Hyundai’s 1974 Pony Concept car doesn’t exist anymore, so Giugiaro is rebuilding it

Hyundai will go back in time and rebuild the original Pony Coupe Concept with the help of the man who designed it in the first place, one Giorgetto Giugiaro. You may have heard of him.

Though, not because that 1974 Turin Motor Show car is in a state of disrepair or because Hyundai wants to reimagine the car that kickstarted its global fortunes (already done it, see here). It’s because that car, well, “no longer exists”.

For reasons unknown, perhaps the most important bit of Hyundai’s heritage does not reside on this earthly realm, and so the company wants the man who penned the classic to do it all over again, for posterity. And this time… his son comes along for the ride.

“The original Pony and Pony Coupe Concept were one of those rare creations that influenced the design of not just one but multiple production and concept vehicles,” said Hyundai’s EVP SangYup Lee. “Since the original concept car no longer exists, we’ve commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro to rebuild it based on our design philosophy, ‘shaping the future with legacy’.”

Whether this means we’ll get an exact replica of the 1974 car, or that silhouette with modern Hyundai underpinnings, or a time machine capable of hitting 88mph, remains to be seen. We’ll find out in Spring 2023, which is when Hyundai plans on unveiling GG’s finished car.

“I designed the Hyundai Pony when I was still a young designer at the start of my career,” Giugiaro said. “I felt very proud that I was in charge of creating a vehicle for a company and country that was about to take on a fiercely competitive global market. Now, I’m deeply honoured that Hyundai has asked me to rebuild it for posterity and as a celebration of the brand’s heritage.”

About time, too.

TEXT Vijay Pattni