Last week, the encyclopedia entry for Seafaring Car Names sailed into uncharted territory, with regular commenters Jeepster and Manic_King expounding on the many cars named after winds. Well, the chest of automotive trivia booty they blew our way may not have been strictly applicable to the category at hand, but the list was impressive. Furthermore, that sort of “talk amongst yourselves” moment is exactly what makes this series so rewarding, and is something to be encouraged. Therefore, in response, this week we will explore their serendipitous discussion further, while expanding the category beyond wind names to all sorts of meteorological phenomena. If it’s something naturally occurring in the atmosphere, feel free to toss that sucker in the ring. (Assuming, of course, that you can provide evidence that a vehicle has been thus named. I am not the trivia god some of you are, but I strongly doubt that anybody has yet marketed the Thundersnow, Sun Dog, Lunar Halo or Convection Fog, despite all being potentially totally awesome car names. …Wait, no — not that last one.)
The Caveats (there are always caveats):
- Unofficial and internal nicknames don’t count, even if they’re well known. The name must be officially given by the manufacturer (which could include a coachbuilder, famous customizer or or other recognized marketing entity). A good yardstick is that it should physically appear on the car, or at least appear in a press release or sales brochure.
- Sub-brands and trim line names count.
- Concept vehicles, kit cars, and race cars are allowable, as long as it is something legit enough to have a genuine name. Your crazy Uncle Charlie’s band bus doesn’t count, even if he did spraypaint “Hellwind” down the side.
- Motorcycles and trucks are also permitted, but no aircraft. Really, no aircraft; I’m not just saying that because it’s a running joke — this week in particular, a list including aircraft names would swallow our souls.
Difficulty: The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates! Bonus points for adding photos. Remember, you can simply paste in the raw image URL now, thanks to the magic of Disqus.
Image Sources: oldcarbrochures.org and the random download car images folder on my Mac.
Well, I have the most experience with a Typhoon, and the deliberately-misspelled Syclone.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1876/3281/4689140012_large.jpg
Kind of a twofer, because of the involvement of GALE Banks.
http://assets.bankspower.com.s3.amazonaws.com/tech_article_images/gmgas/header.png
VW was to call the Corrado the Typhun but GM beat them to the punch.
Corrado is probably some wind-related thing like “Golf”…
I’m not sure that ‘Corrado’ is actually a wind, but it followed the ‘Scirocco’ and was built in parallel with the ‘Bora’ — so it should have been.
Corrado has its roots in the Spanish word for run (like corrida) so it marks a break with VW’s usual wind names
So you’re saying that VW ‘broke wind’ with the Corrado?
http://static.spin.com/files/field/image/110204-beavis-butthead.png
Most VW names are weather system related, Golf isn’t named after the sport, but rather the German for Gulf (as in gulfstream). Passat is German for trade wind. Vento (a booted Golf MK3, I think the US stuck with Jetta) is Italian for wind. Likewise the booted Golf Mk4 the Bora, is an eastern european weather system.
Low hanging, along with several other makes sharing the name.
http://www.mercomatic.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/68_charger_after.JPG
http://i43.tinypic.com/15evgaw.jpg
Super-major fist bump for not going with the obvious CBR600F answer.
CBR600F’s aren’t until August anyway. It’s a shame they’re best viewed from the southern hemisphere.
Pfft!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_X-75_Hurricane#/media/File:Triumph_Hurricane_1.JPG
I should link a photo of the muscle car, but I didn’t know this existed at all until I looked at Wikipedia. If you need me, I’ll be on CraigsList the rest of the day.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Pontiac_Tempest_3.1.JPG
I wonder if many made it south of the border, I think I’ve seen one in Canada.
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/mississauga-peel-region/1990-pontiac-tempest-sedan-90-000kms/1130315051?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Clean Tempest sounds like an oxymoron, but there you are.
That might be the nicest that era Tempest that has ever existed, and it’s $2,000.
I kinda feel bad for it now.
Maybe not an oxymoron…
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/low-kms-1000-pontiac-tempest-sedan/1125798211?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
I guess the remaining ones have some dark magic around them, to protect and preserve them, as well as destroying the souls of their owner… Wait, what?
Well the rest have collapsed into a pile of iron oxide and wheels that look slightly weird when mounted on them.
Black Lightning for the win !
I’m a lot more partial to this black Lightning
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/1993FordLightning.jpg
Auntie ‘Em, Auntie ‘Em, it’s a Twister
http://blog.thehenryford.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/duster-1.jpg
Volkswagen offers a target rich environment. This is my favorite.
http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/32.jpg
I will own one, I have gone look at several in the past few years but they have all been just too far gone rust wise. I believe this will be my first target for a fly and drive in a year or two. Before they all disappear.
