What do you call a group of Corvettes? Collective car nouns, real and imagined

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Brandan Gillogly

There are some wonderful collective nouns used to describe groups of various animals. For example, a “murder” of crows or a “tower” of giraffes. They’re not official names, true, but language is adaptable, and if enough people adopt a word, then the term can stick. Plus, new collective nouns can be fun, and I envy those that get to coin new examples.

In that vein, I thought I’d come up with some of my own nouns that describe groups of certain cars. After all, plenty of vehicles are named after animals, so the extrapolation seems logical. Let’s begin with a few collective terms that have already been established in the literary community and can be carried over directly to automobiles.

Take note, Corvette owners—an assembly of stingrays is a “fever.” Yeah, that’s apparently a real thing. To be fair, the natural history experts didn’t have much to say about Sting Rays. When you’ve got a collection of Marlins or Barracudas, it’s a school. Almost any grouping of birds—be they Hudson Hawks, Studebaker Larks, Corbin Sparrows, or Nissan Bluebirds—is a flock, unless those birds are Ford Falcons, which makes it a cast, or AMC Eagles, which makes the gathering an aerie or convocation.

When you find multiple Vipers and/or Cobras in one location, it’s a den or a pit. A swarm can describe any mass of Dodge Super Bees or Hudson Wasps or Hornets. A group of foxes is a skulk, so I suppose the same applies to Audi/VW Foxes and all of Ford Motor Company’s numerous Fox-body models. However, that only partially accounts for Ford’s pony cars. Round up any combination of Ford Mustangs, of any generation, and it’s a band, a stable, or simply a herd. The same goes for Ford’s Maverick, or Pinto, as well as Dodge/Mitsubishi Colt, or Hyundai Pony. If they’re driving, I suppose it’s a stampede. Impalas can join in as well.

1965 Shelby GT 350 and Mustang K-code
Brandan Gillogly

Now that most of the accepted or commonly used collective nouns for animals are out of the way, may I humbly suggest the following:

While Broncos and Torinos can also stampede, may I propose “rodeo”? Let’s add GMC Caballeros while we’re at it.

Going back to Corvettes for a second, how about we evoke the nautical origin of their name and call them an “armada” or “flotilla”?

Multiple Plymouth Arrows in close proximity is a “quiver,” of course. If you’re talking about Ford Galaxies it’s a “cluster.” Round up several Plymouth Furys in one place and it’s a “rage,” perhaps?

When you corral more than two Corvairs it’s a “flip” or a “Nader.” The latter term, however, is not to be confused with a plurality of Cadillac Cimarrons, which is a “nadir.”

An assembly of Rogues—AMC, Nissan, or otherwise—is a “rabble.” It just seems appropriate.

Several Fiestas, back-to-back, is a “bender”.

A pair of first-gen Camaro Z/28s or 5.0-liter Mustangs is a “three-oh-twosome.” Similarly, four AMC Javelins are a “three-oh-foursome.” I won’t apologize for either of those. You can’t make me.

Mustang 302s Laguna Seca
Brandan Gillogly

A group of parked Subaru wagons is either a “trailhead” or a “cylinder head repair shop.”

There is no name for a group of Toyota Highlanders, because there can be only one.

What have I forgotten? Feel free to share your suggestions.

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