Dream cars

[adorshki]

Nor any other car with a Lucas ("the inventor of darkness") electrical system. The old joke is that the British drink warm beer because Lucas makes refrigerators.

An unfair accusation. Nobody was ever able to prove the assertion that the problem was that the light didn't go out and acted like a heating element when the door was closed.

 

[davismanLV]

Al I always loved those bustle back Sevilles!! I thought they were super cool. Did they ALL get the 8 6 4 motor, or was that just one option. Those had nothing but trouble......

 

[5thumbs]

I always thought that the Series 1 E-Types looked so much nicer, with the minimalist bumpers, and the glass over the headlights.

E-Type Jaguars were truly ahead of their time, and even fairly modern by today's standards. Imagine how radical a true 150mph sports car was when they were introduced in 1961?

My first car was a 1958 Thunderbird, purchased for the princely sum of $150.00. It started me on an adventure that lasted a lifetime. As an under-funded teenager, 'Thunder Chicken' (many stories here) launched me into the world of auto maintenance. This led to a serious love of playing with cars.

…And then I met Fran. She drove a 1957 MGA. After a drive I fell in love with it. I suggested a swap and she agreed (another great story ).

Joe, a co-worker drove it and caught the bug. He bought a Triumph TR3. We enjoyed many impromptu "road races" through Chicago streets. He smoked me on the straights, I passed him in the corners. Great fun, until he upped the ante and bought an Austin-Healy 3000. Game over, until one day when he asked me if I would be interested in buying the Healy. He had found a 1965 XKE. $3000.00!

That Jaguar was amazing. The engine was so smooth you'd think it was electric. An absolute dream to drive. It handled like nothing I had ever driven before.

Of course, being British, it had it's quirks. It didn't like hot weather. Or cold weather. Or good weather. But when the stars aligned it was magnificent.

Joe finally got tired of the Jag's capricious disposition, parked it in the lot next to our shop and bought some dull "practical" car; I can't even remember what it was.

But I lusted over that XKE. I was just starting to understand the fundamentals of automotive repair and loaded with adolescent self-confidence. I was ready to tame the beast! So I offered to buy it, running or not.

He wouldn't sell. The car sat for months. I nagged him with offers to buy it.

Then one day it was gone. A Chicago cop who was obviously more assertive than me browbeat him into a sale. I think the cop gave him $2500.00!

So that's the one that got away. I can't remember the name of my first girlfriend, but I remember that car.

 

[davismanLV]

My first car was a 1958 Thunderbird, purchased for the princely sum of $150.00. It started me on an adventure that lasted a lifetime. As an under-funded teenager, 'Thunder Chicken' (many stories here) launched me into the world of auto maintenance. This led to a serious love of playing with cars.

…And then I met Fran. She drove a 1957 MGA. After a drive I fell in love with it. I suggested a swap and she agreed (another great story ).

Joe, a co-worker drove it and caught the bug. He bought a Triumph TR3. We enjoyed many impromptu "road races" through Chicago streets. He smoked me on the straights, I passed him in the corners. Great fun, until he upped the ante and bought an Austin-Healy 3000. Game over, until one day when he asked me if I would be interested in buying the Healy. He had found a 1965 XKE. $3000.00!

That Jaguar was amazing. The engine was so smooth you'd think it was electric. An absolute dream to drive. It handled like nothing I had ever driven before.

Of course, being British, it had it's quirks. It didn't like hot weather. Or cold weather. Or good weather. But when the stars aligned it was magnificent.

Joe finally got tired of the Jag's capricious disposition, parked it in the lot next to our shop and bought some dull "practical" car; I can't even remember what it was.

But I lusted over that XKE. I was just starting to understand the fundamentals of automotive repair and loaded with adolescent self-confidence. I was ready to tame the beast! So I offered to buy it, running or not.

He wouldn't sell. The car sat for months. I nagged him with offers to buy it.

