Chrysler's French connection

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Naming a car has never been easy. But there have been great trends. For many manufacturers, geology has been a major inspiration. With exotic model names coming from desert winds, mountain passes, and fearless predators, all to be found in every atlas (some do not even open it).

Problem is these may all be a bit too, er, masculine. Attracting the female of the species may need more then references to rugged tundra and wild mammals. Yes, we’ve seen cars named after ladies. Mercedes and Monica, the Swallow-Doretti and Borgward Isabella (not too sure about Datsun’s Violet, the Mitsubishi Celeste or Morris Marina though), but you have to admit these may just be a bit too obvious.

No, best of them all have been the French names - or just French sounding ones - for American iron. While the French simply named its products ‘11CV’, ‘203’; ‘4CV’ or ‘175’ (Delahaye), Cadillac came with its ever so romantic Coupe DeVille, Chevrolet with the Bel Air, Dodge’s Royal, Lincoln’s Premiere, Mercury’s Montclair, Plymouth’s Belvedere. Buick’s LeSabre and Chrysler’s Imperial LeBaron. That last one is also the car on the picture above. "Tres chic" indeed, but perhaps a bit too feminine? (Jeroen Booij)

PS: Let's hope the car survived better than the name on the plate: Water Wonderland.

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