My first thought is a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air. Classic great-looking Detroit iron, with a Chevy small-block V8. That engine was introduced in 1955, and by 1957, they had worked out the kinks.
But then I thought about a 1968 Austin Mini Cooper. I’ve driven one (that would have been about 1974, certainly not recently), and what a blast it was to drive! Great for getting around town, easy on gas, and did I mention what a blast it was to drive?
Yeah, the only trouble with those was that the grill was metal and would get dinged up over time and have to be beaten out or replaced. Also people would steal the hood ornament if it was left outside.
1976 Porsche 911 Targa. I’m not a fan of Targas, as I prefer coupés. I prefer the fender flares of the 911SC (and Carrera), and the '76 911s had ‘something’ wrong with their engines (timing chain?) that makes them a little suspect. But my 911SC was the most fun car I’ve ever owned. I would enjoy a '76. And if I don’t have the flares, then I may as well go for the Targa.
I’ve never driven a 69, but a friend of mine had a 67 RS/SS. Even with just a 350 that we had worked over, that car was a beast. 140 mph or so in no time. It handled well, but if you broke the back end loose, you’d better have it pointed where you wanted the car to go when it grabbed again.
Thought about buying an old Cooper more than once. The only thing that really kept me from it is that I couldn’t imagine driving one on the freeway in the US.
Good point, and I thought about that. But though my city has a couple of expressways, they would never be mistaken for a freeway. I’m thinking more of the Mini as an urban daily driver, shuttling me around my little city, in which I can get from one side of town to the other in 15 to 20 minutes, depending on whether I get the lights. The Mini would be perfect for that.
I’d still like one. I figure that if I need to take the freeway for destinations a few hours (or more) away, I could rent something a bigger and more modern.
IIRC, the ‘76 911 engines’ biggest weakness was the magnesium cases. They were prone to leaking and the studs pulling. That being said, earlier 911 models drive so differently from SCs, and even more differently than mid-'80s Carreras. There’s a lightness to them that’s just so fun to flick them around corners. I just wouldn’t want to be the one holding the pink slip when it came time to rebuild the engine!
Daily driver?
Are we allowed to supplement it with a “special use” car (i.e - My current daily driver is a Mazda Demio / Mazda 1) but it is supplmented with a Ford Territory for towing / travelling etc
Hehe, I had a customer with a 70-72 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser with a Rocket 455 in it. It wouldn’t beat my Ranchero with a hopped up 351 in it, but it moved quite nicely.
Very nice! I seem to recall Rick Harrison on “Pawn Stars” remarking that VW microbuses with the roof windows above the regular windows were worth a lot more than later models without.
Now, the real question: would you paint it chartreuse and put sixteen long-haired Friends of Jesus in it?
A 1967 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow – one of the most elegant car designs every produced. The previous generation was pretty cool, too, but looking quite dated by now. The new ones are positively ugly, IMHO.
My second choice (yes, I’m weird) would be an MCI highway bus. Man, one of those beauties would make a great camper – or even a mobile home! (I’d have to upgrade my license with an air brake endorsement.)
Hey, why not? An air brake endorsement is easy; all you need to know is that Westinghouse safety brakes (air brakes) are the opposite of hydraulic brakes, and you should be golden. PM me if you want more info.
Why yes, I did once own a CDL, with an air brake endorsement. I gave up my CDL once it became apparent that I’d no longer be driving truck. Back to a regular driver’s license for me, though in a jam, I’d suggest that I can get your semi out of it. Still remember my temps, pressures, shift patterns, etc.