Via email, Reader Jim L. took issue with me on this post (Tinkering With A Dream), saying, “That’s an easy way out. Almost ALL old cars would be great with modern technology. Which old car would you choose if you COULDN’T put in modern tech?”
Okay, challenge accepted. Just to make things more difficult for myself, I’ve excluded the original E-type, Dino and Merc 300 from the choices because even in their original offerings, they would occupy the top three slots anyway. Also, I’ve included reliability and (reasonably-) low maintenance in the criteria (so bye-bye to Alfa, Fiat, Lancia etc.). But above all, the cars have to have charm, beauty and charisma.
Assuming then that the car was in its contemporaneous showroom condition, here are my Top 6 Old Dream Cars:
1958 BMW 507
No need to add or subtract anything. The only reason that BMW didn’t flood the market with these exquisite cars is because of its exorbitant price ($98k in 2020 dollars); but by modern standards, it would be a bargain. Today, even a clapped-out old 507 will fetch well over a million spondulicks (which says it all, really). It was, and is, one of the most beautiful sports cars ever made, and it’s noteworthy that the few secondhand models still around have very high mileage on the tach.
1956 Citroën Traction Avant 15/H
The pre-war models were admittedly underpowered (not for the time, though), but by the late 1950s its 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine was tops. (The “H” in the description denotes that the car was fitted with Citroën’s hydro-pneumatic suspension, which made it the most comfortable ride back then, and maybe still even by today’s standards.) The TA was and still is wonderfully reliable, and in this old Frog limo I’d tour the country — any country — without a qualm.
1967 Monteverdi High Speed 375
Let’s see: Swiss steel and manufacturing, Italian styling and an American engine (to be specific, Chrysler’s honking big-block 7.2-liter V8 putting out 375hp). Find fault with any of those, I dare ya — and the combination was (and is) irresistible. The only thing I don’t like about the Monteverdi is that it came only with automatic transmission — but in a tourer, that’s not too much of a compromise, really.
1969 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3
More power than anyone would ever need off a racetrack (yes, a 6.3-liter engine with serious grunt), matchless reliability (built back in the day when engineering was Job #1 at Mercedes), and classic good looks. The 6.3 actually created the “high performance” category of large luxury cars, and it took most other manufacturers nearly a decade to catch up properly.
1965 Mercedes 230 SL
Okay, this one’s as much for New Wife as for me, but I’d still take one for myself in a heartbeat. It’s not a performance car by any definition, but it’s quick enough, and comfortable enough, and reliable in spades. And lest we forget, it looks classy and elegant.
1963 Porsche 356 C Carrera 2
The last of the 356 line before being replaced by the 911, this one had Porsche’s 2-liter flat-four engine. What it also had (and has) is wonderful reliability and driving pleasure. What it doesn’t have (or need) is power anything, electronics and all the modern and mostly unnecessary crap that makes my nose twitch.
So there you have it: six old cars, unaltered, out of the box, no changes necessary. I would take all of them, in a heartbeat, and if forced to take only one, I’d roll the die and be perfectly satisfied with whichever number came up.
re — ’67 Monteverdi
.
I owned two vehicles with a 440 engine:
* mid-1970s Chrysler Imperial New Yorker LeBaron (and probably a half-dozen additional names to secure that coveted ‘longest’ title…) sedan (allegedly the longest production car outside of a limo)
* a mid-1970s motorhome.
Each had your three-speed automatic.
Each gulped at a reliable six miles per gallon (6mpg) irregardless of acceleration or velocity.
.
‘Floor the four-barrel, flip silver dollars down the intake.’
Going from memory of the cars I dreamed of as a child:
– Citroen XM *
– Volvo 480
– BMW M3 (E30 line)
– Jaguar E-type
– Lamborghini Countach *
– Rover 100
* at the time I had no idea how incredibly poor those were technically, I just thought they looked cool
Of all those only the E-type and the M3 have aged well, except for the hardcore Lambo collectors.
The ” Traction ” for me.
I had the opportunity to drive my uncle TA in the 60 an it was great fun.
Also because the way people looked a it due to the model “history ” having bee used by the Gestapo during the ocupation, the Résistance after that and finaly by several gangs after the war ( see “le Gang des Traction Avant ” )
Now that’s a ” Bad Girl / Car ” réputation.
