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Tony has always wanted one of the last Cadillac Broughams with the Corvette engine in it...1996 but personally I would like to have the Buick Roadmaster sedan with the same engine. 

I'm still partial to Mercedes but I am not happy with their current interior stylings.  The only way I'd own a BMW, MB, or Volvo now is to lease it and be done with it before the warranty goes out.  I do most of my own work on my bug except things that may need a specialty tool or would just take too much time and break my back leaning over it.  I did my brakes with genuine Made in Germany parts for a fraction of the cost even of Autozone's Made in China crap.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/ 

They guarantee their parts.  When it wears out, return it to them and they will send a new replacement!  I have it in writing.
 
Australian perspective

Well I always loved ridiculous little cars, still do.

we had an NSU Prinz briefly when i was a kid, they were assembled here but quite unusual. I adored it and was sad to see it go.

Other tiny cars that took my fancy included Hillman Imp, Mini (real ones, not the bloated BMW Minis); Renault 4. I always liked the look and technology of the Daf cars, though they weren't sold here.

I was also into the BMC Austin/Morris front wheel drive, Hydrolastic suspended cars. My first car was an Austin 1800, it cost me $50 to buy and about $300 to get it roadworthy.

Although they were a big car, I loved the Leyland P76 too. It was such a step forward for Aussie family size cars. Parts of the styling were clumsy and fussy but the overall wedge shape is great. I had one and really liked it. My mum got a new car and she gave me her old one, a Renault 12, as I was a uni student at the time, so I passed the P76 to my Dad and his ancient Ford Falcon was traded in on the new car. The P76 proved bulletproof under Dad's ownership - he was always hard on cars. The Renault 12 was great but didn't last long - I stopped at an intersection and a bus behind me kept going into the back of the poor little Renault.

 

the Mazda above is in Australia by the way. The car behind it is a Holden Torana, a GM smaller car based on the UK Vauxhall Viva of about 1970, with a longer bonnet to accommodate a 2.2 or 2.6 litre, 6 cylinder engine. Very nose-heavy handling. It may be slightly related to the Opel Kadett that was briefly sold in USA in late 60s or early 70s?

https://www.shannons.com.au/club/news/nsu-prinz-germanys-gutsy-miniature-masterpiece/
 
I always liked the unstoppable purpose built durability of military vehicles and I wanted a WW2 Jeep or a Power Wagon. So, my first car was a 42 Ford GPW Jeep, my second was a 41 1/2 ton weapons carrier closed cab pickup with a winch. I also really liked early Mopars so when I realized that I needed a practical car to drive I found a 69 Dart Western Sport Special with 63k on it with a bad water pump and vynil top for 550 cash. 318 and drove like new, this was in 79. I got my license in the Dart and still have it. There are many cars I've owned over the years since but those are the ones I wanted. There are other cars I'd like to have but safe storage and insurance and all that kinda preclude picking up more cars, plus money. Though if you really want something within reason you can find a way, I did.
 
Interesting you should mention WWII Jeeps! My dad received permission from the Army to keep the Jeep he drove during the war (and a Baretta pistol, as well). They had planned to remain in Italy after the war--he met and married my mom there--but came to the States in 1947 when his mom suffered a major stroke. He had the Jeep shipped to America and they continued using it as the family car for a couple of years until he could afford to replace it.

Here's a picture of him in the Jeep in Italy. Too bad it has coffee stains on it. There exists somewhere in the multi-box chaos of photos from that time period a photo of him, my mom and sister (who was about 2 years old) standing next to it. Will have to locate it.

I also have the Army paperwork that gave him permission to keep the Jeep and the Baretta.

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Scotty Kilmer drives me up a wall.  If we all listened to Scotty, we'd all drive old Toyotas.  Not bad cars, but not really interesting of exciting. 

 

Our 1988 Mercedes 560SL has a little over 200k on it, and it still takes off like a rocket ship.  It may not be cheap to repair, but in the 25+ years since my partner bought it used not much has gone wrong.  The trick is to always have it serviced by a Mercedes Benz mechanic and always use genuine Mercedes parts.  Do not have your Mercedes serviced and/or repaired at the corner garage.  Perhaps that's why Scotty doesn't like them.

[this post was last edited: 1/25/2020-12:53]
 
Nice 300s. I remember on Keeping Up Appearances Hyacinth always bragging about Violet having a huge Mercedes and in the early episodes she did have a 300. But then in the later ones, she had "downgraded" to a C class with plastic hubcaps!

Also liked those big sedans like the Town Car, Grand Marquis, Buick Roadmasters, etc. I always liked the aero style Crown Victorias. Remember in Matlock there was always a silver ones with gray leather, first the box body with the vinyl roof, then the aero style with Taurus style oval grille opening and then aero with chrome grille.

Later in a Diagnosis Murder crossover episode Matlock was seen driving not a Ford vehicle, but a 1997 Buick Park Avenue Ultra!
 
