I posed this same question here in 2017, exactly two years ago. As expected my list has evolved a bit since.
Let’s keep the same rules, if you were to suddenly came into a quantity of money (and time and storage space and spousal goodwill) what would you buy? Again, limit the list to four vehicles:
1 – 2005-2009 Mustang Convertible
One of my goals for 2019 is to do a road trip with my Dad. We haven’t had many father and son adventures lately, I’ll be 53 this year and he’s 81 now so if it’s going to happen it needs to happen soon.
This is what I’m thinking, golfing in Myrtle Beach via the Blue Ridge Parkway. A base V6 Mustang will do, sufficient power and not too harsh a ride for a couple of old guys. They are readily available, reasonably priced and some are very well maintained. 2005-2009 is the sweet spot for me, I like the echoes of the original Mustang in these ones. To my eyes the pre-2005 convertibles look bathtub-ish and after 2009 they look a little more like a cartoon.
2 – 1938 DeSoto
Here’s a 1957 shot of Dad in his first car. Apparently his never looked as good as the one in the lead photo. Maybe if a week in a Mustang is too arduous we could find a Desoto, don fedoras and suspenders and do a weekend golf trip somewhere closer to home. Although a 1938 Desoto certainly has more room for golf clubs it is a rare bird these days. Non-Ford 1930’s cars have seemingly not held their value well, if I could actually find a driver quality one it would probably be less expensive than a Mustang. Now about that resale value…
3 – 1962 Mercury Meteor
Remember the CC Detroit Meetup in 2017? I sure do, five hours in a sweltering hot 1963 Volkswagen Beetle really gave me some time to think about cars with a bit more room, a bit more power, and possibly some A/C. Not unlike some actual VW owners in the 60’s, no?
Despite Paul Niedermeyer’s disdain for certain midsize Ford products a Meteor might fit that bill, with a 260 V8, auto and aftermarket air. It would still fit in my single garage, and I just love those rocket taillights.
4 – Kawasaki VerSys 650
I’m in a bit of a tough spot for motorcycles. My 1993 Kawasaki Concours 1000 is old, too big for Mrs DougD to ride, and really more motorcycle than I need for 95% of my riding. I don’t like cruisers, and my knees don’t like sport bikes so I kind of want a more modern version of the Universal Japanese Motorcycle.
There’s a few candidates here (V-Strom, Triumph Bonneville etc) but so far I’m more attracted to the Kawi VerSys. Some are repulsed by the dumb name and the cyclops-like stacked headlights, but I find the styling weirdly endearing. Ergonomics appear to be good for a tall person like me, and a five year old example with low miles seems like a good value. I just might test drive a few different used bikes this year.
So that’s my current list, what are you thinking about in mid winter 2019?
1971-1973 Lancia Fulvia Coupe
1971 Mercedes 280SE 4.5
1985-86 Ford Bronco must be two-tone (color and then the big white stripe/side)
1985 Toyota MR2
Any Hellcat Challenger – no explanation needed; I like the new ones in dark green
Any Duster 340 – I have always loved these giant killers, probably the best-balanced car of the original musclecar era. Ive had several 340 A-Bodies (68 Dart, 71 Demon and a 71 Duster, all 4 speeds) but none were in nice enough shape to keep. Now that the prices have gone nutty on them, I might have missed the boat.
67-70 Cougar – I don’t need one of the monsters with a big engine, even a 289/302 would be fine just to cruise around in, its just one of the prettiest cars ever. A dark green one with a tan interior.
66-72 Country Squire or Colony Park – America on wheels. White with woodgrain please.
I like your choices, LT Dan!
I have owned every one of them, at one time or another, in the last 45 years, so I understand your automotive lust choices! I regret having to sell every one of them.
Oops. I haven’t had a Hellcat Challenger…..yet.
The ’71 340 is the one to get. It was the first year for the Thermoquad carburetor and the last year before emission controls. It was also the last year for the complete rallye intrument cluster which included an oil gauge, as well as the optional tachometer. And I think the Demon’s hood scoops were functional, as well.
