Iconic cars that surpassed all expectations

Jeep Cherokee, basically invented the unibody "crossover" SUV thing (using that term kind of loosely) and outlasted its supposed replacement, the ZJ by a few years. Almost a 20 year production run, all said and done.

I wasn't restricting myself to the US. The Mini Cooper S had a pretty spectacular impact at the time, even if the US standards kept it out at the peak. It also spawned a number of imitators and kicked off a tuning industry that's stronger today than exists for the original GTI, I think. The GTI imitators were also based in Europe more than the US, the hot hatch segment has always been stronger there just because hatches are stronger there.

And yeah, the VW bus was pretty genre-shaping. It spawned quite a few imitators. But the Caravan was a different take on the concept - I think the big difference was the two-box vs the one-box shape, which made it more like a car. It also had a lower overall height which made it garageable. If the low two-box is the definite shape for a minivan, then the Caravan is the first.

Furious_E wrote: Jeep Cherokee, basically invented the unibody "crossover" SUV thing (using that term kind of loosely) and outlasted its supposed replacement, the ZJ by a few years. Almost a 20 year production run, all said and done.

I came here to say this, surprised it wasn't on the first page.

RX Reven' wrote: The Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Cessna 177 Cardinal was introduced in 1968 as its replacement. The original plan was to do a complete change over (stop making 172’s and start making 177’s) but Cessna got nervous and decided to run production for a year on both to confirm that the 177 was a success before retiring the 172. One year of dual production led to two and then three… Ten years later in 1978, the 177 was discontinued and the 172 lives on to this day. Obviously not a car but it's such a perfect example of the OP's question that I thought I'd through it in.

Awesome suggestion, totally from left field, but awesome non the less. Such an iconic design, more built than any other plane. over 40K if I remember.

A small hotrod shop, with less than 30 people working on the project, could design and build a car in less than 2 months, and win the FIA manufacturer's championship for Ford.

That project was Shelby's Daytona.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: The Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Cessna 177 Cardinal was introduced in 1968 as its replacement. The original plan was to do a complete change over (stop making 172’s and start making 177’s) but Cessna got nervous and decided to run production for a year on both to confirm that the 177 was a success before retiring the 172. One year of dual production led to two and then three… Ten years later in 1978, the 177 was discontinued and the 172 lives on to this day. Obviously not a car but it's such a perfect example of the OP's question that I thought I'd through it in.

Awesome suggestion, totally from left field, but awesome non the less. Such an iconic design, more built than any other plane. over 40K if I remember.

I think you need to throw in the C-130 and most especially the DC-3! The DC3 was first built in the 1930's and a good number still flying and working today!! Think about someone driving around a car from the 30's for daily use!

I am sure Lockheed is also pretty impressed that the plane they first built in 1954 is still soldiering on in active service! To add some perspective, the F-86 was the primary fighter at that time and the F-100 was just introduced (both gun fighters).

For cars, I would have to say the Mustang:

"Hey, let's just put a different body on a Falcon and tell everyone is a revolutionary car"

"Uhm, yeah, good luck with that"

I'll go with a bit of an out of the box one - The first generation Subaru Outback.

All they did is put 2 tone paint, a mild lift, standard alloy wheels, and a roof rack on a Legacy wagon. They got a washed up Australian actor to narrate the commercials, and suddenly Americans looked at AWD cars a completely different way.

. .

aircooled wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: The Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Cessna 177 Cardinal was introduced in 1968 as its replacement. The original plan was to do a complete change over (stop making 172’s and start making 177’s) but Cessna got nervous and decided to run production for a year on both to confirm that the 177 was a success before retiring the 172. One year of dual production led to two and then three… Ten years later in 1978, the 177 was discontinued and the 172 lives on to this day. Obviously not a car but it's such a perfect example of the OP's question that I thought I'd through it in.

Awesome suggestion, totally from left field, but awesome non the less. Such an iconic design, more built than any other plane. over 40K if I remember.

I think you need to throw in the C-130 and most especially the DC-3! The DC3 was first built in the 1930's and a good number still flying and working today!! Think about someone driving around a car from the 30's for daily use! I am sure Lockheed is also pretty impressed that the plane they first built in 1954 is still soldiering on in active service! To add some perspective, the F-86 was the primary fighter at that time and the F-100 was just introduced (both gun fighters).

