Re: Can old brands be revived?

Posted by LINC400 On 2010/3/2 17:16:01

There is no easy answer to this. Avanti, Challenger, Camaro, VW Beetle, and Mini Cooper have all been revived, and quite successfully. That is because these were very distinctive cars that were "modernized" into the current version while trying to remain close to the original vehicle. They also have the support, financial, and dealer backing of a large manufacturer (except Avanti).

Then there are things like the new Bugatti. I feel that this car has absolutely zero to do with Bugatti. They could have slapped any name on it. Maybach has nothing to do with the ones of the past also. It is just a big Mercedes.

Packard is a different story. The last true year was 1956. This is far less contemporary than any of the current modernized versions. Chrome, fins, and 1950's glitz do not translate well into modern car designs. If you are not using 1956 as your base, then what year are you going to use? All the ones in the first paragraph are based on the original version. What is the original Packard? 1899? Not practical or desireable. So everyone picks a year, or couple years, and translates their own modern version of it. Or they simply slap a few Packard design cues on a car that otherwise looks nothing like a Packard. Ending up with a design that few like besides they guy that created it.

Then without support from a major manufacturer, these unfavorable ideas have little chance of getting off the ground.