So much nicer than number
New electric cars no longer have a name, but a number. Where has the time gone when cars were given a beautiful, graceful girl’s name?
Borgward Isabella (1954)
The slim-lined successor to the plump Hansa would not actually undergo a name change, but the management changed tack when ‘Isabella’, as the test cars were called, not only proved popular among its own staff, but also caught on with the press and the public.
Ford Victoria (1930)
The name Victoria was first used by Ford in 1930 to indicate the type of body of the Model A. Then we saw Victoria reappear in the 1950s, with or without a crown on her head: Crown Victoria. The ‘Crown Vic’ was the New York taxi until electrification made its advance.
Toyota Carina (1970)
Carina was born in 1970 and was named after a part of the constellation Ship Argo, where Carina is the Latin name for keel. She changed appearances seven times during her lifetime, before her role was taken over by Avensis in 2001.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1954)
At the cradle of Giulietta were Franco Scaglione and Giovanni Bertone. Scaglione, employed by Bertone, was responsible for her elegant appearance and Bertone ensured that she left his factory fully functional. Giulietta’s successor bore an equally beautiful name: Giulia.
Renault Zoe (2012)
The instigator of this list. Strangely enough, Renault gave its first electric car the lovely maiden name Zoe, while that brand used to give all its cars a number. Perhaps they wanted to make up for the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25 and 30?
Mercedes 35 HP (1901)
As a major customer of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft products, Emil Jellinek had such a great influence that he was able to have a whole series of cars named after his daughter Mercédès. In 1901 the 35 HP was the first, a year later ‘Mercedes’ was a brand name and the rest is history.
Austin Seven Ruby (1934)
Herbert Austin’s car for the people, modeled on the model T Ford, dates from 1922. Towards the end of its career, the four-seater saloon was renamed Ruby. It is fair to say that this was not a girl’s name, but the name of a piece of jewelry. The other two versions were Opal and Pearl.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl