Even back in the good ol’ days when a car’s alphanumeric badging actually told your what was going on under the hood, we preferred when cars had actual names like Eldorado and Falcon. Style and soul are important, and a name is part of that identity. Our favorite monikers evoke a feeling that matches the car, so once a brand has staked its claim to a good one, it resonates with the public and has equity. Here are nine examples of names that were good enough that at least two brands made use of them.
This is the second time we’ve broached this topic, which we first explored two years ago. There are bound to be more. If we’ve forgotten your favorite, chime in with a comment
Eagle
While GM’s other brands got companion brands to widen their appeal starting in 1929, (Cadillac-Lasalle, Buick-Marquette, Oakland-Pontiac, and Oldsmobile-Viking) Chevrolet instead created new models to cover more ground. In 1933 the car formerly known as Confederate became Eagle, the premiere Chevrolet model, above the slightly shorter and more affordable Chevrolet Mercury. By 1934, both names were replaced with Master and Standard.
