Trans AM turbo.
It had early 3rd-gen F-body styling, Grand National engine design, GNX intercooler, and 3800 cylinder heads.
Just about everything I like in one car.
We’ve already got a couple models closing in on 25:
Ford’s Ranger and Panther platform
And to a lesser extent:
Chrysler’s PT Cruiser (Chrysler was going to kill it, but decided the platform still has some life.)
It’s a lot easier to pick a model that might squeeze out another five or six years of life, rather than pick a new car that’s good for a 25 year marathon.
The 1997-1006 Jeep Wrangler…we were already 10 years in and until emissions standards rose it was just fine by Jeep enthusiast standards. My Current 2009 JK wrangler is simply too plastic and electronic obsessed in addition to being a little too contemporary.
Ford Ranger – again, about half way there as it is.
Cayman – its damn close to perfect, beautiful, inspired handling and slightly more livable than the Elise.
The Cayman is a lot more liveable than the Elise. For starters, getting in and out of the car is relatively easy, there is a lot of trunk space for a sports car and the options on the Porsche, while expensive, tend to work well. If Porsche put the Cayman on a diet like the Cayenne, they could make the Elise pretty much obsolete overnight.
Emissions was not what killed the TJ Wrangler – crash and rollover standards were the primary culprits. The 4.0L engine was pretty clean (I believe it met ULEV standards) and could have easily been made cleaner with a few minor modifications. Don’t believe everything you r
don’t know what’s up with the comment thingy today..as I was saying: Don’t believe everything you read on Allpar and Wikipedia when it comes to the venerable 4.0L.
Panther platform and variations thereof.
Oh. That’s already been done, hasn’t it.
GM got 20 years on the B Body platform. That’s one that could have, and should have, run a little longer.
Bob
Chevy Astro / GMC Safari went 20 years. I don’t know why it’s not in production today, 5 years later.
The Astro platform was an ergonomic disaster and a durability nightmare. Good riddance.
First-gen Mustang (1964.5-1966). Except, 25 years only brings us to 89 and Ford cars sucked then… Maybe 45 years.
It’s amazing that VW still produces things like updated A2 Jettas for certain markets. I’d actually buy an A2 new if it was an option. I had two of them – an ’85 and an ’89 – one diesel and one a turbodiesel. They were great cars overall. I like my A4 Jetta, but am not a fan of the A5 and the new Mk 6 generations.
+1
Speaking as a former owner of an A2, that Golf/Jetta generation may have been the best one so far.
What car (vehicle) would I build for the next 25 years (and I’m assuming, I don’t get to modify, change, update or do much of anything to it the entire run)?
The Mahindra Clean Diesel Pickup.
It’ll be (if promises to bring it to the US are fulfilled) the only “true” compact truck available in this market (with the demise of the Ranger and everyone else having bloated their compacts up to midsize).
With the grunt of a diesel (payload of 1.3 tons) that returns 30 mpg. Take that CAFE.
It’s already ugly, so no use in trying to upgrade its styling. Just build and repeat, build and repeat.
Ferrari F40. Time capsule of pure awesome.
Real world answer? 4th-gen Jetta Wagon TDI.
Audi S5
Jeeps were essentially a continuous slow evolution from 1940 til 2006. I know the 2007+ Wrangler has a lot of credibility, but I love my 06 TJ partly because of its heritage.
It used to be that full-sized pickups were all evolved in this fashion. Now ever few years, an “ALL NEW!!!” model is released that has little in common with the outgoing model. The exception is the Ford heavy duty line. F-250s and 350s have undergone significant changes since they were released in 1998, but they are still very similar trucks to when they were first released. I’d like to see them stay that way because it would be difficult to improve on a truck that stout (except for the terrible front ends of late).
VW Beetle.
Actually was in production for about 65 years. Production ceased in 1993.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle
I’ll never forget the time I saw a “grey-market” mexican Beetle import during my college years while working at a car audio shop. Not knowing the Beetle was still being made in Mexico, I asked the owner how he managed to keep the thing in such great condition.
When he replied it was only two years old, I nearly fell off of my chair.
It was pretty cool to have a new “old car”.
-ted
B13 SE-R
1996 Camry [other than some electronic goodies that would need to be added, I think this would still be a pretty competent family car]
AE86 Corolla
1980s Toyota Pickup
Ok…if I was picking a brand spanking new car that i could develop modestly for 25 years I’d start with the logic of which one would last me until I’m 50. Thats easy, the new Golf TDI. Or if I’m worried about oil going away I’d pick the older, more Vegi-oil friendly version.
