What was your first car? What was the best car you owned? What's your dream car?

First car was a '59 BMW Isetta. Isetta was an Italian refrigerator manufacturer, thus the door which opened in the front of the car. BMW single 300cc cylinder engine. Two wide spaced 10" tires in the front and two about 2 feet apart in the rear which made some believe it was a three wheeler like the Messerschmidt. It wasn't.

Second car was a '36 Oldsmobile coupe. Straight 8 engine, 3 speed manual trans. It was 24 years old when I bought it, and looked brand new. Really a very nice car. Wish I had it today in that condition.

Best car I ever owned was a '71 BMW 2800 CS, coachwork by Karmann. Straight 6 carbureted engine producing 190 hp. Cruise speed and redline were the same--124 mph with the A/C on.The last beautiful BMW.

The first and maybe the all-time prettiest BMW was the mid-50s 507. Never owned one, but that's the only car I ever dreamed of owning. The worst looking BMWs are the Chris Bangle designs (late 90s to about 2010). Horrid styling. They aren't much better now with his understudy (can't remember his name).

After that a succession of BMW, Audi and MB. All like fat, tarted up, divorced bar flies with oversized asses out to decimate your paycheck. Nothing I would ever dream of owning again.

Most used vehicles in my garage are two BMW motorcycles. I don't own a car. If I need one, I rent one that matches my mood or the occasion.

rj
 
My first driveable car was a 1969 MGB GT 3.5 V8 with the original chromework, not the horrible, ugly later plastic overriders the US insisted on, and Moto-lita wood-rimmed steering wheel. My best, and still everyday drive, is my 1959 AC Ace Bristol Roadster. Dream car is a Mercedes-McLaren SLR or an Ascari KZ1, or, if we're going to be totally unrealistic, Koenigsegg Agera R, or even a Pagani Zonda.
 
Just saw my dream car at the Concours this morning, a 1971 MB 280 SE convertible, metallic moss green with cognac leather. Gorgeous.
 
My first car was a Honda Civic. It's not the best car, but it was with my own hard earned money. It looked exactly like this:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/CVC2012aaa.jpg


Currently I own a metallic grey M3 from BMW, and obviously the best car I've driven. Same colour as below but with a small, ugly scratch on its side.

http://www.bmw.co.za/products/automobiles/m/m3sedan/images/safety.jpg


I have a thing for sports cars, so if I ever have enough money to expand our garage, I'd want a Aventador.

http://2p2bboli8d61fqhjiqzb8p1a.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lamborghini_aventador_black.jpg

Looks more like the bat-car, but it drives like a dream. My friend has a slightly different model, but it was captivating nonetheless. I really wish I could get my filthy hands on one of these babies.

*sighs*
 
First car: 65 mustang.

best car was a '78 Chevy Monza 2+2 that I put a screaming 327 from a wrecked Stingray into. Car carried the front wheels through 3 gears.

Dream car is a tie. Any year Stingray, or an LS6 Chevelle SS
 
My first car was a Ford Prefect like Ogg's. Although I think that Ogg must have had a slow one; I'm pretty sure that mine would top 50 mph. Maybe that was just going down a steep hill.

My 'best' car was a BMW M3 Cabriolet.

And my 'dream' car? Well, since the chaps in white coats took away my driving licence, a dream is all that it is.
 
My best, and still everyday drive, is my 1959 AC Ace Bristol Roadster.

That's a pretty rare car for an everyday driver. Great car, though. The Bristol engine has a beautiful exhaust note, something the British have always excelled at in cars and motorcycles. That and the deepest, most gorgeous chrome work anywhere.

One of my most cherished possessions is a recording of motorcycle exhaust sounds, narrated by Peter Ustinov, at the '59 Isle of Man TT. I think I could integrate that into a Lit Text with Audio story. The Norton Manx exhaust on that tape gets me off every time.:)

rj
 
My first car was a Ford Prefect like Ogg's. Although I think that Ogg must have had a slow one; I'm pretty sure that mine would top 50 mph. Maybe that was just going down a steep hill.

...

The Ford Prefect would do nearly 60 mph but the transverse cart springs, the mechanical brakes and the oversensitive steering made that speed dangerous on anything but a perfect road surface. A small bump would throw the car off course and correcting the swerve took careful movement of the steering wheel.
 
Last edited:
That's a pretty rare car for an everyday driver. Great car, though. The Bristol engine has a beautiful exhaust note, something the British have always excelled at in cars and motorcycles. That and the deepest, most gorgeous chrome work anywhere.

One of my most cherished possessions is a recording of motorcycle exhaust sounds, narrated by Peter Ustinov, at the '59 Isle of Man TT. I think I could integrate that into a Lit Text with Audio story. The Norton Manx exhaust on that tape gets me off every time.:)

rj

AC put it together with the Bristol 2,5L to win races and be driven hard, so that's what I do with her; the Ace was designed to be driven, not stared at or locked away in car-vaults and treated like rare porcelain; she was designed to compete in the most arduous race in the world at the time, the Le Man's 24-hour, and in 1959, the Ace won, which shows they got it right.

If I put her up against a modern Civic-VR or Mitsubishi Evo-8 it would look like she was going backwards; with a 0-60 time of 9 seconds she's not exactly quick off the mark, but in her day, it was about endurance, not straight-line acceleration. I still occasionally race her, in a Historic British Touring Car series, in Category 2 competition, along with all the other Bristol 603's and David Brown Specials, and the occasional hill-climb, but mostly she's my summer ride, as the soft-top is a complete afterthought and doesn't really work.

We have 11 'classic' cars altogether, in varying stages of rusty death, some are salvageable, some require CPR but may pull through, and some need to be taken into a field and beaten with a big stick until they stop squirming.
 
First car was a 1970 Ford F-100. It had the 302 and was very underpowered but we worked it hard. It was fun to go rabbiting in and no one got killed in the process so that's a plus.

Best was a 1997 ford F-150. Put over 200,000 miles on it before it finally stripped out the transmission while hauling a tractor to an auction. I got $1000.00 for it and now drive a 2011 Ford F-250 that rides like shocks haven't been invented yet.

My wife owns a Kia van. I spend a lot of my spare time putting the damned thing back together again. The drive train seems fine but everything else just kinda falls apart. Could be the rough roads we drive on but my pickups don't fall apart like that. And we only go about two months between having to replace headlights on it. At $68.00 a piece that is really my worst gripe about the van.
 
First car was a 1956 VW Bug. I paid more for a set of recap tires for it than I paid for the car.

My first car was an early 60s VW beetle with right-hand drive, which I bought (with a friend) in England in 1975, I think. I can't remember what we paid for it, but I'm told that it's worth thousands and thousands of dollars now.

I got an MG-B convertible when I moved back to the States. What a fun little car to drive! But I had trouble getting it serviced properly, so I traded it for a Chevette or something like that.
 
My first was a used 1959 DeSoto that I was more or less forced to buy. I drove it two years and hated every minute of it. Traded it in on a new 1962 Chrysler 300. Great car.

My favorite was a 1964, 4 speed, Tri Power, GTO that I ordered from the factory just exactly like I wanted it down to the steering wheel, wheel covers and exhaust extensions. Dynamite little car that was one of the fastest on the road.

Best car was a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis. I drove it four years and never had a minutes trouble with it. I traded it in on a 1990 Lincoln Town Car that I drove 16 years--also a good car.

I love cars and love to drive. I was fortunate to be a salesman for most of my life and spent much of my time driving.
 
My first was a used 1959 DeSoto that I was more or less forced to buy. I drove it two years and hated every minute of it. Traded it in on a new 1962 Chrysler 300. Great car.

My favorite was a 1964, 4 speed, Tri Power, GTO that I ordered from the factory just exactly like I wanted it down to the steering wheel, wheel covers and exhaust extensions. Dynamite little car that was one of the fastest on the road.

Best car was a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis. I drove it four years and never had a minutes trouble with it. I traded it in on a 1990 Lincoln Town Car that I drove 16 years--also a good car.

I love cars and love to drive. I was fortunate to be a salesman for most of my life and spent much of my time driving.
Teach!!! :kiss: :rose:

Sorry, carry on. :D
 
First car was a 1987 Dodge Shadow. The stereo I put in it was by far the best thing about the car.

Best car I've owned was a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 'Aztec Blue,' it is such a great drive and the color made me smile every time I saw it. I used to blast ELO's Mr. Blue Sky every time I sat in it. I still drive a Santa Fe because I love them, but not this one, unfortunately.

Dream Car. That's easy, an Opel Speedster. I love love love that car. 2nd place would be a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500.....
 
The best car that I ever owned was a 1957 Porsche Speedster with a VERY non-stock Type 4 VW engine in the back. The car was quick and handled unbelievably well (non-stock suspension as well.) I was forced to sell the car, after threats made against me by the highway patrol scumbags.
 
Sure, we do, Hypoxia.
I bet it was blue.
The current cars are blue. Baby Blue (old Nissan Murano SUV) and Big Blue (older Ford Exploder 4x4). The first (1970) was a caca-brown 1962 Pontiac Tempest coupe with a 4-cylinder rear engine on a 2-speed transaxle, the 2 speeds being Slow and Slower. Total POS.

The dream... maybe a Tesla 4x4 SUV. No, actually the dream would be an updated Air & Soace Model 18A Flymobil VTOL autogyro. I may include that in upcoming stories.
 
