Of what car do you have the fondest memories?

Larry S · Mar 22, 2020

noelekal
I'm guessing yours had the 170 C. I. D. slant six. One of those Valiants like that with the 273 V8 could still be quite nippy to drive around and would go easy on the gas.

Slant 6 could still generate speeding Tix ... yea that was mine. The car was quick, nimble and fun to drive for a car of that vintage. Zippy was a good description. A V8 with some performance mods would produce a really enjoyable ride. They are out there.

Archer · Mar 22, 2020

Hard to choose for me, but probably this one:

My Series 3 1987 VandenPlas. 5.3 litre V12, 3 speed auto...grace, space, and pace. It was an absolute hog on gas, broke down frequently, and I loved every minute behind the wheel. I still have the burl walnut shift knob somewhere...put the black plastic one on when I sold it.

Very close second is my E85 2007 Z4M:

IMO one of the last true sportscars BMW made. I believe it was the last model they made that used an actual key you had to turn, and I think the last one that had a dipstick in the engine to check the oil. No turbocharging, just 3.2 litres of S54 in-line 6 cylinder goodness. One of only 5,070 made. Still wish I had it - I really like my current M2, but the Z4M was in a different league.

kingsrider · Mar 22, 2020

Norfolk

First car love. And still in the family after 40 years. 1974 MG Midget....and I’m 6ft 7 ins!!!
I’ve owned more than 100 cars since that glorious sunny day in June 1980 when I bought her but this is the one that’s stayed. That exultation of top down driving to uni, freedom and independence can’t be ever surpassed.

I wish I still had my first car. It looked something, no exactly, like this 1961 MG Midget. I paid $200 for at the time. The engine was laying in the compartment sideways. The owner thought he could just lift the block out without a lift. I did a rebuild with my dad and it was my car during high school. BTW I am 6'-4" not sure what it is with tall guys and little cars.

A funny post script. One day I came out of class, I got to my car and found it to be sideways or perpendicular in its parking stall (picture the crossbar of an H). Some inventive friends of mine had lifted the back end and swung it around.

ZIELSZIEK · Mar 22, 2020

Wow, you people have some amazing memories when it comes to your favorite cars!

Fritz
ya gotta love the plebeian stuff!

Speaking of plebeian, I live in Romania(ex-communist country) and man was communism a turd. My dad's godfather had a disability(he missed some fingers) and back then(before 1989) the Romanian state allowed people with mediocre disabilities to drive either a Trabant or a Dacia that were adapted to the handicapped driver's needs. I'm guessing you people have heard of a Trabant before, so I'm going to show you a Dacia. This particular one is an 82' and while Mercedes had airbags, leather and ABS we had... optional courtesy lights and heating that never worked as intended, not to forget doors that could be opened by persuading the B pillar. This car was based on the Renault 12 and the first batch of cars was ok-ish(French made parts) but then the plant's workers started stealing parts so the build quality became shoddy. Another Romanian car plant, Oltcit was driven into extinction by the commie workers stealing parts hehehe. The next generation of Dacia 1310 was nicknamed Iliescu's smile, Iliescu being the first Romanian president after communism fell.
We also had a truck called the SR-101 that was a copy of the American International KR-11
Funny enough, the SR-131(next gen after the SR-101) was powered by a Ford Y-block

Here's a Dacia for your enjoyment in all of its 1,4 Liters& 62 hp glory. I can smell the gasoline through the picture. The carb jets were notorious for clogging.

lillatroll · Mar 22, 2020

ZIELSZIEK
Wow, you people have some amazing memories when it comes to your favorite cars!

Speaking of plebeian, I live in Romania(ex-communist country) and man was communism a turd. My dad's godfather had a disability(he missed some fingers) and back then(before 1989) the Romanian state allowed people with mediocre disabilities to drive either a Trabant or a Dacia that were adapted to the handicapped driver's needs. I'm guessing you people have heard of a Trabant before, so I'm going to show you a Dacia. This particular one is an 82' and while Mercedes had airbags, leather and ABS we had... optional courtesy lights and heating that never worked as intended, not to forget doors that could be opened by persuading the B pillar. This car was based on the Renault 12 and the first batch of cars was ok-ish(French made parts) but then the plant's workers started stealing parts so the build quality became shoddy. Another Romanian car plant, Oltcit was driven into extinction by the commie workers stealing parts hehehe. The next generation of Dacia 1310 was nicknamed Iliescu's smile, Iliescu being the first Romanian president after communism fell.
We also had a truck called the SR-101 that was a copy of the American International KR-11
Funny enough, the SR-131(next gen after the SR-101) was powered by a Ford Y-block

Here's a Dacia for your enjoyment in all of its 1,4 Liters& 62 hp glory. I can smell the gasoline through the picture. The carb jets were notorious for clogging.

Still see plenty of those on the roads in Bucharest. At least parked around the city. See quite a few Trabants too. If I was going to buy a car here it would be a Lada 4x4. Not because they are any good but they look quite funky.

italy1861 · Mar 22, 2020

BMW 535is

Loved that car..

loniscup · Mar 22, 2020

My 1973 2000 GT Veloce
Got her when I was 19 in 1994 and still have her.
Finishing

restoration as we speak (photo)

MRC · Mar 22, 2020

kingsrider
I wish I still had my first car. It looked something, no exactly, like this 1961 MG Midget. I paid $200 for at the time.