First gen Mazda3, as it seemed to be the best balance of sportiness, usable interior space, good styling, and fuel economy for its class. A true world car.
1. 2005 Honda NSX-R
2. DC4 Integra Type-R
3. Lan-Evo IX
4. R33 GT-R
Not necessarily in that order.
I picked #3 and #4 as these two AWD turbo terrors were at the precipice of getting too fat and were, perhaps, at the apex of their respective evolutions.
I think the first two are fairly obvious, but the NSX and Integra WAS Honda before they decided to go chasing Toyota. Also, these two are examples of how mass carries more weight (see what I did there?) than power. The NSX, mind you, was able to hit 60 in roughly 5.1-5.3 seconds with “only” 290hp (3.2ltr motor).
1992 – 1994 Honda Accord
2002 – 2006 Honda Civic
1994 – 1996 Toyota Corolla
1985 – 1991 Honda Prelude
1990’s Lexus SC300 – SC400
1965 Vette…but only with the 327…imagine that car with a modern, 300HP V-6
Chrysler/Dodge Minivans MkII…the 1996-2001 era..
1995 F-150
1986-1988 Taurus
1996 -Taurus…will get a lot of grief on that one, but I thought the design was nuclear off the charts and if they’d let it evolve and kept it SOTA electronically and mechanically, they would have had a winner….
All the rest of the above, save the Vette, were ahead-of-their time, classic designs, near bulletproof. Imagine how they’d be today with slightly enhanced or SOTA mechanicals and electronics, and safety! The 92 to 94 accord was awesome, balanced, efficient…still see TONS of ’em on the roads today. IMHO may have been the ultimate high-volume mass-production automotive achievement of all time….ranks right up there historically, with the Model T, & the mid-50’s Chevies!
Ya had me at the Hondas.. toss in the wagons and or a ‘Vert for good measure.. and ya got longevity.. for a VERY very long time.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do.. for a good 4th Gen Accord with the wagon.
Heck, shove a 4 into that (equal to the Hyundai powerplants) and it would be golden.
I tried getting into a Civic of the 00 m.y and my head.. was wayyy too big. The proportions.. just arent right. I miss the long flat sections.. with being low to the ground of my Accord.
Its just impossible to find a car of that year.. with under 150k for decent money.. and with the wagon, If I did, I might as well be channeling GOZER.
I shouldnt have to buy a Civic for that size class.
I shouldnt have to buy a Accord of current size.. to get the name
And I shouldn’t have to do without the wagon.. cause those fuckers decide its not profitable.
I also shouldnt have to deal with model bloat to the the tune of about 3800lbs.. and a optional AWD unit.
I dont want the unit.
I dont want the bloat.
I dont want the nav unit b.s
Then again.. occasionally.. Id like the Prelude..
Heck..
If ya can bring that back.. bring the NSX back, lord knows the NSX is the Accord’s sexier sister.
Stuff is REALLY turning me on.
Buy a Coupla Accord wagons..
Coupla Preludes..
Coupla coupes.. / convs
maybe a NSX for the posterity sake of it..
Man.. this is making me really hot.
Land Cruiser J4
Alongside a plant producing Tylenol Back Pain
Mercedes Benz W100 600 — 1963 to 1981. Longest production run of any MB model.
Twotone
2002 Acura RSX Type-S. Still looks fresh 9 years later, 200 K20 still unmatched by other NA motors.
2006 Honda Element – the rugged earlier version before Honda started putting carpet and center consoles in it. Can’t beat the simplicity and versatility of the design.
2010 Ford Escape – 10 years and still going strong with just refreshes of the original design. All the newer compact crossovers have lost the utility of the originals.
In addition to the Benz bodies you can add the Volvo 240s built from 74 to 93. Put a powerful motor in it and it would meet a good car for the ages.
I’m bias, but I love my ’88 Bimmer.
1. BMW E30 platform.
Into the modern era.
1. I agree with the author, Lotus Elise.
Car companies never plan a car for an eternity. The classics just happen to happen. When the Golf was introduced, everybody at VW was convinced it would flop. They were wrong.
Actually, there is a long list of products that just lucked out. Imagine, before the IBM PC was launched, IBM had a market research that said its market potential was just 5000, tops. And they planned for that.
Likewise, VW was convinced that they would not sell more than 5000 GTIs.
Just try to make a good car. If you are lucky, and the stars are aligned perfectly, it might turn into an evergreen.
