Retro-style automobile. A retro-style automobile is a vehicle that is styled to appear like cars from previous decades. Often these cars use modern technology and production techniques. This design trend developed in the early 1990s and led to almost all automobile brands introducing models that referenced previous cars of the 1950s and 1960s.

Overview 
Retro design usually references iconic classic vehicles. Another form of adopting classic style elements comes in the form of Revival Cars, with manufacturers such as Jaguar, Aston Martin, Alvis, Allard and Lister producing reproductions of classic models. Another example of classic inspired design is a Neoclassic, a modern car made to resemble one from the 1920s-1930's. Technically, retro cars can differ greatly from the historical models they reference.

As early as 1961, American designer Virgil Exner used elements of classic automobile design for the new models of Chrysler's top brand Imperial. The 1961 Imperials had free-standing headlights, and the sides of the cars featured a chrome strip that mimicked the line of curved fenders. Exner later transferred the concept to the newly formed Stutz Motor Company brand, whose Blackhawk range was referred to as the Revival Car in the United States. The 1980 Cadillac Seville referenced the Hooper tail of the 1950s and the 1983 Lincoln Mark VII had a hint of a spare wheel bulge in the trunk lid.

Retro design reached its first peak with the Mazda MX-5, which in its first form from 1989 to 1998, referenced the Lotus Elan from 1962 and was considered the first newly designed roadster in decades. Between 1989 and 1991, Nissan produced the retro-inspired 'Pike Cars'; the Nissan Be-1, Nissan Pao, Nissan Figaro and Nissan S-Cargo in limited production, which are often credited as pioneers of the retro design trend. In Japan, retro packages for various small car models, such as the Daihatsu Mira or the Subaru Vivio, have also been popular since the 1990s. The success of retro design in Japan is also due to the kawaii aesthetic.

In 1994, a new version of the Volkswagen Beetle was presented as the “Volkswagen Concept one” study at the Detroit Motor Show. Since the reactions of trade fair visitors were positive, the concept was brought to the market in 1998 as the New Beetle, based on the Golf IV and without the typical Beetle rear engine. In Europe, this is considered the beginning of the retro wave, continuing in 1999 with the Jaguar S-Type, in 2000 with the Mini, in 2007 with the Fiat 500 and in 2009 with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

American companies, notably Chrysler, were also experimenting with retro design throughout the 1990s. American retro design can be traced back to when car designer Bob Lutz intended to create a modern interpretation of the Shelby Cobra. This idea would later morph into the Dodge Viper. The Viper helped positively shape the American public's opinion on the Chrysler Corporation, prompting Lutz to further experiment with retro design, with early examples including the 1994 Dodge Ram, with styling inspired by previous Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, and the 1995 Chrysler Atlantic, inspired by various art-deco cars of the 1930s. Later American examples of retro design include the Plymouth Prowler in the style of a hot rod, the Chrysler PT Cruiser modelled on limousines of the 1930s and the Ford Thunderbird from 2003.

An important designer of retro cars is J Mays. According to experts, retro design has brought back emotionality in automobile design. At the beginning of the 2000s, retro design developed into new classic design . Vehicles like the Lancia Thesis consist of a mix of classic and modern design elements, without citing any specific historical vehicle.

Despite a fall in popularity, retro design has made a comeback in the early 2020s, with cars such as the Renault 5 EV and Ford Bronco being developed.

