Is the S550 Really a Fastback? Why?

[Ebm]

The s550 is a retro car, and the car it coped was called a what now?
Most everyone thought of the s197 and sn95 as fast backs, the fox body had the fastback or the notch aka formal roof line.
Think you are overthinking this.
The name is just a marketing tool. not a set in stone design cue.

You lost me...

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[Bikeman315]

You lost me...

Maybe this will help.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_body_configurations

Car roof classification[edit]
A related classification is based on the style of roof in the car design. The DrivAer aerodynamics model of the Technical University of Munich[7] classifies roof styles as (i) Fastback, (ii) Estateback, (iii) Sedan.[8]

 

[Stangfan6818]

When I bought my 2018 GT, it was listed on the Ford website when I built it, as a fastback and also on the window invoice.

 

[MidwayJ]

OK, but in that case, why isn't the S197 considered a fastback? It has the same kind of roof line:

Why do they say the S550 has brought back the fastback design? It seems to me the fastback design (if you want to call it that despite the shape of the tail) has always been there.

I remember when the S197 first came out. My first thought was, hey finally a redesign that looks like the 60s fastbacks!

 

[SEAICE]

The s550 is a retro car, and the car it coped was called a what now?
Most everyone thought of the s197 and sn95 as fast backs, the fox body had the fastback or the notch aka formal roof line.
Think you are overthinking this.
The name is just a marketing tool. not a set in stone design cue.

The s550 is a retro car, and the car it coped was called a what now?
Most everyone thought of the s197 and sn95 as fast backs, the fox body had the fastback or the notch aka formal roof line.
Think you are overthinking this.
The name is just a marketing tool. not a set in stone design cue.

I would not call the SN95 a fastback, the S197, yes.

 

[ICU812]

You lost me...

The s550
body shape is a copy of the '68
the tail lights are a copy of early cars
the nose grill and headlight outline is the same as the early car even if the grill shape and headlights are more modern looking.
The interior layout , side body cues.

 

[ICU812]

I would not call the SN95 a fastback, the S197, yes.

I'd not call it a notch back or formal roof line?
MEh. too many over think this type stuff. it is a marketing term, nothing more.

 

[Vlad Soare]

MEh. too many over think this type stuff. it is a marketing term, nothing more.

Sure we do. It takes our minds off the typewriter tick.
If it were just a marketing term, something mentioned just in Ford's blurb, then I wouldn't give it a second thought. But when I see serious automotive websites, and even books, mentioning how the S550 has brought back the fastback design of the olden days... to me that suggests something more than just a marketing term. Hence my confusion.

 

[ICU812]

Sure we do. It takes our minds off the typewriter tick.
If it were just a marketing term, something mentioned just in Ford's blurb, then I wouldn't give it a second thought. But when I see serious automotive websites, and even books, mentioning how the S550 has brought back the fastback design of the olden days... to me that suggests something more than just a marketing term. Hence my confusion.

The look never left, only folks that think that way, only see chevy/ford/dodge as cars.
Serious automotive websites, live and die on "clicks" .
Any automotive book that claims the s550 brought the fast back roof back, is catering to a niche reader that leaves a lot of vehicles out of that comment.

 

[Rapid Red]

Been there, done that!


And for 2023……

Not bad ......

 

[Cobra Jet]

Coupe

Fastback

Boattail

Hatchback:

 

[SEAICE]

Don't get hung up on it. The definition isn't that specific......rather like what makes a coupe (when we now have a number of 4 door coupes). Is the Mustang a pony car or a muscle car? Really, it just comes down to marketing.

Ironically, the Mustang with the most "fastback" roofline was the '71-'73, and Ford dropped the Fastback tag and these were known as Sportsroofs

(Sportsroof started in 1969)... And though its just marketing, it has meaning. When talking about a 1965 - 78 Mustangs, there are 2 distinct hard-top body styles to be differentiated, whereas SN95s and S197s have only one. Hence, no need to add "fastback" to the description of these models.

 

[Twin Turbo]

(Sportsroof started in 1969)

You are absolutely correct...........school boy error on my part!

 

[CJJon]

Ever watch Adam-12 reruns? They had a bad ass 73 Mach 1 on the show last night. They always have great cars on that show.

 

[Crowd Hunter]

Been there, done that!

And for 2023……

Gran Coupe

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