A rebuild of a 1974 Pony Coupe
It is often suggested that creatives are the ones who shape our world and the way we see and experience it.
A project to rebuild and restore a classic Hyundai by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro is creating much excitement within Hyundai as well as from the lovers of classic cars. The Pony debuted at the 1974 Turin Motor Show.
“Not only does this project hold historical value, but it also represents a cross-cultural exchange that could pave the way for more collaborations down the road.”
The original design of the Pony forever changed the philosophy about future designs inclusive of that of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and N Vision 74.
With its wedge-style nose, circular headlamps, and origami-like geometric lines, the Pony Coupe was intended for North American and European markets, but the project came to a stop in 1981 just before mass production amid the adverse global economic environment.
The Pony kickstarted the Korean automotive industry and remains part of the Hyundai legacy.
The concept design also served as a huge source of inspiration for Giugiaro’s work on the DeLorean DMC 12 that debuted in 1983 and was famously used in the Back to the Future movies (1985-90).
“The Pony and Pony Coupe Concept’s impact can still be felt. In 2019, Hyundai Motor took inspiration from the original Pony for the “45” concept car, which directly influenced the IONIQ 5, which debuted two years later. Also in 2021, Hyundai reinterpreted the original Pony production car as a restomod electric vehicle concept. And, in 2022, Hyundai nodded to the coupe concept yet again with its crowd-pleasing N Vision 74 hydrogen-hybrid “rolling lab” development vehicle.
Of his original design, Giugiaro said, “I designed the Hyundai Pony when I was still a young designer at the start of my career. I felt very proud that I was in charge of creating a vehicle for a company and country that was about to take on a fiercely competitive global market. Now, I’m deeply honoured that Hyundai has asked me to rebuild it for posterity and as a celebration of the brand’s heritage.”
Source: QuickPic
