Few cars have had the impact the Chrysler PT Cruiser did when it first hit the market. The design was a smash hit. Dealers couldn’t get enough stock and Chrysler was not prepared for the onslaught of orders. Those buyers willing to pay the high dealer markup were envied by those that had to wait. Not since the Volkswagen New Beetle had a retro vehicle captured the hearts of the American public the way this new Chrysler did. According to Bryan Nesbitt, the PT Cruiser’s designer (and, incidentally, the stylist behind the Chevrolet HHR), the retro Chrysler’s design was derived from sedan delivery vehicles of the late 30’s and early 40’s. The PT Cruiser’s appeal lay in its unique design combined with modern mechanicals and a truly useful interior. There was nothing else on the road like it. But once the market was saturated with PT Cruisers, its appeal faded despite the addition of a turbocharged GT model and a roomy convertible, and to keep the factories running, Chrysler had to sell them to rental fleets and offer large rebates.
Looking to cut into the Ford Mustang’s piece of all-American apple pie, Dodge is breathing life back into the Challenger nameplate, hoping to rob the Mustang of its recently restored glory. The Dodge Challenger Concept foreshadows a likely production model, and the styling is based on the 1970 Challenger R/T. The Challenger Concept follows the original design right down to the hood scoops, racing stripes and pistol grip shifter. Not everything is based on the original though. The concept has large diameter six-spoke alloy wheels and a modern Hemi V8 motor that Chrysler uses in everything from the 300 SRT-8 to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. With nostalgic styling and a monster motor to back up the performance that is promised by its looks, the new Dodge Challenger will certainly have Mustang owners looking over their shoulders and Ford cooking up something new in the kitchen.
It’s interesting to note from the above quote that Ford didn’t consider the most recent Thunderbird to be a retro design. In reality, it is one of the few retro-modern cars that stayed true to the original in both style and mission – in this case the original 1955-57 Thunderbird roadsters. Heck, the new car even had an optional hardtop with a porthole window. Though the new Thunderbird’s styling was modernized, the body forms and detailing instantly recalled the original car – at least on the outside. Inside, the resurrected T-Bird was a Lincoln LS dressed in aluminum trim and gauges with turquoise pointers. After just four years on the market, the Thunderbird was cancelled. A high sticker price that could reach $50,000 with options and gouging on the part of dealers contributed to the T-Bird’s untimely demise.