Minor clarification needed on The last choice you selected. Because you added the Carrera 2 designation to the 356 C Cab you selected that makes it one of the 30 356C Cabriolets produced with the Fuhrmann designed 4 cam roller crank engine. Not just a 2 liter 4 cylinder, it was the most technically advanced race engine of it time. The same engine was that was used for the 904. The most recent C2 to change hands (a coupe and not a cab) sold for a little over $1/2 dollars. The cabs go for $ 1 million. It needs to be carefully warmed up so as not to damage the powerful yet very finicky engine that was built more like a swiss watch with a million little parts. ….and not exactly low Maintenace. If you need engine work done there’s a shop in Montanna that is pretty much the only place to have it done.
Now I REALLY want one.
Well I’m going to open myself up to all sorts of ridicule here, but we old guys have lived long enough to have strange opinions.
I’ll keep things very simple and go for a 65 Mustang coupe. I remember going to the Ford dealer (Filth and Greed Motors) with my dad to look at them back in 65. I was an impressionable 13 years old and like all first loves I’ve never quite gotten over that car. I don’t want the high performance options – just a basic 6 cylinder stick shift with an air conditioner if I can find one. Those old Fords run forever because there’s nothing there to break. An old low performance car would be a fun and harmless toy for this old low performance guy – and I’ll bet that there are some grannies who would enjoy a ride.
There are a lot of those fine old 1950’s era cars that would be great to own, lots of value in Kim’s selection however for my use at my age there are a few old small sports car I would like to have in my garage. I guess these would be called ‘Cars of My Youth’, two of them I owned and the 3rd, the MG T-series a neighbor of mine had and I always liked that little car. The two I would chose would be the 1958 Austin Healy ‘Bug Eye’ Sprite, my first car when I was in high school. Not a real fast car but nimble on the corners and damn easy to repair. The last I would add would be the 1958 TR3-A, another fun car with a bit of a classic look and fairly easy to maintain, not the safest cars but lots of fun for enjoying sunshine and fresh air. Real Sports Cars with side curtains for windows and a fussy electrical system.
My list in no particular order:
* 1965 Porsche 356 SC Coupe because of 4 wheel disk brakes and the stronger 95hp engine
* 1967 Mustang GT500
* 1981 DMC-12
*1966 Pontiac Tri-power GTO
*1969 Corvette Stingray L88 Convertible
Only one:
If I was still single, it would have to be the 507, but now that I’m married, the T/A it is!
If I could have two:
the Merc 6.3, and the Monteverdi: High Speed Style!
Dodge Power Wagon pre 1957. I’d just like the stereo upgraded so I can listen to my music from an ipod or cell phone while I’m running around.
JQ
I would echo JQ. I courted my wife in Vietnam nan Army 3/4 ton truck, basically a Dodge Power Wagon. Also a Vietnam memory; I was trying to get back to Long Binh from Saigon after a date with said woman, an was picked up by a Frenchman and his Vietnamese wife in the Citroen Traction. Felt like I was in a limo. He took me all the way to my gate into the base. Then I found out he was going to Di an (pronounced Xian) He basically had to backtrack at least 15 miles to get to his turn off. I wish I had said “thank you” even more than I did.
The big state fair in the region had a Dodge Power Wagon on display that was still used for forest fires. It was absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know what year it was made but it was in exceptional shape. I drooled near each year for quite a while. The last time I was up there, it had been replaced with a new Power Wagon that did not have the same style as the old one.
JQ
One of my sisters had a boyfriend with a Traction. Remember that the front doors were hinged at the back. Every time the car hit a good bump, the door came open.
I would take a Porsche G Model in a heartbeat. Perhaps not the 930 Turbo. Learning to dance on the pedals wasn’t easy for me but that’s the only way to drive. I never drove a 944 Turbo but after reading the driving experience that “Greasy Fingers” YouTube channel owner had… he said that it drove circles around the contemporary 911, which had also had the pleasure to own. I would give a lot to drive the pre-ground effect Porsche GT3 around the Nordschleife, with a sequential gearbox natch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoRAxHNZ5Pk&t=445s
Might I suggest the Jensen-Healy as a sort of poor man’s Monteverdi.