1967 LeMans sport sedan, with the hipo overhead cam 6, air, and buckets
1965 Grand Prix- loaded
1973 Grand Am sedan, 400 4 barrel with air
Oddball—- Late model Holden Ute ( one of those Pontiac G8 GT conversions
1959 Plymouth Sport Fury- As iconic as the 57-58 models are, the 59’s are cheaper and I can still get the Fury nameplate without bankrupting myself. Hardtop painted dark red like Helen was with a 361 V8 and a pushbutton Torqueflight. Oh Charlotte, one day you will be mine! :O
1971-73 Buick Riviera- I fell in love with the boat tail since seeing it on CC and have wanted a GS 455 ever since. I’d paint it black with a little bit of pink pin striping. Call her Rosy.
1941 Ford pickup powered by the 9N tractor engine, a rare beast.
Same conversion kit fits the Fordson diesel to Ford pickup, a common conversion here years ago, they were ex US army kits.
These were not conversions! Offered in ‘40 and ‘41 only, they were intended to be a thrifty alternative for use as delivery vehicles in town. Also offered in panel vans…
1-Citroen DS 23 IE Citromatic
2-Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III
3-Mercedes Benz w123 300 TD
4-Lincoln Continental 1962
5-Porsche 911 993
Great list, but why a 1962 Lincoln? The 1961 is the original and has a less conventional front end.
I’d pick the 62 as well, that’s the iconic front end on these. I find a little too much Thunderbird bleeding through with the original 61 headlight assemblies.
Thank you! I like more 62’s front.
Also the front suspension on the 61 was difficult to keep in alignment, something remedied on the 62 (Thunderbirds, too.)
Nice to see my generation of Mustang getting some love. Thanks Doug! ;o)
My list:
I like your thinking, my 2007 V6 in a Convertible. That said, I’ll just keep the coupe I have since I don’t have a garage to protect the top and I’m not a fan of car covers.
1972 Buick Skylark or Olds 442 convertible… My wife would like the former in light to medium (sky?) blue with a white top; for me, the Olds… one of only a few cars I would take in brown (there was a goldish-brown back then); tan top & interior please.
I suppose if I had to pick a MOPAR, my favorite is a 1969 Charger, and my wife likes these too. She is NOT a car person, but can recognize these and the aforementioned Buick with ease.
A 1985 Anniversary T-Bird would be nice too. 302 V8 please. I had an 88 with that engine and it was indestructible for 236K. My 83 with the Essex motor? Eh, not so much.
1955 thru 1963 VW Beetle (had an ‘63 and miss it soo much)
1971 thru 1973 Mercury (Ford) Capri V6
1969 thru 1973 Opel GT (mini-me Corvette)
1962 thru 1965 Alfa Spyder (Day of the Jackal)
1967 thru 1969 Mercury Cougar (brother had one, very nice)
1970 thru 1972 Camero (pre big bumpers)
Several more, but most any sports car from the mid 60’s thru early 70’s (pre big bumpers) .
As a twist, I’d like a ‘69 or ‘70 Chrysler Newport: the height of fuselage styling, big cars. and lazy V8’s.
I keep one space open in the garage for something in the following list:
1. Air-cooled Ducati Monster, preferably ’00’s vintage, 900 or 750.
2. Harley-Davidson V-Rod
3. Gilroy Indian, one of the S&S engined bikes.
4. Henderson-Excelsior (and I know a local one for sale, just need to get the money).
5. Another Meriden Triumph (life feels incomplete without one).
6. ’74-76 Honda CB400F (this has been on my list since the bike was new!).
7. A Moto Guzzi.
My first (and only) motorcycle was an ’81 CB400T that I bought new when I was 21 years old. Loved that bike…
(The one pictured below is not mine, but a screen grab from the web. IIRC, mine looked just like this one.)
We are talking about the ’74-76 four cylinder 400F
Yeah, I realized that after doing a Google search… my bad.
You just had to mention the CB400F. Pure porn on two wheels. Damn you LOL
I would have to add a pre-81 Kawasaki Z1000 police bike to that list…( yes, I still watch reruns of “CHiPS”) LOL
1962 Plymouth Belevedere/Fury/Sport Fury 2 door.
318 or 361 “Golden Commando” V8 engine, Torqueflite automatic, power steering, air conditioning.
Not saying I will find it; just what I want to find.
Ooo- Very nice!
Unlike the Meteor, these had integrated air conditioning. Everyone thinks the 1962 Plymouths and Dodges are awful but I always thought they were really cool. I had the facelifted 1963 Sport Fury with AC.
Well, I am somewhat prejudiced, having spent much of my grade school years bouncing around in the back seat of my parent’s Golden Commando ’62 Plymouth, listening to the engine & transmission music during Dad’s deftly done two lane passing maneuvers.
