Naming cars: I don't think its weird
- GriffinGuru
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2015 7:07 pm
- Location: Mount Joy, PA
Naming cars: I don't think its weird
So I have read about this sometime in the past that people naming their cars is a new phenomenon often associated with the younger generation. Some do like to give their cars a name; it is a slight anthropomorphism that gives their car some personality. I don't think it is weird, but I also don't agree that it is a new thing. For centuries people have been naming boats as it was believed to bring good luck. The same could be said of bomber and fighter planes, i.e. Memphis Belle, probably also for luck. Don't forget "Eleanor" from "Gone in 60 Seconds" either.
I myself have created a name for my car "Lucy". Mostly because people were asking me if I had a name for it after I got it, and since so many things on the car were loose, the name Lucy naturally followed. But I may be considered part of the millennial generation as I'm 36, though I never really named my cars. Most were just "baby", as in ..."come on baby keep running, just get me home..." Even "Lucy", at home I just refer to as "the Corvair", "I'm taking the Corvair today..." etc; though if anyone asks it does have a name.
My dad, who is 59, has created names for many of the old Porsches he has restored over the years, like "Denise", a 912 he saved, and "Tina" the 924 that I now own. My sister still refers to my 924 as "Tina", though to be honest I always just called it "the 924". Perhaps in the case of my dad who was worked with so many cars of the same make, it gets old just referring to them as "the green 914, the silver 928, etc". Naming them sets them apart and personalizes something that one has spent a lot of time on.
So anyway, as I was thinking about this topic, I also thought that it be funny if people named their cars like they do race horses. Could you imagine a Corvair named "Rochester's Folly", or "Towanda's Thorny Rose"?
I myself have created a name for my car "Lucy". Mostly because people were asking me if I had a name for it after I got it, and since so many things on the car were loose, the name Lucy naturally followed. But I may be considered part of the millennial generation as I'm 36, though I never really named my cars. Most were just "baby", as in ..."come on baby keep running, just get me home..." Even "Lucy", at home I just refer to as "the Corvair", "I'm taking the Corvair today..." etc; though if anyone asks it does have a name.
My dad, who is 59, has created names for many of the old Porsches he has restored over the years, like "Denise", a 912 he saved, and "Tina" the 924 that I now own. My sister still refers to my 924 as "Tina", though to be honest I always just called it "the 924". Perhaps in the case of my dad who was worked with so many cars of the same make, it gets old just referring to them as "the green 914, the silver 928, etc". Naming them sets them apart and personalizes something that one has spent a lot of time on.
So anyway, as I was thinking about this topic, I also thought that it be funny if people named their cars like they do race horses. Could you imagine a Corvair named "Rochester's Folly", or "Towanda's Thorny Rose"?
It keeps me humble:
64 Corvair Monza convertible called Lucy (work in progress)
64 Corvair Monza convertible called Lucy (work in progress)
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- Posts: 1604
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:18 pm
- Location: Kalamazoo Mi..
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
Back in the early 60's some guys even painted the name on the rear fenders, we were just kids!!!! I bought a new black 62 Monza 4 speed but I didn't give it a name, I wasn't going to paint a name on a new car Take one look under my 64 & you'll know why I call it Rusty.
64Powerglide, Jeff Phillips
Kalamazoo, Mi..
Kalamazoo, Mi..
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
The previous owner of my '66 called it his 'little hon' and had personalized licence plates. I have left the front plate on the car.
Eric, Nova Scotia Canada.
'24 Ford Model T Touring
'59 Ford Galaxie
'66 Corsa Convertible
'79 Jaguar XJ6
'01 Toyota Solara
'24 Ford Model T Touring
'59 Ford Galaxie
'66 Corsa Convertible
'79 Jaguar XJ6
'01 Toyota Solara
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
My wife and I have developed kind of "code names" for the cars in our little fleet and these code names become useful when we have to answer questions like "Where are the folding chairs?" or "Which '66 Corvair gets this insurance card?". The names are usually descriptive like "the red Corvair" or "the Rampside". We have never given a human or "nickname" to even one of the hundreds of cars we've owned over the years; we've also never named any of our boats though the pressure is mounting on that one, LOL. I guess we're weird. To each his own!
