What to Name an Old Car: 150+ Ideas, Themes, and Tips

Good names for an old car include Rusty, Old Faithful, Betsy, The Blue Whale, The Beater, Eleanor, The Brick, Cherry Bomb, Gramps, and Midnight. Choosing the right name is about matching your car’s age, condition, color, and personality with a label that feels fun, fitting, and memorable.

How to Pick a Name That Fits

Drivers often name their cars to reflect character and create a personal bond. Your car’s quirks—how it sounds, looks, starts, and steers—offer clues to the right name.

Use the following quick criteria to test whether a name works for your old car.

• Say it out loud: If it’s fun to say, you’ll actually use it.
• Fit to personality: Loud, slow, dependable, or scrappy? Match the vibe.
• Color and shape cues: Color, body lines, and size inspire themes.
• History and mileage: A barn find, ex-cop car, or high-miler suggests stories.
• Keep it short: One or two words stick better.
• Avoid confusion: Don’t reuse a name already in your household/contacts.

These simple checks help ensure your pick feels natural every time you turn the key.

Popular Themes and Name Ideas

Classic and Vintage Vibes

Timeworn cars wear timeless names well—nostalgic, sturdy, and a little sentimental.

Here are classic-styled names that suit older rides with gravitas or charm.

• Betsy
• Old Faithful
• Bessie
• Blanche
• Mabel
• Gladys
• The Duke
• The Baron
• Rusty
• Tin Lizzie
• Gatsby
• Sinatra
• Matilda
• The Old Girl
• Chariot

These names emphasize heritage and reliability, perfect for cruisers and survivors.

Color-Driven Names

Color is an easy anchor for a name—especially with patina or standout paint.

Consider these color-tied options (swap in your hue for a custom fit).

• Old Blue
• The Green Hornet
• Red Rover
• Pearl
• Midnight
• Slate
• Cherry Bomb
• Butterscotch
• Snowball
• Copper
• Indigo
• Silver Fox
• Onyx
• Hazel
• Ivory

Color-based names are intuitive and instantly descriptive, making them easy to remember.

Condition and Personality

Older cars often have quirks—embrace them with a name that nods to the noise, ride, or resilience.

These names highlight character, durability, or delightful imperfections.

• The Beater
• Rattletrap
• Steadfast
• The Survivor
• Slowpoke
• The Squeak
• Gramps
• The Mule
• Dents McGee
• Patina
• Barn Find
• Workhorse
• Evergreen
• Wobble
• Clunker

Choosing a personality-forward name turns “flaws” into endearing traits.

Make, Model, and Year-Inspired

Let the badge guide you—use nicknames, platform lore, or playful puns tied to your model or era.

These examples show how to riff on origin or reputation without naming the brand outright.

• The Brick (boxy sedans and wagons)
• The Panther (big body-on-frame sedans)
• Herbie (for a Beetle homage)
• The Interceptor (ex-fleet or cruiser-style sedans)
• Old Mare (aging pony car)
• Timber (Forester/woodsy wagons)
• Grand Tourer (older coupes)
• Nine-Four-Forever (’80s/’90s numerically named sports cars)
• Roadster Redux (aging convertibles)
• Squareback (boxy hatchbacks/wagons)
• The Tank (sturdy ’70s–’90s sedans)
• Dispatcher (old delivery vans)
• Hightop Hero (aged vans with tall roofs)
• Project 1998 (year-forward nickname)
• Gen Two (if yours is a second-generation model)

Model-anchored names resonate with enthusiasts and hint at your car’s backstory.

Pop Culture and Nostalgia

For a wink and a smile, borrow from movies, TV, and comics—especially if it fits your car’s look.

These homage names work best as playful nods for personal use.

• Millennium Falcon (scruffy-looking but quick)
• Ecto-1 (white wagons/hearses vibes)
• The Mystery Machine (colorful vans)
• KITT (sleek coupes)
• Eleanor (’60s-era muscle car nod)
• Serenity (faithful long-hauler)
• Batmobile (murdered-out or winged)
• Bumblebee (yellow compacts)
• Chitty (oddball vintage)
• The General (bold, old-school coupes)
• Mad Max (battle-worn sedans)
• Christine (if you dare)

Pop-culture picks are crowd-pleasers—just choose a reference that matches your car’s personality.

Ironic or Humorous

Lean into contrast for a name that gets a laugh at lights and gas stations alike.

Here are irreverent options that play against type.

• Lightning McSlow
• The Jet
• Road Scholar
• Premium Only
• The Trust Fund
• Budget
• The Whisper
• Thunder Muffin
• The Negotiator
• Three-Pedal Threat
• Check Engine
• The Uber
• MPG-ish
• Time Capsule
• Almost New

Humor adds personality instantly and makes even modest cars memorable.

Quick Naming Formulas

If you’re stuck, use a simple structure to generate options that sound right and are easy to remember.

Try these build-your-own patterns with examples in parentheses.

