QOTD: What's in a Name?

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Today’s QOTD was set to be something about the labor action in which the UAW and GM are mired. No matter which side of the bargaining table you’re rooting for, that subject always generates plenty of comments.

But, thanks to a well-placed ad, your author was reminded of a much lighter topic: weird and wonderful car names … including one of his favorites.

Before getting to that one, I will freely admit that that lads on Top Gear had it right when they said the Jenson Interceptor had one of the best names ever applied to a car. With just the right number of syllables and hard-sounding consonants, it was easy to say with a curled lip. I feel the same about the Holden Commodore, even if the car itself occasionally left something to be desired (not the LS3-powered VF, though).

Japanese companies also tend to dub their vehicles and variants thereof with wild’n’crazy titles. My most favorite? Why, the Astonish!!, of course. How anyone can fail to grin when saying that name, with its too-excited double exclamation inflection, is beyond me. Mazda offered the Bongo Friendee and Proceed Marvie, also excellent choices.

What’s your pick for the most tremendous (weird or not) name ever to appear on a car?

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Hriehl1 Hriehl1 on Sep 16, 2019

    Cordoba., with reech Coreenthian leather.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Sep 16, 2019

    Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y. Al together make Tesla SEXY. How sexier it can be?

  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Sep 16, 2019

    "1985 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 Quattrovalvole" (greatest name - not the greatest car)

  • WildcatMatt WildcatMatt on Sep 17, 2019

    I'll make an argument here for the Ford Aerostar. Take a name that sounds vaguely futuristic and suggests aerodynamics, put it on a minivan which borrows heavily from the Ranger parts bin, and launch it with an ad campaign that invokes the space shuttle. It's not the world's best name, but when put in that light I admire the chutzpah.

    • See 1 previous
    • WildcatMatt WildcatMatt on Sep 18, 2019

      @HotPotato Still better than the GM dustbuster vans, though.

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