Top Three Cars You'd drive if there was no global warming, peak oil or national security threat

[Taverner]

Me?

1 - FORD MAVERICK



2 - FORD MUSTANG

http://images.mustangandfords.com/featuredvehicles/0603_mufp_02z+1968_ford_mustang_fastback+rear.jpg

3 - RUSSIAN VOLGA WITH BMW M3 ENGINE

[kentauros]

1. If there truly was no global warming, peak oil or national security threat

then the roadways would be severely clogged most of the time by all those people wanting to show off their muscle and/or luxury cars. Better to go with this:

[Taverner]

2. But I WANT THE SOVIET VOLGA!!!! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Seriously, I got to drive a Volga once (with standard soviet engine)

That thing can fricken DRIVE

So much power, so much wasted energy

But it was fun

[kentauros]

4. I got to drive a team of mules once.

It was fun, lots of power, but I'd never take them on the road :P

[Taverner]

60. What if you were trying to move potatoes in Siberia?

[kentauros]

65. Then you'd use draught mules

or any of the other heavy horse breeds, since the native Tundra Horse doesn't exist anymore :P

[Manifestor_of_Light]

98. Remember when Road & Track would review anything that moved?

I think they did a road test on the Budweiser Clydesdales.

And I remember the Mercedes-Benz GT "Garbage Truck". Curb weight, 22,000 lbs.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

(Or was it Car & Driver? Anyway it was hilarious).

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. the smartcar

i love little cars

[Taverner]

5. Ahh but if you love little why not this?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. honestly, i much prefer how the smart car looks.

[Taverner]

7. Gotchya

I would have a smart car if I lived in YOUR city (NYC)

You need a car that can take advantage of those 'not ready for prime time' parking spaces. Same story in SF.

I'm a product of American Suburbia - so for me the open road is this myth we all live on to survive.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. that can't be true

who in their right mind would prefer a heartless functional design over one of the most beautiful soulful autos in the history of the world?

Disclaimer: I've owned six 356's; my first car was a 356 A. And I know the car in the pic. Which recently sold for some ungodly amount.

[Taverner]

13. Porches are beautiful cars

I just wish they made electric cars - if they did that, they would be perfect in my book.

[Capn Sunshine]

14. .....

there's a kit for electric conversion for your Porsche

[Roon]

75. My step-sister had one of those..

she totalled it driving and guy watching.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. no, it really is true. i love functional designs in general.

i have never learnt how to drive, but every time i walk by a smart car, i am somewhat tempted to learn how to drive

[Taverner]

26. Driving's overrated

You live in NYC. As long as you live there there will never be a need to drive. Unless, we experience Zombie Apocalypse.

[kentauros]

8. Keeping it similar, I'd go for an Isetta

:D

[Taverner]

11. Well if you want small and fast why not a Tesla Roadster?

I mean, electric does take off quicker than any fossil fuel based car does

[kentauros]

15. If I were to go electric, I'd have to pick the White Zombie

http://www.plasmaboyracing.com/whitezombie.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp_jwE0KdOk

Unobtrusive, no one gawking at me because my car looks so out of place, and only trying to see me when I'm on the horizon while they're still shifting into first gear! :P

[Mopar151]

84. Really? What's the 60 foot time? n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. adorable,

[kentauros]

28. One cool thing about the Isetta

is that the front is the door. So, the whole front of the car lifts up (hinged on one side) so you can climb in :D

[Roon]

76. Isn't that what Cousin It drives?

something similar to that.

[geardaddy]

99. We used to have a Corgi car like this:

[EndersDame]

12. That car is sexy! what kind is it?

[flvegan]

20. Looks like a race prepped 356.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

101. To me they look suicidal in the big city (Houston or Dallas)

[NightWatcher]

9. Hummer H1 or my F 150

[MrScorpio]

16. My List

MB 500 SEC



Dodge Challenger



1966 Shelby Fastback Mustang

[Taverner]

17. Aw man I'd go for the Shelby

[NM_hemilover]

104. Be still my beating heart, always been a sucker for redhead's

at last a true conesuer of the automobile experience. If I'm allowed to have any car of my dreams, I'll take the first of Richard's Daytona's.

mopar or no car

[flvegan]

18. 1. Pagani Zonda F Spyder

2. Ferrari F430 Spyder



3. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 roadster

[Taverner]

19. OMG...that is a beautiful car!

Imagine doing Sonny and Crockett in one of those! Don't laugh!