• Color + Trait (Blue Bruiser, Scarlet Sage, Silver Sleeper)
• Year + Persona (’97 Voyager, ’03 Gentle Giant)
• Alliteration (Patina Prince, Barnyard Baron, Midnight Mule)
• Hometown + Mood (Brooklyn Brawler, Desert Drifter)
• Nickname + Number (Old Joe 2.0, Betsy 300K)

Mix and match until something clicks; if you smile when you say it, you’ve likely found your winner.

Make It Yours

Once you’ve picked a name, a few small rituals help it stick and turn the car into “one of the family.”

Use these low-cost ideas to cement the identity.

• Label the Bluetooth name with your car’s new title.
• Make a small dash badge or key tag.
• Create a themed playlist for first drive after naming.
• Snap a “name day” photo for your records.
• Note the mileage and story behind the choice.

These touches turn a quick decision into a lasting memory.

When to Rename

Cars evolve—new paint, major repairs, or road trips can change a car’s mood and merits.

Consider a rename if one of these milestones applies.

• Fresh paint or bodywork changes its look.
• Engine swap or big mechanical comeback.
• New owner or a hand-me-down moment.
• After a cross-country adventure.
• Rescued from storage or a barn find revival.

Renaming can celebrate a new chapter and renew your bond with the car.

Summary

Name an old car by matching its color, condition, and character with a label that makes you grin. Classics like Betsy or Old Faithful, color cues like Old Blue, personality picks like The Survivor, pop-culture nods like Millennium Falcon, or ironic choices like Lightning McSlow all work. Test the name out loud, keep it short, and let your car’s story guide you.

What is a good name to give a car?

The most popular names for cars revealed – and why we give them nicknames in the first place

Overall	Men	Women
Pearl	Daisy	Winnie
Ghost	Rex	Ruby
Bertie	Bertie	Molly
Molly	Herbie	Bertie

What should I nickname my car?

Car nicknames range from popular names like the Volkswagen “Beetle” and the Ford “Tin Lizzie” to personal choices based on personality, color, or quirks, such as “Bumblebee” for a yellow car or “The Widowmaker” for a tricky early 911 Porsche. Other types of car nicknames include slang terms like “whip” or “jalopy” and names based on a car’s characteristics, like the “Shark Nose” BMW. 
Popular & Model-Specific Nicknames

• Volkswagen Beetle/Bug: For its small, insect-like appearance. 
• Ford Model T: Known as the “Tin Lizzie” or “Old Liz”. 
• Porsche 911: Early models were called “The Widowmaker” due to their challenging handling. 
• Subaru 360: Nicknamed “Ladybug” in Japan. 
• BMW E24: Its iconic “shark nose” design earned it the nickname. 

Cute & Popular Names
Many people choose cute, popular, or trendy names for their cars. 

• Food-related: Biscuit, Peanut, Pumpkin, Snickerdoodle, Cheeto, Pork Chop.
• Sweet & light: Sprinkles, Giggles, Bubbles, Taffy.
• Pop Culture & Characters: Beetlejuice, Gru, Gandalf, Thor, Tinkerbell.

Names Based on Color & Appearance 

• White: Casper, Frosty, Snowball, Marshmallow, Pearl.
• Red: “Lil’ Red” for a fiery red car.
• Blue: “Blue Belle” for a charming blue convertible.

Slang & Personality-Based Nicknames

• Slang: Whip, jalopy, beater, heap, POS (Piece of S**t). 
• Personality: The “Ponyboy” for a small car, or a car with a lot of personality. 

How to Choose a Name

• Personality: Pick a name that reflects your car’s personality or the adventures you have together. 
• Color: Use the car’s color as a starting point, like “Bumblebee” for a yellow car. 
• Quirks: Think about a unique characteristic of the car. 
• Pop Culture: Draw inspiration from your favorite movies, books, or characters. 

What are some unique vintage car names?

20 Most Loved Classic Car Names

• Bridget the MG Midget.
• Sweet Jean the ’61 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.
• Orville the green Triumph Spitfire.
• Brian the Morris 1000.
• Silver Sloth the Audi convertible.
• Skinty McSkintFace the Sunbeam Alpine.
• Bel Air Lugosi the ’57 Chevy.
• Rusty the Dodge Charger.

What is a name for an old car?

Old car names include brands like Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, Volkswagen Beetle, Morris, and Alfa Romeo, as well as iconic models such as the Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro. Other examples of vintage car names from various countries are Tatra, Jaguar, Triumph, and Rolls-Royce. 
Iconic Classic Models: 

• 1969 Dodge Charger
• 1967 Ford Mustang
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
• Ford Galaxie
• Volkswagen Beetle
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Austin Seven
• Sunbeam Alpine

Classic Brands: 
Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Austin, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Jeep, Morris, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Triumph, Tatra, Tatra, Tatra, Tatra, Tatra, Tatra, and TVR.