…for Saturday’s “Going Back In Time” theme.
From Reader Joe D. (who reminds me that he lives in interior Alaska):
1976 Chevy 2500 (just not in this sad color)
Basic 350 cu in engine / 4 speed manual trans / 4-wheel drive
He already has the “blonde & toiletries bag” part covered (’76 MGB)
…but requires help:
You happen to know a 1960’s Barbara Eden clone who can fill the “blonde” part?
Rifle & fly rod skills are a plus.
Not asking for much, are ya?
Next we have Reader John H., who starts off with a little bragging:
You recollect that I already have an Austin-Healey and an MGB-GT, but those are not daily drivers anywhere anymore. [quelle surprise — K.]
Instead, I have a 1973 Mercedes 280C.
Elegant, comfortable … factory air, cruise all day at 75-80mph. Ours is a little rough, in North American spec so only 135HP instead of the proper 165, but when I get around to an engine rebuild, we can fix that!
Of course the 280CE model with Bosch fuel injection offered 185HP, and was available with a 4 or 5-speed. No matter, we have twice driven the 280 from NY to Texas.
I love that car — it’s the earlier model of the one I featured in my choices. Jealous, I am.
From the Comments, we have Reader GT3Ted:
1963 Corvette Sting Ray
That’s one car I could still drive today on a daily basis today that would meet most of my needs. It would keep up with modern traffic. A coupe to deal with New England weather and with some storage for trips and a reasonable ride. Downside of course is bad gas mileage, poor lights, marginal A/C, questionable brakes… skinny tires… on second thought maybe I’d just bring back one of the cars I did own back then.
LOL
72 Porsche 911S (2.4-liter)
I drove mine across the country several times, easily doing 800 to 900 miles a day. No A/C but the vent window’s in the back propped open and it could cruise all day at 80 while carrying 2 people and luggage for a week.
No A/C = automatic disqualification here in the Lone Star State. But a good choice, for all that.
Over in Euroland, Reader jwenting would take one of these:
1989-90 BMW 320i (E30 configuration)
Gotta say, I love that one too. I had its little cousin, the 318i, and it was the best car I’d ever driven until that point.
From Reader Don C., here in Texas:
1995 GMC K1500 (Z71 package)
Extended cab, 4WD, with the Z71 package. A nice 350 V8 and no electric nannies. I’d take a brand new one off the showroom floor in a heartbeat and never look at another truck again. You still see these trucks almost daily in Texas, so you know the longevity is there. It’d easily be my last vehicle I’d ever purchase.
No argument from me.
Reader TopCat wants his “first real car” back.
1967 Chevy Nova SS (L79 package — 327cu / 350hp)
I got it in 1975 with 13xxx miles and sold it in 2009 with 51xxx miles on it.
A dream to drive, quick as a mongoose and cheap and easy to fix.
I’m having a little problem imagining that land barge being “quick as a mongoose”, but okay.
And a latecomer (forgiven because he lives in shall we say a faraway time zone), Reader Skippytony chimes in with his selection(s):
2003 BMW 540i (E61) wagon
199 Mercedes E355 AMG wagon
Some people like “hot hatchbacks”, and some (like Skippy and I) like “hot wagons”. That Merc is a monster.
1990 Mercedes 560 SEL AMG
Merc’s answer to Cadillac in the Luxury Land Barge category, except that the AMG is about six times quicker than any Caddy made before 2000.
More as they come in.