"What's in a name?" For car buffs, that question can be crucial. Some contend it doesn't matter how a car is called as long as it runs right and companies seem to agree. How many cars are there with model names more like license plate numbers than real words?
It's more interesting for beater cars as a lot of beaters have names that don't roll off the tongue. Companies are wary of wasting a cool moniker on a car that doesn't shine well on the road. A few beaters actually have cool names, whether by the companies or unique versions cooked up by modders. In some cases, they can even be cooler than bigger cars. Here are nine beaters with surprisingly badass names which oftentimes don't fit them at all.
9 Acura Legend
It doesn't quite live up the "Legend" part, but this Acura is still good. In 1991, it was the biggest, broadest, and most powerful offering from the company. The 2.5l V6 could gain 156 hp, pretty good for its time. It actually used F1 technology for its front frame and was a pretty huge hit.
Over the years, it got upgrades, yet 200 hp was its general limit. That may seem low, but it fit for its time while boasting a name that pushed its own fame. In a way, it was a legend in showing Acura ready for the 1990s and ushering in a new wave of luxury automobiles.
8 Triumph Spitfire
British car engineering has its ups and downs. The Triumph Spitfire falls somewhere in the middle. Debuting in 1962, the Spitfire has changed over the generations, but its best speed was always 100 mph.
For a car with only 62 hp, it didn't quite live up to the name it shared with the famous WWII fighter jet. Still, it was a charming convertible and perfect for drives in the English countryside. It remains a popular get for some classic car buffs for a fun ride.
7 Dodge Rampage
The Dodge Rampage isn't quite a "tear up the road" type of coupe. It only has 96 hp from its 2.2l inline-four engine, and the frame is...not entirely pretty. Yet the name still sounds impressive, making it sound like a car prepared to roar like some beast and crush all in its path.
The reality was far different with a low performance, but it did better rebooted into a 2000s pickup. In either case, the Rampage at least boasted a better moniker than the car deserved.
6 Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard
Isuzu usually has some nifty names for trucks like the Trooper or the Rodeo. In Japan, they cooked up the Mysterious Utility Wizard. Now, it's true that one is hard-pressed to figure out what's so mysterious about utilities.
Yet linking them with "Wizard" makes the truck sound far more exciting than it is. A Rodeo isn't too bad in its performance yet doesn't quite spark. Yet who wouldn't want to own something sounding cooler like "Wizard" over a cowboy reference?
5 Suzuki Samurai
The very name "Samurai" elicits images of a bold and proud warrior ready to take on all enemies. Granted, the Suzuki Samurai doesn't quite live up to that title with a raw performance (even a top-of-the-line version can barely get 70 hp), but the name itself is stellar.
It's not too bad in the frame and can be surprisingly tough off-road with a squat size aiding it. Thus, the Samurai isn't exactly a "road warrior," but it's an exotic name for a unique brand to get some attention.
4 Chevrolet Triple Turbo Duramax
It's a terrific combination of names. The Duramax alone pushes a truck meant to be robust and lasting as long as possible with any conditions. "Triple Turbo" implies great speed. The truck lives up to it as Matt Misner took a Chevy Silverado and adjusted the engine with Diamond Racing pistons and other alterations.
The result: 1300 hp and zero to 60 in nine seconds. That and it just sounds terrific as a high-speed, high-powered monster truck to crush on the road.
3 AMC Gremlin
Yes, the AMC Gremlin is recognized as one of the worst cars ever made. It has a crummy exterior, terrible engine, and the idea of a vehicle based on a creature known for ruining machines seems weird.
However, the Gremlin also boasts a pretty nifty name. It reminds one of the fun 1984 movie with those wicked creatures tearing it up and makes it fun to drive. The actual car may be a huge flop, but the Gremlin's name makes it stand out better.
2 Studebaker Power Hawk
Produced only for the 1956 model year, the Studebaker Power Hawk boasts one of the coolest car names in history. It was also quite the beast back in the day, featuring a 4.2L V8 pumping out 170 horsepower.
Yet despite their rarity, Power Hawks can still be found for under $20,000, especially if they're in rough shape. And with just 170 hp on tap, the name sounds much more threatening than the car itself.
1 Mitsubishi Mirage
"Mirage" is one of those words that sounds so exotic. It conjures images of the desert and not the heat but its romance and mystery. The Mitsubishi Mirage is interesting in that it's almost proud of being classified as a beater.
The idea of a 2020 car rolling out with just 78 hp may seem ridiculous, but the Mirage is also quite comfortable and boasts some great technological advances. It doesn't try to be anything special yet, like its name, the idea it's a crummy car is just an illusion.
Sources: jalopnik.com, caranddriver.com, hemmings.com, autowise.com