Home » This New Series Where We Pick Just One Car To Represent A Carmaker Is Going To Be Rough

This New Series Where We Pick Just One Car To Represent A Carmaker Is Going To Be Rough

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I don’t know why I keep coming up with recurring series ideas; I’m terrible about executing them. Remember Mercury Monday? I guess I’m pretty good about Cold Start, but that’s only because the day can’t really begin without that. The World’s Worst Cars Book redemption series? It’s still happening, but I can’t really keep it going daily, but it’ll be multiple times a week at least. And yet, even with all that in mind, I still find myself thinking of recurring series ideas, like this one: what if we had to pick one car to represent a given carmaker? Just one! This may sound easy at first, but I think it’s deceptively difficult.

Here’s what I’m thinking: for every existing brand of car, I’d like to pick one single model to represent that brand (obsolete and dead brands are fair game, too, btw), and it can be from any point in the history of that brand. The resulting car that is selected should somehow convey the character of that brand as it exists in the here and now, while also acknowledging the past that has made the brand what it is.

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We’ll call this series There Can Be Only One as a tribute to the Highlander movies, and also because it’s an excuse to embed this clip:

The initial temptation for any given brand is likely to pick their most famous car, but that’s not necessarily representative of what the brand may actually be. For some companies, maybe it is: Porsche probably is best represented by a 911, and Jeep likely is best represented by a Wrangler – which Wrangler I’m not sure, but one of them. But I’m just spitballing.

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I’m telling you, this is a tricky thing to do. For example, let’s look at a carmaker that you’d think would be easy: Volkswagen.

Cs Madbeetle 5

I think almost everyone’s first instinct would be to say the Beetle should be the representative car! It’s an absolute icon, everyone knows what it is by sight, over 20 million of them were made, it’s the car that started Volkswagen and made the whole company possible. But is the Beetle really representative of what Volkswagen has become?

I’m not so sure. Even from a technical standpoint, the old VW formula of air-cooled, rear-mounted horizontally-opposed engines only dominated the company’s car lineup for about about 40 years, from 1938 to 1978. From the mid-to-late 1970s on, Volkswagen’s technical DNA was transplanted from Auto Union/NSU, with liquid-cooled usually transverse (but not always) FWD drivetrains. So, looking at that, VW has been a primarily liquid-cooled/FWD company for 45 years, if we go from 1979 to the present, and even then I’m being pretty generous to the longevity of the air-cooled era.

So, while the original Beetle is an icon in its own right, is it a representative icon for what Volkswagen as a company currently is?

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I think if I had to pick a car that represented what modern VW is while keeping an acknowledgement of their history, I might pick the Golf Mk.2.

Golfmk2

The Golf Mk.2 I think still holds the key values VW started with – basic, useful cars for the people, the mandate of the Beetle and later the Golf – but it has the mechanical layout VW has adopted and stuck with. Also, it’s an updated design of the original Golf, changed a bit for the era it was in, a bit more rounded and with some better aerodynamic understanding but still with a firm hold on the original design concept, and I think these are traits that stick with VW. Where the old Beetle never changed its look, VW, like most automakers, makes major updates based on changing style and tech, and I think the Mk.2 Golf shows this process.

Also, the Mk.2 Golf, while a good car, didn’t have the legendary status of the original Beetle in terms of cult following or sales, and I think that’s true for modern VW as well: they’re not what they once were as far as sales or reputation goes, and whatever car represents the company should reflect that, too.

I think you could make the argument that the Mk.2 Golf represents the core values and concept of what Volkswagen currently is: on some level, still mass-market, practical, rational, usable cars for the people, but with some emphasis on drivability, a desire to push things upmarket, and a good amount of uncertainty about what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.

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Does that make sense? I think a small car is still what VW fundamentally is about, even if they make so many SUVs and crossovers at the moment. And I think this era of VW bridges their past and present, even if it mostly ignores the early history of the company – but that’s what the real company does, too, if we’re honest.

This is just a taste of what I mean. Picking one car to represent a carmaker’s ethos and character and core values and everything like that is a monumental, maybe impossible task, but I think it could be fun to try. So, I’m going to see if we can do one of these a week, and I’m going to try to see to it that it’s not just me doing these, because I think our other writers will have strong opinions here. Like, David should write the Jeep one, and Mercedes should write the Smart one, and I think Thomas said he wanted to write Lambo and so on. I’m open to guest writers, too, so if anyone is passionate about a particular marque, now’s the time to speak up!

And even better, let’s end all of these with a list: the cars we have chosen to represent a particular brand. I’ll get it started, I suppose, with my VW pick:

THE LIST OF THE ONLY ONES

  1. Volkswagen: Golf Mk. 2 (1983-1992)

I’m excited to see what happens here. Oh, and suggestions for brands and their Only Ones and opinions on whether I picked poorly or whatever are of course welcome in the comments, which I hope will be vigorous.

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Adrian Lane
Adrian Lane
27 days ago

This is great, and VW is a hard one, it’s almost like it was 2 completely different companies.