Plymouth Duster Twister. I believe that’s two points…
Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special.
https://cdn1.mecum.com/auctions/kc1212/kc1212-141090/images/kc1212-141090_5.jpg
http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2005/Tsunami/Motorhomes
Maserati is another repeat offender…
http://momentcar.com/images600_/maserati-ghibli-1969-1.jpg
…as they also made a Mistral, a Bora, a Khamsin, a Shamal and their new SUV is rumoured to be called the ‘Levante’.
Disappointingly, there do not seem to be any winds called ‘Biturbo’, ‘Quattroporte’ or ‘Gran Turismo MC Sportline’. There should be.
Thunderbird
https://mholloway63.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/somerssuzanne_thunderbird.jpg?w=560
I guess if Thunderbird counts, Sunbird should, too.
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/images/car_info/Holden/UC_Sunbird/UC_Sunbird_Large.jpg
I would say those are animals or perhaps mythological creatures. But feel free to wander off base. It’s what we do here.
There are enough other ways to get Thunder and Sun.
http://www.glnfcc.com/img/members/blue-thunder03.jpg
https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/fmHnSI6xDmyraRRmuQVP_A–/YXBwaWQ9bWFnYXppbmVzO3c9ODAw/https://s.yimg.com/os/publish-images/autos/2015-02-20/e85cdca0-b911-11e4-a481-3dae926c70fd_15249458234_66f0f05b00_k.jpg
Obvious answer is obvious: all the Chrysler cloud cars. Cirrus, Stratus, and Breeze. I don’t know if I even see these much in junkyards anymore.
http://bestcarmag.com/sites/default/files/13795431998-plymouth-breeze-expresso-photo-319175-s-1280×782.jpg
And around about the same time GM brought you the Oldsmobile Aurora:
http://www.carlustblog.com/images/2008/09/11/aurora1.jpg
(I seem to have been beaten to this choice by JayP)
I was thinking this is more cosmological rather than meteorological.
I saw a Cirrus in Illinois last week. Posted it to VISIT on Facebook. The VISITians were unimpressed.
A double entry and not of my doing…
I was about to post the same.
Saab had that Aero trim line. Not perfect, but kind of meteorological?
http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/61417-4/2009-saab-9-3-xwd-10.jpg
not trim.
There was this Tornado Typhoon fiberglass-bodied kit car. They are hideous.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Tornado/59-Tornado-Typhoon-DV-15-AI-001.jpg
Did I miss Cosmological Name day?
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–hXOWGhap–/gyqgthavzxzgltpau5wl.jpg
Not to be confused cosmetological.
https://cbsdallas.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/pink-caddy-parade-2.jpg
Not to be confused with cosmetological.
https://cbsdallas.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/pink-caddy-parade-2.jpg
http://www.lipstickcar.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Lipstick_Car_On_Ice_by_Zay_Perez.112192454.jpg
Or astrological.
https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ford/taurus/1992/oem/1992_ford_taurus_sedan_lx_fq_oem_1_300.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3418/2321/21043660001_large.jpg
https://autopolis.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/brochure-e1371985943402.jpg?w=547&h=360
Why not just list the whole Zodiac?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Ford_Zodiac_MkIII_front.jpg
You forgot the sexiest of them all…
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/85-89_Dodge_Aries_sedan.jpg
Did you miss the obvious one? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/1995_Chevrolet_Astro_–_03-31-2011.jpg/1024px-1995_Chevrolet_Astro_–_03-31-2011.jpg
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/content/dam/Vauxhall/Europe/united_kingdom/nscwebsite/uk/Home/Flash/homepagehero/assets/images/hp-astra-YesItsAnAstra-992×374.jpg
Hey! The names ‘Laser’ and ‘Talon’ don’t count.
Oh, wait…
Chinook
That thing is so fucking rad.
http://images.edealer.ca/2/31085123.jpeg
Canada got a Nissan Pathfinder Chinook too, which is fitting, because they disappear quickly in winter.
Diablo
Storm, included on this blown away ad copy.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/221105249489-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
Can I get a Geo Stormtracker?
I think the Aztec is about as close a mashup as there ever was of a Geo Storm and tracker.
Sundowner
Sponsored by Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Sunchaser
Technically this works as well. I’m sure Solara means “Sun” in some language, amirite?
In the same way that “altima” and “sorento” mean something in some language.
(That language is Marketing Jargon, the faux-Italian dialect.)
