“There’s no telling how much time I spent at the library, looking at books about cars,” says Steve Evans of his years spent researching automobile names that matched those given to guitars, as well as the year each was brought to market. Eventually, he found nearly 100, and here are his favorite examples.
GUITARS – CARS
Aria Pro II Bobcat, ’83 – Mercury Bobcat, ’75
DAngelico New Yorker, ’36 – Chrysler New Yorker, ’39
Dean Cadillac,’79 – Cadillac, 1902
EKO Barracuda, ’66 – Plymouth Barracuda, ’64
EKO Camaro, 2010 – Chevrolet Camaro, ’67
EKO Cobra,’66 – AC Cobra, ’62
Electra Omega, ’78 – Oldsmobile Omega, ’73
Electra Phoenix, ’80 – Pontiac Phoenix, ’77
Epiphone Century, ’39 – Buick Century, ’40
Epiphone Coronet, ’58 – Dodge Coronet, ’49
Epiphone Newport, ’61 – Chrysler Newport, ’61
Epiphone Nova, ’76 – Chevrolet Nova, ’69
Epiphone Riviera,’62 – Buick Riviera, ’63
Epiphone Windsor, ’59 – Chrysler Windsor Lion, ’59
Epiphone Zephyr, ’39 – Lincoln Zephyr, ’35
Fender Bronco, ’67 – Ford Bronco, 65
Fender Cyclone, ’98 – Mercury Cyclone, ’64
Fender Jaguar, ’62 – Jaguar XKE, ’61
Fender LTD, ’68 – Ford LTD, ’67
Fender Malibu, ’65 – Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu, ’64
Fender Marauder (prototype), ’65 – Mercury Marauder, 63
Fender Maverick (prototype), ’69 – Ford Maverick, ’70
Fender Montego, ’68 – Mercury Montego,’68
Fender Mustang, ’64 – Ford Mustang,’64
Fender Swinger, ’69 – Dodge Dart Swinger,’69
Fender Toronado, ’98 – Oldsmobile Toronado, ’66
Fender Villager, ’65 – Mercury Comet Villager, ’62
G&L Cavalier, ’83 – Chevrolet Cavalier, ’82
G&L Comanche, ’87 – Jeep Comanche, ’85
G&L Skyhawk, ’83 – Buick Skyhawk, ’75
Gibson Citation, ’69 – Edsel Citation, ’58/Chevrolet Citation, ’80
Gibson Explorer, ’58 – Plymouth Explorer (show car),’54
Gibson Firebird, ’63 – Pontiac Firebird, ’67
Gibson Grabber bass, ’74 – Ford Maverick Grabber, ’71
Gibson Sonoma, 2003 – GMC Sonoma, ’91
Gibson Spirit,’82 – AMC Spirit, ’79
Gibson Thunderbird, ’63 – Ford Thunderbird, ’55
Gretsch Corvette, ’54 – Chevrolet Corvette, ’53
Gretsch Country Club, ’52 – Nash Rambler Country Club, ’51
Gretsch Eldorado, ’55 – Cadillac Eldorado, ’53
Gretsch Fleetwood, ’55 – Cadillac Fleetwood, ’27
Gretsch Rambler, ’57 – AMC Rambler, ’57
Gretsch Town & Country, ’54 – Chrysler Town & Country ’41
Gretsch White Falcon, ’55 – Ford Falcon, ’60
Guild Park Avenue, 2000 – Buick Park Avenue 75
Guild Skylark, ’82 – Buick Skylark ’64
Guild Starfire, ’60 – Oldsmobile Starfire, ’57
Hagstrom Impala, ’63 – Chevrolet Impala, ’59
Hamer Chaparral, ’85 – Chaparral (J. Hall race car) ’61
Hamer Diablo, ’92 – Lamborghini Diablo, ’90
Hamer Phantom, ’82 – Rolls Royce Phantom, ’25
Hamer Scarab, ’84 – Scarab (L. Reventlow race car), ’58
Harmony Patrician, ’31 – Packard Patrician, ’51
Heartfield Talon, ’89 – Eagle Talon, ’90
Ibanez Blazer,’80 – Chevrolet Blazer, ’69
Kramer Aerostar, ’86 – Ford Aerostar van, ’85
Kramer Pacer Carrera, 82 – Porsche Carrera,.’62
Kramer Voyager, ’82 – Plymouth Voyager van, ’74
Lotus brand, ’70s – Lotus Automobile Co.,’48
Montclair guitars, early ’60s – Mercury Montclair, ’55
Music Man Cutlass, ’82 – Oldsmobile Cutlass, ’61
Music Man Silhoutte, ’86 – Cushenberry Silhouette (show car), ’63
Music Man Sting Ray, ’76 – Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, ’63
Ovation Celebrity, ’83 – Chevrolet Celebrity, ’82
Ovation Magnum, ’74 – Dodge Magnum, ’78
Peavey Firenza, 94 – Oldsmobile Firenza, ’82
Peavey Fury bass, .’83 – Plymouth Fury, ’56
Peavey Horizon, ’83 – Plymouth Horizon, ’78
Pedulla Interceptor, ’80 – Jensen Interceptor, ’66
Regal Meteor, ’60s – Mercury Meteor, ’61
Rickenbacker Dakota, 93 – Dodge Dakota, ’86
Vox Cougar, ’63 – Mercury Cougar, ’67
Vox Spitfire, ’65 – Triumph Spitfire, ’62
Vox Tempest,’65 – Pontiac Tempest, ’61
Vox Wildcat, 65 – Buick Wildcat, ’62
Westone Pantera, ’86 – De Tomaso Pantera, ’71
