As I put my “Which Car?” blog together recently, I hit a snafu. As much as I love me a new car (like most of you) my heart often belongs to an older, previous generation car or one that has long been extinguished by its maker.
To put it simply: If I were to win a sizeable chunk of change, I’d buy an incalculable amount of cars, old cars, new cars, lots of ‘em.
You’ll have read words like these many times, but older automobiles have a different character, a level of innocence and a degree of simplicity that will never again be found in mass-produced cars. Ask anyone who owns one.
My heart currently belongs to my 1992 Volkswagen Jetta GTX and 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX Spec R1 wagon. Although neither is excessively old, the most modern of features my cars have are ABS brakes (on the WRX only) and cruise control (yes, even on the Jetta…). The remainder of the man-machine interface resides between the man and the machine -- as it should.
Now about the money; I joke with my wife about having cars and car parts all over the front lawn, but it would happen. We’d have to sell the house in the city, buy a plot of land in the country and build a modest 2,000 sq-ft home and a less-than-modest 12,500+ sq-ft garage. In it would be lifts, tools, parts, and work stations. Why?
Because I love old cars, that’s why.
I’m going to try and stick to the category/type descriptions I used for the new cars, but I make no promises:
I invite you to share with us which cars you would get, and in what category, in the comments section below.
To put it simply: If I were to win a sizeable chunk of change, I’d buy an incalculable amount of cars, old cars, new cars, lots of ‘em.
You’ll have read words like these many times, but older automobiles have a different character, a level of innocence and a degree of simplicity that will never again be found in mass-produced cars. Ask anyone who owns one.
My heart currently belongs to my 1992 Volkswagen Jetta GTX and 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX Spec R1 wagon. Although neither is excessively old, the most modern of features my cars have are ABS brakes (on the WRX only) and cruise control (yes, even on the Jetta…). The remainder of the man-machine interface resides between the man and the machine -- as it should.
Now about the money; I joke with my wife about having cars and car parts all over the front lawn, but it would happen. We’d have to sell the house in the city, buy a plot of land in the country and build a modest 2,000 sq-ft home and a less-than-modest 12,500+ sq-ft garage. In it would be lifts, tools, parts, and work stations. Why?
Because I love old cars, that’s why.
I’m going to try and stick to the category/type descriptions I used for the new cars, but I make no promises:
- 1 car: Impossible. Well, I would settle for a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T…
- Convertible: 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata / 1962 Austin- Healey 3000 MKII
- Performance sedan: 1988 BMW M5 / 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS
- Performance coupe: 1986 BMW M6 / 1974 Volkswagen Scirocco
- Pocket rocket: 1990 BMW M3 / 1965 Barracuda Formula S
- Crossover: None old enough…
- Pickup: 1955 Chevrolet Pickup / 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
- Performance SUV: 1992 GMC Typhoon / 2002 BMW X5 4.6is
- Luxury sedan: 1990 BMW 750i / 1963 Cadillac DeVille
- Exotic: 1982 Lamborghini Countach LP500 S / 1976 Porsche 911 Turbo
- Hot hatch: 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI / 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale EVO
- SUV: 1981 Jeep Grand Wagoneer / 1971 International Scout II
- Wagon: So tough… 1977 Ford Country Squire / 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (Any Vista Cruiser) / 1966 Volvo Amazon / 1989 Buick Electra Estate / 1966 Dodge Polara 880 station wagon / 1977 AMC Matador station wagon / 1984 Mercedes Benz 300TD Wagon / 1995 BMW 530i station wagon / and so on and so on…
- Oddity: 1960 Volkswagen Type II Bus / 1965 MGB GT
- Hybrid: Doesn’t apply
- Micro car: 1962 BMW Isetta / 1955 Volkswagen Beetle
- EV: No such thing…
I invite you to share with us which cars you would get, and in what category, in the comments section below.
 |
| Photo: Ford |