We have all owned cars we still wish we had. The ’75 Thunderbird I had is definitely one I wish I had kept, but at the time it only made sense to sell it.
I had purchased it from the original owners in 1993 for the princely sum of $600. It was a Copper Luxury Group car, identical to the one above, except mine had leather seats! I’m not a Brougham fanatic, however I do see the appeal from the comfort angle. This car was as quiet as a church mouse, a real isolation chamber, and was like driving a 5,000 pound La-Z-Boy recliner. It’s 460 had been lovingly massaged and ran fabulous. I loved that car.
So much, in fact, I still have the paperwork from when it was purchased new.
Thinking back, which car do you still wish you had?
black 71 GTX with an Air Grabber. Had to sell it when I went to boot camp and I heard it was wrecked and parted out shortly after.
Then several years later I had a 68 Dart GTS 340 4 speed with air conditioning and disc brakes and a Petty Blue 72 Cuda 340 that I had to sell when I PCS’d from New York to Texas.
3 rare desirable Mopars that I wish I was able to hold on to but military duty calls.
I applaud your self-discipline & service… I have pretty much no control over my automotive impulsiveness… At least my stepson has figured it out — visiting him at MacDill AFB last year was a real eye-opener. If I had gone into the military out of high school, I could retire in a year or two. Oh well. I digress…
I miss pretty much every car I owned in the previous millennium. In the order they passed through my hands:
1971 Cougar convertible
1972 Toronado
1968 Mustang convertible (289, Pony interior)
1971 Datsun 240Z (the only car I’ve ever modded)
1972 Fiat Spyder (1600cc)
1979 Fiat Spyder (2000cc)
1981 Corolla SR5 hatch
1984 Cressida
I’d guess that, with the possible exception of the hot-rod 240Z, every one of them was long ago turned into soup cans.
1. Simply because of its options, my ’80 Mercury Monarch Ghia. Specially ordered in lipstick red with a white half vinyl top, its options list saw: power windows, power drivers, deluxe vinyl bench seat, power locks, light group (cornering lights, lighted vanity mirror), manual control a/c, tilt wheel, cruise control, am/fm with 8 track quadrasonic sound and all digital radio controls, TRX aluminum road wheels, deck lid luggage rack. All of this luxury was powered by the 250 CID six backed up by a Select Shift Cruise-o-Matic. Quite a bit of dash, little on the flash.
2. My ’93 Regal Gran Sport 4 door – a lovely car all around.
3. Again, simply for its options, my dad’s ’68 Buick Skylark two door hardtop – every option block checked – another lovely car.
That was one loaded Monarch.. I’m a sucker for the ’68 Skylark & Special…one heavily optioned would be quite a peach.
Sorry for all these comments…feeling quite chatty today.
1987 Toyota Cressida. I would kill for another one with everything and a cloth interior. Toyota’s leather at the time would split on a sunny day. Bonus points for wagon with a twin turbo swap.
A little undecided. Either my first car a 68 Plymouth Sport Satellite white with burgundy interior or my 1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car in the same color scheme as the Plymouth. However, as I think it through from a practical standpoint my 98 S-10 V-6 Xtended cab. Traded it for a new 2008 GMC Sierra 4×4 xtended cab with the Pro Grade package. The S-10 suited my pick up needs much better, used alot less gas and was oh so much easier to park and move about in and was really better trimmed on the inside. Hence the GMC only has 24000 miles after nearly 5 years.
The original owner apparently traded in a ’69 Cougar on this luxo-barge? Shame on him! I’ve said it before, of all the cars I’ve owned, I still wish I could have my 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7. Dark ivy green metallic with matching leather interior, Cleveland V-8, power windows, A/C, sunroof, yet! I’d give anything to get that car back. Powerful, luxurious, it was my mini-Mark III. Oh, what could have been!
1961 Ambassador. Repainted in Stingray silver with a red racing stripe, mag wheels, Recaro bucket seats, 401 ci engine and four-speed manual from an AMX, and — best of all — dual hidden flame throwers. Great good fun.
The one I should have kept was my 1978 Buick Lesabre Custom, which I did a COAL on last year. It was a Buick block 350, THM350 and all HD options. In red with white vinyl roof, along with Buick rallye wheels, it looked great. Inside it was white vinyl, with 60/40 seat and it was loaded with everything but sunroof.
I converted it to LPG and cut out the cat and it ran just great. I was paying 23 cents a litre for the stuff so running my big sled was costing me Chevy Sprint money and I only had like $5500 into it. I could have driven the thing for twenty years as it only had 73,000 km on it. And like a complete idiot, I sold it and bought a 1986 Jetta which was a complete POS.
1984 Nissan Pulsar NX. Not a popular choice, but for me it was modestly fun, very reliable, and highly frugal. KISS indeed, right down to the sunroof panel that had to be removed by hand, but that car was right for me. Great memories.
1974 Innocenti 1300 Cooper.
An Italian built Mini Cooper S, but a better car then the British Mini’s
– Carello Halogen headlights
– Brembo front disc brakes and Brembo servo unit.
– Wider rear track through wider drums
– Veglia dash with gauges running from left to right.
And in red with a black top.
All standard the above.
Came with Mille-Miglia rims
Scared the shit out of local BMW’s
Especially in the cornering department.
Wish I still had my 97 Honda Civic. Had it for almost two years and it was a great car. Never gave me any trouble except for a starter needing to be replaced at 110k miles. It was totaled after I was rear ended at a stop light and the guy didnt have any insurance. Even though it had some serious damage, it still ran. Honda makes some rock solid vehicles!
My 1993 B-13 SE-R. Sold it and then i felt like i just lost my dog. Replaced it with a 1994 Taurus SHO. Great engine although would have liked a little more torque and it handled like a wounded rhino. Finally replaced it with SR20VE powered Infinti G20. Finally solved my dilemma.
Cars I wish I still had…
1969 Mercedes 280SE
1979 Mustang 5.0L Ghia notch
1978 VW Scirocco 4-speed
1980 Ford Fiesta S
1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Cars I was glad to get rid of…
1978 Datsun 280Z 4-speed — Steering was way too heavy. Engine was very rough and used oil like crazy.
1986 Audi 5000S 5-speed — Gearing was way too low. FWD feel to the overall handling, more luxury sedan than sport sedan. Great seats.
Some other cars I was sorry to see go were my MK 4 Cortina 1.6 GL that was stolen from the war zone town I was living in after 18 months loyal sevice and my Zephyr 6 MK 4,68 AMC Javelin SS(Secretary’s Special 6 pot) Mk2 Granada(Dagenham made not Detroit) and my 64 Comet another sedan another Secretary’s Special.I’m a 6 maniac both straight and bent! 2 I wasn’t sorry to see the back of were my first car a 71 Vauxhall Victor that rusted away and my 75 Sunbeam Rapier which as well as mechanical and electrical problems rusted away.
1965 Cadillac Coupe DeVille…midnight blue with matching leather interior…the best riding and engineered GM product I ever owned..it truly was the “Standard of the World”….
80 Ford Fiesta Mk1
82 Ford Capri Mk3
90 Ford Sierra
92 Citroen XM
My 1989 Subaru GL-10 Turbo.
Such an uncommon, if not rare car around here and in general. Power suspension, locks, windows, moonroof, decent am/fm stereo, power steering, cruise, the works. Sure, it was a slushbox but I didn’t care.
My father somehow knew exactly what kind of car I’d want to drive (it was an unexpected gift to replace my first car ever, a 1985 VW Golf) and so he gave me the Subaru and my brother a red 1993 Mustang.
Neither car lasted too long but at least the Subaru was complete when it went to the junkyard. The Mustang was a mess due to a botched stereo installation.
My ’73 AMC Hornet hatchback, which handled quite well for the day (it got totalled in an accident), or my ’79 Audi 5000….I only had it a year before the infamous overheating problems forced a trade-in….
Not my car, but my parents bought a red ’86 Nissan Maxima wagon new and kept it for 15 years. I took my driver license test in that car. It was the family hauler, smooth, quick for its time, and a complete revelation compared to the Buicks we had. It was cool and it was a wagon, what else does one need?
Every dat I drive long distances I miss my ’88 Mercedes 200TD diesel station wagon, and every vacation trip my ’88 VW Caravelle (Bus) with the 2l Wasserboxer…
None.
I always enjoy taking a trip down Memory Lane. But I’ll let somebody else pay for the expense of living there.
Well…. I do have a weakness for certain classic Detroit muscle cars. Also, there’s that old 74 Chevy C10 I sold for $3000 a couple of weeks ago that had only 96k miles.
My wife and I wouldn’t have minded keeping that truck along with the old Mercedes turbodiesel for those numerous times when a movie company needed some old classic vehicles along with a few extras. Heck, we got paid over $300 a day plus free food for little more than watching people make movies. Not a bad way to spend a retirement if you ask me.
But as the late George Harrison was fond of saying, “All things shall pass”. I would rather see the thousands of vehicles I have bought and sold pass on to someone else who will love keeping them far more than yours truly.
Don’t get me wrong. I love cars. But part of loving inanimate objects involves understanding that there is a time when you should just let them go if the need is no longer there.
’91 Alfa Romeo 164L
This is tough for me to pick one. My 1995 Thunderbird was one that I regretted the second that I sold it; so it would have to be my first choice. This is especially true looking back because it’s a personal luxury coupe, which doesn’t really exist anymore from anyone. My 82 Honda Civic was also a car that missed when it was gone. Not because it was a great driver, but just because it was my first car, and because of how none are left around here. Number 3 is our 2001 Mustang. It was only a 3.8, but was in great shape, trouble free, and was paid for. The moment I sold it, and bought a new car marked the end of a debt-free period of my life.
Still wish I had my 95 Plymouth Voyager, but in reality it was falling apart from 15+ years in New York and there are more solid examples out there if I wanted another.
A kissing cousin to your t-bird: 1976 Mercury Cougar XR7. The color can best be described as chartreuse, with olive interior and landau roof. Beautiful, in an unconventional sense. Car really did have great lines, a more masculine take on the Ford Elite. I owned her from ’97 to ’99, traded her in on my first new car – a ’00 Jetta VR6. If I had a garage large enough to house the beast, I’d track her down.
My ’74 Capri 2.8 V6 with a manual. Seemed like a very troublesome car at the time, so I ditched it, but I wish now I’d been patient and just kept after the issues and kept the car.
my 1977 Peugeot 504(petrol/manual).beautifull&perfect machine.
Yep
From an era that the French looked at themselves and did not try to copy German cars.
Great ride, great roadholding and great engine.
All dipped in a Pininfarina sauce…………………….
yeah,i have kept that 504 for 25 years&ended up putting 500 thousand kilometers on it with just normal wear&tear that you can expect from any car.sold it with still stock engine only bkz I was moving out of country.i wish I could say the same about 504s in states but apparently that reliability did not exist in us models.?
I still have it I just wish I had a new engine for it, or it had 100k less miles, my 1987 Caprice Landau. I followed it up with three other similar cars and nothing compares in the long run, there is always something that it does better. The most laid back, comfortable car I ever drove.
That’s a pretty rare car. I find the halo vinyl top treatment very attractive on these.
My 1993 Honda Accord EX 5-speed wagon. Bought it from the original owners in 2001 with 101,000 miles and sold it in 2011 with 256,000. Loved that car until rust took over the subframe and I had to sell it. It still ran and drove like it was brand new, Plus a 5-speed Accord EX wagon was a pretty rare beast too…….man do I miss that burgundy cloth interior!!
1977 Buick Riviera. I used it as a daily driver from 2005-2007. Then I sold it and replaced it with a 2001 Tahoe.
The Buick was reliable, very quiet, very smooth and had a very smooth ride. I actually think that this B-body 77 Buick was both more quiet and had a smoother ride than my 1977 Coupe DeVille that I use as my daily driver now. Not sure if that’s correct. But the Cadillac does’nt absorb the small bumps and potholes very good.
As usual, late to the party. I think I miss a couple of cars greatly. One would be my 1987 Dodge Lancer ES Turbo. It had the turbo motor and the level 2 (the Mopar equivalent to FE3) suspension. It also had the awesome sport seats out of the Daytonas from that time period. Being a 5 door hatchback, it was an incredibly versatile car. Good power from the turbo with premium fuel, and excellent handling. Could have used rear discs, but I was happy with the car the way it was.