Then one day it was gone. A Chicago cop who was obviously more assertive than me browbeat him into a sale. I think the cop gave him $2500.00!

So that's the one that got away. I can't remember the name of my first girlfriend, but I remember that car.

5.... you about broke my heart with this post!! DAYAM!!!

 

[Opsimath]

My dream car remains this, but without the bug shield:

 

[adorshki]

I always thought that the Series 1 E-Types looked so much nicer, with the minimalist bumpers, and the glass over the headlights. My bestie's brother had one of the coveted three carburetor '66s, and I had the honor of being in the car with him when it had a minor electrical fire. Looked just like this one.

E-Type Jaguars were truly ahead of their time, and even fairly modern by today's standards. Imagine how radical a true 150mph sports car was when they were introduced in 1961?

Actually Sandy, I agree. But the '71 was the real-life one that got away, for me. I suspect I'd actually prefer the 3.8 straight 6 with electricals updated, being a bit lighter in front and with entirely sufficient torque for my needs. Grampappy (Mama's daddy, no surprise, right?) told me once Jag straight 6's were so good they were the standard for the British constabulary. S-types IIRC:

The other goodie was the IRS with the inboard discs to reduce unsprung weight and less torque twist tendency on shorter drive shafts. They did create heat problems for the differential seals, however.

Looking at the entire rear suspension assembly from the driveshaft end of the differential. Brake calipers were fastened to the differential, thus the heating issue. If you used 'em hard all the time. But a handling dream even to this day:

How can I let this post get away without a teaser of Steve McQueen's '56 XKSS?

Built from leftover D-type "LeMans spec" chassis and engines:

(Mama had a '62 Bullet 'bird just like the one in the background, btw, in the "Sandshell Beige" color):

 

[adorshki]

Al I always loved those bustle back Sevilles!! I thought they were super cool.

I took me a while to warm up to 'em, primarily thought the tail came to too sharp of a point, but didn't actively hate 'em like some.

Did they ALL get the 8 6 4 motor, or was that just one option.

Not at all. There was also the 105 hp Olds 350 Diesel(), or a Buick V-6 as a credit option.

Those had nothing but trouble......

Yep. The hot ticket would be the 368, basically a de-bored 472.

 

[NM156]

Think you meant "350" but yeah, that was the year compression went way down and they went to a notorious "Soft" (alloy) cam.

I just went by what the seller said, and didn't know any better or yes, misremembered. Just something about it not being the more desirable engine. Fuel economy was non-existent. Otherwise I might've kept it for transportation. I guess everybody would've

 

[NM156]

I'm not that big on speed so much. I always liked the Luxo-cruisers. Caddies. I had two 1963's and two 1965's. Such nice cars. I'd buy 'em and then clean them up and detail the hell out of them and then fix a couple of minor things and then move them on. Fun for me.







Then my favorite car of all time was my 78 CDV. What a cool car!! Turned heads and was just so fun to drive!!



Okay I'm done here. Time to go back to sleep. Why am I up at 1:40 am??? Jeeze....

I drove one similar to the white one (but black) on a road trip. What a ride! Smooth power to spare.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm a little surprised that no one has come forth and admitted that they loved an '81 Dodge Aries Wagon.

 

[twocorgis]

My first car was a 1958 Thunderbird, purchased for the princely sum of $150.00. It started me on an adventure that lasted a lifetime. As an under-funded teenager, 'Thunder Chicken' (many stories here) launched me into the world of auto maintenance. This led to a serious love of playing with cars.

…And then I met Fran. She drove a 1957 MGA. After a drive I fell in love with it. I suggested a swap and she agreed (another great story ).

Joe, a co-worker drove it and caught the bug. He bought a Triumph TR3. We enjoyed many impromptu "road races" through Chicago streets. He smoked me on the straights, I passed him in the corners. Great fun, until he upped the ante and bought an Austin-Healy 3000. Game over, until one day when he asked me if I would be interested in buying the Healy. He had found a 1965 XKE. $3000.00!