[flvegan]

25. Fast forward to around the 1 minute mark

Top Gear reviews the Zonda Spyder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIoFnfMhq_Y

[Throd]

21. The ones I already have

'67 Olds 442, '68 Olds 442, '73 Cutlass Supreme

[Taverner]

24. Now those would be nice!

All awesome cars in their own rights...

[kentauros]

27. Let me drive (and operate) this, just once, and I'd be happy:

. . .


:D

[Taverner]

30. What do we do with it?

[kentauros]

31. I guess for starters we could demolish Rush's on-air studios

then move on to FOX News HQ and broadcast studios :D

[Taverner]

32. Cool! Can we give worms to my ex-girlfriend too?

[kentauros]

33. It's not rocket surgery!

For that, you'll need one of these:



:P

[grace0418]

29. Honda Fit or a vintage mini.

I like small cars, what can I say.

[flvegan]

34. I saw a vintage Mini the other day at the store.

Tiny (but very cute) little thing. Right hand drive and everything. Excellent condition. Obviously a loved little car.

[grace0418]

37. How much were they asking? j/k They always seem to be well

loved by their owners. I wouldn't want to drive one around Chicago in the winter though.

[Mopar151]

78. My old racin' partner is on his second RHD Mini

The first one was a tatty '61 850, non-synchro trans, with a 2 pump clutch and 3-pump brakes, and awesome fun to drive. The current one is nicer.....
One of the hillclimb gang has a beautiful 1175 Cooper S. Like me, he's a big galoot, so when he brings it to an event, we have to ride around a bit and do the clown car thing.

[Captain Hilts]

35. I LOVE the Volga!!!!! I've always wanted one of those. nt

[hayu_lol]

36. Here is 4...

Triumph GT6
Triumph TR5-fuel injected
Lotus Europa-twin cam Cosworth
TVR Vixen

[Taverner]

62. I want one too!

Apparently you can mount them with snow tires and they can make it through the equivalent of Sonora Pass.

[bluedigger]

38. These would work for me.

Jaguar XJ220


69 Yenko Camaro


Jeep CJ-7

[kentauros]

40. I didn't know the Sidney Opera House was mobile.

That would make for an interesting ride, though :D

[bluedigger]

41. The stereo kicks ass!

[kentauros]

42. But, of course!

They even offer Grey Poupon for your hotdogs :D

[Robeson]

39. I love my VW New Beetle. Wouldn't want anything else.

[madrchsod]

43. i`ll take this and a couple thousand gallons of sunoco 260 gasoline

http://image.automotive.com/f/images/11040924+pheader/hppp_0811_01_z+1971_pontiac_trans_am_firebird+right_front_view.jpg


i had a 72 formula 400 with glass packed exhaust that exited in front of the back tires....

[lib_n_proud7650]

44. zonda, f430, 911 turbo

[mitchum]

45. 67 Mustang, Rolls Silver Shadow, and the good ol' Hitler's Staff Car

actually, my lazy ass would have someone else drive the last two

[Taverner]

51. Aw man why the Staff Car if you can have the Volga?

[GoCubsGo]

46. My list

[Taitertots]

47. 1.Ferrari FXX

2.Bugatti Veyron
3.Gumpert Apollo Hybrid Race version

[TheMightyFavog]

48. 1967 Shelby GT500

One just like this. Dark Blue, White Racing stripes, the two lamps in the grill...

Best. Muscle Car. Ever.

[AlienGirl]

49. The car I named myself after:

Or maybe:


Or a fully restored one of these:


Tucker

[Tuesday Afternoon]

50. ~

1. 1956 Thnuderbird


2. 2009 Maybach


3. Porsche Panamera

[AsahinaKimi]

52. how about this?

or this..



or this..

