Like I said in my other thread, I’m an enthusiast and a perennial car shopper. So I’ve always got my eye out for something interesting in the used car market.
There are exotic cars I wish I’d had the chance to own and drive and those include the Jaguar E-type coupe 4.2 with that beautiful hatch line, the late 60’s and early 70’s classic MB 280 SE coupe, and of course who doesn’t love the iconic Porsche 911/964 coupe.
…and that’s just my short list.
Realistically, I only have enough garage space and disposable funds for just one “weekend” car and that space is now filled with a very small, very fun C55 MB AMG that I picked up some years ago with very low mileage and in pristine condition.
But I think that one day, when the stars are right, I just might trade the C55 for that right 964 (prices are through the roof now) or maybe an XKR or, dare I hope, a Maserati GT coupe. Something lightly used but still beautiful to look at and drive and enjoy for years to come.
So how do/would you get freaky when driving on the weekend? I’m making it my business.
Growing up, a business partner of my dad had a 70s E-Type I’d get to drive occasionally. Quite a thrill for a teen but I’d likely appreciate it even more now.
I had an MB 560 SL in my 40s. Ain’t nuthin’ like the sound of that big engine when you put a bit of a load on it on an empty Texas highway.
The 964 is a kick in the pants to drive, especially since it doesn’t have the PSM and other features Porsche has added since to counter the lift-off oversteer issues you get cornering at speed. A good friend has 9 models including the 964, here we are in a PCA DE running 1 and 2.
My current want is a GT3 RS, probably around 2000 or so if we’re talking anywhere close to affordable. Gawd, I love to watch these run. Also, it’s been my dream since I was 16 to someday have the 1969 GTO my dad wouldn’t let me have in H.S. I’ve had many a dream over the years about that car.
Very cool. And I’d be happy with the normally aspirated engine. In a perfect world, make mine the Panorama roof model.
The 1999-2004 models (not the GT’s) can be had for little more than a song with very low miles and all the comforts of a modern car. But the front is flinch back ugly because of the lights and I just can’t pull the trigger on it. Though the 2005-7’s are coming into $ range. So…
Triumph TR4a. A friend in college had one and I worked on it for him a lot. It was not the best small sports car in anything (any category) but it may have been the most fun to drive and far and away the easiest to work on.
A Ford RS200. I don’t have the bank account for the maintenance, much less the car. You get something like 100 hours between engine rebuilds. But holy hell, it will do an 11.4 sec 1/4 mile, and stop and turn like a beast. At heart, I’m still 15 when it comes to cars, and I always wanted one of those monsters.
On the slightly more sane side, a Porsche 959 would get me pretty close to the insanity of the Ford (11.9 sec 1/4 mile, much higher top speed), while still being completely unattainable.
I think it depends on my mood. For years I’ve wanted a flat-fender Power Wagon, and even found one for sale in the early 2000’s when I had no money and was living in an apartment. Today, being a college student with two gradeschool-age children, I deliberatly avoid even thinking about finding such a gem.
Of course, if I had unlimited funds and the gods were smiling on me, I would try to find an original Lancia Stratos (as if that was surprising to anyone sentient ).
Reminded me of a recent episonde of Top Gear where Stig drove it around the track. I think it posted the slowest time ever recorded because he could not make it corner without swapping ends.
It looked like the most fun you could ever have behind the wheel.
I also keep my eyes open for a few different used models. Maybe I’ll even get around to buying something one of these days. In no particular order, I’m fond of…
1983 Olds Hurst - Lighting rod shifter is bad ass. T-tops a must.
1985 Buick Grand National - Another sweet G body but typically at a higher cost than the Hurst. Heard Buick is reviving the GN.
IROC Z28 and similarly Trans AM GTA - 1989 the best year for both, 5 speed preferred even though it was paired with the 305 instead of the 350.
There are a bunch of course, but the one that sticks out, because it’s not in the same class as the others, is a Contour SVT.
I’ve seriously considered getting one at least 4 times, from when they were new till about 3 years ago. I’m not sure exactly why, but I love the idea of the car, and the car itself.
