Vellum Venom Vignette: Does This Icon Make Me Look Fat?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

Here’s the thing about going retro: like movie sequels, the original is usually far, far superior. But unlike sequels, we operate a vehicle outside of the lens of historical significance. Most of us need an automotive appliance to do our jobs. If you need a new ride, how do you roll? In a modern take of a classic, complete with CUV-sized dimensions and proportioning, that’s how!

One of the few exceptions (outside of rich people price points) is the Scion FR-S, which is the subject of my next Vellum Venom. So consider this a tease: enjoy the “bulk” of owning retro in our current age of fat CUVs, insane Energy Drinks, Hot Yoga and Gluten-free diets!

Rarely does someone park a retro monster side-by-side with the original, but these scale models help. Auto manufacturers are wise to not make it this obvious in PR photography.

But thank goodness the blogosphere does the job instead.

Is there a buffet at The Vanishing Point?

I donno, does the legendary Camry have functional A/C?

Maybe I was wrong about PR photos…especially when the new model looks even larger when they put it in the foreground. HERTZ SO GOOD.

And on a more personal note, don’t park your personal 2011 Ford Ranger next to the two on the right. Oy vey!

And lastly, this one from TTAC’s sinistermisterman.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

More by Sajeev Mehta

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 55 comments
  • Panzerfaust Panzerfaust on Sep 22, 2012

    I've always been of the opinion that the retro versions of once popular cars are the automotive embodiment of the baby boomer (of which I am one) i.e., trying to be what we were 30-40 years ago, only bigger heavier rounder and with microprocessors. If you really want to see something shocking, park a 1969 Chevy C-10 next to a 2012 Silverado, you'll think the C-10 is delivering the ladder to get into the Silverado.

  • Oldyak Oldyak on Sep 23, 2012

    thanks for the SHO pics... A forgotten survivor!!

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
Next