I really wanted a BMW 3 series before they went from the rock solid 3.0 Inline 6 to a 2.0T, and made it look like an angry chipmunk. At one time I was really into the Mustang. The only thing that’s stayed constant is wanting a full size truck, one of these days I’m getting one. It’s a pain to have an appliance hobby and only have a sedan to put things in.

These days I’m more interested in land yacht type vehicles that can float down the highway in pure isolation. I would love to have a Mercedes S Class, or somewhere deep in the back of my mind - a Rolls Royce.
 
I had a 540i at some point, it was an amazing car that was a thrill to drive. It had a 6 speed manual. I always wanted a 78 ish trans am. With t tops and the bird on the hood I can’t think of a more impressive car.
 
1/2 Ton and 1/2 Pint

Jonathan,  a Subaru Baja might be a good compromise.  I really like my 2003 5-speed stick and so do my friends.  I also get compliments on it from other drivers at times when stopped in traffic or at a signal.  The Baja is based on the TOL Legacy/Outback and is just as comfortable.  It's a manageable size and has hauled 12' long pieces of lumber thanks to the fold-down access panel behind the rear seat/at the front of the cargo bed and the optional bed extender.  The rear license plate can be flipped down for instances when the tailgate is lowered to accommodate the bed extender.  The Baja tops out at 1/4 ton weight limit, but that's more than enough for most appliances.

 

My other truck is a 1950 GMC.  My dad bought it used in 1960 after The Bell System retired it.  I use it for big and/or dirty jobs.  Of course, it turns more heads than the Baja does, and its 3-speed column shift is fun to drive. 

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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I was hoping to see at least one person say their teenage dream car was a Model T so I wouldn't feel so ancient. I never dreamed of sports cars. My head was stuck in the luxury category. My best friend and I mowed the lawn of his neighbor on Saturdays They lived in an upscale area. They were seldom home and spent a lot of time in Tahoe and Reno. They had two Continentals. How much I wanted a car like that even though I was only about 13. I remember the lady saying "oh, they're wonderful to drive...you can go 80 or 90 on the freeway and it feels like 35". They paid us with a personal check, not all that easy for a kid to cash, but no problem. She said "just take the check to the neighborhood liquor store...they know us there". When we peeked in their trash can it was filled with bottles.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I always wanted  one of these. They were a world apart from my parent's awful '59 Ford station wagon.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I was hoping to see at least one person say their teenage dream car was a Model T so I wouldn't feel so ancient.</span>

 

The Model T might have been my dream car, but it hadn't been released yet.

 

My dream was to have an extra horse with the covered wagon, as I went to school each day in 10 feet of snow (and uphill both ways).

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 1/26/2020-16:45]
 
Joe, that's a very odd perspective in the photo of the Continental, which appears to be a '61.  It kind of looks like it's a CGI, and that there's no back seat, or actually no front seat, even though there are four doors, and I'm pretty sure the interior color scheme isn't original either.

 

For me, my dad's '69 Continental Mark III was even more luxurious to drive than his '65 sedan (one car magazine's review described it as "loafing along at 70 MPH"), but the '65 was a far better built car.  The '64 convertible I had could really move.  I think it was broken in by a lead foot driver.

 

And for what it's worth, I wanted a Model A before I even knew how to drive.  I learned a column shift and a stick, but never had the opportunity to learn the spark and throttle levers on a Model A.  I don't know off hand when Ford finally decided to go with hydraulic brakes, but mechanical ones struck me as kind of scary, so that limited my options. 

 

These days, the old Jimmy is enough of a relic and a novelty to drive, so I'm long over any desire for something older.
 
I wanted a 63’ or 64’ Chevrolet Impala 2 dr HT with a 283 or 327.  Since my Mom controlled the money from my Dad’s VA survivors benefits, which she had saved every month for my education, she insisted, at my stepfathers prompting that a Volkswagen Bug was the most sensible first car.  I was going to be traveling at least 110 miles per day round trip to school and work, and the gas and maintenance were a major concern.    So I got a new VW one month before I graduated from HS for $1995, $707 down from the VA acct.  and $53.00 per mo for 36 mo. at 4% int., which I paid from my part work as a busboy/waiter.  I put 33,000 miles on that car in 11 mo, then totaled it.  

 

Then I was finally able to get the car of my dreams, since I had moved out on my own and was no longer under my parents thumb.  I bought a 64’ Chevy Impala SS, maroon with black vinyl  bucket seats and a 327 V8 with dual glass pack mufflers which a paid $995 for, financed thru Household Finance at $54.00 per mo.  That Impala really hauled ass!  

 

Sadly, I was not a very well informed or knowledgable car buyer at age 19 and the 64’ Chevy Impala had over 100,000 hard miles on it and only lasted me about 6 mo. before the engine blow up.  Then I was right back to a sensible VW Bug again.  But that Impala was sure fun while it lasted.