'61 140 PG Rampside
'66 Rear Alum V8 4-dr
'60 Monza PG coupe (sold, sniff, sniff)
'66 Corsa Fitch Sprint Conv. (First car 1971, recently repurchased)
'66 Rear Alum V8 4-dr
'60 Monza PG coupe (sold, sniff, sniff)
'66 Corsa Fitch Sprint Conv. (First car 1971, recently repurchased)
- MtnVairMike
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:31 am
- Location: Black Mountain, NC
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
My new to me 66 Monza convertible has earned the name "Ralphie" at our house.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
1966 Monza Convertible, 140HP-4 speed, Ermine White
1969 Monza Convertible, 110HP-PG, Frost Green, #3753
1969 Monza Convertible, 110HP-PG, Frost Green, #3753
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
I used to work with a woman who drove a '74ish Pontiac Bonneville. The car was HUGE, kinda ragged looking, and burgundy in color, which somehow made it look even larger. I told her it looked like a battlestar and called it the Galactica. She loved it and the name stuck.
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
My daughter named her old Volvo 740 wagon an American Indian name that she said when translated meant "Black Cloud Follows". It wasn't that bad of a car but it was funny.
Dave W. from Gilbert, AZ
66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
I had two old Ford tractors that I had named. The red one was Redford and the blue one was Blueford.
Ed Stevenson
Ed Stevenson
Edwin Stevenson
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
- CorvairCon65
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:52 am
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
Here in the UK (unless you have a private registration), the plate stays with the vehicle. Most enthusiasts I know give their car a name, usually female, based on the digits of the registration. Mine is PWT129C and haven't come up with anything yet. Patricia perhaps?
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
Yeah or Patsy
Ed Stevenson
Ed Stevenson
Edwin Stevenson
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
Bluenoser, I love that yellow. My 65 vert is suppose to be that color. In fact I have a 82 diesel Cadillac Eldorado that is that shade and I use to have a 62 SS impala that was similar. I am thinking that I might want to return my corsa to its original color.
Ed Stevenson
Ed Stevenson
Edwin Stevenson
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
Industrial Electrician
Electronics Technician
65 corvair corsa convertible turbo
65 corvair monza
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
I hope it isn't too weird since I've been giving names to most of my cars since the early 1980's. My first Corvair was a 1966 Monza coupe with American racing rims. They had a giant "A" in the center cap. All of my friends thought my unique Corvair was a special car, perhaps even 'royalty'. So after some thought the car was dubbed originally "Sir Arthur", with the "Arthur" part sticking to this day. I also had a Corsa coupe I was refurbishing back in the day who was kind of a rough hot rod. "Rodney" sparked from his tough hot rod appearance. Other cars in our family have touted the names of "Sheba" (1978 Plymouth Arrow GT), "Cammy" (1998 Toyota Camry V6 - a surprisingly peppy car), "The Z" (Jade Grey 1983 Datsun 280ZX 2+2), "Zorro" ('66 Corsa convertible with A/C), "Pedro" (my Toyota Highlander), "Bo" (my wife's Toyota Highlander), "Tux" (our Tuxedo Black '66 Corsa Turbo Convertible) and Spirit ('65 Corsa coupe - Fitch Sprint).
Thomas Ratliff
Thomas Ratliff
Thomas Ratliff
Fitch Sprint (in progress)
Circle City Corvair Club member
Fitch Sprint (in progress)
Circle City Corvair Club member
Re: Naming cars: I don't think its weird
no such thing as too weird
CORSA Member #034095
65 Corvair Corsa "Field Find" 140-4, 4 speed, Hardtop, Telescoping wheel. Rear Speaker
65 Corvair Corsa Automatic 140-4, Coupe
65 Corvair Corsa "Field Find" 140-4, 4 speed, Hardtop, Telescoping wheel. Rear Speaker
65 Corvair Corsa Automatic 140-4, Coupe