Fiat 850 Spyder
1961-63 Lincoln 4 door convertible
1957-59 Ford Skyliner
Renault Caravelle
early 60’s Imperial
I want the dinghy or the cruise ship sized ones, nothing in the middle, apparently. But if it is contrary to popular opinion, it calls to me. The Skyliners have a personal connection via my dad, who repaired the hydraulics on them back in the day. The Lincoln may be popular, but it shares the basic convertible system as the Skyliners, and growing up in the early 60s, these were the iconic cars of the Camelot years.
The ’61 to ’63 Lincolns were only the length of a modern Crown Vic. Wider, and much lower though. And a thousand pounds heavier. A really good convertible is now about a bazillion dollars. Approximately two people in the world understand the AC system.
Luckily I already have four of what I have wanted so it is a bit easier to add to the list but still hard…
66 or 68 Mustang convertible. Quintessential example of fun and they are.
66 or 68 Mustang fastback already have the coupe
66-70 Country Squire/Colony Park
Last, for my fourth one is tough. Between a 68-69 440 Charger RT or a 1966 New Yorker 2 door.
Now one more list of four and life would be pretty much complete 🙂
a quantity of money (and time and storage space and spousal goodwill) what would you buy?
You forgot one other requirement: the mechanic skills to keep an old car going.
Lessee…
59-60 Lark VI
65-66 Rambler Classic covert (V8, not the 232 they all seem to have)
66 Mustang 2+2 or covert
70 Javelin
70 Cougar
78 Dasher 2dr
85 Fuego (know a guy who sold his just recently)
86 Alliance convert (very nice one on offer in Florida just recently)
Almost any year VW Rabbit/Golf Cabrio
current series Fiat 500 Cabrio
current series VW Beetle convert.
What do I have for storage space? Here endith the fantasy.
Nick’s 85 Fuego, on it’s way to it’s new home in Florida.
You are so right. Got the skills, which many may have, but that storage issue can be a tough nut to crack. Don’t have a nice 5000 sq ft little warehouse like someone I know and my garage holds only two. Luckily the only weather out here, to deal with, is some rain.
Luckily the only weather out here, to deal with, is some rain.
Lucky indeed. Nick had to part with the Fuego due to lack of storage. He enclosed the patio under his second floor family room to make a 2 car garage, but it’s so small the only car of his that would fit is the LeCar. But the shed the LeCar is currently in is too small for anything else.
1. Tesla Model 3 Performance
2. 1986-1991 Ford Taurus wagon with the 3.0 liter “Vulcan” V6 in whatever trim I could find.
3. 2019 Kia Stinger GT2 in Micro Blue Pearl
4. Current generation Ford GT
If we’re just talking about classic cars:
1. 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT (engine swapped with at least the 3.8 liter GM V6)
2. Same as above
3. 1995 Acura Legend coupe
4. 1984-1988 Toyota Cressida
No. 1: TVR Tuscan. It is a triumph of insanity, a temple to creativity, and a big F-U to convention. More succinctly, it’s like a Lotus for unhinged people.
No. 2: Studebaker Avanti. Given how I have a GT Hawk, it would be most inappropriate of me not to drive its corporate stablemate that couldn’t be any more different.
No 3: ANY Facel-Vega. My dad told me stories about how these Parisian sculptures used to dot the area around his house in Palm Beach and I was hooked. I would love to drive one if only to get it out of my system.
Yes, a Facel Vega would surely scratch an itch here too. What snobbily swish style, and with a Hemi, no less. Beyond glamorous. Real “it” car of a stylish era for the jetset famous. No modern Phantom, these – or a Ferrari come to that, now that they’re all common and vulgar.
Actually, beyond any budget now. For years, these yachts were (relatively) cheap, but alas, no more.
Don’t be too sure! I found this 1962 Facellia Coupe for sale on Hemmings for just shy of 50 grand. Take a gander for yourself!
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/facel-vega/facellia/2171041.html
Ah! No Hemi or Torqueflite or wood-painted dash, but those Facelias are arguably better looking than the big Facel 2, meaning very lovely indeed. And with that Volvo lump, it’s most unlikely to go pop either.
Currently $49,990 short of the asking price, but more hope of bridging that gap than the many hundred thousands I lack for the others, so I’ll start saving.
1966 Mustang convertible; 1986 Toyota Cressida; 1967 Cadillac Eldorado; 1st generation LWB Range Rover.
’53-’64 Studebaker C/K, V-8, stick. ’49-’52 Chevrolet Fleetline 2 door, stick. ’41-’47 Packard Clipper. S series Blazer or Jimmy 4.3L, stick.
The 1963 Meteor (and no doubt the Fairlane) could be had with a choice of “two improved air conditioners”. Neither integrated I think, but probably the more expensive one was slicker looking with round outlets.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Mercury/1963%20Mercury/album/1963%20Mercury%20Meteor-10.html
Well, as it happens I already have a Mustang convertible (2014 V6) so that takes care of the top-down, fun to cruise vehicle. The top 5 on my current Powerball list (it changes fairly frequently) would be:
1. 1965-66 Pontiac Catalina two door hardtop – for me these are the best looking full-size GM cars. Many years ago I owned a Catalina four door hardtop, back when it was just a cheap used car; I didn’t really appreciate it then but would love to have a do over on this one.
2. 1969-70 fuselage Chrysler – ideally it would be a Chrysler but I would certainly consider a well equipped Plymouth or Dodge. I know that these models are “blessed” with marginal build quality and are huge and thirsty; doesn’t matter as it would only see occasional use on the open road.
3. 1965-66 Mustang – I have owned half a dozen Mustangs over the years but never one from the first generation. Before I bought my 2014 Mustang I looked at a fully restored 1966 convertible but finally passed on the deal. Someone had spent a lot of time and money on this one and it was in better condition than when it rolled out of the assembly plant. Make mine a 289 V8 with four speed manual please.
4. A first or second generation Buick Riviera (are we seeing a pattern here, cars from my teenaged years). Another big thirsty car that would be reserved for the occasional road trip.
5. A Chevrolet pickup from the fifties, because if you have this many vehicles at least one has to be a truck, I think it’s a state law or something. I can’t decide if the pickup should be as originally equipped or have a modern drive train installed. Perhaps a truck from the late fifties with V8 and the old school four speed Hydramatic.
Of course I would need a much bigger garage to store all of these and I would probably need a full-time mechanic on staff to keep them driveable; if I win the lottery I will let you know.
1975 Chevy Monte Carlo(got my licence in one)1974 Monte Carlo or Caprice or Impala or Bel Air(mom’s first thought and trip to dealer for a new car)1955 Chevy Bel Air(nuff said)1976 Cadillac Seville(for teaching me to aspire and pride in an American car that can”Rolls with the punches”) 1964 Chevy Corvair sedan(like the one the city NYC stole from me when i couldnt move it from side to side) Really it was Cadillac that gave me aspirations to live better than my suroundings at the time and i have!!
Challenger Scat Pack to drive.
68-70 Roadrunner 383 post to drool over.
A 69-73 Mustang fastback or maybe a 68-70 Javelin, both with the inline 6 to do an unconventional build with.
My 94 Cougar isn’t going anywhere, so a 5.0 Coyote swap for it.
I’m at the point in my life where I’d like to own fewer things, not more. I’m going to sell my two empty lots, and am thinking hard about selling the seven rentals that are in a cluster. I’d like to be something closer to actually retired. Maintenance on the rentals is starting to get very old.
Having said that, I would like to have a Tesla Model 3 Performance, at least for a few weeks. I want to experience the future. My F100 is enough for experiencing the past.
More Prostar adventures, less rental maintenance sounds like a very good plan.
I’d like to be something closer to actually retired.
I highly recommend retirement. More time, and schedule flexibility, for travel.
If we had gone to the Packard plant in June of 17, we would have been run off by the on site security.
If we had gone in 18, we could have taken an officially sanctioned, guided tour of the plant.
As of right now, the tours will again be offered in 19, but the famous bridge over E Grand Ave collapsed a few days ago.
The bridge had been adorned with a wrap four years ago, printed with a picture of what it had looked like when Packard was operating.
Demolition of building 92 is also under way this week. This is what 92 looked like before the demo started.
Is someone actually trying to redevelop this place?
Is someone actually trying to redevelop this place?
Yes. It was bought in a tax auction a few years ago, with plans to renovate the buildings, starting with the admin building. The new owner had a $30M commitment from a backer for the work, but then the backer backed out, so the owner is writing the checks himself. A lot of progress has been made in removing rubble and asbestos.
The local news reported last week that the new owner is now 3 years behind on property taxes. If he can’t come up with the cash, the place may end up being auctioned again.
Ironically, the Packard plant is less than a mile from the GM Detroit plant that is scheduled to be shuttered in June.
I will limit myself to only four cars. These are cars that I want, but will probably not ever buy.
1) Aston Martin DB7. These are still the cheapest and they are the only Astons that were made of steel. I’d go for the earlier model with the supercharged straight six Jaguar engine.
2) 2018-19 Mustang GT convertible. Just the best Mustang ever built. Much better than my ’96 and improved upon my 2007 coupe. Finally IRS.
3) 2019 Lincoln Aviator. Lincoln got this one right. It’s close in size to my old Explorer, I don’t like how big the Navigator is. It also doesn’t seem so ostentatious.
4) 1970 Mustang fastback. These are my favorite early Mustang models. It doesn’t have to be a Mach One or Boss. I would do a resto mod on it with fuel injected V8, improved chassis, and good A/C. I still miss my ’70 coupe.
Most of these are still a bit pricey for me, especially the Aviator. Like the new Mustang I can wait a few years to buy one as it depreciates into my financial range. The Aston has already reached it’s bottom and is starting to go up. The ’70 Mustang fastback values are only going to get higher.
A coworker of mine just bought a leftover but brand new 2018 Mustang Coupe with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. While many argue a Mustang must have a V8 (I personally am not in that camp, although there’s nothing like the sound of a V8), you may want to try one out. I’m sure the weight distribution is better with the lighter engine. With better weight distribution and IRS, the new Mustang is likely quite the corner carver.
He loves his. I think his has the Pony Package, which sets it up suspension-wise like a GT. This is an assumption on my part though, as that’s how it was with our S-197’s back in 2007.
I am looking hard at 2015+ examples of the departed BMW 6 Series Coupe, particularly the 640i xDrive with M-Sport Package. I love big grand-touring coupes, and the N55 I6 engine in the 640i is much more reliable than either version of the N63 V8 engine in the 650i. Indeed, I had an N55 in my 2011 X5 xDrive35i Premium.
I can appreciate that the 640i Coupe wouldn’t be any roomier—and certainly no sportier—than a 435i Coupe, but it has a lot more grandeur.
I think I can come out for under $35,000 with anywhere between 28K and 40K miles, which is well within budget. It’ll also give me at least a year on the factory warranty/maintenance plan, to see if I want to dump it or not before things get expensive.
1. Cadillac ELR. Daily driver. Techy, nice interior, good looking.
2. ’66 Oldsmobile Toronado.
3. ’55 Chrysler C-300
4. ’89 Mercedes 560 SEL
5. Chevrolet Suburban from any of the last 20 years or so.
Like TBM3Fan, I have a couple of my favorites already. So, for me:
’66 Lincoln Continental convertible, in Emberglow/Emberglow
’76 Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia
’68 Mercury Colony Park
’78 Mercury Cougar XR-7, with the Midnight/Chamois option
We’re going to have to talk about that 76 Granada, err Monarch, next time I see you. I’m also surprised you didn’t want a Bobcat wagon.
This is a much more difficult question for me now than it was not many years ago. I can still rattle off however many cars from a wanna-own-it-one-day list. Four? Okeh, a ’64 Imperial, a ’62 Fury, a ’71 164, and a ’79 Caprice, all top-spec and fully loaded. But my heart’s not in it any more—I’m well and truly done with old cars for the foreseeable future. But I hit an equal and opposite wall if I turn my attention to new(ish) cars: I can’t really think of any that I actively, actually want. Best I can do is eventually come up with some I’d probably accept, or at least tolerate.
I guess I’m well and truly done as a car enthusiast, per se, no matter their age. Old ones are unsafe and require too much fiddlefutzing. New ones are too intrusive and “helpful” in the driving task. Maybe I’ll feel differently once true autonomobiles arrive, but the difference won’t necessarily be for the better; much though self-driving cars will probably bring a net improvement in traffic safety and efficiency, the new issues they’ll bring (constantly being tracked and advertised to, not being in any real control over whether and where I go) will prevent me being content with it.
Now get off my lawn, I guess? Harrumph. :-\
OMG! It’s not just happening to me!
’69 Dodge Charger Daytona with white tail stripe
‘1970-72 Trans-am, blue with the white stripe
1970 AAR Cuda in Lemon Twist
1972 Plymouth Road Runner in some shade of blue
Only 4? OK, I’ll try.