Plan for an evergreen, and it will surely flop.
That makes a lot of sense. However, you can adopt “evergreen” design principles, like eschewing the latest engineering, styling and marketing group think in favor of the long view. For example, I think a well-designed subcompact truck/SUV has potential. So would a downsized Wrangler (the current one is too big).
It also seems to me that the longest-running vehicles have tended to be either produced by independents or are marginal to the portfolio of a major automaker (e.g., in the old days trucks and utility vehicles). We see fewer long-run vehicles these days primarily because there are fewer true independents, and pretty much all of the newer Asian automakers have adopted planned obsolescence as a core strategy. There also seems to be more of a group think in how pretty much all of the world’s automakers approach vehicle design, e.g., a focus on four-to-eight year product cycles.
What we don’t have these days are renegades such as the post-WWII Volkswagen, which staunchly eschewed planned obsolescence. That’s too bad.
Easy: Volvo 240.
+1 especially the 245 (wagon)
I was in South Africa about two years ago, and my friend there picked me up in her “new” electic blue Citi Golf. I almost fell over…here was an old-school Golf, done up inside with new gear, to include electric windows and factory AC. I would have killed for one of those. Tough call on a car todya to continuously evolve over 25 years…Corvette comes close, as does the 911. But I’d like to see something more pedestrian and acheiveable obtain that status.
Mark I agree with you on most of your picks, but you picked the wrong civic. The correct answer would be the 1996-2000 model, the last of the double wishbone cars before they began watering them down. One personal car I would like to have seen evolve instead of devolve would be the first generation dsm cars (talon, eclipse, laser). These were fantastic cars that were way ahead of their time (4g63 turbo, awd etc.) that only gained weight with the second generation, and completely lost their soul in their third and fourth iteration. I’m surprised to see that nobody mentioned the Honda CRX, or the NA/NB chassis Miata.
Easy. A full size pickup truck in classic 60s size and proportions. Needs to be big enough to haul 4 ft by 8 ft sheets of building material, but not supersized. Form follows function. The trick is to leave room for lots of drivetrain flexibility for alternative fuel internal combustion engine like compressed natural gas or algal biodiesel or possibly full electric. The means of propulsion will change over 25 years, but I believe customers will still want full size pickup trucks to haul stuff.
Don’t forget the Studebaker Avanti. It came out in 1962 and perservered under various companies until 1987. Also, the Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer lived even longer, from 1963 up to about 1990 or 91 IIRC.
Of modern cars, the 96-2000 Civic would get my vote, along with the 95-98 Odyssey.
I was also thinking that the Avanti was probably in continuous production for 25+ years, but you beat me to it.
The “third gen” Chevy/GMC fullsize van was in production from 1971-1995, which is 25 model years, with incremental improvements. It was also very popular as the basis for conversion-van campers.
In response for the original question of what car I’d build and evolve for 25 years, the answer for me is obvious: 1966 Chrysler. I bought my first one a little over 10 years ago, and that is exactly what I’ve been doing with it.
What current vehicle is likely to be built for 25 years with only incremental improvements? My money is on the current replacement for the Chevy/GMC fullsize van, the Express and Savana.
One car?
Lancia Stratos.
Small, lightweight, classic sports coupe.
+1 to the W124, 240, and Integra.
It’d be nice to have seen the W124 continually refined and gracefully evolved (especially a manual diesel RWD AMG wagon version), yet still remaining as over-engineered and indestructible as it was.
Just to rant, it’s too bad so many manufacturers are abandoning their I6es and going V-only for 6 cyl engines. Naturally in harmonic balance without the excess of a V8, plus a design that almost forces longitudinal placement.
B13 Nissan Sentra. The basic 1.6 model, starting life here in 91 and ending in 94. It is the very definition of a “modern compact sedan”, came with an awesome motor, and had interior that would endure anything you’d throw (or spill) at it. They’re still making that same car for Central and South America as Tsuru/16V/B13/Clasico. If Nissan were to make its version of a classic Lada (another long-run car, btw), B13 Sentra would be it.
I’ve had two. Best commuters I’ve ever had the pleasure to run into the ground.
And it only needs to go on for another 5 years to make the list ;)
The current Ford Econoline van is most of the way to 25 years right now.
For cars … If we are talking Honda Civics, my preference is the 1988-1991 variety. Double wishbone all around (the same arrangement was kept through 2000), last generation of the CRX, plus that generation had the practical Wagovan. Lighter and more compact than today’s bloated models. Styling has held up well. (Rust protection, not so much.)
