Modern Meets Classic: Can You Customize a New Car to Look Vintage?

I think this is a pretty common question: “Why doesn’t anyone design a modern classic car?” Honestly, just the fact that people ask that shows there’s probably a market for it. I mean, if someone’s thinking about it, chances are someone else would buy it, right? I think manufacturers have been toying with the idea for a while now.

There were a few attempts back in the early 2000s, but they didn’t really catch on. I guess not everyone wants a car that looks like it came from the past. Some people dig classic car designs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they want a brand-new car that looks old.

I’m talking about stuff like the Chevy HHR, the SSR, and the Chrysler PT Cruiser—basically those retro-inspired models. They were clearly trying to tap into that classic vibe, hoping it’d be a hit. But they just weren’t. And honestly, I don’t blame people. Most of those cars were just straight-up ugly.

The Chevrolet HHR was Chevy’s attempt at bringing back the look of their classic cars—and honestly, they missed the mark. I get what they were going for, but the car ended up looking pretty ugly. Don’t believe me? Just Google it. Judging by how poorly it sold, I’m guessing a lot of people would agree with me.

These days, Chevy—and a bunch of other companies—seem to have given up on trying that kind of retro design. And honestly, I don’t blame them.

Pulling off a classic design in a modern car is tough. You can't just copy-paste the old style because the tech and the way we interpret design have totally changed. Back in the day, those cars looked natural because they were cutting-edge for their time. Trying to mix that with today’s modern designs takes a lot of planning, and if you mess it up, the result can look awkward or just plain weird.

Another thing—they didn’t have to worry about all the safety regulations we have now. Cars used to be way smaller and more compact. Even full-sized models from decades ago feel hollow compared to today’s, mostly because they didn’t need to cram in airbags, sensors, crumple zones, and all the other modern safety gear. Trying to fit a retro look around all that modern tech is a huge challenge. Most of the time, the styling just gets in the way.

Yet an example of a car that successfully brings a classic look from the past is the Ford Mustang S197. Their engineers took design cues from classic Mustangs (especially fastback ones) and applied them to a modern design. As you can see, the result is quite successful and interesting. At least the “feel” of the classic Mustang is still present, and you feel that it is a modern car, just like the last generation VW Beetle, which seems to be hated and loved by the public.

It's a Beetle, and you will know it from afar; the design is similar to the older ones, and it seems more appealing to the young. At least I, as a Millenial, much prefer the new Beetle to the old one. Maybe some Boomers and Gen Xers will disagree, but that’s okay; we can have different opinions.

It seems VW engineers know exactly what they are doing; the design is appropriate and like the Beetle we know and love, although more modern. Unfortunately, this Beetle had to be discontinued some time ago, and I don’t know why. Maybe not everyone likes this car.

But if what you want is a classic car with new technology, maybe you can glance at replica cars sold by several manufacturers, such as the Revology Mustang above; basically, it is a brand new car with a brand new motor and other modern technology inside. The catch? The price is above USD 300,000, but it is a steal because you can’t order it from Ford.

Yet it is a new car with a completely classic design; take it to your father, and he will recognize it as a classic Mustang; it is the best replica you can have.

You can’t buy such a car at the dealer; the manufacturer doesn’t want to fiddle with classic cars anymore; when a car is considered obsolete, they stop producing it, period. The possibility that you can get a new car with an old body is almost 0, and your best shot is a workshop like Revology, but you have to be ready to spend a lot of money for it.

The thing is, it's not that easy to make a car with a classic design. There are a ton of factors that go into it, and honestly, there's not much demand for those kinds of cars anymore—so manufacturers aren’t really interested in making them in big numbers. Plus, most of us are pretty comfortable with modern cars anyway. Classic cars kind of feel like they’ve had their time, and a lot of people just don’t care for them. Modern cars are what most folks go for these days.