I had the AH Sprite Mk2 equivalent with 1098cc and the first disc brakes. At full lock the rim of the wheels started to cut through the brake hoses. Luckily I found it before loosing the brakes completely and checked every week after that. Not my favourite car.

Later having just returned from years abroad I borrowed a 1275 Midget from a friend to drive while my new Lotus was built -- it's about a 2 month process. Later still I rebuilt the Midget so she could give it to a nephew just starting college, a bit like you.

CPRwatch · Mar 22, 2020

A 64 Riley Elf , based on a Mini shell but with de tuned Mini Cooper engine & single carburettor. I stripped it back to a bare shell and rebuilt it , but slightly modified & added mini lite wheels & twin SU carburettors with LCB Mini Cooper exhaust . My two daughters used to love going out for rides in it & we used to show it at classic car rallies around the country, great memories great times . Not my car in the picture but exact colour and condition.

AveConscientia · Mar 22, 2020

Some of my earliest memories are leaving the rodeo(he worked there) with the top down in my dad’s YJ with a red flannel blanket wrapped around me.

allwoundup · Mar 22, 2020

Have had many cars, but my favorites are probably my first, a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza coupe, and a 1988 Saab 9000 sedan...just a great road trip machine. Unfortunately, both predate iPhone cameras, so no photographic record of either.

However, for sheer climate change causing, fossil fuel consuming, pavement burning, swallow your ears smiling fun it is probably this hybrid....Italian body propelled by Detroit iron, Ford 351 Cleveland bored forty over

w154 · Mar 22, 2020

Way better looking than the pumped up later versions 👍

loniscup · Mar 22, 2020

Love it 🥰

pseikotick · Mar 22, 2020

1972 Olds 442 convt. I saved pennies (16,500 of them) de tassling corn (worst job ever) mowing lawns, working for my dad carrying hod, etc from 14 to 17 to buy it. I got it in 1980, and if you could see the top had big tears on each side where it folded, and the rear glass was duct taped at the bottom, rust here and there and some fender bender damage. But that car may as well have been in perfect condition as far as I knew. I loved it dearly. Thankfully, it had a strong heater blower since the air moved through it quickly in winter. The axle is not bent. It's a photo of a photo, and the photo is curled slightly.

ZIELSZIEK · Mar 22, 2020

allwoundup
Have had many cars, but my favorites are probably my first, a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Monza coupe, and a 1988 Saab 9000 sedan...just a great road trip machine. Unfortunately, both predate iPhone cameras, so no photographic record of either.

However, for sheer climate change causing, fossil fuel consuming, pavement burning, swallow your ears smiling fun it is probably this hybrid....Italian body propelled by Detroit iron, Ford 351 Cleveland bored forty over

Your post reminded me of this... both the song and the movie

ZIELSZIEK · Mar 22, 2020

pseikotick
1972 Olds 442 convt. I saved pennies (16,500 of them) de tassling corn (worst job ever) mowing lawns, working for my dad carrying hod, etc from 14 to 17 to buy it. I got it in 1980, and if you could see the top had big tears on each side where it folded, and the rear glass was duct taped at the bottom, rust here and there and some fender bender damage. But that car may as well have been in perfect condition as far as I knew. I loved it dearly. Thankfully, it had a strong heater blower since the air moved through it quickly in winter. The axle is not bent. It's a photo of a photo, and the photo is curled slightly.

With my little sister, now an accomplished author. On my way to a school dance in my stepfather's clothes.
View attachment 953035

Obtaining something through hard work makes it even more enjoyable and gives you a memory to cherish, great story Sir!

Archer · Mar 22, 2020

pseikotick
1972 Olds 442 convt. I saved pennies (16,500 of them) de tassling corn (worst job ever)

I'm guessing you have never primed tobacco...

Nice Olds - my father was an Olds guy. His Cutlass was a similar colour to yours. Had the 350 "Rocket" V8 in it, and he had a lead foot. It is something I have inherited (not the car, the lead foot).

Later on he bought a 1980 Olds Omega...unlike the Omegas we collect, it was a piece of crap!

Vercingetorix · Mar 22, 2020

2001 Eurovan. Drove for 17 years until the heater core broke the camels back. 19 hours by the book to replace it and with 287,000 miles I knew the time had come to replace it. That plus all the other little things that were broken I knew I could not trust it for long distance journeys. Drove it from Alaska to Nova Scotia to Texas and many places in between. Many fond memories of camping in the mobile hotel.

simonsays · Mar 22, 2020

This Lancia Delta HF Turbo ie bought in my early 20s. It was a bit different to the Renault 5 Turbos and Golf GTi's that were ever popular at the time. I drove it like I stole it and it was surprisingly reliable and unsurprisingly quite quick. I later had the 2 litre HF4WD which was more fun to drive but mine was woefully unreliable which took the shine off. Just seeing the dials brings a smile to my face, that boost gauge spinning up with every pedal squeeze.

Partagas · Mar 22, 2020

italy1861
BMW 535is

Loved that car..

Blast from the past! My dad had a 535is...'87, same color, too! God, I loved that car. As a dumb 19 or 20 year old I had that Bimmer up to 130 on the highway. Some guy wanted to race me in his Honda CRX...I pulled away from him a few times around 115 mph. That care was so fun to drive!