The other car I should have hung on to was our 2006 Malibu Maxx, which coincidentally is another mid sized hatchback. The ancient design pushrod V6 was stout, the bodystyle was incredibly versatile and ours being a gray metallic was virtually invisible to law enforcement. We leased one for three years, no major issues other than the intermediate steering shaft (which was resolved under warranty) and the usual Epsilon interior squeaks. Due to the way the old GM Smartleases were structured, it only made sense to give it back to GM when it was up…
The one car I did give up but got back was my 2004 Aztek Rally. We’d had a regular 2001 Aztek, which my wife chose and truly loved. I wasn’t crazy about them at first, but it eventually grew on me. When the 2004 Rally edition was announced, we were at the Pontiac dealer putting money down on one; we ended up with a Fusion Orange one. It was a POS. The 2001 had a few issues, but all resolved in the warranty period; the orange 04 cost GM money. Presciently, I bought a GMPP warranty on the car, I was glad; I used it a LOT!
This spring my 1995 Pontiac Sunfire GT developed a problem with it’s Isuzu transmission, I decided to bite the bullet and replace it with… a 2004 Rally! This one is in Liquid Silver, which was the color I wanted. It’s loaded with almost everything in the book, but the troublesome rear air suspension. If you can imagine a SUV version of the 1983 Pontiac 6000 STE, that’s this version of the Aztek. It has a few quirks for a car with 158,000 miles, but nothing I reckon I can’t figure out.
Of course, in a few months, I may be nostalgic for the Sunfire…
A man diving in for his third Aztec deserves a salute! Seriously, it is a great thing when a guy finds the car that makes him happy. Mopar C bodies made me happy, and I had several, and still want more. I wish you mega-success and happiness with your latest Aztec.
It would have to be the ’66 Alfa Giulia Sprint GT. Miss that car.
If Paul can have three, I want at least two – a silver ’73 BMW 2002 and a red ’65 Volvo 544. If I had to narrow it down to one it might have to be the Volvo, restored 2002’s being a little passe these days.
Both were bought second hand in student days, and succumbed after 2 or 3 years to east coast salt. I did manage to get about 30 000 miles out of each of them, and eventually drove the 2002 across Canada and south to California. The Volvo laboured through several Nova Scotia winters, and managed road trips to Quebec and Boston and one suspension-pounding dirt road rally.
The BMW was arguably closer to the ultimate driving experience (rolling two lane Prairie highways at 80 mph are a memory to be cherished), but it still can’t quite measure up in my affection to the growl of the B1800 coming out of a corner and the weirdly homely but unapologetic style of the 544. You couldn’t help but love it. In the language of sport, the BMW was possibly akin to a top-seeded tennis player. The Volvo was without a doubt a hockey player, and probably a dirty one at that.
The upside of the rapidly-dissolving-car phenomenon of the 1970’s was that it put mechanically sound and relatively exotic cars within the reach of your average university student of the day. Just don’t put anything heavy in the trunk, OK?
A few-
1990 Mercedes 250D- the best car I have ever owned, hands down. I got rid of it when diesel went from 90p per litre to nearly £1.50 and seemed to only keep climbing. I was doing a 120 mile commute to London. I liked it so much that now I drive a 1990 190E. 1988-1993 were the best years for Mercedes, from that brief window when they didn’t rust like mad, and were built like no other car in the world.
My first car- ’65 Corvair. I wish I still had it. I paid $1432.00 from a sleazy used car dealer, it was a back row car but only had 40K one-owner miles on it, and looked as-new. I swapped it on a ’78 Eldorado, probably the worst of many bad vehicle transactions I’ve ever made.
The car that would have made me rich was a 100% rust free ’74 Duster from Colorado I owned in 1995. I paid $400 for it and sold it a year later for $800 thinking I made a good deal. I could add another 0 if I held off a bit longer. The interior was toasted (literally) thanks to Chrysler’s EZ-split vinyl, and it had a few mechanical issues that now I know I could have sorted easily, but at 18, I just didn’t know what I was doing and it seemed the end of the world.
Here is my dream C Body.
Very nice.
That is a really cool car, not often you see one customized like that. I love it!