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 most well-known (and relatively obscure) cars and trucks that are named after a country, a city, or, better yet, a planet.
On top of that, I’ll give a little biography 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 sharper 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: Before the 1995 name change from its original moniker as the Chevy Blazer, this full-size SUV shares the same alias as a bustling California lake/ski resort. And with the right car accessories, you can make your Tahoe as stylish as the city.
2. Maserati Indy: This is an old, but good. 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 the Chevrolet lineup, this mainstay in the hearts of many in the US and beyond has been associated with the warm and fuzzy feelings of the seaside town for which it is named. Until the late ’70s, this model was known as the Chevelle…not an estate, but the name was catchy enough all the same.
4.Ferrari California: In the mid to late 1950s, the Ferrari 250 GT was given the nickname of 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. Chevrolet Bel Air: Have you noticed a trend with Chevrolet yet? Well, that’s because California cities have gotten a lot of attention with current and past models. The Bel Air had a large body design that leaned more toward “boat” cars than today’s more streamlined 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). Regardless, this car shared a similar build to the Crown Victoria… but a bit fancier in aerodynamics and power. While it only had a lifespan of just over 6 years, it was still remarkable.
8.Chevrolet Vega: Now there is a bit of variety. Taking a break from states and cities, Chevrolet had a subcompact car named after 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 leave it a bit more condensed into a few of my favorites. So now that you’ve seen this list, what are some other fun and unique car nicknames?