That Jaguar was amazing. The engine was so smooth you'd think it was electric. An absolute dream to drive. It handled like nothing I had ever driven before.

Of course, being British, it had it's quirks. It didn't like hot weather. Or cold weather. Or good weather. But when the stars aligned it was magnificent.

Joe finally got tired of the Jag's capricious disposition, parked it in the lot next to our shop and bought some dull "practical" car; I can't even remember what it was.

But I lusted over that XKE. I was just starting to understand the fundamentals of automotive repair and loaded with adolescent self-confidence. I was ready to tame the beast! So I offered to buy it, running or not.

He wouldn't sell. The car sat for months. I nagged him with offers to buy it.

Then one day it was gone. A Chicago cop who was obviously more assertive than me browbeat him into a sale. I think the cop gave him $2500.00!

So that's the one that got away. I can't remember the name of my first girlfriend, but I remember that car.

Great yarn Rick! Funny, I had a girlfriend in high school that had a beautiful round tail light BMW 2002tii in Fjord blue that started my love affair with the marque. In fact, I liked that car quite a bit better than her, but maybe I should have stuck it out. She lived in a mansion in Sands Point, and daddy had a LOT of money!

While my bestie's (quite a bit) older brother had the E-Type, my bestie had an absolutely incorrigible '71 MG Midget, which has the dubious distinction of being the most unreliable car I was ever around. We spent most weekends working on it and cursing. A lot. There were master and slave cylinders for almost anything hydraulic, and they leaked. And were impossible to get at. He recently sent me this photo of us pulling the engine, and I'm sure there was much profanity involved. That's a very young me on the left trying to look like I knew what I was doing.

This one cured me of British sports cars (there's a good reason they don't sell them anymore, and British Leyland went broke). Of course at this point, I wasn't very cool driving a Ford Pinto station wagon. At least it was a manual, and presumably wouldn't explode if you were rear ended like the "regular" ones. Happily, I never got to test that!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

This is my Dream Car!

(I'm a crappy Dreamer!)

 

[Guildedagain]

The 4 door was a WEGO and the wagon a WEALLGO was the joke back in the day, there were a lot of them on the road.

1st job out of school, I got to watch a more experienced tech than I - thankfully - go half mad trying to change a water pump in one.

 

[Guildedagain]

In terms of funky tiny cars, can anybody beat this? 1988 Subaru Justy 4x4, this one apparently sporting the never to die General Lee treatment.

For the record, I've wanted one, still want one, but time has not been kind, tweaker abuse, etc, and the prices, lol.

 

[GGJaguar]

My neighbor had a Justy back in the day. I think he said it had a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine (so does my Triumph Sprint ST motorcycle).

 

[Opsimath]

Is the engine big enough to push that plow?

 

[Steelman]

DavismanLV: your folks had taste! I got the Hudson bug while living in LA, drove my 52 Commodore from there to the East Coast and back in 68. Now I am cruising in the 2004 Grand Marquis shown in my post on P 3. It's got a well-proven engine/tranny/frame foundation--plus CD player AND CASSETTE PLAYER. And it holds all my stuff: pedal steel, amp, suitcase, and stands. With room for more!

Yep, I am Old School.

 

[Guildedagain]

Is the engine big enough to push that plow?

Not just for looks, it's the real thing. Even without a plow, a Justy can drive through snow up to the bumper easily, up to the top of the hood even but the engine packs with snow.

As far as having power to plow, it's more about speed before pushing, and the snow has to be right, powder has no weight and doesn't move well, on the other end of the spectrum, slush can't be moved.

 

[Guildedagain]

In a world where lowered expectations help, a SAAB 900 8 valve non turbo was my dream car for a long time, before I had to go Subaru.

 

[adorshki]

I'm a little surprised that no one has come forth and admitted that they loved an '81 Dodge Aries Wagon.

Clark Griswold got one of those after becoming disenchanted with Ford: