You know what’s an endlessly amusing category of car that’s somehow, improbably, still around? Neoclassic cars. I think the term originated with Virgil Exner’s attempts to revive the Stutz and Duesenberg marques in the 1960s, and then popularized with the Excalibur soon afterwards. Neoclassical cars are, essentially, modern cars (well, modern for whatever era they were built) but re-bodied to look like dramatic cars from the 1920s and 1930s. Generally, they tend to go for long and low and big, swooping fenders and side pipes and lots of chrome and jewelry and are wildly showy things. Generally, if you’re the sort of person who is willing to wear a gold chain that would be substantial enough to secure a schooner to the dock, then maybe a neoclassic car is for you.
The thing about most neoclassic cars is that they tend to be built by small, low-volume carmakers who don’t have the ability to produce entirely new bodies. As a result, most neoclassic cars, as transformed as they are, still maintain some hints of what their original donor cars were. It’s kind of fun to see if you can spot these details, which is what this little quiz is all about!
I have 14 neoclassic cars listed below: see if you can tell, just by looking, no Googling now, what the original donor cars were! Stick your answers in the comments, and then, only after that, you can click the answers link below.
Oh, and don’t be fooled by the VW Beetle turn inidicators; a surprising number of these cars use them, yet only one is based on a VW Beetle body (and not the drivetrain; how did they buy new just-bodies from VW?). This’ll be fun, I promise! Off you go!
Some were easy, some were pretty tricky, right? Okay, put your guesses in the comments, then come back here and see how you did! There’s no prize, just like so much of life, but I’ll respect that you did it.
(thanks to The Bishop for a crapload of research and image hunting!)
What, no Clenet? (built out of Sprite body shell!)
Sheesh, I only got 4 of them. I’m still not seeing the Corvette in #1. Is it the T-Tops?
All are corvettes
Over half correct
I was able to guess more of these than I would have figured, but one that threw me for a loop was the Johnson Motors Phantom based off a third gen Camaro, and I OWN a third gen Camaro!
Also- I looked at the Zimmer Quicksilver and thought “hmm.. that’s not awful..I’d drive that”… what are these confusing new feelings??? To be fair, it’s not as grotesque as many of the other neo-classic creations, but it was still a moment of growth for me today to learn that I may be “Neo-curious”
It’s all perspective (& not worrying about what others think) Just think only about the looks/design and the era they were derived from…it’s classy!
I had NO idea that there were so many Neo-classics. They are all wonderful and terrible at the same time.
1 Vette
2 Beetle convertible
3 IDK
4 accord coupe?
5 looks like a Porsche but why would you?
6 mercury cougar
7 IDK
8 Seville (guess)
9 IDK
10 ford panther platform
11 mustang
12 t bird
13 fiat spyder
14 some kinda GM g body
I had no idea there were so many of these. I was aware of the Zimmers (and saw one in person at a car show a few years ago) and the Mitsuoka, but I didn’t realize there were so many others.
These are all aping pre-war cars, right? They are all very interesting to look at, but I don’t feel a connection to any of them because I don’t have memories of the originals. And I don’t imagine there are too many people still alive today who do still remember when the originals were common.
It makes me wonder what could be done to mimic other eras of car design with modern pieces underneath. My dad’s generation would probably like chrome fins stuck to everything, and I’d be curious to see body styling that makes cars look like jellybeans.
If the #10 Zimmer Golden Spirit Limo isn’t a Panther body, I’ll eat my shorts
Many of the rest are vaguely familiar shapes, but not enough for me to be nearly that sure
Those horns better play “First Call”.
I think the Zimmers are a Mustang and a WRONG Monte Carlo. FIERO.
The others? No idea.
Why did i click on this page?? Now my day is ruined.
It may even be weeks before the vomitous-cars induced depression ends
Ok,less dramatically now-
i think the Kanzler coupe has to be built on the beetle body.No other come close to the right shape
Panther DeVille, based on the Austin Maxi and inspired by the Cadillac DeVille (itself based on the Chevrolet Impala).
That one freaked me way out when I saw the answers, as on looking at it, it’s the least ghastly IMO. Is it still FWD?
Okay so there’s actually a guy with a zimmer quicksilver in red in a nearby town and I gotta say I think it actually looks very good in person these days. I dig it!
There’s also a place in Wilkes Barre that has had a (I believe) an Excaliber in the window forever – but it’s matched with a fabulously baroque 60s hotel and banquet hall. Did I attend Pennsylvania Polka Fest there this year? Yes, and it ruled, and was the perfect venue for it haha
This is fun! My guesses without peeking:
C3 ‘Vette, Beetle vert, Silver Shadow, Z32 300ZX, Opel GT, Mercury Cougar XR7, Series 3 Camaro, Mustang (Fox-body), 280ZX, Town Car, S197 Mustang, Fiero, Fiat 124 Spider, Buick Regal
(after looking) Dang. 12/14 is still pretty good.
What? No Excalibur?
Excaliburs were built on bespoke frames and carried their own unique VINs. Neoclassics, yes, but kits they were not.
Just wanted to give you an Attaboy for this article! Fun! Headscratching! Satisfying if you got at least half of them! Lol
Ever notice, if there is a car that is driven by somebody you perceive as a total Douche. Anybody you ever see driving one after that revelation is immediately classified as a Douche, until proven innocent. I actually knew somebody that drove the Baroque Motors Coupe and was a total Douche. Waiting to meet an innocent driver of it or any of its brethren.
The Phillips is really quite attractive, and I’ve wanted a Zimmer Quicksilver ever since I first learned of it.
But I would probably drive any of these readily.
Make it stop, MAKE IT STOP PLEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!
https://media.giphy.com/media/cJL1Y7MY1akc8/giphy.gif
I couldn’t get past the «Kanzler»… I kinda expected it to be produced in a German post-WW2 enclave in Argentina, and to discover it was actually named the Kanzler SS.
5/14 … NOT impressive!
Except for the Maxi, all the originals are far better than these monstrosities.
The only one of those I know is the Mitsuoka, because of Clarkson driving it on the excellent recent Grand Tour episode. It’s missing something without the candelabras though.
As much as I do not get the appeal of most of these things, I would actually absolutely, unironically, proudly drive a Zimmer Quicksilver. It hides the fact that it’s based on another car so very well, especially considering the other, more mediocre efforts from Zimmer. That people would be shocked that there’s no engine under that huge long hood is just icing on the cake.
I have always thought the Quicksilver was weirdly appealing car! It is not exactly pretty, but it is very striking with odd but well balanced proportions. If I saw on at the right price I would buy it…
I know, right?!
ok so good, it’s not just me! I looked at that car and definitely gave it the “hmm.. not bad” treatment