– Saab 9000 — went for thirteen years (1985-93), could’ve gone longer with some modernizations. A much nicer car/tighter platform than the 9-5.
– Chrysler LX platform — Traces its roots back to the old FWD LH cars (Intrepid, Concorde) and the 1993-2003(?) MB E-Class. Realistically likely will still be in production 25 years from now.
– GM W body — already 20+ years, and has proven itself quite adaptable (Regal, Grand Prix, Lumina, Cutlass, Intrigue, LaCrosee, Impala.)
– 1999-2002 VW Jetta/Golf. Still being sold as a budget model here in Canada, and in my opinion much nicer than the newer versions of the Jetta/Rabbit.
Mini Cooper (as opposed to MINI). Oh wait, it did last more than 25 years. I like the Lotus Elise too.
I’d probably opt for either:
1. A model/platform/series renowned for their toughness and durability (mid-1990s AE101 series Toyota Corolla, W123 and W124 chassis Mercs, etc.)
2. One renowned for their sensible mix of size and utility (1960s vintage pick-up trucks were a great suggestion, George…why must all pick-up trucks these days either be 2WD toys for high school yobs, or the size, and cost, of a modern aircraft carrier with little in between?)
or
3. Something that is just so bite-the-back-of-your-hand pretty that only the truly heartless would ever kill them off to begin with—the Lamborghini Miura, the Jaguar E-Type and the never-actually-in-production XJ13, Lancia Stratos, Ferrari 246 GT and 308 GTB/GTS, Porsche 904, etc., etc.
Of course, if I could only pick one, and it was to be the one that covered most of those bases, I would pick the W113-series “Pagoda” roofed Mercedes 280SL, any day of the week and twice on Sunday. It’s not often that one of the most flat-out elegant and…I don’t know…adult, I suppose…cars ever made is also as reliable as a wood-burning stove. But pre-90s Mercs really were something special, and worth every penny of what they were asking for them.
There is always a market for a bulletproof four door compact car honestly built without needless frills. A box on box design. Clean and understated. A wagon option. An engine bay that supports four and six cylinders. A pick up option. A early “Road Runner” or “GTO” option.
I would create a new Ford Falcon, a new 1970 Valiant/Dart, a new 1970 AMC American, a smaller Checker Marathon, a new 1970 Nova-like compact car line.
Air bags, latest safety crap, latest air pollution crap, metal dash, chrome dial speedo, bench seats in front and rear, column shift, no-nonsense everyday car.
If we look at cars that were designed for mass manufacturing to the “masses”, you see cars like this being the foundation for many other frivolous models with fad lifelines.
Behind every current brand, there was at some time a solid basic four door compact sedan keeping their coffers filled.
1981 to 1986 Audi Coupe/4000.
Why? Of all the cars I’ve owned or driven, my Audi Coupe simply had the best handling and indeed, roadholding. Then there was the ride, which swallowed large dips better than any other vehicle. Other owners of 4000s I know also rave about the way the car rode and handled. I was nowhere near so impressed with my drives in the quattro turbo version. Numb steering. Ponderous by comparison for no apparent reason. We got a pretty poor version of that car here in North America in my opinion.
So the poor Coupe was saddled with an iron inline 5 with barely 100 hp. It had door side beams and 5 mph bumpers. And a drum tight body. Weighed 2550 lbs.
Audi went on to make coupes with greatly increased weight and a DOHC 5. Nope, that wasn’t the way to go. Then later 80s and 90s and finally the A4 pigged out on weight and poor performance. My ’94 Audi 90 was the automotive equivalent of a nerd.
So, if I were allowed to run things, the original Coupe and sedan which had more than adequate structural integrity and a backseat with foam fully seven inches thick and comfy, would not be allowed to pork out more than necessary with airbags, etc. 3000 lb should be achievable, because the car is no bigger than a present day Jetta.
The handling would have to keep up, and should be easy to do. Living where I do, progress is slow, and some of the very same curves are available to me today as 25 years ago. The same whoop de doos. The Coupe’s exit speed on one particular 270 degree on ramp was 105 kph on 185/60 14 tires. My Eclipse turbo got squirrely at 90, my Legacy GT hangs the back out at 85 to 90. That’s superior roadholding, and not by a little bit. Simple rear axle and all. It’s not what you have, it’s how you use it.