[Duppers]

53. anyone with back problems should try sitting in one of these

28 different positions, I think. Back support like nothing I've ever sat in. Perfect for the long distant drives hubby and I used to do. No, of course, we didn't buy it! Are you kiddin'?! Tried it ONLY 'cause we were curious. I hate BIG thingies on the road--they most always belong to hogs.

[Taverner]

61. Caddies, if anything, are comfortable

Nothing like the true smooth ride...

[Mopar151]

54. Some of my faves

Mclaren CanAm car

Neil Parker's Altered

Maynard Troyer's Modified - prototype for a generation of dominant short-track cars

an ancestor in the Troyer family tree
The poor man's F1 car - an ISMA "supermodified"

[kentauros]

55. Number Six's car would be nice to have:

Appropriately, it's a 7, a Lotus 7

. . .

[Mopar151]

67. Beleive it or not

under the skin, it greatly resembles the Troyer above - just in a different scale. Check out this take on the classic roadster, by sprint car builder Jackie Howerton

[MiddleFingerMom]

56. For the first one, I'd have to go OldSchool...

.
... 75-year-old school.
.
1935 Deusenberg Dual-Cowl Phaeton.
.

.
THAT is when soul was put into cars.
.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kwassa]

85. The original DUzy

you beat me to this pick.

[old mark]

57. OK, but I got no pics......

1.-56 chevy 2 door with 350 FI and Corvette 4 speed.
2.-Jensen Interceptor Coupe with Chrysler Hemi.
3.- My old 65 Dodge Polara coupe but with a Hemi instead of the 318 it actually had.

mark

[lukasahero]

58. 1968 Jaguar XKE

1968 Jaguar XKE
(My husband had one, sold it to buy a damn Porsche 912 - I will never forgive him :( )



1969 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce



1972 MG Midget



I suspect you are seeing a pattern here. :)

[Taverner]

59. 1968 Jaguar XKE - that's what Harold was given as a 'gift' in Harold and Maude, wasn't it?

[lukasahero]

63. :)

Good memory. It was definitely an XKE but I'm not sure if it was a '68 or '69.

For the record, I'll take mine straight. No compunction to turn it into a hearse. :)

[av8rdave]

93. You like to fix cars?

[lukasahero]

95. Haha

No, I have enough money to pay someone else to do it. :evilgrin:

[BrklynLiberal]

64. hmmmmm If I had all the money and all the time...

I have always loved the Subaru Outback.


Porsche Cayenne would not make me unhappy


In spite of all the current bad Toyota publicity, a Lexus LF-A

[bluesbassman]

66. 427 Shelby Cobra, 427 Corvette, 426 Hemi 'Cuda

[Manifestor_of_Light]

100. My sister had a Corvette like that, only silver.

427 Sting Ray convertible, silver.

Shaved the heads, got from 390 to 415 horses.

:D

[friedgreentomatoes]

68. Maybe you should have added ...

... that the cost of the car is no concern as well... :P

[ChoralScholar]

69. I'd get my old car back.... "The Land Yacht"

Mine was grey, but you get the idea:

[Tobin S.]

70. A 1976 Cevy Impala station wagon, a.k.a. the biggest car known to man

I owned one when I was 17 and I loved it. It could have used some more power, though. The 400 c.i. V8 just wasn't quite enough for it. The back door and window were electric. With a flip of a toggle switch up by the steering wheel the window would slide up into the roof and the door below the car.

As it is I own one of these:



It's a 2010 Honda Civic EX. It gets 33 mpg overall.

[old mark]

71. TS : Those ol'chevy wagons were popular in Japan a few years ago...

They are so big they barely fit in some streets, and use so much gas they were conspicuous consumption symbols.

Make great surf wagons.


mark

[Tobin S.]

