Cars Truest to Their Original Form

"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed) 05/11/2017 at 21:33 • Filed to: None

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I was contemplating a current gen Corolla earlier today and a began wondering, which family/economy  cars at least 30 yrs old (either continuous running nameplate or an homage with the same name), have remained the most true to their original form. For instance the Dodge Dart would be an example of a car which has strayed very far from its origins, Originally a V8, rear wheel drive, sedan slightly downsized from a full size. Now the car is a 4 cylinder, gas saving, compact car, with front wheel drive.

The Toyota Corolla has an interesting history as the the purpose seems to have morphed slightly throughout the years. The Corolla was a cheap, reliable, lightweight sub compact car, which was good on gas. Now the car is in the compact segment, and is Front wheel drive, but still cheap and reliable. Still does the same job (haul around 4 people) but goes about it differently. The AE86 Corolla makes an interesting side note as the GT86 is now a thing. A thing which is most definitely not a Corolla. I have stated family/economy as in the world of sports cars(I’m looking at you, Porsche 911) there are many cars which have maintained their heritage. Anyways let me know what you guys think.

P.S. No pics because Kinja hates me.

promoted by the color red > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:35

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The Miata

Theropod > promoted by the color red 05/11/2017 at 21:40

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Always The Answer

CB > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:41

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The 911.

Dodge Caravan.

That’s all I got. Was thinking F=150, but it’s changed, man.

jkm7680 > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:42

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The Tacoma

jimz > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:45

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Mustang.

Done.

Urambo Tauro > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:49

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Chevy Van

CRider > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:49

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dogisbadob > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:52

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Fiat

unreliable POS then, unreliable POS now :p

yitznewton > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 21:54

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bhtooefr > promoted by the color red 05/11/2017 at 21:59

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Not quite 30 years old yet.

bhtooefr > Urambo Tauro 05/11/2017 at 22:00

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Starred, although it actually changed from unibody to body-on-frame in that time.

bhtooefr > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 22:03

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Mitsubishi Mirage.

A cheap, small, FWD response to 1973's oil crisis in 1978, and a cheap, small, FWD response to 2008's oil crisis in 2012.

bhtooefr > CRider 05/11/2017 at 22:10

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In 2-door form... you might actually have a winner there, beating my suggestion of the Mirage.

bhtooefr > jimz 05/11/2017 at 22:17

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I’m actually not sure, though, because we have to look at the 1964.5 Mustang - its original form - not anything later than that.

And... that 1964.5 Mustang had a fundamentally different role than even the 1965 Mustang a few months later. It was effectively a fashionable version of the Falcon - the New Beetle to the Falcon’s Golf.

Today’s Mustang, however, is fundamentally a performance car first, and is marketed as such even with the base engine. I don’t think there really is a modern equivalent to the 1964.5 Mustang anywhere in Ford’s lineup today.

promoted by the color red > bhtooefr 05/11/2017 at 22:17

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Ahhhh we’re two years shy and Mazda’s not rolling out any major updates soon. :D

Maxima Speed > bhtooefr 05/11/2017 at 22:31

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This.

Obruni > Maxima Speed 05/11/2017 at 23:14

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Lexus LS turns 30 in a couple of years, and it has stayed true to form as long as you ignore the F-Sport.