In an era when the public has a yearning for nostalgia and virtually anything – from movies and T.V. shows to music and video games – has, or will be, remade or rebooted at some point, Ford’s plan to bring back the Bronco and Ranger was a welcomed announcement at the 2017 North American International Auto Show.
It had been 21 years since the last Bronco rolled off of the Michigan Truck Plant assembly line, and six for the Ranger, so the news signified a major step forward for an American auto maker that’s looking to once again claim its share of the 4×4 and midsize truck market.
But while Ford has seen the value of reimagining two of its most popular defunct models, other car brands haven’t followed suit.
Sure, Jeep has plans to bring back the Wrangler pickup and Grand Wagoneer, and Chevrolet has said that a new reincarnation of the Corvette ZR1 will appear in 2019.
But there are still plenty of other cars no longer produced that need to make a comeback.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top three vehicles that could thrive if a new variation was introduced to the U.S. auto market.
Chevy El Camino
If today’s truck sales are any indication, it’s easy to tell that the public loves pickups.
However, what consumers don’t want is the compromised fuel economy that comes with driving a beefed up, heavy vehicle.
That’s why it’s the perfect time for Chevy to reintroduce the El Camino – a vehicle that drives like a car, but has the cargo capacity of a small pickup.
It was one of the most versatile cars ever produced.
And the fact that the performance could be customized from a straight six to a big-block V8 meant that it was an attractive option for a variety of buyers.
Who doesn’t want to be able to haul loads of cargo while doing a parking lot burnout at the same time?
If it were to comeback, though, Chevy would need to offer it in both a two and four door model, that way it could take the kids to soccer practice if need be, and woulnd’t just look like a rebadged SSR.
Buick Grand National
If there’s one iconic car that was killed off way too early, it’s the Buick Grand National, the epitome of 1980s street performance.
Whereas every other manufacturer at the time was stuffing a small-block V8 into a heavy car, Buick went against the norm and used a turbocharged V6 as the car’s primary power plant.
The end result was a beast of a machine that had a better 0-60 time than the Porsches and Ferraris of the day.
Though Buick is taking steps in the right direction with the 2018 Regal sedan, which uses a 310-hp V6, nothing can top the Grand National – unless it’s reborn with a modern twist.
But the main reason General Motors needs to bring this car back is the fact that it could easily recycle the platform and parts from a Cadillac CTS-V.
Simply give one an all-black paint job, slap on a tri-shield emblem and throw in the 420-hp 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6. And voila, you have a Grand National for today’s speed enthusiast.
Honda Prelude
The Prelude, Honda’s two-door sports coupe that was loosely based on the Accord, never achieved the kind of mainstream success seen by the Acura Integra, Mitsubishi Eclipse or Toyota Celica.
Today, though, it stands as a well-built car that holds its value and still has a devoted following.
Because of this, it would make the perfect defunct Japanese car to be rebooted.
It’s the type of vehicle that could be sporty enough to be driven by teenagers, yet luxurious enough to transport Millennials to their professional jobs.
Twentysomethings need a coupe to call their own and a new Prelude could fit the bill perfectly if it had a starting price under $30,000.
If you have the original incarnation of these vehicle – or any other make or model – and need some mechanical or bodywork done, give Andy’s Auto Service a call at 412-478-9304.