One Studebaker. I am willing to be flexible here, but it has to be a top line car. Today I’m feeling a 64 Daytona convertible.
One Fluid Drive Mopar, preferably 1946-48. A New Yorker would be optimal but any Chrysler or DeSoto would work.
One pre-war classic. Let’s go with an Auburn convertible sedan from the 30s.
One early 1960s Lincoln. I have owned a 63 Fleetwood and a 64 Crown Coupe. A Lincoln would complete the trifecta.
Now ask me again tomorrow and prepare for a bunch of different answers.
I am pretty much maxed out of space but as a day dreaming experience I would love to add:
Lotus Europa – I sure would love a back to basics Lotus perhaps a little more practical than a Seven.
Chevrolet Corvair – Wanted one forever but the stars have never aligned. Either generation is fine. But sedan or convertible for the early car and coupe for the later one.
Classic Jeep of some kind. Not picky but more the stock-ish side rather than overly modified. I surely don’t need one but would like one.
Bonneville T100 – Sort of bigger version of what I already have in the TU250X. More power is always nice.
Most modern cars seem to leave me pretty unmoved. I don’t really have any interest in replacing my 2004 Acura TSX which I feel is on the edge of being a bit much. I suppose a Toyota GT86 or Mazda Miata would nice although not super practical.
‘Tis to dream ….
1955 Chevy Bel-Air 4 door. Two tone with white and fender skirts. I’d probably swap out the V8 for something more modern, and upgrade the brakes. This has been my fantasy daily driver to work. 3rd pedal is preferred. I still occasionally surf the car ads looking for one. Alas no storage at home and I’m a lot less patient with a wrench than when I was younger.
1969-71 BMW 2002. Maybe with the mechanical fuel injection, and specked for real road driving. That would be the fun car to drive.
1965 Dodge Dart sedan with 225 /6 and Torqueflyte. That was my mom’s car that I grew up in. It still appears in my dreams occasionally, intact (my brother wrecked it in 1979). This could be the maintenance nightmare (nod to Aaron65), but it was mostly indestructible.
1978 Datsun 810 sedan. My dad’s car for 24 years. So worthy of a COAL (which I drafted but need to dig out pictures). I still sort of regret giving him back the car in 2001 since I rode that car though a personal purgatory and redemption. I don’t see these on the road anymore.
Bonus. I still miss occasionally my 1982 Toyota SR5 truck. Reliable but done in by rust.
Bonus. I sometimes wonder what it’d be like driving my aunt’s 1959 Buick convertible (which she dubbed the Rattletrap, but drove it for almost 10 years). That would be a cool car to be seen in today.
Hey NavyBrat,
Feel free to get the Dart! Mine’s mechanically pretty well sorted now (knock on wood); it just took a little dialing in. As with any old car, of course, an owner mechanic must always keep an eye on the mirror for overtaking chaos.
Oh, how tempting, Aaron65! But I have a full-time job, a wife between f/t jobs, and another 7 years before retirement. The storage (I have to keep my truck at work) and cash flow are not conducive for fun car ownership. Your Dirty Dart is similar to mom’s but she had a sedan, not a wagon (nearly the same color). I’ve lived vicariously through your excellent articles on the DD, but remember that redoing the dashboard (the ammeter in particular) makes me uneasy since I’m not as proficient with auto tools as you have ably demonstrated. But I appreciate the thought!
P.S. Sweet looking Bullet Bird. I can’t wait for the write-up.
1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport
1998 Cadillac Seville STS
1971 Ford Mustang Mach1
1965 Ford Thunderbird
I just bought a ’63 T-Bird, so that’s off the list. That leaves the following:
Saab 96 (either 2-stroke or V4)
Volvo 1800 (kind of getting out of my price range these days)
Heck, at this point, pretty much anything ’60s and Swedish will do. But that’s going to have to wait right now.
To fill out my four, maybe a ’70 F100 or something like that…
On the other hand, check back in next week. 🙂
Beautiful T-Bird Aaron! I love the Bullet Birds, one of my all time favourite T-Birds.
Beautiful Bullet Bird, Aaron. Do you still have your Other (Fire) Bird?
Yep! I never sell anything. I just find more places to stash cars!
Only four? Gee Doug, you’re being a bit stingy. 🙂
While the answer could change in ten minutes, here goes. Note that I’m like Paul in wanting to simplify and I’ve also become weary of old car ownership. One can only get crapped on so many times before they tire of it. Anyway….
