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Greatest Comeback Cars of All Time

These comeback cars remain favorites among gearheads and regular consumers alike.

By Iggy PaulsenPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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We all have seen pop stars make a comeback tour, usually with the help of extra cocaine and Botox. Most of the time, comebacks come with little fanfare, some old diehard fans crawling out of the woodwork, and a lot of overpriced concert tickets.

The same cannot be said about comeback cars. These cars often end up having lots of fanfare, major gearheads and consumers squabbling over the last model in the parking lot. They quickly end up becoming collectors' items—and even have a shot at becoming some of the most adored cars in the lots.

Though a lot of comebacks didn't really make a serious splash, the following cars definitely did. That's why they're some of the greatest comebacks in automotive history, and why we still love them today.

The MINI Cooper

Most people who were born in the last decade would never have realized that MINI Coopers didn't exist for a very long time. However, it's true. Mini Coopers were a rally car from the 60s that quickly found itself going the way of the dodo.

When BMW bought Mini Cooper and redesigned it, the comeback cars and the brand thrived. These days, they're incredibly popular among younger drivers, Hollywood execs, and people who love cute cars.

The Ford GT

The Ford GT line was one of the most popular muscle cars of the 00s. It was sleek, stylish, and had enough horsepower to make the most stoic gearhead crack a smile and nod in approval. Oh, and it was luxurious, too.

Unfortunately, the first round of the Ford GT only lasted from 2004 to 2006 due to a number of factors. However, they quickly became collector cars and were coveted by race car drivers and A-listers alike.

The respect the Ford GT got was what made it one of the most recent comeback cars from the Ford brand. The company recently announced that the GT would be coming back for a four-year run from 2016 to 2020, possibly more.

250 units are being made every year, many of which have already been reserved by collectors. That success says it all.

The Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevy Camaro regularly is one of the greatest comeback cars in history. People just can't get enough of this muscle car, and that's why it's been one of the most famous muscle cars of the 70s, 80s, and just about every decade after.

The first four iterations happened one after another, making it a continuous line of pretty cars. For a while, it really didn't look like we'd get past the fourth generation of Camaros.

Years of delays, executive bickering, and other issues kept it at bay from 2003 until 2010. Thankfully, the Camaro came back into action, had explosive sales, and now is on its sixth generation.

The Scion FR-S

When Scion first hit the market, they tried to get the younger generations to see their boxy cars as cool and modifiable. The problem was that youth weren't into them—at all. They were different, but most of the people who bought them were older folks who liked the roomy headrest.

The Scion FR-S was the car that ended up saving the brand with its edgy design, slick build, and overall sporty look. Needless to say, the Scion FR-S is still very widely sold and remains one of the only comeback cars to literally save a brand.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Believe it or not, there was a point in automotive history where Mercedes-Benz looked like it was about to become a crappy car brand that would not exist too much longer. Ailing sales from World War II aftershocks made Benz struggle hard.

Mercedes-Benz produced the 300 SL—one of the most popular luxury cars in the world thanks to its powerful motor and unique gullwing doors. This car model was quickly snapped up by global elites, which in turn allowed them to continue business as a major motor manufacturer.

The Buick Riviera

Though Buick may now be a defunct brand, there was a point where Buick sales boomed. During the 1960s, though, that wasn't the case. Buick was not faring well, primarily because the brand was already getting the vibe of being an "old" car brand.

To help bring in younger buyers, Buick created the sporty and stylish Riviera in 1963. Buyers took one look at its beautiful look, and quickly starting buying them up. Buick was saved, and would eventually become a favorite muscle car company as a result.

The Volkswagen Beetle

Int he 1960s, the Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most adorable cars around—as well as one of the most popular with students. Beetles were so iconic, they even sparked the invention of the "punchbuggy" game among kids.

Everyone loved the Beetle, and everyone was equally upset when the Beetle stopped being produced by VW. During the early 00s, Volkswagen announced it'd bring back the Beetle, complete with a new modernization. Everyone went nuts!

Like it or hate it, the Beetle is still around. It now has a convertible option as well as a fairly loyal following. We can't argue with the success, so it's definitely one of the most popular comeback cars in recent years.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo has always been one of those car companies that regularly likes to bring back popular models. When the Alfa Romeo Giulietta was first unveiled in the 1950s, it was a zippy game-changer in the rally world and helped keep Alfa Romeo relevant.

The original came in spider, saloon, and coupe versions. They ruled, but were eventually retired. Alfa Romeo, noting lagging sales, brought the Giuletta back in 1977 as a four-door. The saloon version faded out, then Giuletta was retired once more.

Oh, until 2010 when they brought it back again. All things considered, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is one of the greatest luxury comeback cars ever made.

The Fiat 500

Believe it or not, the Fiat 500 was a favorite in Western Europe for quite a while. Ever since the petite Fiat 500 'Topolino' came out in 1936, people fell in love with the charmingly small car that proved to be tons of fun to drive in Italian countrysides.

Post-war, the Fiat 500 was a mainstay in European streets from 1957 to 1975. Much like other cars on this list, it didn't seem like Fiat would ever really come back.

However, 2010 proved otherwise and the Fiat 500 quickly became one of the most popular budget comeback cars to hit dealership lots. They Fiat 500 is still small in size, and it may be one of the most unreliable cars out there, but we can't lie. It's successful.

The Dodge Challenger

During the 70s, the Dodge Challenger was considered one of the greatest muscle cars ever made. It would have been difficult to predict that muscle cars would have ever died out, however, they did—and with them, died the original Dodge Challenger line.

History tends to repeat itself, though, and that's why it's not very surprising to hear that the Dodge Challenger ended up being one of the best comeback cars of this millennium. When the 2008 version came out, gearheads rejoined... and quickly rewarded Dodge with profits.

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About the Creator

Iggy Paulsen

Iggy Paulsen is a fan of anything and everything wholesome. He loves his two dogs, hiking in the woods, traveling to Aruba, building DIY projects that better humanity, and listening to motivational speakers. He hopes to eventually become a motivational speaker himself.

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