So, if VW had developed that car to be a true 4 seat, upright vehicle with constant updates on the real basis of the car, it would be one hell of a better car than today’s A4, and weigh almost a thousand pounds less. The aluminum version of the VW 2.0 liter turbo 4 would then propel it quicker than it does bloated Golfs, Jettas and A4s.
See, I still have a copy of the letter I sent to the president of VW Canada, telling him in great detail how the 1994 90 Quattro was a complete bag of shite compared to my ’88 4000 Quattro. In every way. Except, maybe, quality. The ride was far worse, the handling was numb, the V6 was lethargic, the mileage was abysmal, and on and on.
VW seemed mystified at my comments — all I can say is, the same bunch of people did not design them both, or forgot everything they knew when they did the new one.
I sometimes daydream about what that old Coupe would be like, modernized, so this fits your requirement above, Ed. Thanks for letting me say what I’d do given the chance of making a really good car for a quarter century.
I think anything built continuously for 25 years would have to be fairly simple, with very little that needs changing over the years, and with very few things to go wrong. A pickup or basic SUV would probably be the most likely candidate. Make it basic, with only a few basic amenities and an efficient diesel engine, preferrably a clean one that has a prayer of standing up to EPA regs several years down the road. My thought is something along the lines of a first generation Nissan X-Terra, only with a 4 cylinder turbodiesel.
NSX – been almost 20 years before production ended
Legend – the 1986 model looks fine even by today’s standard
300ZX – still looks good today
Mini Cooper – better designed than the new Beetle
Isn’t the Jeep Cherokee still in production in Mexico and/or China? That gives it quite a long run.
VanillaDude :
“There is always a market for a bulletproof four door compact car honestly built without needless frills. A box on box design. Clean and understated. A wagon option. An engine bay that supports four and six cylinders. A pick up option. A early “Road Runner” or “GTO” option.”
The Chrysler EEK would fit this bill well. Probably the best EEK’s were the Spirit and Acclaim. No wagon, but it could be done. They had folding back seats to make up for the lack of a wagon. There was the LeBaron 2-door convertible version, and all of them used 4 and 6 cylinder engines. There was the R/T version for the gofast crowd. And a flex fuel version.
The ’89-95 Spirit/Acclaims still in use have shown to be durable, simple, competent, and surprisingly functional.
….you forgot to add that both the Spirit and the Acclaim were ugly enough to scare small children.
Gen II Viper GTS (1996-2002)
Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
And lest you think the Alfa is out of left field, I’d also add:
1932 Chrysler Imperial Phaeton
Dauer 962
Because they both give me wood.
+1 on the M100 Mercedes 600
I’ve actually had dreams on how it could’ve been possible to buy the toolings outright from DB in 1981, and continued to make it in small numbers ever since. Perhaps even getting Paul Bracq to design a new schnooze, just to not make it a copyright infrigement. A continued and developed 600 would still have been the dictators car of choice up to this date, in very small numbers, perhaps 10-20 cars a year. The opposition in the early 80’s would’ve been the RR Silver Spiritan and the Russian Zil. And I’d love to have one…
Other than that, I’d put my vote on the Jeep XJ Cherokee.
1988-1991 Civic
I’m thinking specifically of the hatch, but with a sedan, the CRX and a wagon in the mix, I’m sure someone could make it work.
Current 1996-2012 Aston Martin Vantage (they’re doing something major in 2013). The design is amazing! It’s just an art on wheels. Interior is amazing too. So the styling evolution would be a slow pace progress.
Design is the hard part with that done muhahahaha I get to play with the best part: engine, suspension, and interior technologies.
The Lang List
1) 1st Gen Honda Insight
2) Mercedes W116
3) Suzuki SX4 (I would love to see a modern small car evolve)
4) Volvo 240 (The Ford Flex should have been RWD, IKEA laden, and marketed as it’s successor)
5) Early 90’s Nissan Sentra
6) Oldsmobile Aurora
7) Buick Roadmaster Wagon
8) 1st Gen RAV4
9) Ford Ranger
10) Toyota Celica All-Trac (pick any year and give it more hp and less weight)
What happened to the LS400? You’ve praised that one pretty heavily here before. Don’t trust Toyota to keep it the same for 25 years? :P
Oldsmobile Aurora? 1st generation or 2nd generation? (BTW I do agree the Aurora is the ultimate Oldsmobile and the true successor to the orginal Toro.) Apparently the Olds’ 4.0 didn’t suffer the same failings as the Northstar?
Actually, the original Elise has already been in production for the better part of 25 years. It was introduced in 1995 and first on sale in 1996.
