After doing enough research on an offbeat topic to write about cars, I found everything from driver safety tips to a list of vehicles named after animals. And it’s the latter idea that led me to write about some of the best-known (and relatively obscure) cars and trucks named after a country, a city, or better yet, a planet.
On top of that, I’ll give a little bio on when they were introduced to the masses, if they were discontinued or “slightly modified” to something else. You know, like when a Cobalt became the Cruze. It has a much crisper sound I guess.
So here are a handful of cars named after some of our most popular destinations… except outer space, unless you’ve witnessed it and then, well, you’re in luck.
1.Chevrolet Tahoe: Prior to the 1995 name change from its original moniker as the Chevy Blazer, this full-size SUV shares the same alias as a bustling ski/lake resort in California. And with the right car accessories, you can make the Tahoe car as stylish as the city.
2. Maserati Indy: This is an oldie, but a goodie. As a tribute to the great race held on Memorial Day, this Maserati model had a short lifespan from 1969 to 1975.
3.Chevrolet Malibu: One of the most notable cars in Chevrolet’s lineup, this mainstay in the hearts of many in the US and other regions outside of it has been linked to the warm and fuzzy feelings of the coastal city for which it is named. Until the late ’70s, this model was known as the Chevelle…not a status, but the name was catchy enough nonetheless.
4.Ferrari California: In the mid-to-late 1950s, the Ferrari 250 GT was nicknamed California, and it wasn’t until around 2008 that this super-high-performance vehicle was permanently given the nickname of this sunny, coastal, free-spirited state.
5. Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson: I thought I’d lump these two together and point out that Hyundai apparently loved the great Southwest so much that it went ahead and named these states so much.
6. Chevy Bel Air: Have you noticed a trend with Chevrolet yet? Well, that’s because California cities have gotten a lot of attention with both current and past models. The Bel Air had a large body design that leaned more towards “boat” cars than the more aerodynamic current models. And it had a great run of about 25 years of production until 1975. I’m sure if you look hard enough at auctions or in the classifieds, you’ll find some collectors who still appreciate its design.
7. Mercury Milan: I’ve always loved the sound of this one, mostly because I want to visit Italy (it’s kind of a bucket list). Anyway, this car shared a similar construction to the Crown Victoria… but a bit more elegant in aerodynamics and power. While it only had a lifespan of just over 6 years, it was still remarkable nonetheless.
8.Chevrolet Vega: Now there is a bit of variety. Taking a break from the states and cities, Chevrolet had a subcompact car named after the constellations. One of the brightest stars in the Lyra constellation, to be exact. This model could be found on roads between 1971-1977.
And while there are a few more I could throw in here, I’d better keep it a bit more condensed into a few of my favourites. So now that you’ve seen this list, what are some other fun and unique car nicknames?