For Posterity's Sake

For these iconic auto marques, adapting to the changing sands of time is their way of staying contemporary and yet, inimitably unique.

- MERAJ SHAH

For the scores of automobile marques that wither and fade away, there’s always that rare breed that endures the wash of years, and rarer still, the one that becomes iconic. The truly lucky ones though, are those that are resurrected. It’s easy in the world of automotive luxury, since it’s easy be pigeonholed with bespoke artefacts and fittings. Craftsmanship, when it comes to the car, has to extend to the car’s fundamental purpose—its drive, handling, safety, and that elusive ‘feel.’ Technology and craftsmanship make for surprisingly amenable bedfellows when it comes to cars, and it is possible, today, to drive a classic machine outfitted with cutting-edge tech. What it comes down to, eventually, is how brands interpret their own legacy and how that vision manifests in the vehicles they create.

A few years back, Royal Enfield came up with a catchy tagline that read something like, “We’ve stayed different, by staying the same.’ While that’s a great line, no brand evolves by staying the same, rather by evolving while keeping their DNA intact. RE is in fact, a great case in point. Here are four of the greatest success stories of automotive brands that have stayed relevant, by changing with the times, whilst retaining their unique character.

MINI