Because of the way the Elise is made and because of its adaptability to a wide variety of drivetrains, it’s probably a logical successor to the Seven as Ed points out. Any of the other cars mentioned here would be a much more difficult proposition in terms of acquiring all the necessary tooling etc.
Lotus did sell the tooling for the 1990s vintage Elans to Kia so maybe they’ll sell the Gen I Elise stuff. Since they plan on going upmarket, you wouldn’t be competing with them.
Volvo 140/240. (140 1966-1974, 240 1974-1993.)
1968 Dodge Charger..every day,all the way
+1.
My brother owned one. Copper with black vinyl top. 383 Magnum. Possibly the baddest car in the Allen Park/Melvindale/Lincoln Park area in the early 70’s….
Possibly the baddest car in the Allen Park/Melvindale/Lincoln Park area in the early 70’s….
There was a Griffith on Henry St. in Melvindale in the 70’s that I always felt held that title. Heard it belonged to a Ford engineer. If I remember correctly the guy owned a Pantera as well.
Any car I’ve owned I would have bought again had it still been made when I was went to replace it.
– ’82 VW Scirocco
– ’93 VW Corrado SLC
– ’01 Audi TT (180hp, manual, quattro)
– ’07 Audi A3 ***
If I had to pick just one of those cars, I’d pick the Corrado.
*** I would’t get the 3.2 VR6 engine again; it’s a gas sucking pig.
Yep, the Volvo 240 could easily have been an evergreen vehicle had Volvo continued to evolve it with the times. How long has the 747 been in production in one form or another?
W140 Benz
X1/9
928
968
Gen I Honda Insight
Each and everyone the pinnacle of their respective genres.
As I can readily tune all save the Insight to a currently relevant point, imagine what one could do with factory money.
The Volvo 240 deserved to live on with modest updates forever.
There’s a lot of good suggestions here. I’d add:
Toyota MR2 MK1 N/A – pure joy
Lancia Fulvia – so pretty
Alfa Romeo Giulietta – yes
Peugeot 404 – just cuz
Toyota Previa – mmm tasty
Hillman Imp- they almost got it right. 20 years and it’ll be fabulous.
I think if the Argentines wanted to they could still be building a mildly updated first generation Falcon. As it is they got 29 years out of it (1962-91). Other cars I think could/should be timeless:
1965-66 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1990-97 Town Car
1961 Lincoln Continental
1992-96 Camry
1989-ish Buick Electra wagon with the 1994-96 Roadmaster mechanicals (the box styling is much classier than the whale)
I agree with the Volvo 240, but I’d also recommend the 740/940/S90 series. I drove several 1998 S90s when they were new and it was the ultimate RWD Volvo, in my opinion. I had a 1991 940SE for seven years, now that was a great car.
Bertel, do they still make the Audi 5000 knockoff in China? I seem to remember they were still in production seven or eight years ago.
crown victoria – oh they did that – how about another 25 years? i’d love to see them try offering the hybrid powerplant from the escape as an option or at the very least an eco-boost 6 cyl. wagon version (with or without woodgraind country squire option)?
hey, i have an idea. let’s all chip in and buy the tooling from ford and open up an independent company called panther cars…
ok, somebody had to write it:
the crown victoria for another 25 years!
let’s buy the tooling from ford and form an independent venture called panther cars. possible variants: the country squire wagon, the ecoboost 6 cylinder, the hybrid with the power train from the escape.
we could even introduce some radical new technology like a miniature spare tire or an aluminum hood.
I’m a sucker for the Ford Maverick. It was my first car. Older brother had his 1972 8-cylinder auto… I had my 1976 6-cylinder with three-on-the-tree manual transmission. Compact but not so small that you’d get cramped in it. Ford could have had a classic here.
The Checker cab, best old design out there…
E39 M5; Porsche CGT :)
E39 for me. Still looks good and very solid.
The Fiat 131 is still being produced in Ethiopia IIRC.
The Mazda121/Ford Festiva/Kia Pride is being produced in Iran. Also the Peugeot 405.
The Nissan Tsuru (B13 Sentra) is still being produced in Mexico
GM still produces the Corsa 2 or B in may countries, facelifted in some cases.
Fiat is still making the Uno in Brazil. Same with VW with the old Gol.
The XJ Cherokee is still being done in China (under other brand)
Is also being done in Europe.
I think that a car to be evergreen (as Mr. Schmitt says) needs to have general public acceptance, be reliable, well built, simple and be “cheap” to keep.