The VW Beetle is dead. Again. Here are 5 other once-resurrected cars that suffered the same fate

[Rhiannon12866]

Occasionally, car companies bring back old nameplates in the hope of stoking nostalgia and giving an old name a fresh new look. But it doesn't always work out.

The revived and redesigned Volkswagen Beetle was apparently one such case. Originally developed at the behest of Adolf Hitler in the late 1930s, the car later achieved astronomical sales figures in the 1960s, and became an icon of the era.

Volkswagen stopped selling the original version in the United States in the late 1970s, but continued to produce Beetles in other countries, then introduced a revived version in the 1990s. The car was a hit with many car buyers: Notably, Hillary and then-President Bill Clinton bought a redesigned Beetle for their daughter Chelsea.

But as sales slowed, Volkswagen decided to pull the plug. On Thursday, the automaker said the production of the car will end next year.

Volkswagen is not alone. Here are some other attempts by car companies to recall the past that did not last.


Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/15/the-vw-beetle-is-dead-again-five-cars-that-suffered-the-same-fate.html


Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird was a coveted car in the 1950s and 60s. The Beach Boys even referred to the "T-Bird" in one of their hit songs "Fun, Fun, Fun"...


Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar began life in 1967 as a slightly upscale stablemate to Ford's Mustang pony car. It went through several different designs over the years, and slowly morphed into more of a sedate sedan by the time it was discontinued in 1997...


Pontiac GTO

One of the original true muscle cars, the GTO was big, loud and fast when it was first released in the mid-1960s. It remained in production for about a decade.

[regnaD kciN]

1. In truth, the "new Beetle" had little in common with the Bug except looks...

The original VW Beetle was a deliberately-simple, inexpensive, easy to maintain design based on a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. The revived version was essentially the transverse front-mounted engine, front-wheel-drive Jetta in a bulbous body that recalled the old classic, but was in all other ways a standard 2000s subcompact. The old Beetle actually had a lot more in common with the classic-era Porsche 911 than with its newer namesake.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. And the newer versions were undoubtedly much safer

But they seem to be lacking the "personality" of the classics...

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. As a Passat owner 2007 (2.0L Manual 6)

I agree with your comments entirely. Back in the 70's I had a VW Bus. We could roll the Wagon off the engine and work on it. Good old days.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. The VW was never like those examples, LOL!

Seriously, those that loved the VW, loved the essence of the Beetle. Low cost, low fuel, hi reliability. It was never performance car in terms of speed (and I could have picked 6 models that outperfromed your postings....without breaking a sweat).

But the point was/is, the VW was always about economy and performance (performance designed as uptime expectations).

Simplicity and the zen of operational maintenance Read "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". It will explain the objective reality of the VW.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. And the original Beetle was the ubiquitous car

For the reasons you stated, they were all over the road, an affordable and reliable first car for a lot of people.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. Amen to that, my friend!

My PM 'splains all.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Thanks!

And back in the day it seemed like everyone had one. I even knew one guy who had a pink one - he had gone to OCS (Officer Candidate School - had a low enough number in the draft) and he got a kick out of having that car saluted.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. You hit that one dead on...

Mr. Dixie and I were talking about this today. The zen of driving the old Beetles, and the early Datsuns.
I had both for years and years. Later looked at the newer Beetles a couple of times.
Less MPG, not really able to power the needed A/c of Southern living, but basically, just did not have the magic.

Never owned an automatic till recently, hate driving it, but necessity prevails at this time of life. sigh.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. Love your posts dixiegrrrrl!

I liked cars when you could tune them yourself! Still have my timing light that I used in the early 80's.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. I really liked the new GTO from the mid 2000s

it was a total flop because people wanted something that resembled the classic model, but I saw it in the true spirit of the muscle car. Just like in 1964 Pontiac took a sedate midsize and dropped a screaming engine between the fenders of an Aussie Holden Commodore with a six speed gearbox (they needed a two door coupe).

The result was a rear wheel drive ex-family car resembling the domestic Grand Am (G6) that ran like a Vette on nitro. Hopefully, in a few years I'll finally be able to afford one just before my kids take the keys away.

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