By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
Have you noticed how more and more car makers are bringing back their historic brand names to push a new generation of cars?
Ford and Fiat are just two of the latest companies to turn back the clock with new electric models badged with old familiar names.
In 2024 expect to see the famous Capri name revived as a new all-electric SUV model, whilst the iconic Fiat 600 from the fifties is set to return as an EV version.
That got me thinking of some of other classic names that have made a comeback …. some with differing success!
Volkswagen Beetle
The ‘new’ VW Beetle arrived in 1997 and was built on the Golf platform. The nineties model draws close inspiration from the famous Type 1 Beetle introduced in 1938 – a car that reached 21 million sales worldwide. The last of the ‘new’ Beetle was made in 2019. Could it come back as an EV? There’s a good chance.
MG
One of the biggest success stories of recent years is the rebirth of the MG name, alas not in the shape of a sports car. MG has its roots back in the 1920s but disappeared with the demise of its last owners, the Rover Group.
Over a decade ago, the brand was relaunched under Chinese owners, the SAIC Motor Corporation, and its badge is now widely seen on the flood of SUV and EV models now reaching these shores.
BMW Mini
It’s a similar story with the Mini brand. The original BMC Mini bowed out in 2000 only for Rover to develop a new Mini before BMW took them over. The return of the Mini name came in 2001 with the launch of the City and Mini Cooper models. Now there is string of Minis from five-door crossovers to all-electric versions.
Fiat 500
Following in the ‘slip-stream’ of the new Mini, Fiat rolled out an all new 500 in 2007 that was even closer in styling to its fifties predecessor. The original Fiat 500 was made between 1957 and 1975 and sold nearly four million units. Fast forward to the 2000s and the modern day Cinquecento (‘500’) would again prove a flagship model and style icon for the Turin-based company.
Vauxhall Viva
Not all comebacks are quite so sweet. In 1963 the Viva proved a winning model for General Motors as a no nonsense family car. A staggering 1.5 million Vivas were sold in 15 years until it was replaced by the Chevette.
Vauxhall would revive the Viva name in the form of a hatchback ‘City car’ in 2015. Sadly, it was a model far removed from the original. The ‘new’ Viva lasted four years and sold just a fraction of the sixties and seventies car.
Like it or not, as all-electric transforms the face of motoring today car manufacturers have cottoned on to cashing in on the heritage before them.