After this maybe you could do most unlike the brand cars, such as,

Mazda: autozam az-1
Honda: Passport (1st gen)
Chevrolet:Corvette (c8)
Volkswagen:Phaeton
Plymouth: Prowler
AMG:Mitsubishi AMG Galant
Maserati: Chrysler TC

67 Oldsmobile
67 Oldsmobile
1 month ago

I like the thought of the Golf and I am interested in seeing where this new series of yours is going. I will however pick the Passat for the car representing Volkswagen,specifically the B3 facelift much for the same reasons the Mk 2 is the best Golf. Still affordable but modern and a decent family car.

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
1 month ago

Yeah, it makes sense, although I’m a little surprised…I would say that VW is definitely the Beetle and the Bus right behind it. Of course I’m ignoring all their new junk.
I’m gonna say AMC is the Eagle

Kuruza
Kuruza
1 month ago

Figuring out which Aston Martin best represents the brand seems like an interesting challenge. I know which one I’d choose but now I’m questioning how it really fits in their history. Hmm.
This series sounds like a great way of getting into the sort of subjectively objective debate that makes automotive obsession so entertaining.
Taking things a bit further: Should this debate be limited to production models or are concept cars fair game? My instinctive answer is that they ought to be, but that might not fulfill the goal of determining which car has become central to the real-life impression a given carmaker has made on people.

Jatkat
Jatkat
1 month ago

Suburban.

Ncbrit
Ncbrit
1 month ago

In the same vein as the MkII golf, I nominate the Citroen BX. Sure the 2cv is the icon, but just like the Beetle it doesn’t represent modern Citroen at all. Their quirky era was in full swing up until the CX, but then the BX happened at a time where Citroen as a company saw major changes. It is the BX that was at the precipice of their entry to the Modern Citroen era.

Phuzz
Phuzz
1 month ago
Reply to  Ncbrit

And the BX still fulfils it’s quotient of French weirdness, that every ‘proper’ Citroen requires.

RustyBritmobile
RustyBritmobile
1 month ago

Haven’t seen Lotus yet. Elise. OG Elan close second.

TheDrunkenWrench
TheDrunkenWrench
1 month ago

Nissan:
The Altima.

I_drive_a_truck
I_drive_a_truck
1 month ago

Sentra SR.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
1 month ago

Lada: Niva or 2101?

Jakub Kedzierski
Jakub Kedzierski
1 month ago

As someone, who still remembers the german car mania brought about by the newly established capitalist Poland (and the rest of eastern Europe). I have two suggestions.
1. BMW E34 – peak BMW design (has all of the classical desing cues), reliable, the beggining of the legendary M5x series of engines and forever etched into the psyche of Eastern Europeans (due to Gangster Films, real gangsters themselves and obviously Georgian street drifting).
2. Mercedes w124 – obviously, I’m not alone with this one (the Germans often call it “Der letzte echter Mercedes“). This car defined not only the Mercedes Benz brand for many years, but also it became the de facto benchmark of the executive car segment.

James Carson
James Carson
1 month ago

Chevrolet corvair, brilliant, ahead of its time, dòomed.

Jatkat
Jatkat
1 month ago
Reply to  James Carson

As big of a corvair fan as I may be, no way does it represent Chevrolet as a whole. It’s just TOO weird.

MazdaMillenial
MazdaMillenial
1 month ago

Miata is always the answer!

Old Busted Hotness
Old Busted Hotness
1 month ago

Does the Golf Mk II have enough electrical problems to represent modern VW?

Next up, do an easy one: Yugo.

Shooting Brake
Shooting Brake
1 month ago

Oh this is a fun idea

SAABstory
SAABstory
1 month ago

Saab – 900. Would it be awesome to have a Viggen or turbo? Sure. But a normal, 3 door 900 with a stick is just so Saab.

Yes I am biased.

Droid
Droid
1 month ago

jason, i support your nomination of the golf mkII to represent VW’s heritage and present…but can it be a diesel (-gate) pretty please?

this is a fun thought experiment for all brands!

Urban Runabout
Urban Runabout
1 month ago

Chevrolet: Impala
Pontiac: Grand Prix
Oldsmobile: Cutlass
Buick: Electra
Cadillac: Series 62/ de Ville

Ford: Galaxie/LTD
Mercury: Marquis/Grand Marquis
Lincoln: 1961-1979 Continental

Plymouth: Fury
Dodge: 1969 Charger
Chrysler: New Yorker

AMC: Hornet
Studebaker: Champion/Commander Starlight Coupe

VW: Golf
BMW: 3 Series
Audi: A4
Mercedes-Benz: E Class
Peugeot: 504
Alfa Romeo: Spyder (105/115 series) 
Ferrari: 250GT
Lamborghini: Countach
Bentley: Continental
Toyota: Corolla
Nissan: Z
Mazda: RX7
Rolls Royce: Silver Cloud
Jaguar: E Type
Porsche: 911
Volvo: 140/240 Series
Saab: 99/900

Last edited 1 month ago by Urban Runabout
Cars? I've owned a few
Cars? I've owned a few
1 month ago
Reply to  Urban Runabout

Solid list. I might go S Class or 600 limo for M-B, but for pretty much every other maker, I thought “he’s not wrong.”

