Published: October 30, 2019, 11:00 PM
Updated: November 4, 2019, 9:56 PM
Out of production and into history
Canada has a rich history of auto manufacturing, and an equally rich history of manufacturing nameplates that are no longer in existence. Nothing is forever, because nameplates get resurrected but here are 19 that were built in Canada and are no longer built anywhere.
▲
Ford Flex (Oakville Assembly; 2009-2019)
A product of the “all Fords will begin with F” marketing direction, Flex came to market as an alternative to the minivan that was going out of favour at the time. Its traditional design and large footprint were polarizing to buyers and it never really gained favour, even after Ford announced it was doing away with sedans.
▲
Ford Windstar/Freestar (Oakville Assembly; 1995-2007)
Back in minivan era, Ford introduced the Windstar, which quickly jumped to the top of the ranks due to best-in-class features. Rivals reacted quickly and Windstar became an also-ran, eventually becoming the “F is for Ford” Freestar, before it was phased out and replaced by Flex.
▲
Mercury Monterey (Oakville Assembly; 2004-2007)
Like many models, Ford made a Mercury version of the Freestar, naming it in accordance to the “M is for Mercury” direction. It was powered by 4.2-litre V-6 and featured traditional Mercury design cues, but was only marketed in the US.
▲
Plymouth Voyager (Windsor Assembly; 1994-2000)
One of the original Chrysler MagicWagons that helped launch the minivan craze, the Plymouth Voyager fell victim to the Chrysler consolidation under the DaimlerChrysler “merger of equals.” It basically shared everything except badging and other appointments with the Dodge Caravan, which carries on to this day, still sourced out of Windsor.
▲
Volkswagen Routan (Windsor Assembly; 2008-2013)
Another product of the Chrysler minivan factory in Windsor, Routan supplied Volkswagen with a product more in line with what North American consumers wanted at a price they were ready to pay for a VW. Powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6, it didn’t feature the Chrysler versatility in seating but could be adapted as such.
▲
Lincoln MKT (Oakville Assembly; 2009-2019)
The minivan demise started coming about in the first decade of the millennium as consumers distanced themselves from the minivans their parents drove, in some cases without turning their backs on the multiple rows of seating. It brought about large wagons, such as the Lincoln MKT, even from luxury makers.
▲
Dodge Magnum (Brampton Assembly; 2005-2008)
The wagon craze wasn’t about bodystyle, apparently, as Chrysler proved with the performance-car based Magnum. There’s no guarantee the name won’t be back, though, as the Dodge Magnum was also a large sedan built in Windsor, Ontario from 1977-79.
▲
Lancia Thema (Brampton Assembly; 2011-2014)
Chrysler’s LX platform also spawned variations for other makes, such as the Thema (another resurrected nameplate) for Lancia. Originally a rebadged Chrysler 300C, which at the time was created in right-hand drive for the UK, Thema went away when Chrysler figured out it could save rebadging costs by bringing in the North American left-hand drive version. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Pava)
▲
Acura stayed away from calling the ZDX a crossover, even though the bodystyle and the timing were meant to take advantage of the shift to that segment. Basically a sleeker version of the MDX sport utility and a twin to the Honda Crosstour built in other factories, its sporty styling couldn’t make up for its function limitations in consumers’ eyes.
▲
Geo Tracker (CAMI; 1989-2004)
A product of the mini-convertible/mini-SUV era, the Tracker combined drop-top capabilities with go-anywhere ability, hoping to appeal to the first time buyer looking to promote a sand-and-snow image. It started out as Chevrolet/GMC Tracker in Canada before adopting the Geo badge from south of the border (and in the process went through Asüna and Pontiac Sunrunner versions to fit into the Canadian dealer agreement).
▲
Chevrolet Corvair (Oshawa Assembly; 1960-1966)
Tracker wasn’t the first sporty model made in Canada, decades earlier Chevrolet had assembled its European-fighter rear-engine, rear-drive Corvair in Oshawa. Available in coupe, convertible, wagon, van and pickup bodystyles, it remains the only American-designed car with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine (rivaling the Volkswagen Beetle and Karmann Ghia, at the time).
▲
Acadian Beaumont (Oshawa Assembly; 1964-1969)
The Acadian was one of those models made specifically for the Canadian market, meant to cover the segment of the Pontiac Tempest (which was unavailable to Canada). It was meant to be built on the Corvair platform (which was built in Oshawa at the time), but became a version of the Chevy II Nova, introduced in 1962.
▲
As buyer preferences started turning to smaller cars, GM continued marketing to young sporty-intended customers with products such as the Chevrolet Vega/Pontiac Astre twins. The cars were powered by the venerable 2.3-litre 4-cylinder that would go on to power the Buick Skylark/Chev Monza/Olds Starfire/Pontiac Sunfire family (also all gone and also from Sainte-Thérèse — 1975-1977) and beyond.
▲
Before Sainte-Thérèse was razed to make way for an industrial complex/shopping mall, GM made it the exclusive home of the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. The latter was the sleeker looking of the twins but it was a victim of the Pontiac extermination under the GM business revamp of 2010, following the 2009 government bailout.
▲
Toyota Solara (TMMC Cambridge; 1998-2003)
Having established the TMMC facility with quality Corolla production since 1988, Toyota decided to expand the facility’s production with new product, including the Camry-based Solara the company thought would appeal to a younger, sportier demographic. Sound as it was (it was, after all, a Camry) it ended production in 2008 (the second-generation was built in Kentucky).
▲
Eagle Premier (Brampton Assembly; 1988-1992)
The first product of the newly-formed Eagle brand (following the Chrysler buyout of AMC), the ItalDesign-penned Premier was able to hold its own against European competition. It was replaced by the Eagle Vision, which was built on the Chrysler LH platform that also begat the Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler Concorde (all of which were also built at Brampton and all now defunct).
▲
Studebaker Daytona (Studebaker of Canada, Hamilton; 1964-1966)
Following the closure of its Indiana plant, Studebaker moved all car production to Canada, concentrating on four models, including the Daytona. Sales in the US declined rapidly and the Canadian market soon followed, despite production goals of 20,000 annual average being met. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Greg Gjerdinger)
▲
Toyota Matrix (TMMC Cambridge; 2002-2013)
At the turn of the century, Toyota took the solid Corolla platform and made Matrix (badged in concept form as Corolla Matrix) for the North American market that didn’t get the Corolla hatchback sold elsewhere in the world. At the end of its production run, Matrix was replaced in the Toyota stable by the Scion iM, which is now the Corolla Hatchback.
▲
Bricklin SV-1 (Saint John, New Brunswick; 1974-1975)
There were also a couple single-marque builds by entrepreneurs (such as Quebec’s Manic GT), including the Malcolm Bricklin-built SV-1, whose composite body and gull-wing doors became a collector favourite, but production woes and overall weight meant it failed to make a ripple in sporty/performance car segment. Only about 3,000 were ever made, though more than half that number survive. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Ventura19)
▲