Fair point, but I think if you add both DC-3 and C-47 production together you are still only around 1/4 of the total production of the C172. Bigger if you count the C170 which is basically the same thing as a tail dragger and the T-41 and all its variants.

You know one area where time doesn’t' decrease production costs is aircraft. The original 1956 price was $8,700 or about $75K in corrected 2015 $'s where a base 172 now starts at $275K and rapidly climbs with options.

Since we've gone way off topic. What about the U2? entered service in the mid 50's, supposed to be replaced by the now retired Blackbird (itself iconic) and still in service today despite satellites etc. No bad at all I don't think.

drdisque wrote: I'll go with a bit of an out of the box one - The first generation Subaru Outback. All they did is put 2 tone paint, a mild lift, standard alloy wheels, and a roof rack on a Legacy wagon. They got a washed up Australian actor to narrate the commercials, and suddenly Americans looked at AWD cars a completely different way.

I like that one.

if we are going to get away from cars.. in the world of boats. I give you the Sunfish, now under the stewardship of it's seventh manufacturer since 1952.

As for cars.. I am going to go with Morgan Trikes. Back in production now, they are one of those cars(?) that will not die and stay dead

Joe Gearin wrote: Rabbit GTI Invented the performance-hatch segment, made folks realize that sporty and practical need not be mutually exclusive.

Not even close. I think it was predated by about half a dozen cars

How come none of plane people have mentioned the B52. Over 60 years of continuous front line service, and they are not planning on retiring them till the 2040's. The design will be 85 plus years old then!

drdisque wrote: I'll go with a bit of an out of the box one - The first generation Subaru Outback. All they did is put 2 tone paint, a mild lift, standard alloy wheels, and a roof rack on a Legacy wagon. They got a washed up Australian actor to narrate the commercials, and suddenly Americans looked at AWD cars a completely different way.

As much as I hated my Outback, I find myself agreeing with this statement. Shows the power of marketing.

Nobody mentioned the 240Z? It proved the Japanese could do an honest to goodness sports coupe.

Porsche 924/944, it saved Porsche, and the turbo was faster than the halo car 911.

A well setup 944 is practically a meme at Pelican.

If you want to talk about aircraft, B-52, also see SR-71

Ford Ranger. Originally designed in the Carter administration, finally killed in the Obama administration, and sold well the whole way through while rolling on the same chassis with no really major updates.

Zomby Woof wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: Rabbit GTI Invented the performance-hatch segment, made folks realize that sporty and practical need not be mutually exclusive.

Not even close. I think it was predated by about half a dozen cars

I'm curious what those cars are. Hot Hatch, sold in America, prior to 1983. The Mini is obvious, (although very rare in the U.S.) What are the others? If you are taking about the European or Japanese market there are probably a few, but in the U.S? I suppose you could go with something exceedingly rare, but for mass-produced cars I'm drawing a blank. Civic S? not hot..... Datsun B210? not lukewarm, Toyota 1200? Mazda GLC? Colt Turbo-- ok, there is one...but they came out in 83 IIRC.

I'd like to know.....as there may be an intriguing car I haven't lusted after yet.

In reply to Joe

First hatchback hot hatch I can think of is the Renault 5 Gordini. Non hatchback cars. Mini Cooper, Hillman Imp Sport, various ethnic baby Simca's etc. sporty versions of basic cars were big in Europe long before the Golf

The problem is that Joe's using a US-centric point of view, some of the other suggestions are from a more worldwide POV. Heck, the US didn't even get the GTI until the concept had been around for almost a decade.

The fact that people are still making money with the DC-3 80 years after the first flight is testament enough. I don't mean joyrides, but actual cargo and passengers.

In reply to Joe Gearin: As much as it pains me to say, GM may have invented the genre It is a small hatchback..

Keith is correct. I was thinking of cars available here in the U.S. --- not abroad. I'm Merikan after all. I'm not all that familiar with them funny furrin cars.

Appleseed wrote: The fact that Chevy sold the B-Body Caprice from 77 to 96 with the same chassis.

Panther platform, '78-'11. Some parts had been improved over the years, but aside from wagon frames, everything interchanges.

In reply to neon4891:

I seem to recall when working on the new front suspension that the front coil spring isolator had a mid 60's part number. We joked that the heavens would open and we'd be struck down by lightning when we got rid of it