Recently, we found out that Audi is adding more numbers to its already alphanumeric naming scheme. This is, we believe, unnecessary. Here in the Hooniverse, we’ve never loved the alphabet soup that’s taken over the model names for most vehicles out there today. It’s nearly meaningless letters and numbers that are supposed to instill some manner of passion and brand loyalty, and all it does is make the average consumer confused about exactly which vehicle they’ve pointed their eye holes towards.
So instead of trying to figure out which “name” is the worst name, we’re lumping all basic alphanumeric names into that list as a singular winning entry. With that out of the way, we want to know which car has the greatest name of all time.
We mean real names too… a word, that has meaning and makes you want to saddle up and ride off into the sunset.
Which vehicle out there has the greatest name of all time?
Hooniverse Asks: What's the greatest car model name of all time?
By Jeff Glucker
Aug 28, 2017
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
Saddle up?
Mustang!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/1969_Ford_Mustang_Mach_I.jpg/1200px-1969_Ford_Mustang_Mach_I.jpg
Mustang Mach1
Also for consideration:
Mustang Boss 302
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/93d97711269b5c2ce0a3efb7d0cb6d4d0a388b7648c43058a21fb1f593d2df61.jpg
Power Wagon – I mean it’s got POWER right there!
https://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/54022334-500-0.jpg
Legend! Aiming high. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/774b0837016c9054184c4799a52cee13bcbcb5ab78b0b12fbaa8f70eb748e75e.jpg
Say it aloud: MG B GT.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/1974_MG_MGB_GT_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%281%29.jpg/800px-1974_MG_MGB_GT_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%281%29.jpg
MGB GT V8
And here is mine for your veiwing pleasure: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7873eba34cb69389f756617a9f3cf460a23ba92d06582b8446bd58020e0f2423.jpg
Not really a favorite, but this is a strange choice considering that this was the era of Hitler and Mussolini. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f1703409cb08e822730218ca1d1e1721c45390d736514e267fde61feb6fa7559.jpg
http://momentcar.com/images/buick-roadmaster-1954-4.jpg
Roadmaster, definitely Roadmaster.
Maserati has many good names. Mistral is one of them.
http://onlineredlineguide.com/69/69_maserati_mistral/Mistral_Real1.jpg
Khamsin is another.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Maserati_Khamsin_1975_front.jpg/1200px-Maserati_Khamsin_1975_front.jpg
Only the Italians could make “four door” sound sexy. Quattroporte!
I always thought “Vigor” was an awesome name for a car, even if it was just a wrong-wheel-drive Acura.
Phantom Corsair
Ford Corsair? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b4ca72e5de3f53fc665a1cb5ba74d723659741027e9c544d780ae4fa73ef5972.jpg
As a school kid I had difficulties with “Corsair” vs. “Corsa”. How come the Vauxhall is a Ford?
Usually the Brits and Americans have some good names
British: Spitfire, Scimitar, Super Snipe, Minx, Silver Cloud, Interceptor, etc.
American: Challenger, Power Wagon, Corvette, Torpedo, Roadmaster, etc
Only the British would name a luxury car after a rather unassuming small wading bird (snipe). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/34b4c88037d5a0f01b30681f4ef9c932af84fe77f0604b4b2f5e912c791bc2b8.jpg
I guess “Super Snipe” than is the small man’s version of “mine’s longer than yours”? Gorgeous cars though.
I had too look it up, and can only admit that I’ve never heard about “Humber” – it looks as if I need to read up about the Rootes Group.
Aston Martin have had some pretty decent V names, Vanquish is probably up there.
Long name for a small (but beautiful) car: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale
Gilbern Invader
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/563d2a6f987edbb3a4e24def72f7ec466123119d75c42e91b69014a167bcfda4.jpg
Enzo.
Cleveland Steamer
Countach. Just for the legend of the name’s origin.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/86836a14230ca45653bb4b35de05bc61afda1fd1e34c49c353d6f3c6105ed273.jpg
Motorboat Monday answer (on a Tuesday):
Vindicator
http://www.semesh.com/easttexas/ads/images/29/f3K83F23If5L95V45E9cb8eccb1832a62c1ff8.jpg
Isdera Imperator (Latin alternate title for “emperor”). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/58f539e2bb0a4ecd8c20dab3aa838dd3d89895c864388aa43cadd07170b0f1ce.jpg
My favorite super car of all time….
Bristol Fighter
http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2006/08/112_0604_03z-2005_bristol_fighter-front_view.jpg
Named after the Bristol Fighter.
http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/warbirds/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Bristol-F.2-Fighter-IWM-Duxford-UK.jpg
I can think of absolutely nothing more I’d like to saddle up and ride off into the sunset one some Caribbean or South East Asian island than one of these converted into a camper…
http://petrolblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Mazda-Bongo-Friendee-blog.jpg
http://onscreencars.com/content/uploads/2010/01/the-homer.jpg
http://up.autotitre.com/0d81711ddf.jpg
Renault Avantime.
Those French, what a sense of humour!
What to call their new LuxuryCoupe/SUV/ Monovolume that most definitely isn’t just some sort of van?
Why not name it after this new era that we’ve arrived at.
A Van Time
Which seems to mean a time for vans?
https://www.flatout.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/autowp.ru_renault_avantime_23.jpeg
Of course, I still want one.
Ooh, this one’s available…
https://www.tradecarview.com/used_car/renault/avantime/21262404/?isNew=1
and affordable, too weird for the sensible Japanese?
https://img03.carview.co.jp/trade/img06/cars/504756/21262404/japan%20car/2005+renault+avantime/04.jpg?height=525&width=700&type=resize
A van time – never thought of that!
“Avant” is French for “before”, “prior to” – as all avant-gardists knew already.
“time” is certainly not a word in French.
“The French may (rightly) pronounce it avan-TEEM; but at its introduction
Renault made a point of calling it avan-TIME. Let’s not forget that most
Europeans are not unfamiliar with English.” Comment in Curbside Classic
There was actually discussion about bringing this into the States as an Infiniti. But then they sobered up.
“Renault Infiniti” – no, that wouldn’t have worked 😛
Infiniti Avantime, maybe Infiniti H35?
I’m pretty partial to snake names: Cobra, Viper.
I’m not sure if Gremlin is the most genius name or the least. Definitely not in the middle.
An EV based on the Gremlin – would be an Electric Gremlin.
Nickname: Lucas
I’m fond of the Bulgemobile Fireblast.
https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2015/07/satire_McCall_05.jpg
How about Mongoose Civique, or Utopian Turtletop? http://www.lettersofnote.com/2013/11/may-i-submit-utopian-turtletop.html
The answer is, as usual, Raptor (though, Hellcat is a close second).
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ford-Raptor-2017-Fox-Shocks-626×382.jpg
Mangusta (Italian for mongoose), because it kills Cobras.
https://www.supercars.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/6092386de-tomaso-mangusta-06.jpg
Ahem:
Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dd45de2adf2808df29b7a2fe499d7e4f84f6e872e7205f6fdccbfb51d0922aa1.jpg
It’s Tuesday so Velocette Venom Clubman is appropriate.