My generation loves nostalgia. When we see that our old favorites have been resurrected, we flock to purchase them, whether they’re a new iteration of the Pokemon game, a favorite snack from childhood, or fashion choices. I’m sure that in a decade or two we’ll be looking for another piece of nostalgia to add to our collections in the form of a vehicle that we have fond memories of riding in to soccer practice, dance class, or vacation. We aren’t that different from the generations before us – people love to remember ‘the good old days’. But we haven’t gone through as much change when it comes to vehicles. Baby boomers, on the other hand, have gone from roll-down windows to push-button starters, from paper maps to hands-free GPS. Their nostalgia, from my experience, runs less toward the small things and more toward the things that have changed the most, like automobiles. “They just don’t make them like they used to,” is something I hear pretty often.
That’s why I’m curious about the reaction from Baby Boomers to the 2019 Plymouth Superbird. The original, only produced in 1970, was produced in Michigan at the Lynch Road Assembly Plant. It was a muscle car made especially for racing, a two-door coupe with a Hemi V8 engine, a 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission, weighing in at almost 4,000 pounds. Unfortunately, due to updated NASCAR rules, it became impossible to manufacture the Superbird at a profit, which is why it was only available for one year. Under 2,000 were produced, and it seemed as if history had closed the account on the Superbird, which hadn’t been as popular as the Road Runner or Dodge Charger.
However, things have a way of cycling back through, and it looks as if the Plymouth Superbird will soon be joining the ranks of rediscovered, reinvented items. It might have been ahead of its time nearly forty years ago, but this time around might be a good fit for the updated muscle car. With its long, lean lines, the spoiler, and updated technology, it could be the new favorite for those who dream of the days when more people could afford to drive around in snazzy, sexy cars. While it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I do believe it has a high chance of finding its audience with both the Baby Boomers wanting to relive the glory days as well as their grandchildren, who grew up hearing stories about said glory days.
The few updates rumored to appear on the new Superbird include a streamlined design, LED light technology, 22″ wheels, and possibly two exhaust ends. The renderings seen online at places like Muscle Car Zone seem to indicate that it will be available in bright, bold colors, some more traditional than others. If you’re in the market for a new muscle car with sensibilities from the past, this may very well be your best choice for such a purchase. You can read more about the 1970 Plymouth Superbird on Wikipedia.