 

Eddie
 
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">That pic in my post isn't a real photo. I used it because I like it. This is nice too, partly because like appliances, I love yellow. The architecture adds a lot too. </span>

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Thanks for clearing that up, Joe!

 

My favorite of the "Kennedy" Continentals  is the '63.  It still had the curved windows and I think was the first year for AM/FM (transistor?) radio.  As sleek as the instrument panel was on the '64 and '65, I feel the '61-'63 models were more sporty inside and out. 

 

The best change (again IMO) was on the '65, when they placed front turn signal and parking lamp lenses at the front of the fenders.  As a result, they had effectively integrated side marker lamps at front and rear, three model years before they became mandatory and were slapped onto most makes.

 

All of these Continentals had the best windshield wiper system ever.  It was operated by the power steering pump and had an infinite sliding lever control.  You could get some really looooong intervals for intermittent swipes.  I've never used a better manual system before or since.  Today's moisture sensing systems are pretty good though, I have to admit.

 

The front hinged hoods offered full access to everything at or near the top of the engine.  Why this isn't the standard is beyond me.

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When I was 14 or so one of our neighbors had a 63 Continental. Got to ride in it around the neighborhood once. I think it was the first time I rode in a convertible. What a car! Positively huge compared to today's.
 
Almost embarassed to admit it but around 11 years old I wanted my parents to get a minivan. My aunt rented a 99 cand apple red Grand Caravan when she came down to FL one year and that started it. Along with the first girl I had a crush on's mom having one.

Loved those jellybean Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler vans though. And the 80s and early 90s woodies.

I still wouldn't mind having a 2006-07 Town and Country Limited if I could find one with low miles in excellent shape. The last of the jellybeans.

I dreaded when they came out with the new box body vans in 08, I thought the interiors were hideous, but now I've grown to like them too. The 2011 post Fiat refreshes helped though.
 
I'd like to find a diesel Volvo box car.  There was one that commuted to Huntsville, AL in 1989 when I was commuting to school down there.  He'd pass me every morning.  I think they had turbo inline 6's in them that were sourced from VW, or so I've read.  I've always wanted one of the box car Volvos.  Something about them appeals to me.
 
There was someone at my school, maybe a couple grades over me, who had one--he was the only one at my school who did...

Saw him driving his ride on the boulevard across from our school inf ront of our city park, playing Madonna's Burnin' Up"...

By then, my "wanted wheels" was the Continental Mark IV...

-- Dave
 
T Birds and MK IV's were gorgeous,

but when I got my license in 1976, we were in the midst of higher gas prices. I wanted what was then the best selling mid sized cars. Olds Cutlass, Monte Carlo, Buick Century/Regal, Grand Prix, Chrysler Cordoba, or Ford Elite/Gran Torino, LTD II or Mercury Cougar XR7 in midnight blue and chamois or emerald green and chamois. All of them put my Gremlin to shame. I finally got a lightly used Cutlass Supreme in 1980. Had a couple Grand Prix's as well by 1986. Enjoyed each one. Cars lack true style and elegance today, even if they are better and "world class".
 
1978 Cutlass Supreme

My aunt bought a lightly used 1978 Cutlass in 1980...her most favorite car ever-had 260 v8,drove it until she quit driving at 93 in 2000 :)other than the R4 AC compressors it went through,was very reliable.
 
The 260 Olds V8

was very durable. It did not make much power or torque, so less stress on parts. Very smooth and quiet also. Many 78's had a Chevy 305, which had the THM 200 transmission rather than a turbohydramatic 350 as behind the Olds engines. The 200 was from the Chevette. The first all metric trans from GM. The added horsepower and torque usually tore these up by 28,000 miles. I knew of one that did it twice, the second time at exactly 56,000 miles. The owner then had the trtansmission shop add a vacuum line for the vacuum modulator newly fitted turbo 350.
 
Come to think if it a couple teachers had a box body Volvo, yes, the one fellow-student had stood-out, as did a math teacher (chairman of the dept.) and my photography teacher... (Just look in the teacher's lot, a student, or two, most-notably a gal and her Chrysler Córdoba, got away with parking in)

I was fascinated by the '71 to '74 Dodge Charger, wishing it could have been my first car...

Or during the tail-end of the urban cowboy trend, why did I never get (or gas ever drove) grandpa's truck:

Wish it had a right-hand mirror, and despite its spartan appearance and lack of tinted glass or blue band over the windshield, it has air conditioning and Ford voluntarily put a lot of remote control mirrors on their mid-sized Torino/Montego and full-sized LTD/Marquis, promoting the convenience and prestige of them, rather than exhibit the cheapness of the manual ones on such large, classy cars...

-- Dave

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Ahhh those Colony Parks were fabulous. Neighbors across the street had one and I'll never understand why my dad didn't being as we had a few trailers for the many camping trips we did.. 3 kids and a dog all in the back seat , you'd think.
 

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