Where Do Car Names Come From?

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet tells her darling love “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” She is trying to convince her Romeo that names do not matter, only what things are. But when it comes to cars, names DO matter.

When automakers come up with a new model of vehicle, the name is a matter of great importance. Car companies often draw inspiration from animals, weather, space, and other natural wonders. But a lot of times, cars borrow their names from great American cities.

This got me wondering: what are some cars named after cities? Which US states are most popular for car names? The answer probably won’t surprise you: it’s California.

I put together this helpful map so you can see which parts of America inspire the names of our cars and trucks.

Can you think of any names that I missed? Post a comment below and let me know!

Another Lifted Truck

Aside from being a lover of cars, I’m also a lover of music. If you’ve ever glanced at my mugshot below the articles I write, it’ll be no surprise when I say that most of the music I enjoy involves loud, distorted guitars. One of my favorite thrash metal bands is a group called Overkill. Many of their album covers revolve around a green and black color scheme, and they even have a song called “The Green and Black.”

Coincidentally, I feel like that their name aptly describes the very same green and black color scheme on this truck. It’s absolutely overkill. I didn’t bother doing any research on it (fuck me, right?) but it has a big goofy Fuel logo on the front and an Audio Techniks decal on the bed side. So if you want to learn more about this boric acid flamed motherfucker, google it up.

Also, what the is the deal with that leaf pack? Seriously?

Does California Require Temporary Vehicle Tags?

UPDATE: New law will require temporary license plates in California starting in 2019.

When you buy a brand new car, a used car, or re-register your old car in Arizona, you can go online and print a 30-day temporary tag while your official license plate is being made. On a recent visit to California, I noticed a lot of brand-new vehicles driving around without license plates. These cars had a plastic plate and frame with the name of the dealership, but nothing else.

This got me wondering: does California not require temporary tags on motor vehicles?

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Car Spotting in California

Having recently returned from a road trip to California, I was excited to see so many different types of vehicles along the way. California car spotters might see everything from high-end supercars to survivors and more. Here are some cool, noteworthy cars I saw:

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this old thing is a Pontiac Catalina. I gotta respect this guy for keeping it on the road, what with California’s strict emissions laws and all.

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Audi 4000 CS Quattro

I spotted this cool old Audi up in Sedona a while back and thought it looked pretty cool so I snapped some shots of it. I think it would look a little nicer without the trendy roof rack on it, but hey, this photo was taken a couple months ago so the guy has probably removed it and jumped onto another bandwagon by now.

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1967-1975 Iso Rivolta S4 Fidia

There is a gathering in Scottsdale on the first Saturday of each month called Cars and Coffee. This informal car show is open to all makes and models of vehicles, so you never know what might roll in.

It was here that I first spied the Hudson Italia, not knowing how rare or valuable it was. I kicked myself later for not taking more pictures of it. Well, I made the same mistake with this car. Not recognizing it, I foolishly took a single picture and moved on. Now I wish I had taken more!

This huge sedan is an Iso Rivolta S4 Fidia, and its claim to fame is that it briefly held the title of “World’s Fastest Four-Seater” in the late 1960s. Only of these cars 192 were built, so it’s pretty damn rare!

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