What was Coca-Cola’s 1985 name for the return of its original formula?

Coca-Cola Classic was Coca-Cola’s 1985 name for the return of its original formula.

In April 1985, the company replaced its established cola with a reformulated product later known as New Coke. The change generated strong consumer opposition, including calls and letters demanding the return of the familiar taste.

Coca-Cola announced the return of the original formula in July 1985 and marketed it as Coca-Cola Classic. The label distinguished the restored product from New Coke, which continued to be sold for a period. The episode showed how strongly consumers connected the Coca-Cola name with both taste and tradition.

The name is often shortened informally to “Classic Coke,” but the official branding used Coca-Cola Classic. The New Coke controversy became one of the best-known examples of a branding decision producing an unexpected consumer backlash.