1987 to 1990 Dodge Ram. Practical, vintage, and beautiful. I don’t care of it’s a half-ton or 3/4 ton, it just needs to have a regular cab and an 8′ bed. A 318 would be nice, a 360 would be great.
1971 to 1978 Dodge or Plymouth B-body sedan. There, I said it; I want one. Top trim is preferred as is a lack of vinyl roof. Engine is irrelevant as long as it’s a 318 or better.
1984 to 1987 Buick Regal. Not picky about trim, I just like these, but no V6 allowed.
Tie: A Mazda Miata or a Prius. They are so similar (not) but I’m looking for something small as a daily driver.
Storage space is only an issue as I lack the pole barn. I’ve got the perfect spot but no building – yet.
Oops, I’ve changed my mind on the Prius / Miata thing. It’s now a Miata or 5.0 Mustang convertible. I’m fickle.
Jason, make number 4 the 5.0L Mustang!! I have so many great memories of my Cousin’s 1990 GT, can I add to my list? Make mine a hardtop though.
We had a Gen III Prius. At the time my wife was putting a ton of miles on commuting and so we bought that car. It was super reliable, got awesome mileage, had great space utilization, and I could do all the maintenance work on it with ease. That said, it was not a car I enjoyed driving at all. Definitely a good car, but not an enthusiast’s car.
It’s tough to nail down just four. My collection would be a bit odd, as I would want cars that had an impact on my life, rather than very valuable/desirable ones. As long as I could keep my current cars, these are what I’d buy first.
1. 1979 Ford F-150 – 460 V8 2WD Regular Cab Long Box with the Indy Pace Car package. My Uncle and Dad owned one like this for a combined 20 years. The truck still exists today and if the current owner (who bought it from my Dad) would sell, I’d buy it back in a heartbeat. I love the dentside Fords, but this one in particular has a lot of memories tied up in it.
2. 1977-90 B-Body Chevrolet or Canadian market Pontiac. I am really unsure which I’d want specifically; it may come down to more what I find in good shape. I love the 77-79 Chevy’s in 2-door or 4-door with the 350. From 1980-90 it’d have to be a V8 powered 4-door, and preferably a 9C1, but a F41 car would be fine. For Pontiac, 77-79, preferably 350 powered, or a 1982-86 Parisienne wagon (mom had an ’84). I’d also consider a clean Chevy wagon up to 1986 (no 307 for me).
3. 1972 Chevelle or Buick Skylark. Either or would be fine. My first car was a ’72 Chevelle and it was a rustbucket that I had big plans for that never came into fruition. I’d love to own another today, although the prices on those Chevelles are just ridiculous. At the same time, we had a ’72 Skylark 4-door as a family car. If I couldn’t find a Chevelle, I’d definitely take a nice clean Buick, in either 2-door or 4-door.
4. 1947-57 Chevrolet pickup, or 1948-56 Ford pickups. My wife doesn’t have much interest in cars, but she has always said she likes both of the aforementioned trucks (and I do too). If I had all these cars, I’d have to get one that was more “hers” than mine and this would be it.
Realistically if I had a ton of disposable income for cars, I’d likely cycle through a bunch of cars. There be some I’d keep and never sell, but I’d buy some cars I have always wanted to own, keep it and enjoy it for a bit, and then sell it and buy something else. A friend of mine does this, and he’s owned probably 50+ vintage cars in the last 10 years. He’s own more vintage cars than my dad, who actually lived and bought cars during those eras. Unlike me though, he never keeps ANY for the long term.
In no particular order
’72 or earlier Jaguar E-Type
Cadillac CTS-V wagon with 6spd manual
’51 – ’53 Hudson Hornet
’66 Chrysler Town and Country wagon
1. I like my ’65 Chrysler, but let’s make it one in better shape. (’66 or maybe ’68 would be ok)
2. Tesla model S. Pre-facelift, red with a tan interior.
Now it gets harder.
3. Something late ’50s. Today I’m thinking ’59 Ford or ’58 Buick Roadmaster.
4. Could be anything from a Curved Dash Olds to a new SUV, but right now I want a GMC motorhome and a road to somewhere warmer.
I can see my tastes run a little unusual around here.
1. 1976 Cadillac Seville – in silver and it would be one of the very first produced in the summer of 1975.