72. Hell yes. You could fit 8 people in the front two seats

and probably four more in the bed comfortably. You should probably have to have a CDL with the passenger endorsement to drive one of those things. :) When I was driving mine, fuel was about $1 a gallon and it still put a hurting on me at the pump. I couldn't imagine buying gas for that thing now.

[PJPhreak]

74. These...

1970 Plymouth Superbird


Petty Enterprises 1972 Dodge Charger (Road Course Car)


1975 BMW 30 CSL with the Alexander Calder Paintjob

[MiddleFingerMom]

77. In the mid-70's, my friend had this model of 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona...

.
... while stationed in Nurnberg, Germany.
.
There seemed to be about 4 top-of-the-line Maseratis in town, and
they drew admiring, lingering and longing glances when spotted...
but my friend would have to inch through the crowds that would
gather if he had to stop at a busy intersection (muscle cars like
this were NEVER seen in Germany).
.
A German driver with an over-packed car eventually ran a redlight and
T-boned him. My friend was fine, but his baby was garaged/hospitalized
for over SIX months while he waited on parts to come over from the States.
He drove us fucking crazy. It was all he talked about during that time. I'm
guessing you can see why.
.

.
I fell asleep behind the wheel in 1980 and totaled my 1971 Charger. I still
have to wipe away a tear or two when I think of that (it did NOT have the
shark nose nor the highrise spoiler on the back deck -- those features were
eliminated from the Chargers in 1970... although the Plymouth Roadrunner
"Superbird" continued that style for another two years or so).
.

[Mopar151]

79. The definitive Charger Daytona

IMHO, the nose was designed for the NASCAR ride height, and looks a little awkward on the street car. The car in the picture (K&K Insurance dodge, Crewcheif Harry Hyde, Driver Bobby Issac) held several FIA records, set at Talladega, Ala. and Bonneville, Utah.
A decent running stock one would go over 150 mph!

[MiddleFingerMom]

81. I was still living in the States when these came out...

.
... and saw several Nascar races with them.
.
From what I remember, they were HIGHLY competitive -- and they definitely
aesthetically blew the doors off whatever else was out there.
.
Haven't seen one on the streets since the late 80's.
.
People who bought them to drive were the kind of drivers who would -- almost
inevitably, sooner or later -- total them.
.
Somewhere today I read the the nose and spoiler put about 1,000 lbs of
down-force on an essentially zero up-force car. The reverse scoops on
both sides of the hood were a mystery to car buyers. Turns out they
reduced airdrag on the car by 3%!!!
.

[PJPhreak]

87. These are a couple of my favorite NASCAR Shots...

And they need to fix those dips at Daytona...potholes Suck!

[NM_hemilover]

105. I agree, and I also need a smoke now.

[Mopar151]

80. Love those Mavericks!

Best looking of the early Pro Stock Fords, IMHO - the Gapp & Roush Maverick with a "Shotgun" 429 Hemi



"Dyno" Don Nicholson's "Cammer" (SOHC 427) Maverick

[Orsino]

82. Interesting question, which neatly sidesteps my objections.

For some reason, I've been very partial to the looks of the 240SX:

[Mopar151]

83. They are an icon to the "tuner" crowd

They are called a Nissan Skyline in Japan, and are produced there with a 4-cyl turbo engine that can stand STOOPID boost. They're a pretty nice car, handle well, are RWD, and have clean, simple lines.

[kwassa]

86. The 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster

[jmowreader]

88. Any cars I want? Okay...

&size=800
Packard Super Eight Convertible Sedan. Well, any Packard would be fine. This one has the Straight Eight engine.


The BMW M1 was a homologation car. Y'all know what stock car racing is. In Europe, it's called Sports Car racing. To qualify (or homologate) a car for Sports Car racing a certain number of them have to be built for the streets, so BMW made 100 of them a year for four years. Most of the homologation examples wound up being raced by privateers. The car resembles a Lamborghini somewhat because it was created as a joint venture with Lamborghini.


