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How about the most enjoyable car you ever had?

A new 1972 FIAT 124 Spyder I owned in college. It was just a sweet car to drive, revvy motor that would turn to 7k all day long, smooth 5 speed, marvelous convertible top that you could raise and lower with one hand, and comfortable on the road. I autocrossed it, used it as a daily driver through snow and summer and took long trips to see the Grand Prix at the Glen and it never let me down.
 
That is hard, of course, as many of you have done, it is hard to separate the car from where you were and what you were doing in your life at the time. But in order of ownership and not necessarily preferance some of my favorites:

1. 1966 AH Sprite, my first car, 1977, I was in High School, the car was not that nice, had been repainted an olive drab green, it had a few dents, ripped seats, but revving it up through the gears and the smell of musty british car and falling leaves on a warm fall night is forever etched into my memory.

2. 1967 AH Sprite, replaced the ratty car which quit for reasons I do not now remember. This one was nicer, had a built 1275 with a milled head and 3/4 race cam that went like a bat out of hades. I should have taken it for a longer test drive as oil pressure at idle hot was barely off the peg and it didn't get better when you revved it.
it eventually got a stock motor replacement and a bright red paint job and served as my car through college, did many crazy things in it. Let my girlfreind borrow it one morning when I was feeling a little "tired" from the night before, and she totalled it on the way home from work.

3. 1966 TR4A Solid Axle, BRG, O/D great car, great fun, drove it year round, learned all about rust and patching panels, but it was a reliable, stylish and practical piece of transportation, I was very fond of that car.

4. My first non-british car was a an RX-7. Mine was an 85, last year they made the first generation cars, engine would rev to forever and you didn't feel like you were straining anything, great looking, great handling, slick five speed transmission, perfect size, not too big, not too small room to throw groceries or a drunken friend under the hatch. Nice tourer with A/C and 5 speed, reliable, but still a sports car. Wish I had this car when my LBC club started running autocrosses.

5. 1954 AH 100, objectively as a car inferior to most any of the above, but as a rolling piece of art and being able to drive something which was raced and placed pretty much in stock form at places like Le Mans and Sebring, I felt special everytime I drove it.

6. 1968 Triumph TR250, my current ride, we are still early in the relationship, but she has potential to be an all time great.
 
I have really fond memories of my first sports car. A Fiat X1/9. It was a blast since I was 18 yrs old. Also helped hone my mechanic skills. I have owned my Sprite for 28 years so that says something for it. My current daily driver, a '04 Mini Cooper S is certainly near the top of my list. On the other end of the spectrum is my BMW 328i that just urges you to find a nice twisty road. It does it all with style and safety and still gets 30 mpg on the highway which is interesting since that's the same as the Mini.
 
Many cars, many great memory's. 55nomad, 48 TC, 70XKE, 72 MGB plus many more. Always liked what I owned of Datsun but believe you can't beat a Spridget! So tossable! Easy on gas. I lust for Loti though. Perhaps a Elan or maybe even the Elise but only the early one.

Kurt.
 
1964 Dodge Cornet 440 with a 318 and pushbutton tranny. Not nearly the best, but my first ever car that actually ran for more than a minute at a time. I was 16 and paid $35 for it. It was rusty and you had to pump the brakes to get it to stop, but to me, at the time, it represented manhood, freedom, self determination......... and, most of all, a genuine chance to snag some of that elusive, mythical thing known as the high school female...... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..
 
My favorites have always been my Minis. Over the years I've owned seven, all daily driven.

But if I had to choose a favorite, it would be this particular one. A modified Countryman/Traveller FrankenMini:

vanside.jpg


She had a 1275 "S" spec clone engine, sliding rag top, and unusual single, side-opening rear door:

vanfront.jpg


I drove that car all over the southwest, northwest, parts of Canada, and Tijuana/Baja roadtrips. Lots of memories. Loved that car.



She was stolen in the early 1980s. :madder:
 
Howdy Folks,

My All Time Favorite was and always will be a "Series I E-Type Rdstr". I had "4 of them" from `61-`67 & The 4.2L (1967) was the "Best" of the Best.

With "Big Healeys" in the upper "5 digit" cost levels & "E-Types" in the High 5 digit & "6 digit" cost levels; I guess I need to wait for that Illusive "Lottery Ticket" to get another one!!

"SPACE, GRACE & PACE" says it all about "Jag E-Types"!!

Happy Motoring,

Russ
 
Hands down....the 2000 Miata I bought new and still own. Competent for grocery getting and outstanding at track days.
Lots of laps at the Pocono race track and Lime Rock but also plenty of road-warrior miles on the NJ Turnpike, I-95, Rt. 80 etc. I drove it 100 miles yesterday with the top down.

#2 would probably be the '67 Sprite I bought in '69 when I was a college sophomore (my current race car wears two of its fenders and many other parts).

Also, very excellent memories of a '56 MGA I bought in high school.
 
My first car a 1966 MGB I bought in 74 for $400.00, It had a roll bar wire wheels with a little wider tire and a cherry bomb muffler. She ran like crazy and everyone with anything wanted to pull up on me and go for a run, great couple of summers until my brother took it for a ride while I was in college, that was the last ride, he lived but I would of liked to kill him. Someday another one will be in my garage but I sure like little blue at the moment.

Mark
 
This might sound weird but I'd have to say my fiat barchetta, just love it!
 
By the way, you can see some of my early, favourite cars ~Here~ (including that '67 Sprite and the MGA).

The FIAT Barchetta looks like a keen little car.....they were never certified to our standards and were not imported to the USA.
I'm sure many of us here would like one if we could get one.
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The one I still have. S-3 Elan. :wink:
 
18 Years old, 64 Ford sunliner, stretched 4 inches channeled 4 inchs. Skirts, olks tail lights, shaved, lovered hood, lakes pipes, etc etc.

And, Lincoln export engine, crane cam, two 4 barrel carbs, etc etc. 140 mph any old time.

Note Miss Agatha has 49 HP. Much safer this way, lol
 
Here are mine:

1. 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe
Perfect size, very light for an American car, unparalleled style, V8 through dual exhausts. Heaven.

2. Bugeye Sprite
My first was actually my Dad's. Like a roller skate with a connection to the road I'd never felt before.

3. 1969 Corvette roadster.
Chrome bumper shark. Never liked these as a coupe, but as a convertible with the top down that low, long, and curvaceous body was like a Playboy centerfold. Still is.

4. 1974 Fiat X1/9.
Midengine, 4 speed, rack and pinion and glued to the road. Plus a targa top. Odd style but a blast to drive.

Fred
 
1960 volvo 122 four door
 
1971 Citroen DS19 wagon but mostly

1962 Mercury Meteor (Bertha)

Citroen was my first car, only got 6 mos out of it but it was fun and cool. First real car was Bertha who just drove all day every day, lots of fun places, never fast (170ci 3 in the tree) but always fun.
 
I believe it was the early 1960s International Scout I had in the mid 80s. It was a former postal delivery vehicle so it was right hand drive and geared super low. You had to twist a couple wires together, turn the ignition switch with a screwdriver, then push a button to start it. The gearshift lever was also broken off so I had to shift it With a pair of Vicegrips. The entire top bolted off and the fender wells served as bench seats for all the people I used to haul around in the "party mobile." Good times. Second place is a tossup between my '88 VW GTI and my current MG 1100. As far as modern cars are concerned, my Honda Element wins hands down.
 
His wife, he is just the mechanic Doctor. lol
 
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