They say all good things must come to an end, and the same idea also applies when it comes to our beloved cars – with motoring fanatics mourning the loss of many classic cars over the years.
Ever-changing trends and tech mean no car is irreplaceable, especially in a world trying to go green, but what would happen if some classic models were redesigned and brought back to life with a modern twist?
We’ve reimagined some favourite classic vehicles for the 21st century. See what you think.
The Ford Cortina: a British Cult Classic
No matter which way you look at it, the Ford Cortina cannot be deemed anything other than a success – whether by sales, your parents’ memories of being chauffeured about in one as a kid, or its lasting legacy on TV and film through the likes of Life on Mars.
Ford made the Cortina for two decades straight, and its popularity endured beyond even that. It was Britain’s bestselling car in the two years before production ceased in 1982 and in all, almost three million of them were sold in the UK. In fact, it remains one of the most popular cars of all time.
Our new-age Cortina, arriving just a year after the car’s 60th birthday, takes inspiration from the original and also Ford’s more recent Mustang and Mustang Mach-E.
With Ford making a big move in removing popular models such as the Mondeo and Fiesta, due to focusing their efforts on electrification, it’s perhaps time the Cortina made a comeback. We imagine it as an EV, in line with the manufacturer’s sustainability goals – giving Ford fanatics hope that it will one day make a return.
We’ve matched the Mustang Mach-E’s grille-less frontend, for a typical EV feel, while also shaping it like a larger, saloon version of the non-electric Mustang – a nod to the Cortina’s image as a sporty family car.
The headlights combine the angular design of the Mustang Mach-E’s but with round inner LEDs based on the Mark III Cortina.
An Aston Martin Inspired By the DBR5 Formula One Car of the ‘60s
The 1960 DBR5 was the last Aston Martin Formula One car for more than six decades, before the manufacturer’s return to the sport in 2021. Our reimagined DBR5 is a road-legal descendent of the original racer with room for two.
But with an Aston Martin F1 podium already this season, through Fernando Alonso in Bahrain, more success could generate interest in such a comeback.
Similar to the original, our model is also lightweight but with wheels that are incorporated into the shell of the car for more suitability to the open road.
The swooping lines and gaping grille provide the modern Aston Martin look, while it’s beautifully finished with a set of alloys and side-mounted exhaust borrowed from the original DBR5. The headlights are inspired by the Aston Martin Victor.
Decades On, Demand for the Lancia Delta Remains High
The Lancia Delta was a big player in the World Rally Championship, especially in 1987 when it scored 140 points across the season. Despite stiff competition from the likes of Audi, a rally legend itself, the Italian maker took both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles, winning the latter by a ridiculous 58 points. The car has even inspired a modern-day rally racer, the Delta Evo-e RX.
And interest remains off the track, too. ActorRowan Atkinson recently auctioned his Delta Integrale, a rally-inspired road car, for £87,750 – nearly £13k more than the guide price.
Late last year, Lancia teased a new model due in 2024, with the full concept expected in April 2023. Our remake’s Y-shaped LED strip is a subtly nod to the teaser, but it stays true to the straight-line styling of the original Delta. It also bears cues to the 80s rally car, through the alloys and Martini decals.
The Jaguar E-Type – Redesigning ‘the Most Beautiful Car Ever Made’
Jaguar’s god-tier E-type, supposedly called the ‘the most beautiful car ever made’ by none other than Enzo Ferrari, turned 60 in 2021.
We’ll not come close to the original, but we were too interested to see how a 21st-century take would look. It keeps the same long bonnet and sleek lines, but with Jaguar’s more recent approach to engineering through the electric C-X75 supercar concept.
We also worked in the signature bar across the grille and bonnet vents, along with a modern interpretation of the E-type’s crossed alloys. The original’s chrome accents make way for black detailing.
Unfortunately, the above cars aren’t available, but you can take a look at our current car leasing vehicles.
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