My first car was a 1962 Buick Special four-door like this one but in a color my Dad referred to as "nipple pink." Hey, at sixteen any car was a car even if it did look like something my grandmother would drive. :rolleyes:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/18/3b/9d/183b9d6766c1c73e5ee56e5eeda6bb2b.jpg

My favorite/best car was a toss up between the one I bought myself as a college graduation present...a 1977 Lincoln Mark V (but with a moonroof) and the 1976 Cadillac Superior hearse. (don't laugh, I've also owned a 1972 Gremlin and a 1976 Pacer :eek: )

http://www.auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/AF15/AF15_r0075_18.jpg http://www.nightcoaster.com/hearse/hearse2.jpg

I've already owned both my dream cars and are still the ones on my dream list to own again. A 1970 Pontiac GTO convertible I bought as a high school graduation present for myself and a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SL roadster. (a guy in a five-ton dually flatbed decided I didn't want the GTO anymore and Hurricane Ivan took out the MBZ and its sister 1973 450SLC coupe. :( )

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1916114_1067067292273_5154048_n.jpg?oh=264bbc2976fe95a73138fc29118eb2ce&oe=56BD5823 http://momentcar.com/images600_/1975-450sl-1.jpg

All of them make my current 2004 Dodge Intrepid look so boring. :rolleyes:

.
 
Last edited:
I would have loved a hearse! But, alas, I only owned regular cars...

'66 Chevy Nova II
'46 Ford Coupe
'70 Plymouth Road Runner
'69 Plymouth Fury
'72 Plymouth Fury III
'76 Chevy Vega
'69 Chevy El Camino
'70 Ford Maverick
'86 Ford Thunderbird
'90 Ford Explorer
'89 Pontiac 6000
'00 Chevy Monte Carlo

I'm almost sure I have forgotten one or two.
 
I would have loved a hearse! But, alas, I only owned regular cars...

'66 Chevy Nova II
'46 Ford Coupe
'70 Plymouth Road Runner
'69 Plymouth Fury
'72 Plymouth Fury III
'76 Chevy Vega
'69 Chevy El Camino
'70 Ford Maverick
'86 Ford Thunderbird
'90 Ford Explorer
'89 Pontiac 6000
'00 Chevy Monte Carlo

I'm almost sure I have forgotten one or two.

The car that rusted in the showrooms! :D

I might be snickering at that Zeb, but I'd kill for one of these, though...

http://www.v8monza.com/album/images/vega-wagon/v-wagon-yr-orng-NCDrew-315.jpg

:cool:

And owning a hearse is a riot...until you figure out they get eight miles per gallon on their GOOD days. :eek:

.
 
Last edited:
The first car I drove was my dad's 67 Mustang.
The car I learned to do a stick shift on was a few years earlier in his '59 MGA.
The first car I owned was a brand new 74 Chevy Vega hatchback. I had just gotten out of the Army and paid cash. I had it narrowed down to two cars and a 3d possibility. There was a used '69 Chevy Camaro Rally Sport, the Vega and possibly a new, but totally base 3-on-the-column Chevy Nova. They all cost about the same.

My Dad talked me into the Vega, with the Aluminium engine. The engine ate itself within 3 years. I hated that car. I always think that if I had gotten the Camaro I would still have it. Maybe, maybe not. But it would have run for a lot longer.

The best car I had. It's a toss up. Either the '74 Mazda RX-7 or the 95 Dodge Dakota pickup. The RX handled fairly well, and parked easily, it was fun to drive, but it wasn't the easiest transmission to shift, long throw and it felt really heavy duty. Also I thought the first gear was too low and the difference between first and second was too great. But with that little 12a wankel engine there wasn't a lot of torgue so the low 1st gear made sense. it was really stable at higher speeds. I got it up to a hundred and maybe a little more several times and it just seemed to squat down and hug the road the faster I got. The down side was my ex got into several fender benders with it, so it got dinged up pretty quickly. And she insisted that she drive it, so much that I rarely got to use it so I could hardly call it 'mine." But it was fun.

The Dakota was good. The shifting was OK for a truck. The bed was always just a bit tilted off level, hard to see if you didn't look for it. It had the mini back seat that once held two full sized adults in addition to the two us in the front buckets. It held up for over 120,000 miles when I sold it/traded it. I know the guy who has it now and it still runs like a top. The only major repairs it had was a new water pump, and a new reservoir for the windshield wiper fluid. It's still on the original clutch. It drove like a pickup, but the stiff suspension let me feel the road and it was very useful to have.

My dream car: There's a list.

E-type jag.
XK-150 Jag.
Late model Aston Martin DB9 or DBS, V-12 Vantage ...
An old AMC AMX with the big block.
Studebaker "Golden Hawk" either the 56 with the big Packard engine, or the later smaller Studebaker engine with the supercharger would be fine.
'57 Chevy Nomad
67 Shelby Mustang fastback
Cobra 427 SC
Hemi 'Cuda
'69 - '70 Dodge Charger Daytona with a hemi.
TR3
MGA
VW Thing
'67 Olds 442
CJ-7 Jeep
TR Spitfire
TR GT-6+
etc
etc
etc
 
Last edited:
Best car is my piece of shit 2001 Hyundai Elantra.

Back in high school I wanted a 1969 Trans AM or GTO Judge.

If I had the money to burn I'd build a custom 1955 Chevy.
 
Back
Top