Welcome to winter in the Northern Hemisphere, where car guys with unheated garages hide indoors to drink hot beverages and consider what to do when the weather warms up.
So I’m just sitting here today with my coffee, considering my short list. The short list of CC-worthy cars I’d like to own someday. If I suddenly came into a quantity of money (and time and storage space and spousal goodwill) what would I buy? Let’s limit the list to four vehicles today:
1969 Triumph Spitfire
Having had an unsuccessful TR4 project I’ve always wanted a rematch. The Spitfire doesn’t get as much respect as the “big” Triumphs ( a relative term), but I quite like the MK III model with the original rounded back end, and raised front bumper. The photo is a MK II but I love the dark green with Minilite wheels.
1939 Dodge Luxury Liner
My Dad’s first car was a 1938 Desoto, and one of my uncles had a 1939 Dodge project when I was a kid, so I’ve always been partial to 38-39 Mopar products. All of them have a wonderful art deco dashboard, and there were both teardrop and rectangular headlight designs used depending on the model.
1965 Studebaker
I was manufactured in Hamilton just like a Studebaker. Although we were born in different facilities it would be cool to have a car made in my home town. The sweet spot for me is a 65 Daytona, which combines the upright greenhouse and four headlight front end styling with a Chevrolet 283 V8.
1970 VW Westfalia Camper Van
The big dollar item on my list, is this a vehicle choice or a lifestyle choice? Every so often I ask my wife “Is it time to buy a VW camper van yet?” Apparently it isn’t, the kids are still in high school and college is coming so we still need to work. This image is from bodeswell.org documenting a family of three who have been on the road in their 1970 Westy for six years. Recommended reading.
This list represents what I’d prefer given any choice, which must make me some sort of abnormal auto enthusiast. I’d prefer a Spitfire to a Lamborghini, rather a Studebaker than a Hemi Cuda. I guess I like to hold reachable dreams, I could find a nice example of any of these vehicles for under $15k. That’s the list today, it’ll probably change tomorrow but that’s easy fun while it’s cold out.
What’s the top four cars on your short list today?
In order:
1. ’69-’71 Mercedes Benz 300SEL 6.3
2. ’70-’71 Porsche 914-6
3. ’70 Pontiac Trans Am (RA IV, 4-spd)
4. ’69-’70 Corvette LT1 coupe
5. ’69-’70 Shelby GT500 fastback (Drag Pack car w/ 428 SCJ, 4-spd)
OK, just been trolling bringatrailer. and am reminded by a post there. I’ll swap out my dads fave 41 ford for another car I have a history with. 1st gen toyota celica 73or 74. in notchback body. with the first 5sp. i ever drove. thankyouverymuch.
On my to-do list for some time has been:
1) Sell my Miata and buy a Triumph TR-8. Need one with tartan seats and some weird color/colour not found in nature. I’ve owned and driven multiple Triumphs over the years, but never a TR-8. I’ve thought this would be the perfect vehicle for driving on nice, sunny days.
2) Find a “Vomit Green” two-door early 1975 VW Rabbit just like the one that was my first car. I’d want it to be totally stock as far as the interior and exterior go, but with an excessively ridiculous resto-mod engine/transmission/suspension underneath. Driven only for canyon-carving or maybe an autocross or two.
3) Since the criteria assumes sufficient funds, shop for a BRG Series 2 E-Type. The car I would buy would be as stock as possible, fully restored. I’d probably drive it only once, and then drain all fluids and park in my living room to look at, since I think it is the best-looking car ever made.
4) Wait for my Mom to pass away and inherit her silver 1982 Mercedes-Benz 300 Turbo Diesel. I’d daily driver it, just like she has done since it was new, and think about her and how we picked up her first Mercedes in 1967 at the factory. She’s a German girl who survived the Great Depression and Hitler. I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory.
W123 Mercedes Diesel – grey market 300D manual trans
Corvair convertible – 4speed, any year or engine
63-67 Corvette coupe – 327, 4speed
Big Mopar cruiser, maybe ex-cop car Polara.
1996 MB E320 convertible
1968 VW Type 3 fastback
1990 Saab 9000
1980 Volvo Bertone coupe
2007 Lexus LX470
Lancia Stratos.
Fiat 125S (my first car) With aftermarket A/C
’67 Stingray roadster. With a 5 speed upgrade.
’58 Eldorado.
What, no Toyotas? An admittedly quick scan failed to find any listed.
“What, no Toyotas?”
Ha ha! What did you expect?
No one wants a new one, either, except for the reliability index.
I’m not the biggest Toyota fan but did put the first gen MR2 as my #7 choice (so not really on my list of four). Toyota was an awesome company in the 1980s. In case you haven’t seen it, the new Supra looks pretty interesting.
Alright then, something like this would do just fine.
Yeah I was just about to say that. FJ40 or FJ55 is on my long list, didn’t make the short list this week.
I wouldn’t mind an 80s vintage rear drive Corolla SR5 hatchback. I would have to hop it up of course.
