Best Car Ever

[5thumbs]

Are you sure that's not a year 70 1/2?
Ralph

Nope, I took delivery in October 1971. They do look pretty similar.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Beecee you’re amazing. When I was working my dad and got the Mercedes 190 SL I first tried to get them to buy me a 1957 Mercedes Gull wing he wouldn’t spring for it because it was too much of a car for me but if he had bought it and I kept it in good condition it would be worth over $1 million now. I had a demo in it with a former German race car driver in Montclair New Jersey at the dealership we drove through Monclair up at 80 miles an hour my heart was in my throat. The demo guy walked with a limp. Need I say more.

 

[Just_Guild]

Best is a Toyota Camry but the one I loved the most was the one I had when I got married in 1969. It was a Pontiac GTO .389 cu I believe with a four barrel carburator and four speed manual stick shift (Hurst) in the floor-bucket seats, gold body with black roll & pleated top.

Great car! When I worked in a gas station in Boston back in one of those days, one of our customers had a 1970 GTO 455 4 speed. He was going to the GM Institute for engineering and had access to some cool stuff. Car was super hot, all black over Black with Black Magic in gold lettering on the rear quarter panels. Still think about that car. Got married and wife made him sell it cause she couldn’t drive shift. Car probably would have lasted longer than the marriage!

 

[D30Man]

My daily driver is a low mileage 1979 Mercedes 300D it doesn't get anymore analog than that, it's like stepping into a vintage acoustic guitar.

You’re not going to get much better than a late 70’s early 80’s diesel Benz.. nice..

my best car was a 97’ Acura CL Coupe that I drove from 2005 to 2016.. Gave it to my nephew who completely trashed it. Was such a beast of a car and so reliable.

my dream car is a 68’ continental with suicide doors

I love the car I’m driving now which Is a 2015 Buick LaCrosse. Roomy, handles well, only has 45k miles and is paid for. Also very well rated by all of the consumer groups.

I ‘ve had a lot of luck with Buicks. Our family car is a 2014 enclave premium package and before that was a 2007 Rendezvous cxl. Just really solid American cars.

 

[chazmo]

D30Man, aren't the Continentals with suicide doors from earlier in the '60s? I could be misremembering, of course.

 

[Rich Cohen]

D30Man, aren't the Continentals with suicide doors from earlier in the '60s? I could be misremembering, of course.

What are suicide doors?

 

[fronobulax]

What are suicide doors?

Basically a door hinged at the back. I never hard the term either.

What I had heard was "suicide knob" which attached to the steering wheel and let you drive with one hand.

 

[Stuball48]

Both our sons were sports card collectors and as a 13 year old, our youngest son gave me the money to buy him a box (which contained 24 or 36 packs) of 1986--87 Fleer basketball cards - Michael Jordan's rookie card. In that box was three Jordan rookie cards and enough other cards to make a complete set. So he has a complete set with two extra Jordan rookie cards. In five years, he is a high school Senior and making plans for a car to have in college. He sold the set and one Jordan rookie and made a sizable payment on a 1991, red with black top, Eagle Talon - little two seat sports car. All through college his roommates never asked to borrow his car--standard shift in floor - they had driven automatics, only.
And 28 years later he still had the best Rookie Jordan card.

 

[silverfox103]

I remember them from 62 / 63, give or take a year. I believe President Kennedy, was riding in one, on that fateful day in 1963.

Tom

 

[F30]

B-B-B-But you can fit more Guilds in this one...

 

[fronobulax]

B-B-B-But you can fit more Guilds in this one...

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Still waiting for it....

 

[walrus]

Basically a door hinged at the back. I never hard the term either.

What I had heard was "suicide knob" which attached to the steering wheel and let you drive with one hand.

There was a kid in my neighborhood who was born with one arm. When it came time time get his driver's license, he got a suicide knob on his steering wheel, and he passed the test. I can't say that I've seen one since...

walrus

 

[adorshki]

D30Man, aren't the Continentals with suicide doors from earlier in the '60s? I could be misremembering, of course.

'68's still had 'em (all the way thru '78, in fact):

But I'd prefer a coupe:

 

[chazmo]

B-B-B-But you can fit more Guilds in this one...

You sure don't see many of these around any more. That's really cool. And, yeah, lots o' Guilds!

 

[wileypickett]

Also called Brody Knobs -- Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart both wrote songs that mention them.

 

[Rich Cohen]

I remember seeing them fairly often. I never thought it was a good idea though.
BTW, why are the suicide doors called that?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

BTW, why are the suicide doors called that?

Well I believe they started earlier like on a '34 Ford:

I'm thinking the suicide would be if you opened the door at speed. Some kid probably did it and his Mom yelled at him; "What, are you trying to commit suicide?"

 

[Stuball48]

Well I believe they started earlier like on a '34 Ford:

I'm thinking the suicide would be if you opened the door at speed. Some kid probably did it and his Mom yelled at him; "What, are you trying to commit suicide?"

Wow! I would trade a GOOD Guild for that '34 Ford. Didn't several '34 Coupes have a rumble seat?

 

[fronobulax]

I remember seeing them fairly often. I never thought it was a good idea though.
BTW, why are the suicide doors called that?

Suicide door - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"the accidental opening of such doors meant that there was a greater risk of falling out of the vehicle compared to front-hinged doors, where airflow pushed the doors closed rather than opening them further"

Now whether we choose to believe Wikipedia on this point is another question entirely.