Retro Styling or is it just American Styling?

[DukeOfValencia]

I don't think calling the 05 Mustang retro is exactly correct. I think American is more like it... follow me for a minute.
If you look back at the history of American designed cars, the 05 Mustang is more like a continuation of the Mustang than a Retro design. At some point in the 70's American design started changing to complete with the rise in amount and popularity of imports. In the last 10-20 years most American designed cars looked more like Japanese designed cars. (I'm not talking trucks here...). Sure, the 05 Mustang seems to take cues from the 60's stangs, but the 67 stang had some appearance of the 66 stang, so did that make the 67 stang retro?
Other examples are the PT Cruizer, SSR, and prowler. They aren't exact (or even really close) copies of classic cars. The Vette has maintained a mostly American style, allthough it's got some Italian influence in the last several years. The Chrysler 300 is a break from the Japanese looking sedans that we are all used to. I know there are mixed opinions about the Dodge Magnum and Charger, but they have taken a step in the direction of American design and away from import design. GM is still stuck in the import sedan mindset with the GTO, but maybe they'll come around with the new Camaro.
In the 60's the short trunk, long hood, and rwd was the American idea of a sports car and the 05 Mustang just seems more like the next logical step. The Mustang II was an attempt to compete with the economy imports, but the mid 80's stang started to get back on track, then in the 90's Ford started getting that rounded import feel and was a little off from the standard American look.
Now, when you start adding your own style to the new Mustang (ie side window louvers, side scoops, stripes) YOU are giving it a retro look.

So call it what you want, but I'm calling it American! Hopefully it's the first step in America becoming it's own country again and relying less on foreign designs and products!
Rick

 

[bigcat]

 

[crewwolfy]

Looking at photos of the two cars taken from the same angle, you can definitely see the resemblance. Many of the key features are there that haven't been there for a number of years. I think this is what makes it retro. Likewise, it retains several styling aspects of the previous model. So I don't know that I'd call it a retro design, but it does incorporate many retro design qualities. I personally think Ford did a stunning job blending the two.

For a loose criteria of retro, I'd say you'd have to incorporate a majority of the design aspects of a model that hasn't been present in decades. The beetle isn't retro because it always looked pretty much the same. If the vette went back to a stingray design, I'd consider that retro.

On your other point, I certainly do love American styling. However, America itself is a melting pot of cultures. It's expected for a number of American cars to resemble Japanese or European designs. But it seems most car designs do that these days, and it's nice to see 'retro/American' designs coming back in the stang, charger, 300.

I certainly am eager to see the new Camaro, but I expect it to be much more streamlined than the stang, as it's been for some time. I'd like to see a return to 3rd gen styline, as the most recent resembled a Sebring. But I digest...

 

[PonyKeg]

Well, if you've read the launch book, the Ford designers seem to make the case that the car is more American than retro. I'd have to agree.

 

[sacha]

Well, if you've read the launch book, the Ford designers seem to make the case that the car is more American than retro. I'd have to agree.

I wouldn't expect the designer to admit it, but the car is definitely retro and there's nothing wrong with that. The bottomline is they built a gorgeous car and there's no shame in bringing back the fastback, the fogs and everything else. I love my retro-looking stang.

 

[199]

Retro all the way

 

[Blk05Retro]

Retro as the sig says. I think retro is bring back styling cues from a previous generation. The 05 has many cues from the late 60's early 70's models.

 

[Thunder Road]

If you follow the styling from 64 1/2 to73 then throw the 2005 in. It seems like a natural progression, retro or American.

 

[ursastang]

American, Yes. Retro, well...

This is a good question. It's one I've asked myself.

My neighbor has a pristine '65. We've had the two parked out front at the same time. In my opinion, they have many of the same styling clues.

I agree with the long hood, short deck (and the subtle bulge in the hood) idea. It's only repeated in a few places in Europe, but is mostly done here in the States.

Is it retro or American? Well, I think both. Mostly, I loved it enough to sell my european import and jump back into American steel. I couldn't be happier, and I'm converting lots of my friends, too!

 

[PonyKeg]

That's a good point. In many ways, retro is American.

When Ford designed the S197, they were consciously trying to move away from European and Japanese styling. It looks retro to us, but maybe that's because it's been awhile since we've seen new cars that embraced the American look.

Another point is, Ford relied more on the 67-70 Mustangs for influence than the 64.5-66 Mustang. If they really wanted to go retro, they could have produced something harkening back to the original ponycar. Instead, they went for the muscle look, which is what evolved from the original Mustang.

Here's a question: which do you think is more retro, the new Mustang or the new Thunderbird?

 

[Dubl10]

I liked to think: Retro AND American!!

Either way, I love my stang!

 

[05Stangster]

Quote "Here's a question: which do you think is more retro, the new Mustang or the new Thunderbird?"

Mustang by a land slide.

 

[66Satellite]

Yeah, not retro so much as AFTER 30 YEARS DETROIT (Ford and DC, anyway) IS FINALLY GETTING BACK ON TRACK. Calling the 05 Mustang retro is like calling the BMW 3 series retro cause there are some cues that go back to the 2002/1600.

 

[PonyKeg]

Yeah, not retro so much as AFTER 30 YEARS DETROIT (Ford and DC, anyway) IS FINALLY GETTING BACK ON TRACK. Calling the 05 Mustang retro is like calling the BMW 3 series retro cause there are some cues that go back to the 2002/1600.

Good point. The BMW Z8 has a lot of cues that go back to the 507, too.

Of course, I prefer the looks of my 05 Mustang to anything BMW makes!

 

[tjredgt2000]

Heritage styling would be more accurate.

 

[KrisHorton]

I'd like to think it's a bit of both. It gets called retro because it really skips back over a few generations. I'm curious to see what GM decides to do. Last I heard there were no plans to make it retro, but the success of the heritage styling on the new Mustang can't be ignored. People argue that it's hard to update a retro design, but look at the Shelby. They've already progressed the styling of the car a little and it looks great. I don't think there will be any problems keeping this new body style fresh without just recycling old ideas.

When I designed the 5th Gen Camaro concept for PHR magazine a few years ago, I was taking cues from the SSR (then it was still a concept) and mixing in first generation Camaro elements. I actually started it before anything on the 05 Mustang concept ever hit the internet, thinking it would be cool for the Camaro to come back looking similar to the Camaros that EVERYONE liked. When Ford did that with the Mustang, I knew it was going to be a hit. Yeah, people complained about it, but for the mostpart, people loved it. I think Ford really hit a homerun, while GM was busy shooting themselves in the foot.

Heck, I'm a die-hard Chevy lover and own two of them, but when it came time to buy a new car, bought an 05 GT because it was the only cool RWD V8 coupe out there that I could afford. And I love it.

Kris Horton
www.carsbykris.com

kris

 

[cleveland]

Heritage styling would be more accurate.

On the money!

-Dan