’17 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription
’06 SEAT Ibiza FR 1.9 TDi 130
’04 Aston DB9 Coupe
’17 BMW 750Li
’01 Volvo C70 T5
’00 Lexus IS 200
’15 BMW 335d
That’s all at this moment
’17 Volvo S90 T6 AWD Inscription
’06 SEAT Ibiza FR 1.9 TDi 130
’04 Aston DB9 Coupe
’17 BMW 750Li
’01 Volvo C70 T5
’00 Lexus IS 200
’15 BMW 335d
’11 SAAB 9-5 Aero Turbo^6 XWD
That’s all at this moment
My family auto history sadly ranges from unexciting to questionable, so I don’t have any iconic dad cars or grandpa cars to look up to unless I want to make Wartburgs and Trabants my life goal. I do however appreciate eccentric engineering and automotive pop culture, which opens the doors to some completely different objects of fascination and makes my short list look something like this:
– 1961/’62 Pontiac Tempest wagon. Absolutely fantastic combination of IRS (before the Corvette!), transaxle (before the Corvette!) and aluminium V8 block (before the Corvette!) or sliced-in-half-Pontiac-V8 straight four. Also the Buick brother featured America’s first volume production V6, the Olds brother offered the world’s first turbo engine and the rare Tempest Super Dutys from ’63 dominated motorsports. Plenty of opportunities to fit more modern Buick V6 blocks, Rover V8 blocks or Pontiac V8 blocks as a nod to the originals.
– Mk1 Mini Cooper S Monte Carlo replica. Who doesn’t like a Mini?
– Lancia Lambda Albany Airway, the absolute unicorn and unattainable dream in this line-up.
– Citroen Traction Avant because of its innovative unibody and FWD, preferably with an A.E.A.T. cabrio coach roof and one of those post-war front end kits for some personalization (in this snapshot it’s a Splendilux, but there were plenty others like Tonneline, Joseph or Marchand).
Today’s list (subject to future whims, of course):
1959 Sunbeam Alpine roadster – Such simple, clean lines with the sides cleanly sweep into the wings
1961 Rover T4 – Even more of a sneak preview than Ford’s Probe III prototype and the reason why they could make a V8 fit under the bonnet
1970 Vauxhall VX4/90 – Bold ‘coke bottle’ styling, crisp lines with neat, stylish touches (love the stone guards on the rear arches)
1974 Ford Capri II – Surprisingly versatile hatchback coupe (if there is such a thing!), the clever way the rectangular headlights cut into the bonnet evoking the 1969 original
I had space, I’d get 1965 Continental 4 door (not a convertible, too complex), ’65 Cadillac sedan of some sort and a ’65 Imperial sedan.
The 4th would be a 75-79 Cadillac Seville Elegante, silver and black two tone with real wire wheels.
Of course, reality being what it is, I’ll do none of the sort…reality has a way of ruining fantasies and things like this are best left to fantasy.
Trifecta of American luxury style, 1965 Cadillac, Continental and Imperial. Great taste!
No 1 – 1975 Continental Mark IV – the one I have –
my wish is to have it restored to mint condition for keeps.
No 2 – 1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible in metallic blue with blue leather interior.
we were very close to buying one years ago.
No 3 – 1966 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson limousine in black.
For when we get older or otherwise do not want to take the drivers seat.
We had a private Cadillac limousine for a number of years and enjoyed it very much.
No 4 – 1973 Cadillac deVille or Fleetwood. Drove a triple white Coupe déVille for 9 years.
It was a very good car indeed. Absolutely love the exterior and interior design, not to mention the ride.
My first car was a 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville…It was dark brown metallic with tan vinyl top, and sandalwood leather interior.
I bought it for $190(This was back in 1987), and tuned the 472V8, myself. It ran like an angry gazelle.
My mom made me give it away, because I had too many cars, at the time…A 76 Coupe de Ville, and a 75 Chevy Monza Towne Coupe V8.
I kick myself, because mint original and restored 73 Coupe de Villes are fetching $25,000 sometimes. 🙁
I was 25 in 1986 when I bought mine. I absolutely loved it and was not planning selling it at all, untill I had some investments going the wrong way for a while.
Yes, they have become quite expensive in the US now.
Here the prices are difficult to predict. It was $24K back in 1986.
Now it is anything from the same to less.
Oh I forgot an important one on my top list of four-ish…
56 Ford truck. 292, 3 on the tree. Red patina.
The list, with a few alternate choices:
1)ISO Grifo
2)Toyota 2000GT
3) Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
4) Lamborghini Countach
* Plymouth Superbird
** Ferrari F40
My “1/31/17” list, without having looked at any of the other comments to avoid idea pollution:
-Jaguar XJC 4.2
-BMW M635CSi (the Euro versions had better bumpers and more power)
-1968 Chrysler 300 Convertible
-Volvo 850R wagon
The Gang of Four will probably be different tomorrow, but those sprang to mind…
A photo of the current #1:
This is a REAL list, not a list of cars I can’t afford or don’t dare spend that much money on. Tomorrow I will probably change my mind, but right now this moment…
1. 1990 Mazda Miata with fastback conversion kit and performance upgrades
2. 1970 Datsun 240Z with a hotrodded 1978 280Z motor
3. 1989-1994 Nissan 240SX fastback with upgrades
and the last one is probably unobtainable but…
4. 1970ish Lotus Elan shapecraft fastback
1) Renault Dauphine
2) Fiat 850 Spider
3) 61-65 Continental Convertible
4) 62 Imperial convertible
Both ends of the spectrum, huge and powerful or small and underpowered.