2. 1979 Lincoln Continental Collector’s Series – in dark blue with leather.
3. 1985 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz – a dark color and loaded to the gills.
4. 1984 Continental Valentino Edition – my very first car and one I still think is one of the most beautiful Lincolns.
With money no object?
1. Tesla Model S P100D: The daily driver.
2. Lexus LFA: The breathtaking exotic.
3. Lamborghini Miura SV: The timeless classic.
4. Lotus Elise: The raw and nimble sports car.
If I confine my choices to be a bit more realistic:
1. Tesla Model 3: The daily driver.
2. 2005-12 Porsche Cayman S: The sports car.
3. FJ80 Land Cruiser: The go-anywhere adventurer.
4. BMW 3.0 CS(i): The gorgeous classic.
A 1968-1971 Mk,lll Continental , all black
A 1978 New Yorker coupe, all white
A late model run Grand Marquis-silver with tan leather interior
Hmmm… It’s also a question of how much money, and if it were such as would allow me to buy a couple of flats to rent out and retire (comfortably as opposed to ostentatiously – let’s keep this realistic), given that I already got one car I want (see below) I’d drop everything else and concentrate on finishing it THIS year rather than during the next 5.
Should the money be enough to allow me to retire AND have toys, well a 1964 Fairlane 4 door sedan like my father used to have will also join the stable. Dad’s was a six so mine will stay a six but it won’t be standard… Then there will be something European and small like an Opel Speedster for the mountain passes (it is Austria after all). As an everyday car I do not see the need for anything more than my current 2015 Mazda 3 or the new version later (once it has been established the new engine technology actually works)… By the way, I see no point in having more than 3-4 cars at a time, you end up with too much of a good thing, so that I have no problem with the limit anyway.
But that’s just weird me.
Adding that of course there will a fully equipped, purpose-built garage with cooking and sleeping facilities (maybe I can call it a home and be done with it). Being old, gruff and ugly means no spouse issues, and even if one materialized, the cars will not be something she’d have a say about whatever…
I achieved one of mine last year: a Chrysler PT Cruiser GT Turbo, the one with the 2.4L SRT-4 engine, but even better with its taller intake than in the Dodge Neon.
Still dream about, in no particular order:
1963 Pontiac Grand Prix, fully loaded with Pontiac’s aluminum hub and drums and air conditioning. Would prefer a 421 and four-speed.
1970 or 1971 Plymouth Duster 340. Dodge Demon would do nicely.
Dodge Challenger…Hellcat, Demon, whatever!
1964 Cadillac. If pushed, a 1963 would do but I’d prefer the 429 engine and Turbo Hydramatic which would leave out the Sixty-Two model with the old fluid coupling Hydra-matic; however my Dad had a 1963, so there is a nostalgia factor there, too. I believe the 1964s with Turbo Hydramatic used a Buick transmission with adapter plate.
‘62 Impala SS convertible in black
‘’65 Corsair convertible in black
‘68 Charger convertible (if available) in black
‘05 300 in black
‘72 Skylark convertible in black
1945-59 Dodge Power Wagon
1956-69 Fiat 600 Multipla
1967 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140
1968 Ford Thunderbird 4-door
84-87 GN or t type. Prefer 86/87 intercooled but beggars can’t be choosers
86/87 Monte SS
94-96 impala SS
94-96 Fleetwood
97 z28 (the one that got away)
86 SVO Mustang
88 Tbird Turbo Coupe
89 Tbird Super Coupe
And to get a bit more exotic:
87 911 Turbo Slantnose
88 M3
Coke White Testarossa
Coke White Countach
Can you tell I’m an 80a child? Lol
1965 Mustang convertible, built on my date of birth (which I’ll probably never find)
1967 Lincoln Continental convertible
94-97 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Hmmm, just four cars? But there are so many more that I love! But here goes:
* My current magnificent 1989 Ford Sierra 4×4 Ghia 2.9i (currently waylaid with a dead viscous fan but should be repaired next week).
* 1970ish Jag 420G – with power windows, sunroof and a/c
* 1973 Cadillac Sedan de Ville – in blue, with white vinyl top
* 2019 Range Rover PHEV for when the above are broken down.
My dream list varies from time to time, but these are usually the top four;
1. 1965 Buick Riviera GS
2. 1961-62 Buick Skylark hardtop
3. 1963 Pontiac Tempest or LeMans (any body style)
4. 1967-68 Mercury Cougar XR7