Trivia: “solara” is “solar” in Romanian.
Sorrento is a quite beautiful town in Italy. With 2 “r”-s, though.
Here’s another Solara:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Talbot_Solara_SX_Automatic_%283725146682%29.jpg/1024px-Talbot_Solara_SX_Automatic_%283725146682%29.jpg
Here’s another Solara.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Talbot_Solara_SX_Automatic_%283725146682%29.jpg/1024px-Talbot_Solara_SX_Automatic_%283725146682%29.jpg
Which followed on nicely from the earlier Rootes Group/Chrysler/Peugeout Talbot offerings:
The Sunbeam:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01426/Sunbeam-Lotus_1426392c.jpg
and the Horizon:
http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/uploads/cms_article/4201_4300/1978-1985-talbot-horizon-4267_9703_640X250.jpg
It doesn’t count according to the rules, but the car that became the Sunbeam Tiger was originally going to be called Thunderbolt until they ran into copyright problems.
http://images114.fotki.com/v635/photos/6/61479/1127536/17Tide1988ref-vi.jpg
http://memecrunch.com/meme/2IZAO/weak-sauce-2/image.png
Say that about this Riptide.
http://www.howeandhowe.com/uploads/1/5/2/4/15246154/7969505.jpg
Silver Cloud.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/RollsRoyceSilverCloud1_1959.jpg
Silver Dawn, too.
http://www.rrab.com/rolls/sd-17.jpg
Airstream. Also Gulfstream, excluding aircraft, because I suspect those are off limits today (though that isn’t listed in the rules).
http://toyotamotorhome.org/forums/uploads/post-2937-1248563596.jpg
http://cdn5.traderonline.com/v1/media/manufacturer-logo-gulfstream.png?height=140&quality=60
Honda Of the Sun.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Honda-Civic-del-Sol.jpg
The Sky/Solstice twins.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/gallery/data/559/medium/sols3.jpg
Thunderbolt!
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/116813/116813_Front_3-4_Web.jpg
Lister Storm
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Green_Lister_Storm_(front).jpg
Tramontana is a wind and this is the Tramontana XTR:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/A.d.Tramontana_XTR.jpg
My Tuesday answer is the Kawasaki Zephyr family
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Kawasaki_Zephyr_550.jpg/300px-Kawasaki_Zephyr_550.jpg
Also many of the VW water cooled cars have wind names, Scirocco, Bora, Vento, Sharan, Pasat etc. plus extra credit for the Scirocco Storm.
Surprised that Zephyr wasn’t already trademarked:
I think Ford’s trademark only applied to four wheels?
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lincoln-Zephyr-1937.jpg
And someone else had already trademarked it for more than four wheels.
http://elgruponorte.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/zephyrt.jpg
Evidence to the contrary.
http://tanshanomi.com/temp/zephyr-CW-quote.jpg
[Cycle World, October 1992, page 27]
It was. Kawasaki got a cease-and-desist letter from Ford in early 1992, and what had been the Zephyr 750 and 1100 became known simply as the ZR750 and ZR1100 (in the USA, they continued to use the Zephyr name in other markets).
Thumbs up for the Zephyr. It’s a shame they didn’t sell better in the US. (Tangential: I’ve owned an ’81 KZ750E & a ’99 ZRX1100, members of the Zephyr’s extended family.)
Going with this even though it would tend to become a Meteor…
http://momentcar.com/images/mercury-comet-1961-6.jpg
Needs more Cyclones
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/04/DynoDonComet_02_1500.jpg
Because I saw one the other day in surprisingly good shape, the Pontiac Sunrunner.
http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13090/97pontiac.jpg
Never even heard of it- or that Tempest either!
It was a Canada-exclusive thing, Pontiac dealers wanted everything Chevy dealers sold, so they got rebadges of a ton of stuff.
Another I found…
http://azr.cdnmedia.autotrader.ca/image_resize.php?width=620&quality=80&image=/galleries/2007/images/pontiac/2007_pontiac_wave/07wave_gw_011-4008.jpg
The Asüna is more fun if you really want to confuse foreigners.
Actually, Asüna confuses everybody…
Mirage is a great name for an aeroplane…
http://www.aircraftrecognition.co.uk/images/Aircraft/Fast%20Jet/Mirage%202000/Mirage2000Fdesign.jpg
…but was also applied to a Mitsubishi.
http://www.4door.com/mvma/2000/mitsubishi/2000_mitsubishi_mirage_sedan.jpg
Well, Mitsubishi is often named ‘most likely to disappear from the US market’…
Renault had the Wind.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Renault_Wind_Dynamique_TCe_100_rear_20100904.jpg
(but they blamed it on the dog.)