Examples of retro-styled automobiles

Production cars

 1964 Excalibur (automobile) – 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK
 1972 Panther J72 – SS Jaguar 100
 1974 MP Lafer – 1952 MG TD Midget
 1974 Panther De Ville
 1974 Panther FF
 1974 Citroën CX-Citroën DS
 1976 Panther Lima
 1980 Cadillac Seville – bustle-back styling from the 1930s-1960s
 1980 Phillips Berlina – Mercedes-Benz 540K
 1981 Imperial – bustle-back styling from the 1930s-1960s
 1982 Lincoln Continental – bustle-back styling from the 1930s-1960s
 1982 Panther Kallista
 1983 Evante – Lotus Elan
 1983 Eniak Antique
 1987 Nissan Be-1 – the original Mini
 1989 Nissan Pao – the original Mini
 1989 Nissan S-Cargo – 1948 Citroën 2CV and Snails
 1991 Nissan Figaro – possibly the 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite, but more likely the 1959 Datsun Sports 1000.
 1992 Subaru Vivio Bistro – the original Mini
 1993 Mitsuoka Viewt – 1963 Jaguar Mark 2
 1993 Wiesmann MF 30 – Jaguar XK140
 1994 Nissan Rasheen - unknown, but often compared to the Wartburg 353
 1996 Mitsuoka Galue
 1996 Toyota Classic – Toyota AA
 1997 Plymouth Prowler – 1930s hot rod
 1998 Rover 75 - 1950s Rover P4
 1998 Honda Z – Honda N360
 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle – 1938 Volkswagen Type 1 "Beetle"
 1999 Daihatsu Mira Gino – Mini
 2000 BMW Z8 – 1956 BMW 507
 2000 Jaguar S-Type – 1960s Jaguar S-Type
 2000 Toyota Origin – 1955 Toyota Crown
 2001 MINI – 1959 BMC Mini
 2001 Morgan Aero 8
 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser – Chevrolet Advance Design and Chrysler Airflow
 2001 Devaux Coupe
 2002 Ford Thunderbird – 1955–1957 Ford Thunderbird
 2002 Hummer H2 – Humvee
 2002 Suzuki Lapin
 2003 Chevrolet SSR-Chevrolet Advance Design
 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
 2004 Ford GT – 1964 Ford GT40
 2004 Morgan Roadster
 2005 Ford Mustang – 1965 Ford Mustang
 2006 Chevrolet HHR – 1940s Chevrolet Suburban
2006 Hummer H3 – Humvee 
 2007 Fiat 500 – 1957 Fiat 500
2007 Ruf CTR3 – 1950s and 1960s LeMans race cars 
 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser – 1960 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser
 2008 Dodge Challenger – 1970 Dodge Challenger
 2009 AC MK VI – 1963 AC Cobra
 2009 Daihatsu Mira Cocoa
 2010 Chevrolet Camaro – 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
 2010 Mitsuoka Himiko – Jaguar XK120 and others
 2011 Volkswagen Beetle – 1938 Volkswagen Type 1 "Beetle"
 2011 Ferrari FF and 2016 Ferrari GTC4Lusso - 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan
 2012 Morgan 3-Wheeler
 2012 Toyota 86 - Toyota 2000GT
 2014 Hongqi L5 – Hongqi CA770
 2014 Equus Bass 770
 2014 Messerschmitt Kabinenroller KR-202 - 1953 Messerschmitt Kabinenroller
 2016 Fiat 124 Spider – Fiat 124 Sport Spider
 2016 Daihatsu Move Canbus
 2017 Alpine A110 – Alpine A110
 2018 Ruf SCR 2018 – Ruf SCR and Porsche 964
 2018 Toyota Century – Toyota Century (G20/G30/G40)
 2018 Daihatsu Mira Tocot
 2019 Ares Design Progettouno – De Tomaso Pantera
 2020 SongSan Motors SS Dolphin- Chevrolet Corvette (C1)
 2020 Honda e – 1972 Honda Civic
 2020 Fiat 500e - 1957 Fiat 500
 2021 Ford Bronco – 1966 Ford Bronco
 2021 Hyundai Ioniq 5 – 1975 Hyundai Pony
 2022 Volkswagen ID. Buzz - 1950 Volkswagen Type 2
 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 - 1974 Lamborghini Countach: Exterior design inspired from the original Countach but shares the power unit from the Siàn and the platform with the Aventador.
 2023 Nissan Z (RZ34) - 1969 Nissan Fairlady Z and Nissan Z32
 2024 Toyota Hilux Champ - 1968 Toyota Hilux and 1976 Toyota Kijang
 2024 Renault 5 E-Tech - 1974 Renault 5
 2025 Renault 4 E-Tech - 1961 Renault 4

Concept cars
 1993 Bugatti EB 112 – Bugatti Type 57
 1995 Chrysler Atlantic – 1930s Bugatti Type 57 and Talbot-Lago T150 SS
 1997 Plymouth Pronto
 1998 Chrysler Chronos – 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance concept
 1998 Bugatti EB 118 – Bugatti Type 50 and Type 57
 1999 Bugatti EB 218 – Bugatti Type 101
 1999 Dodge Charger R/T – 1960s Dodge Charger
 1999 Nissan 240Z concept – 1969 Datsun 240Z: designed in 12 weeks but criticisms of the retro styling prompted a redesign.
 1999 Plymouth Howler
 2000 Audi Rosemeyer – 1936 Auto Union Type C racing car
 2001 Buick Blackhawk – 1938 Buick Y-Job concept
 2001 Ford Forty-Nine – 1949 Ford
 2001 Volkswagen Microbus Concept – 1950 Volkswagen Type 2
 2004 Fiat Trepiùno – Fiat 500
 2005 Holden Efijy – Holden FJ
 2005 Volvo T6 – 1930s hot rod
 2006 Lamborghini Concept M – 1966 Lamborghini Miura
 2008 Scion Hako Coupe
 2009 Bugatti 16C Galibier – Bugatti Type 57
 2009 Morgan LIFEcar
 2009 Trabant nT- Trabant 601
 2010 Morgan Eva GT
 2011 Citroën Tubik – Citroën Type H
 2013 Nissan IDx – 1968 Datsun 510
 2015 Toyota Tacoma Back to the Future Concept - 1985 Toyota pickup
 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Buzz – 1950 Volkswagen Type 2
 2019 Morris Commercial JE – 1949 Morris Commercial J-type
 2021 Renault 5 E-Tech - 1974 Renault 5
 2022 Hyundai N Vision 74 - 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept
 2024 Koenigsegg CC850 - Designed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Koenigsegg's first production car, the CC8S. It pays homage to that car with various exterior design similarities.

See also 
 Retro style

References