Author’s Note: This is a republished historical post after the Feb 2008 relaunch of Soulincode:

So we hear that the end of history is nigh, or maybe this is just a lull in originality…in any case, it’s clear that a lot of companies across the style spectrum are profiting from product focused on the retro past. Nike and other major shoe companies reproduce and re-release famous old shoe models, Izod and Ocean Pacific come back with their old 80s clothes for nostalgia seekers.

Yet nothing of the sort happens in the automotive industry; we see a few nice concept cars, then a massive majority of cookie cutter, wind-tunnel designed models on the market, plus a few designs derivative of classics like the popular Chrysler PT Cruiser. America’s car culture is strong; a Google Image search for “classic cars” shows what’s going on out there in terms of these car fetish people keeping up their old roadsters.

THE IDEA:
Car companies should produce remakes of their most popular historical models, same shell design, same interior with a few updated core materials, and update all the internal machinery and electronics so it’s road-ready for current state of the industry, also create hybrids or electric versions whenever possible.

Oh yeah, and a derivative idea is to “lifestyle” them for all those vicarious livers out there who want the hip-hop mod car like see in Dub, or retro style like Ford Woody surf car seen in the pic above. This trend is already underway, where Detroit is starting to offer bling upgrades upon purchase, 20″ chrome rims and such.