You don’t have to be a car geek to appreciate classic cars. For many people, classic cars evoke a lot of nostalgia. This is also true of certain nameplates.
You might remember when the Ford Bronco was your family vehicle, or maybe the Toyota Supra was the first fast car you bought as a young adult. Seeing some of these nameplates come back, we can’t help but be excited. Let’s take a look at some returning nameplates and if they’re any good.
Chevy Blazer
The Chevy Blazer was one of the original SUVs that debuted in the late 1960s and continued on into the 1990s. At some point, demand for SUVs went down and Chevy did away with the Blazer in 2005. After a long hiatus, Chevy brought the Blazer nameplate back as a 2019 crossover. For those looking for something retro, the revamped Blazer was probably a disappointment, especially when Ford returned the similar Bronco to its retro roots. But the Blazer is still a competent family crossover, it’s just nothing like the original.
Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco disappeared quite a while ago in 1996 before Ford decided to bring it back in 2021. Unlike some of the returning nameplates, Ford took advantage of retro nostalgia and made most models of the Ford Bronco look very similar to the first few generations. Ford also dumped a bevy of off-road technology and upgrades into the Bronco to make it a true contender with the Jeep Wrangler for the first time in decades.
Acura NSX
The Acura NSX came back in 2016 with a distinctly modern twist. At the time, it was speculated that the NSX would get a V10, but instead, it got a V6 hybrid powertrain. This decision definitely ruffled a few feathers, but the NSX still ended up being a fun and fast sports car that lived up to the nameplate’s reputation. Unfortunately, if you want an NSX, you’ll need to visit your Acura dealer soon. The end of the 2022 model year is here and the NSX is being discontinued.
Acura Integra
One of the most legendary compact cars with sporty bones is probably the Acura Integra. Credited with launching the Acura brand as a luxury leader, the Integra quickly built a cult following across several generations. Acura relaunched the Integra nameplate for 2023 and it shares underpinnings with the new Honda Civic. It’s definitely fun to drive and has more luxurious trappings than the Civic.
Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra started life as the Toyota Celica Supra back in the late 1970s. It was initially supposed to be the faster version of the Toyota Celica, but it was later given its own nameplate and was well-known for its energetic inline-six engine. Toyota rebooted the Supra for 2020 and it did get some criticism for its BMW underpinnings, but it still packs similar performance and affordability that made the original Supra such a hit.
Bringing back iconic nameplates seems to be all the rage now for automakers. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. The factors contributing to success aren’t always the same with each.
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