Top 6 Retro-Styled Rides

Classic style and modern convenience from six cars on sale today.
By Zach Bowman  

Chevrolet Camaro SS

There’s little arguing with the styling of today’s newest cars. Low, sleek and near seamless, today’s designs are unlike anything the world has ever seen thanks to new manufacturing techniques and advanced computer modeling. Still, there’s something to be said for the designs of old. If you can’t help but feel the world’s greatest automotive designs have already come and gone, take heart, there are some fantastic retro-styled rides available right now. Check out our top 6 retro-styled rides to see what we mean.
 

Dodge Challenger SRT8




Ford Mustang GT

1. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
 
The Camaro is back, and General Motors has made sure the resurrected name will live up to its ancestry. Aside from styling swiped from one of the most attractive Camaros in history – the 1969 – this car is blessed with some serious power. Just behind the front Bow-Tie, The General has graced the Camaro with your 426 horsepower V-8. Unlike its ancestors, this is one Chevrolet that’s designed to handle, too.
 
At a glance
 
MSRP: $30,995
Engine and Drivetrain: 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque; six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
MPG: 16 city/24 highway
 
Big, heavy and remarkably slow despite its potent 6.1-liter Hemi V-8, the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 could be better on a number of levels. Except style. Every inch of this sizeable rig drips with charisma thanks to cues lifted directly from the Mopar success: the 1970 Dodge Challenger. The car was made famous by cult movies like Vanishing Point, where one mighty Challenger took on the best police departments from multiple states had to offer. It’s as if Dodge managed to bottle all that cool and unleash it on today. If you’re in the market for retro Americana, this is it.
 
At a glance
 
MSRP: $42,645
Engine and Drivetrain: 6.1-liter V-8 engine, 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque; 5-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
MPG: 14 city/22 highway
 
Ford helped to kick off the retro-styled craze with its fifth-generation car. That body style pulled elements from the successful late ‘60s and early ‘70s Mustangs in a way that was strikingly different than anything else on the road. Ford plans to continue that move by refreshing the Mustang for 2010 to compete with the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. Though the now-familiar shape stays largely the same, the new body builds off of the beefier-looking ’69 Mustang with muscular rear haunches and a more narrowed front-end.
 
At a glance
 
MSRP: $27,995
Engine and Drivetrain: 4.6-liter V-8 engine with 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque; 5-speed manual or automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
MPG: 15 city/23 highway
 
If you’re looking for a ride with a bit more British flair, look no further than the 2009 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop. MINI’s no novice to the retro scene, but the company has managed to keep its products relevant through multiple drivetrain and performance package updates over the years. The most impressive of those has to be the John Cooper Works package, which includes a 208 horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, sport suspension and quick-shifting six-speed manual transmission – not to mention some awesome aesthetic additions.
 
At a glance
 
MSRP: $29,200
Engine and Drivetrain: 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct injection inline four-cylinder engine with 208 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque; six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive
MPG: 26 city/34 Highway
 
Not every American car out there with a classic tilt has a huge V-8 under the hood. The 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS is probably one of the most overlooked cars in GM’s stable. It’s true the looks aren’t for everyone, but there’s no denying this ride’s vintage style. The look is pulled straight from GM’s panel trucks from the mid ‘50s, but it’s what’s under this retro’s hood that’s really surprising. Chevrolet blessed this ride with a potent turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That means plenty of go-quick fun without the headache at the pumps.
 
At a glance
 
MSRP: $25,475
Engine and Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque; five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
MPG: 21 city/29 highway
 
Though not as blatantly backward-looking as some of the other candidates on this list, the 2009 VW Rabbit harkens back to a simpler time in transportation -- one where style came as a bi-product of functionality. VW resurrected the Rabbit name after a decades-long hiatus and the successor to the throne is a fitting replacement for its plucky ancestor. Unlike the anemic Rabbits of old, this little car gets up and goes thanks to a 170 horsepower 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine. The slick six-speed automatic transmission makes motoring a breeze, too.
 
At a glance:
 
MSRP: $16,300
Engine and Drivetrain: 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque; five-speed manual or six-speed automatic; front-wheel drive
MPG: 21 city/ 30 highway 






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