CAR NAMES CAN BE DESCRIPTIVE, EVEN FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN
Many automotive monikers suggestive of royalty, writes Dale Edward Johnson.
As Harry and Meghan get settled in their new life in Canada, they may be looking for a new vehicle. On their wedding day, the couple drove to their reception in a convertible electric Jaguar E-type Zero Concept.
Since baby Archie arrived, perhaps they need a somewhat bigger vehicle.
Maybe a crossover or sport utility vehicle would meet their needs.
Since they went rogue on the Royal family, perhaps a Nissan Rogue would be a suitable choice. After all, the Rogue dealer brochure says to “go ahead and demand more.” And Harry and Meghan did just that.
Or if they prefer something older, how about a Rambler Rogue? They were produced from 1966 to 1969 as a dressedup version of the compact Rambler American.
Another American Motors vehicle they could consider is the Rambler Rebel, a name used in the 1950s and 1960s. After all, they are rebels to the Royal family (or independent, depending on your perspective).
Perhaps a Ford Maverick, a compact car in the 1970s, might be suitable for Harry and Meghan, because one definition of “maverick” is “unconventional and independent.”
Or how about a Dodge Challenger? The dealer brochure for the original Challenger, introduced for the 1970 model year, says it’s the car for you “If you’ve got a spirit that refuses to be tamed.”
If they want something more environmentally responsible, how about a Chevrolet Bolt?
Well, Harry and Meghan bolted; one definition of “bolt” is “to break away from or refuse to support something.”
To show they are embracing their new country, maybe Harry and Meghan could drive a Volvo Canadian. This name was used in the 1960s on models coming out of the new Volvo assembly plant in Halifax — the first nonnorth American automaker to establish an assembly plant in Canada.
Another vehicle they might consider is an Envoy. I’m referring to the only-in-canada compact of the 1960s. This would be a good choice for Harry — not because of the name, but the lineage. Originally from England, but living in Canada: that’s true for both Harry and the Envoy.
Given that Harry and Meghan expressed a desire to step away from royal duties, there are plenty of automotive choices that would certainly not be suitable for them.
For example, it doesn’t seem right that they would have a car with “Monarch” on it, so that rules out the various models named Monarch by the Ford Motor Company from the 1940s to the 1970s.
And a Jaguar Sovereign would no longer be suitable.
Both William and Harry have owned various German-made Audi models. But Harry should shy away from another German car, the NSU Prinz (German for Prince), from the 1950s and ’60s. The Prinz was a small car with a two-cylinder engine and a price tag in Canada in 1961 of just $1,295.
Austin used the name Princess for a large car in the 1950s that looked something like a small Rolls-royce. This is not good for Meghan now. She also can forget about a compact French-made Renault from 1957 to 1966 called the Dauphine, which is French for heir to the throne. Renault ads of the day called its Dauphine “every inch a princess.” It was considered to be the French version of the Volkswagen Beetle, and was the second-bestselling imported car in Canada behind only the Beetle for a time in the 1960s.
Toyota had a model called a Tiara, from 1960 to 1966, and later had a larger model called a Crown. Again, not good choices for Meghan, as they reflect a life she has rejected.
A unique Canadian car name was the Dodge Regent of the early 1950s. A Regent is one who governs if the monarch is too young or disabled — sort of a fill-in king or queen. That was the case from 1811 to 1820, when George, Prince of Wales, acted as a regent. The period was known as a regency. Oldsmobile used the Regency name for many years. The Regency name was also used by Daimler in Great Britain in the 1950s.
By the way, Daimler also produced a car called a Regina. It was named after the Latin word for “Queen” — which is how the capital city of Saskatchewan got its name.