"Personally, I'm shocked at the 'creative stalemate' I see in worldwide automobile design today. Some manufacturers were introducing totally new cars that are functionally better but look almost identical to the cars they replace. I also see a depressing trend where cars around the world are looking more and more alike. They've lost their distinction, individuality and personality." -Charles Jordan 1985
This is about the time when the 'retro' stuff started. (the Viper hit the show circuit in '89) Looking back at past glories seems to be where the world's designers have their heads at the moment. In marketing terms, auto design is a mature market. Until someone finds a way to get people to buy something that isn't a variation of a box with wheels at the corners, we'll be looking at attempts to get us to buy based (partly) upon our emotions about the 'good old days'.
Not too hard to do. I hear some guys have spent tens of thousands of dollars buying and maintaining a car whose body style and engine (air-cooled!!!) hadn't changed in 30 years. Go figure.
Les