This QOTD was suggested by Robert Swartz, and it’s a good one (even if it’s a bit late in the day). Of course, these kind of questions are hard to answer, at least for me, because there are so many possible candidates. I’ll throw out this 1953 Cadillac Ghia Coupe, back from the time when one could readily order up a custom car from a coach builder on one’s chassis of choice. That’s what Prince Aly Khan did, as a present for his wife, the equally beautiful actress Rita Hayworth. Not that it kept their short marriage going any longer.
So maybe I should limit myself (or you) to genuine production cars? Even that won’t make it really easy.
Seeing Aaron’s ’53 Buick again today reminded me how much I love the big GM cars from this era. I’m torn between the straight-eight Dynaflow Buick and the V8 Hydramatic Cadillac, but if it has to be, I’ll give the nod to the Caddy.
I’ve had a thing for Porsche 356s since my very earliest days, and 1953 was a good year. The Super 1500 was claimed to have a top speed of 109 mph; not bad for 70 hp, eh?
My traditionalist side might feel better served by a Bentley R-Type Continental.
And I forgot about the Studebaker Starlight Coupe. And….Decisions; decisions. While I mull it over some more, how about you? Maybe you’re more decisive?
’57 Golden Hawk or Cadillac Eldorado.
I’m from 1975 so it depends
If I were to choose American, of course I’d choose an AMC Pacer, just for the oddity.
When it comes to Europe, I would have a hard time depending on country.
-As a Spaniard, I’d choose one of the locally built Seat 131 which started production that year. Of course, the Station Wagon with the double-cam engine.
-When it comes to French cars, I remember fondly the ones my uncle bought from Simca/Talbot, such as the 1307. Gosh, those were huge (and I was little).
-From Italy, a Lancia Montecarlo, hands down! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_Montecarlo
-German has to be the BMW 3-series E21. An ex of mine drove a 1981 version and it was awesome
Finally, a British car would be the Jaguar XJ-S… I know that I would be stranded!
For the record, my dad had one of the last built Seat 850s when I was brought home from a hospital called after the dictator that died the same year in Spain
In other news, Generalisimo Franco is still dead.
Being a Ford guy, I’ll take a 1971 Mustang Mach 1
Be still, my beating heart.
The 1995 Riviera would be my choice, but I’d rather have the 1996 model for the supercharged 3800 Series II.
Someday…
I’ve always liked cars of the 1970s, between 1971 and 1979.
WOW 1947 not a good year for cars as most were poorly restyled pre war models. I didn’t even want any when I bought my first car in 1965. So I’m going to take advantage of what WWII brought us. A 1947 Dodge Powerwagon. A real RAM!
1961 also:
– Lincoln Continental, of course… probably a sedan rather than convertible
– Chevy Corvair Monza
– Ford Falcon Futura
– Buick Special
– Jaguar E-type (or maybe a 3.8 MkII)
– Mercedes 300SL roadster (or maybe a 300SE)
– Triumph TR4
– Citroen DS19
Actually it looks like a pretty good year in retrospect 🙂
What a great T.V. clip ! .
I never saw that show and I didn’t know Mr. Farina had left us ~ that’s too bad , he was always great no matter what part he played .
-Nate
1977.
Slim. Pickings.
http://www.carsplusplus.com/year/index.php?page=1&year=1977
Either a FIAT X1/9 or a Maserati Bora…
As fond as I am of the X1/9 (very) it would probably have to be the Bora
sorry, forget what I just said about slim pickings: There’s a Ferrari 365 GT4 BB on sale in 1977.
Now I’m torn…
I got to drive a Bora, back n the early 90s, very sweet car, it was a total pos but still bad to the bone, stomped a ZR1 we had at the same time in shop, we hauled it to Huston n put on ship to Italy if I remember, some guy paid an unbelievable price for it, sight unseen, most guys thought he was crazy, until they seen it run 🙂 it smoked, leaked fluids everywhere, rusted out, we liked to never found the battery as the charging system was dead, but even with all that, i still remember it as one of the best n fastest we hauled, n we hauled a bunch.
This guy, ’69 Barracuda, fastback of course
I loved my little ’50 Ford….Although a 1948 Caddy would fill the bill, too.
Well……I was born in 1961. And there were some really nice cars that year:
Bentley Continental S2 Flying Spur saloon by HJ Mulliner
Lincoln Continental suicide door convertible
Jaguar E Type roadster
Ferrari 250 GT
Mercedes 300SL roadster
I was born late in ’56 so whether model year or calendar year, my first choice is a Chevy Nomad, though preferably. A ’57. Cliched, I know, but those were desirable and special even when I first became aware of them as a very young child. My other choice, also a 2 door wagon, would be a Volvo PV445 Duett. Or maybe a Chrysler 300 or, come to think of it, a 300SL. This is one of those situations where I’m glad I’m not 20 or even 30 years younger. I am jealous of today’s newborns who will be able to answer this question in the future, with Challenger Hellcat or even Tesla Model S.
Hmm had me stumped for a moment. I’ll take a 1998 mexi beetle any day.
1980 was an abysmal year for cars, but one object of carlust did debut that year, the illustrious M-B W126. Make mine a grey market import 500 SEL.
1980, Ur-Quattro !
Hmmmmm, 1970, just about anything GM, but guess if had to pick one, be Z-28 4spd, blue with white stripes 🙂
1956 here.This Lancia Aurelia spider would suit me,but it is a 1955 model.
Well, being born in 1947, and thinking that all 40’s era cars were positively ancient dinosaurs by the time I was old enough to be a car nut in the mid-50’s, the pickings of my birth year are pretty slim, being that they were all slightly reshuffled pre-war cars. Now, if you will permit me to spring forward 10 years, there are a lot of cars from 1957 that would be on my wish list: ’56-’57 Lincoln Premiere and Lincoln Continental, ’57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, ’57 Thunderbird, ’57 Desoto Adventurer, ’57-’58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, to name a few. 1957 was a great year, as we turned the corner into the space age. Fond memories.
1951 Studebaker, any model, Champion, Commander, etc.
’04 vette baby