Nothing says it has to contain the original engine, okay? This particular specimen is a Mexican Beetle; you can tell by the turn signals in the bumper. This in fact is what I would choose over the other two cars because they're fun, cheap enough to own several of, and highly customizable. I would LOVE to put a set of Camaro brakes on one--because Camaro brakes hold Camaro rims, and it's easier to buy tires that fit on Camaro rims than it is to buy tires that fit on Volkswagen rims.

[Mopar151]

90. The M1 is unique among "supercars"

As it is actually reliable enough to be driven daily. In particular, it's engine is based on a standard BMW 6-cylinder, and does not require the constant "nursing" that a Ferrari or Lamborghini does.
Yes- Ist generation Bugs are very cool, our family had 4 of 'em, and friends have raced 'em for years. 150 hp engines are available from several builders. http://www.geneberg.com/index.php And you need'nt worry about "Camaro brakes" - there are several racing wheel builders who can provide wheels in 4-lug or 5-lug centers, in 13" or 15" diameters. Alternately, a machininst (like me) can plug and re-drill the 4- bolt hubs to Ford, Chevy, or "Impala/GN" bolt patterns.

My 'Wabbit Wacin'' friends love these: , and spin-formed stock car wheels like these are as light as all but the most exotic "alloy" wheels :
The 15 x 12 in the picture weighs 20#, according to the catalog.

[jmowreader]

94. I have a definite reason for the Camaro brakes

Well...actually the Camaro hubs, but the brakes and hubs come as a package deal, do they not?

The "official" Volkswagen tire size is 165R15. It's a unique size--only one car on the road today takes it, and we're discussing it. Tire stores usually have one size that fits the car, and it's always the cheapest grade. They call them "import" tires--for little econoboxes. Ugh. I've played this game before and those tires suck. I want some friggin' Michelins!

Now for the back of the car. I'm going with a 94mm stroker engine with a moderately-hot cam, dual Webers and a Rancho Performance racing transaxle. I'm looking for a car that will be reliable but still have enough power to do the speed limit on the interstate.

[Mopar151]

97. Actually, you appear to have not read my post!

Brakes and hubs are not a "package deal" You may be confusing hubs and rotors/drums, which are sometimes cast as 1 piece. In any case - wheels are commercially available in both VW bolt patterns, up to at least 15X10 width. Wheel adapters are available to both the later VW (rabbit) pattern and the common Chevrolet 4.75 x 5 pattern.
Additionally, the VW hubs may be remachined to several "modern" bolt patterns, and wheels can be custom made by using the stock VW centers and fitting them to readily available "shells" (rims).
If THAT ain't enuff for ya, many Saabs are fitted with a 195/65- 15 tire, which is the same diameter as the 165-15.(which was also originally fitted to Saabs and Volvos)
If you are determined to put "Camaro Hubs" on a VW splined stub axle, I want to watch - from a safe distance.

As far as engines/gearing goes, an 1835 with twin Solex (aka Kadron) carbs and mild headwork, with the correct cam, can get you speeding tickets anywhere but Nevada, or Montana in daylight. Slightly taller tires will do the trick on gearing, or there are many alternate gearsets available, as well as the 5-speed conversions. The big-bore, big stroke engines get pretty exotic, as the crankcases take a good deal of welding. And 48 IDA's are pretty hard to keep in tune.....

[dysfunctional press]

89. 1959 cadillac convertible, acura nsx, 1968 firebird

[jakefrep]

91. Forget the Volga...I want a ZIL limo.

2. Ford (Australia) Falcon GTHO Phase 3



3. Mercedes Benz 600 Grosser - good enough for Idi Amin, good enough for me.

[cyberswede]

92. 1959 Caddy, Citroen DS, Jaguar XKE

[Deep13]

96. Aston Martin

http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecars/v8vantage

[cherokeeprogressive]

102. The Mustang Fastback was my first car at 16. Mine was a 67 though and the one pictured is a 68.

I'd give ANYTHING to have that car back. 390ci, 335hp, and not a single rattle or shake.

Oh my gawd I loved my dad when he said I could have it.

[geardaddy]

103. For me...

Willy's Jeep


Classic Mini (w/ RHD)


Studs Bearcat