Tbird
Tbird
1 month ago

Solid list to be sure. GMC: GMT400 series.

Bob Rolke
Bob Rolke
1 month ago
Reply to  Urban Runabout

I think a F100 or F150 would be more appropriate for Ford. I feel kike with the Nissan Z and Mazda RX7 you are falling into the VW bettle trap. Yes they are iconic, but no longer representative of the company.

Urban Runabout
Urban Runabout
1 month ago
Reply to  Bob Rolke

Ford is much more than the truck craze of the past decade.
Trucks were not as common as sedans before the turn of the century
I’d say Mustang instead – but Galaxies and LTDs were much more common during their time.

Church
Church
1 month ago
Reply to  Urban Runabout

Solid list, but AMC should be the Eagle. I also wonder about Ford being the Crown Vic or maybe an F150. But I will die on the Eagle hill. Or maybe a Rambler.

Urban Runabout
Urban Runabout
1 month ago
Reply to  Church

Except the Eagle is a derivative of the Hornet – as was the Gremlin
The Crown Vic was a trimline of the LTD before the LTD nomenclature was dropped in favor of a smaller sedan

Church
Church
1 month ago
Reply to  Urban Runabout

Just because those models were the template doesn’t mean they were better, though. Sometimes, just sometimes, the sequel can be better.

Jonathan Green
Jonathan Green
1 month ago
Reply to  Urban Runabout

Urban Runabout pretty much nailed it.

I’d suggest the following additions/changes:

AMC: Gremlin (represents peak “use what you got” AMC attitude)
Citroen: DS 19 (peak French engineering and style)

I do take issue with the Golf. The Golf is like any other vehicle out there. There’s nothing so remarkable about it that when I see it, I say “it could only be a VW.” To that end, the answer has to be the Beetle. It is what made VW, and it still looms large in the VW ethos, and it is the VW touchstone.

Space
Space
1 month ago

You can throw a survey on the end of each one of these like in shitbox showdown, that will spicé things up.

SonOfLP500
SonOfLP500
1 month ago
Reply to  Space

Seconded

EXL500
EXL500
1 month ago

Ferrari 250 GTO

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 month ago
Reply to  EXL500

Feels strange to say this, but it wasn’t enough of a money-grab. Yes, the GTO is beautiful, rare, my wallpaper, and eye-wateringly expensive, but it wasn’t for a lot of years. IMHO, this is now the essence of Ferrari:

https://store.ferrari.com/en-it/women/jewellery/earrings/prancing-horse-earrings-20014f109.html

Tom Herman
Tom Herman
1 month ago
Reply to  MATTinMKE

ouch

Ea Gregory
Ea Gregory
1 month ago

Funny, I figured you would have had the Beetle as capturing the zeitgeist of VW. Just like Porshe and the 911 or Mercedes-Benz and the S-Class. Then you went ahead and broke the article by choosing the Golf!

Chewcudda
Chewcudda
1 month ago

Lincoln Town Car (the boxy one they stopped making around 1990)
Cadillac: 1976 Eldorado “The last convertible”.
Chrysler: Never mind, they only have one car.
Rolls Royce: Whatever they were using in the Grey Poupon commercials.
Mercedes: W124 sedan (alternate choice would be the 1939 Grosser)

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 month ago
Reply to  Chewcudda

I believe those were Silver Shadows in the Grey Poopon spots. Pronounced “Saddo”.

Urban Runabout
Urban Runabout
29 days ago
Reply to  MATTinMKE
Last edited 29 days ago by Urban Runabout
Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
1 month ago

Subaru – Outback

WaitWaitOkNow
WaitWaitOkNow
1 month ago

Suzuki? I’m at a loss.

SonOfLP500
SonOfLP500
1 month ago
Reply to  WaitWaitOkNow

Wagon R

Tbird
Tbird
1 month ago
Reply to  SonOfLP500

Jimny/Samurai

SonOfLP500
SonOfLP500
1 month ago
Reply to  Tbird

I thought “Jimny” at first but, although it is an international icon, in terms of what Suzuki is now it’s an outlier. Their range in Japan is dominated by kei minivans and the Wagon R is what kicked off that trend. It completely transformed the market, eventually leading to the big luxury vans like the Toyota Alphard – Japan is the only country I know where minivan sales are not suppressed by being “unfashionable”.
Paradoxically, the Wagon R itself is suffering in sales compared to kei “height wagons” like the Spacia, basically rectangular boxes on wheels that fill out the kei dimension restrictions to the max.

Needles Balloon
Needles Balloon
1 month ago
Reply to  WaitWaitOkNow

the excellent Swift

Samagon
Samagon
1 month ago

at least DeLorean will be easy.

JaredTheGeek
JaredTheGeek
1 month ago

Dodge, The Challenger Scat Pack.

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