Appropriate, since the styling is a bit of a dog’s breakfast.
It probably broke all the time.
That thing looks pre-crashed for your convenience.
No love for the Mercury Breezeway?
http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/l-v36c3snpsxhfm3.jpg
Damn, I was saving that for “Cars named after architectural features”…
Along with all of the Colonnade series. And the pagoda-roof Mercs. Or the Isuzu Piazza.
…ahh, now you have started me on a sidetrack.
Can we class an ‘Avalanche’ as a meteorological phenomenon?
or a ‘Torrent’?
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/05q1/267429/pontiac-torrent-photo-165630-s-429×262.jpg
Not if it’s a torrent of man-made effluent.
Oldsmobile Aurora
http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/OLDSMOBILEAurora-3487_1.jpg
For many years now Ford UK has used ‘Thunder’ as a baseline trim & stickers package on many of their models.
What’s amazing is that almost every week, as I’m writing these up, there are at least one or two answers that seem super obvious to me, which I am sure will get named right out of the gate. Then it goes live and they don’t show up and don’t show up, and don’t show up…
https://img.drive.ru/i/0/4efb766b09b6022426002901.jpg
Only one year earlier and they could have used it in Death Race 2000.
I really want to find a photo of a Cyclone, a Hurricane, a Duster, a Twister and a Tornado on a track together.
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/C12_zps4cd4de9a.jpg
Zonda: Foehn wind, dry, rain shadowed down mountains, Argentina.
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/Pagani-Huayra_2012_1600x1200_wallpaper_13_zps5z2yj8o2.jpg
Huayra: Aymara Huayra Tata, (also:Wayra Tata), god of wind worshipped in parts of the Incan Empire.
Any Mazda because Mazda means “sun”.
I know we’ve had the Geo Storm,
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6I4hAL4DnXo/U7r35jKmC_I/AAAAAAAArBk/E6JQ2EN1uyE/s1600/DSC_1981.jpg
But Lister Storm is more correct.
Polaris
Constellation
Cool
Corona
I wonder if there will ever be a “Cars with the same name as alcohol” entry.
http://image.autowini.com/IMG/spec/Hyundai_Porter2/Hyundai-Porter-2001.jpg
I drove one once, but the body was thin and overall it was a bit too hoppy.
I was thinking of this spirited ride myself.
http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/gallery/2013-toyota-crown-royal-and-athlete-revealed-photo-gallery_13.jpg
http://www.duneguide.com/images/DirtDemon-Jack-10.jpg
Maybe you’d prefer something more Stout?
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201212/12/16/e0239216_21155230.jpg
http://www.picautos.com/images/bitter-diplomat-cd-03.jpg
Just as a heads-up, Dudes and Dudettes, stars, constellations, and astronomical phenomena are not meteorological. There’s no weather or atmosphere in outer space.
Blazer then ?
Of course there is.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/space-weather-enthusiasts
The only thing is the space Winds and Storms would have to be…
*puts on sunglasses*
…solar cars.
Thunderclap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8zmkzshUvE
There was this attempt to make the minivan cool from Pontiac.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/pontiac/98p_1/bilder/1.jpg
Whether or not you think the concept was something worthwhile, the production version left something to be desired, let’s say.
http://autosofinterest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2003-Pontiac-Montana-Thunder-production-a.jpg
I see more Aztek in that concept than Montana.
I think this counts.
Armstrong-Siddeley Hurricane
http://www.simoncars.co.uk/armstrong/slides/Armstrong%20Siddeley%20Hurricane%201950%20front.jpg
Armstrong-Siddeley Typhoon
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6099/6337629375_7a3a8904ba_b.jpg
Not aircraft:
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/267321/mclaren-f1-supercar-road-test-review-car-and-driver-photo-354886-s-429×262.jpg
I know the McLaren F1 wasn’t named after the Fujita scale (and also, it’s more F4 than F1), but it sort of fits.
Hurricane!
http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/2015-Lamborghini-Huracan-LP-610-4-track-yellow-front-three-quarter-in-motion1.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&fit=around%7C660%3A*
[Sorry, had to]
Chevy Equinox
Did we miss the Geo Storm or was it up above somewhere?
HSV Maloo ute, which is an Aboriginal word for thunder.
Holden have also used Thunder as a special edition ute.
Mazda did a 626 Eclipse special edition
I went riding on the beach the other day and met this creepy couple who tried to seduce my horse…….