The best smelling cars

From what I’ve heard, smell is the sense most strongly linked to memory. You can come across a scent and be instantly reminded of a place or an object from twenty or thirty years ago. For me, some of the stronger and more unique smells that trigger vivid scent memories are ice rinks, indoor swimming pools, and cars.

Most cars smell great when they’re new and then slowly lose that new car odor. I’ve only come across one brand new car that I thought smelled bad - the Pontiac G8. Thinking that perhaps the odor was unique to the car in which I was sitting, I checked out another G8 - it stunk too. It wasn’t a horrid stench or anything, but it was a disappointment when you’re used to nice smelling new cars. Too bad - it’s a really neat car other than it’s smell.

I’ve noticed that cars from the same manufacturer and time period often have the same scent. I had three different BMWs from the mid 1980s that all had a familial odor inside. However, the most instantly recognizable car scent for me, was my dad’s VW Beetle convertible (pictured). He owned it in the late 70s & early 80s, but I can still smell that car as if I’m sitting in it right now. While not technically from the same manufacturer, I’ve also noticed that Porsche 911s from the same era (1960s-80s) smelled exactly the same way. It was most likely the headliner. They both had the same beautiful white vinyl, pin-holed headliner. I suppose it also could have been the plastics, or the carpeting, or something else, but Beetles and 911s had the same smell inside. It’s not a rich leather and wood smell, but because of the memories it brings me when ever I smell it, it is my favorite. What’s yours?