Remember the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015? A modified version of that bill was inserted into the FAST Act, which was signed into law in December; it allows for exceptions to some regulations for low-volume automakers. You may recall much celebration from the folks at DMC Texas, who hope to begin selling complete running DMC-12 vehicles by 2017. Around Motor Trend HQ there were a few conversations and a few pipe dreams. What if automakers or replica car companies were able to bring us new versions of the classics we’ve come to love but can hardly find in good condition anymore?
We used the criteria of the FAST Act as our guidelines: more than 25 years old and fitted with a modern emissions-compliant engine.
Here are a few of the vehicles we’d love to be able to purchase new again. Let us know what you’d love to be able to buy new again in the comments below.
BMW E30 M3
The first of the BMW M3s was the E30, which was born of BMW’s racing effort in the 1980s. The car sported wider box fender flares, a rear spoiler, and a demeanor that is both eager and rewarding to drive quickly. What engine would we choose from BMW’s current portfolio to match the iconic M3? The turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 from the 228i, which puts out 240 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. With a torque peak between 1,450 and 4,800 rpm, the new E30 M3 would be incredibly drivable, but it wouldn’t be a complete monster. Plus, it’s only fitting that the M3 sticks with four cylinders, like the original, instead of the six (or more) of its successors.
BMW 2002
The BMW 2002 is one of the vehicles that really helped to establish the BMW name in the United States. The original wasn’t a dragstrip hero, but it was fun to drive when the roads got twisty. We’d pair the lower-output turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 from the 320i, which makes 180 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, with the new 2002. It’d be efficient yet still fun to drive with plenty of torque available low in the rev range.
Jaguar E Type
In an interesting turn of events, the pictured Jaguar E-type Lightweight continuation model sort of illustrates our point. We hardly expect Jaguar to make the six-unit run less desirable with more production, so we’d love to see the “regular” E-type come back into production. Under the hood? Easy: the 340-hp, supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 from the Jaguar F-Type Coupe. The V-6 makes as close to the proper sounds without totally thumbing its nose at history. (Jaguar’s modern V-8 would be insane but less true to the straight-six originally found under the E-type’s long hood.)
Buick Grand National
Although a Buick Regal is produced, we look back to the 1980s and the Grand National with a nostalgic sigh. General Motors has all the right ingredients to do this nouveau classic the right way. Take the classic body and insert the twin-turbo, 3.6-liter V-6 from the Cadillac ATS-V; 464 hp, 445 lb-ft of torque, and the available eight-speed automatic should do the trick. We’d go with the automatic because they’re more efficient when drag racing, as they shift faster than most people can and they don’t lose boost between shifts.
Lincoln Continental
At 216.3 inches long, the 1965 Lincoln Continental is longer than every new Lincoln car available today, and it’s only eclipsed by the extended-wheelbase Lincoln Navigator in the automaker’s lineup. That’s some seriously big, beautiful sheetmetal. Why bring back the old-school Conti? The doors open the right way, the engine sends power to the rear wheels, and who else make a four-door convertible? Although we’d love to stick a big-bore V-8 under the hood, one of the torquey twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engines would probably match the relaxed, comfortable cruiser demeanor of the Continental perfectly.
1986 Toyota Corolla
The 1986 Toyota Corolla (specifically the Japanese Sprinter Trueno) inspired a generation of import car fans. Why? Because the rev-happy 4A-GE engine is an absolute joy to wring out and because the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive arrangement makes for lots of driving fun. What should end up under the hood? There are a few reasonable four-cylinder engines, but the powertrain in the Toyota 86 (the coupe formerly known as the Scion FR-S) seems like a logical choice. We think the turbo, 2.0-liter I-4 from the Lexus IS 200t would be a good choice, too.
Volkswagen Bug
Volkswagen needs a win, and what better way than a return to form like the original Volkswagen Beetle? Sure, there would need to be some concessions for a modern powertrain (air cooling would have to go), but we figure the 210-hp, turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 from the new Beetle would do the trick. Just move it to the back of the car where it belongs.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The W198 Mercedes-Benz 300SL was known for its elegant gullwing doors and astounding performance, especially for the day. We thought the most relevant powertrain would be the “base” twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V-6 found in the current SL400. With 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, the new 300SL would have lots of power to motivate its lighter body but not the overkill found in the much more powerful AMG models with their twin turbo V-8 and V-12s.
Toyota 2000GT
Back before Lexus made the LFA, Toyota made the 2000GT. Take a well-built, high-revving engine and put it in an attractive two-seat body, and you have a recipe for challenging the exotic European sports cars. But perhaps the most difficult question is what engine to put in this new 2000GT. We’d love one with the 5.0-liter V-8 found in the Lexus IS F/GS F/RC F, but even the turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 from the IS 200t (and a few others) would be a good match for the car. It would, of course, need a little tweaking to be worthy of such a storied nameplate, but sometimes balance is better than too much power.
Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura is arguably one of the best-looking cars ever made. Just look at it. We even included two pictures. There’s only one engine worthy of doing double duty in the Miura and another modern Lamborghini: the V-12 from the Aventador. It’s a bit bigger (6.5 liters) than the 4.0-liter V-12 originally found behind the heads of Miura drivers, but it makes all the right sounds and lacks forced induction, just like the old Miura. Sure, with nearly 700 hp, the retro-new Miura would be a handful, but perhaps they could scale the power back a bit and keep all the glorious V-12 sounds. We’d like that.
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