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[bjork]

... reissue old body styles?

I know Ford has that Mustang that's similar to the old one, but what stops them from redoing bodies from older years with never materials and capitalizing on the popularity of old styles? Like in 07, Chevy could do the 57 body and whatnot and sell a ton of them at $40k+, I would think...

Or do they have some kind of deal with the repro parts people to NOT remake these old cars?

 

[Pochacco]

Very few people would want to buy something new that looks old.

 

[bjork]

Very few people would want to buy something new that looks old.

So the new mustang that looks like the old one isn't selling?

 

[nitewulf]

you got a good point, i'd kill for a late 60's mustang fastback with new engine and controls.

 

[robox]

because when you change what's underneath, you gotta change the body as well. modern cars with modern designs, regulations, interiors all shape how the car'll look like from the outside. plus they don't build chassis and body seperately anymore, it's the whole package together.

 

[cubanb]

I wish modern cars still had those smaller triangle flaps near the windows that you could get fresh air in the car without opening your window.

 

[bjork]

because when you change what's underneath, you gotta change the body as well. modern cars with modern designs, regulations, interiors all shape how the car'll look like from the outside. plus they don't build chassis and body seperately anymore, it's the whole package together.

But they make Cobra kit cars using more current chassis...

 

[fart]

those kit cars aren't unibody and aren't mass produced.

 

[bjork]

That still doesn't answer my question... if you take into account that something like that "retro" T-bird was produced in limited quantities, why can't it be done?

I don't mean a part for part reissue (like reissue transformers =P), but if you can make bodies in whatever shape, and the engineering is way beyond what it was in the 1950/60s, how is it an impossibility?

 

[robox]

shelby cobras? hrmm... you're right... designs are copyrighted, right? so i it's going to be hard to make a replicas of old cars without being sued. most of 'em are kits cars and i don't know too much about 'em besides features such as some assembly required and engine required, not included

 

[ChrisReid]

So the new mustang that looks like the old one isn't selling?

Those new mustangs *are* the reissue. They're not gonna copy the old design 100%. New materials, internal construction, safety features, etc, are going to dictate a slightly different design, even if you're starting with the original. And while some people certainly would want the 100% original design, not everyone would. Most people still want something new, sleek and modern. A hybrid design that is based on the original is the best way to maximize appeal to retro and modern consumers. Thread closed?

 

[Folder]

In Japan they do all the time. Nissan and Honda most notably.
I think this is due to the strange taxation laws in place on older cars.
OTTOMH, The 180SX was reissued last year, as was the CRX Mk III Del Sol.

 

[bjork]

I dunno where "most people" comes from, though. Seems with the large market for old used cars and all the old car clubs, auctions on tv, tv shows about doing restores, etc, that it could be done.

Maybe like website exclusive order or something... usually with limited edition vehicles, they're preordered way in advance anyway, so the people who want them, would know where to look.

For a mass production vehicle, I understand what's being said here. But if it was "50th anniversary limited edition" 2007 Chevy that looked like a 57 but had the guts of a newer car (or even a crate engine, which you can buy at Kragen), they could serial number them and make... eh, I dunno, it just seems like it would be a cool thing to do.

 

[bjork]

In Japan they do all the time. Nissan and Honda most notably.
I think this is due to the strange taxation laws in place on older cars.
OTTOMH, The 180SX was reissued last year, as was the CRX Mk III Del Sol.

These are just more of the old car, part for part, or like the old car on the outside with the new bells and whistles inside and under the hood?

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

I would like a WRX with the old (not very old) body. I loved how my 00' 2.5RS looked.

 

[bjork]

I'm the same, though mine's a bit more lowscale: 95 Civic. If I could get one of those, but new with 0 miles, hell. I'd be there totally.

 

[robox]

well it then depends on how much are you willing to pay for one. anything's possible if you keep throwing money at it to produce a new, like new or your own vision of an updated one, especially with what's possible with custom fabrication on cars. currently that's the option that's left for people wanting new old cars. the mass market typically aren't picky about what their cars are like as long as it gets them there safely, reliably and comfortably. technology will keep pushing on those values and in the end, that's what'll shape the cars of the future

one of my goals with my car is to make it feel like new and/or comparable to cars that came out 10 years after it, 'cos there's no way in hell they're gonna make another one like it. i'm thinking it's gonna cost just as much as buying new due to replacing 10+ years of worn parts.

 

[Vormund]

I think a good example is the VW Golf. Look how that has evolved over the years, they haven't changed the styling much from model to model.

Of course take the current model and put it next to the original and you'll see a lot of difference.

 

[pj]

That still doesn't answer my question... if you take into account that something like that "retro" T-bird was produced in limited quantities, why can't it be done?

Wasn't it produced in "limited quantities" because nobody bought it?

 

[bjork]

Wasn't it produced in "limited quantities" because nobody bought it?

No, they do cars in limited editions now, where you basically have to preorder to get one... kinda like an EB sales pitch, but for real. There's been a few models like that...

 

[Ninja Scooter]

wasn't it Nissan that a few years ago was buying back all the old 240z's, so they could restore them and re-sell them as vintage? man what i would give for one of those. the 240Z kicks ass.

 

[Link]

I'd kill for a brand new Corvette Stingray.