After researching enough to write about cars on an unusual topic, I came across everything from safety tips for drivers to a list of vehicles with animal names. And it’s the last thought 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 how a Cobalt became the Cruze. It has a much clearer sound I guess.
So here are a handful of cars named after some of our most popular destinations … except for 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 nickname as the Chevy Blazer, this full-size SUV shares the same alias as a bustling lake / ski 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 old, but good. In homage to the great race celebrated on Memorial Day, this Maserati model had a short service life from 1969 to 1975.
3. Chevrolet Malibu: One of the most notable cars in the Chevrolet line, this mainstay at the heart of many in the US and other outer regions has been linked to the warm and fuzzy sentiments of the coastal city that gives it its name. Until the late 70s this model was known as the Chevelle … it wasn’t a state, but the name was catchy enough anyway.
4. Ferrari California: In the mid-to-late 1950s, the Ferrari 250 GT was dubbed California, and it wasn’t until around 2008 that this super high-performance vehicle was permanently given the nickname of this sunny, coastal, and free-spirited state.
5. Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson: I thought I’d group 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 already noticed a trend with Chevrolet? Well that’s because California cities have gotten a lot of attention with current and past models. The Bel Air had a great body design that leaned more toward “floating” cars than the more aerodynamic current models. And he had a great streak of about 25 years of production until 1975. I’m sure if you look hard enough at auctions or classifieds you’ll find some collectors who still appreciate his design.
7. Mercury Milan: I’ve always loved the sound of this one, especially since I want to visit Italy (it’s kind of a wish list). Regardless, this car shared a similar build to the Crown Victoria … but a little sleeker on 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 the constellations. One of the brightest stars in the constellation Lyra, to be exact. This model could be found on roads between 1971-1977.
And while there are a few more that I could throw up here, I had better condense some of my favorites a bit more. So now that you’ve seen this list, what are some other fun and unique car nicknames?