SOLVED - NTM #60 - Reverse Gear (Part 4)

[ftg3plus4]

A variation on the themes found in my previous three puzzles.

No points for guessing the theme, but once you know it, guessing cars will be easier... maybe.

As usual, I am only concerned with the make name -- not models, technical details, etc. Also, there is at least one blatant repost.

[ftg3plus4]

Well, since the one Reverse Gear puzzle still in Pros isn't moving (backwards) anywhere right now, I guess I'll back this one up to the Pros now. This has a similar theme to one or two of the other Reverse Gear puzzles, but it's a little more complex...

[Wendax]

Car 1: Regal
Car 2: Wolf
Car 3: Star
Car 4: Ward
Car 5: Pan
Car 7: DEW
Car 9: CAV

[ftg3plus4]

Ah, I see you've been doing your homework on this one as well!

1 - correct
2 - correct
3 - correct, but please specify which of the many "Star" makes it is
4 - correct
5 - correct
7 - correct
9 - incorrect

Do you see the theme here yet?

[Wendax]

#3 is the 1908 Star Model 12 Touring, built in Peru, Indiana, by the Model Automobile Company.

[Wendax]

#9 is an ERA

[João]

And number #6 : Edit 10HP from 1924.   

[Wendax]

Is #8 an EB (Edwards Brothers)?

[woodinsight]

#8 - Diva GT

[ftg3plus4]

And the cars have all been identified!

1 - Regal - Wendax
2 - Wolf - Wendax
3 - Star (Model Automobile Co., Peru, IN) - Wendax
4 - Ward - Wendax
5 - Pan - Wendax
6 - Edit - João  (repost - see http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=9413.0)
7 - DEW - Wendax
8 - Diva - woodinsight
9 - ERA - Wendax

But, before I move this, can anyone tell what the theme is?

[Paul Jaray]

Backward: Lager, Flow, Rats, Draw, Nap, Tide, Wed, Avid and Are?

[ftg3plus4]

You've got half of it.

Each car name is one word when read normally and a different word when spelled backwards.

Compare this to Part 2 (currently still waiting to be finished) where each name is a word spelled backwards but is not a word when read normally.

[Paul Jaray]

You have a gift!

[Wendax]

Compare this to Part 2 (currently still waiting to be finished) where each name is a word spelled backwards but is not a word when read normally.

Let's reduce this assumption to "English word". 
"Dort", for example, is German for "there".

[ftg3plus4]

Compare this to Part 2 (currently still waiting to be finished) where each name is a word spelled backwards but is not a word when read normally.

Let's reduce this assumption to "English word". 
"Dort", for example, is German for "there".

Sorry, "English word" is what I meant!