…that I’d like to own. But only under the following Terms & Conditions.
Ever wish that you could get an old British car, but manufactured with modern processes like proper (i.e. non-Lucas) electrical wiring, proper (i.e. non-British Leyland) corrosion resistance and so on? In other words, get a car that wouldn’t rust to shreds after the first rainstorm and whose lights, radio and windshield wipers could operate simultaneously?
My, how those choices would open up. Yes, I know: E-type, Lotus Esprit, XK120, etc. etc. But everyone knows those cars, everyone would love to have one, and so on. What about those that aren’t as well known?
Here are my Top 6 in this category (in no specific order) and as a bonus, in each title there’s a link to see why it’s there. [warning: watching all the videos makes this post a very long read, but it’s the weekend, FFS]
Lotus Carlton
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Rover 3500 SD1
(Of all these cars, the 3500 would be the one most in need of modernized manufacturing, as the linked video will explain. But I need a larger car, and this one fits the bill admirably.)
Austin Mini-Cooper 1275 S
(Best comment is in the above: “Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, James Garner… these guys all knew cars, and they could drive anything they wanted. All three drove a Mini.” ) I’m not as famous, and I don’t know as much about cars; but I too would drive a Mini: this Mini. Right now, if I could.
Triumph TR4A
By the way, you can see the TR4 and two other of my favorites of the era, the MGB GT and the Austin Healey 3000, here.
Finally, my last choice is an interesting one. And it’s ugly.
Daimler SP250
I actually know the SP250 reasonable well, because back when Longtime Friend Knob was still Drummer Knob, this was the car he owned when first I met him. And he could actually fit his drum kit in the thing, as long as he didn’t want to carry a groupie his girlfriend as well.
As ugly as that car was, though, I loved it — most of all because of that fantastic 2.5-liter V8 Daimler engine, which sounded wonderful and had enough torque to pull a house off its foundations.
But exercising my prerogative (because once again, it’s my list), I would want a Daimler that wouldn’t make me think of a surprised cod each time I walked into the garage. Step forward, the later 1967 Daimler SP252 with its Vignale-styled body:
Same engine (as reworked by Jay Leno), same everything except a beautiful body.
I’m sorry, but that SP252 makes my heart go all squonky, like if I were to find Diana Rigg in its passenger seat.
If only…
WANT, TIMES 6.
Seven, if you include Miss Rigg.
Classic British lines, every single one of them.
Follow up: Knob reminds me that he sold the Daimler to a buddy, who whipped the engine out, trashed the Daimler chassis in its entirety, and dropped the V8 into a Morgan.
