what is the original purpose of the italics in the car names? Is it supposed to be just for body styles etc? I see stuff like convertible or 4 door hard top which makes sense, but in some cars actual parts of the cars name are italicized like they arn't official or correct?? Like Oldsmobile 98 Regency when Regency is part of the name and written on the badges.

Officially, the extra info field (where the information that is italicized goes) is for "trim level, nickname, special body name, etc." This is straight from antp, the main administrator. In the case of Regency, that is a trim and that is why it goes in the extra info field and not as part of the model name.

However, sometimes I fail to see the need to even put words such as "convertible" in this field as that is what the Class field is for in the first place.

"Convertible" is sometimes used in the full name of the car, in addition of the trim and model.
Some day I should split the two kind of info: having trim/version in its own field, and another for body style and other descriptive names used in commercial documents but not on the car itself.
Though that in Europe usually even if not written in car name such names are included in model name.

A solution like that definitely sounds great. I think it is much needed.

anpt, out of curiosity, when do you plan on putting this into effect? I know you have much to do but this certainly is an excellent idea and I would imagine it would be very helpful. Unless you want the admins to take a vote or something else.

I hope to have some time in the next months, but I also said that last year I think
And I have many other things on my to-do list...

How about putting that to-do list up here and we vote for which thing you do next?

putting the to-do list on the forum is also part of the to-do list
And some of the most useful things are also the most difficult to add.