Best driving classic of all time?

As I finish up the Mini Cooper I am reminded of the lists I have seen of best driving/handling cars of all time. I have not driven my Mini, but have driven others. They usually make these types of lists. I am curious to see if this car belongs on that list. What do you guys think the best driving/handling classics of all time are?

I am willing to test drive some or all and verify. Strictly in the name of science and editorial, mind you.

I'd throw out the term "best driving/handling" and replace with fun factor. That would put my old minis up near the top of the list. Also had a 1275 Midget that was 95% race car on the street. Used to shut down 240Z's and challenge small block V8's at the stoplight grand prix. That car was also high on the list of fun factor. My hotted up TR8's are up there also.

The Late Model Corvair is a great driving and handling car. It's a better Grand Tourer than sports car.

I know there are better cars, but I have driven a lot of classic cars and the LM Corvair definitely stands out.

I'll be the first to nominate the BMW 2002.

My first new car was a 2002 & I have my 3rd one now.

Wow, that's an impossible question. Where does one start? Alfa's? British? Japanese, German, what era classic? Alfa's? what price range? ...did I say Alfa's?...I hear Fulvia's are really fun too.

Lotus Elan, series 1 on 145 SR 13"s.

The spring rates allow body roll that you learn to love and trust.

The Élan and Alfa Spyder are very high on my list too. I had an early Corvair, but don't think I have ever driven a second gen car. The Porsche 911 definitely and supposedly Ferrari 275 GTB should be on the list according to an owner I know.

944

For "best driving," as in cruising, I'd choose MB 230, 250, 280SL. Preferably a late model 280. That would be my choice for doing the New England 1000. Problem is, the good ones have always been just beyond my (feasible / common sense) budget.

A couple years ago there was a 280 parked in front of the showroom at the Inskip Porsche store here in RI. Beautiful car. Very clean and well preserved. Silver with black leather. Hardtop installed. Four speed manual (rare). No tags. Looked like it had been taken in trade. I inquired, but it was already spoken for. That's the closest I've come to throwing all caution to the wind and would have been willing to pay the asking price for the finest 280 SL I'd ever seen. Turns out that Inskip had to find a buyer for this car before the deceased owner's heir could buy a brand new Porsche. A few months later I saw the same car in a Paul Russell ad in the back of Octane magazine, but by then it was gone again. Curse you, Alex Finigan

Not the same car, but it looked like this, sans white walls: http://www.motoringinvestments.com/images/ZC228/ext23_small.JPG

This is a loaded question, as it would need to be quantified as to use. I would say almost any vintage Lotus (I have a soft spot for Europas), and of course most Porsches. If you don't need hp, the X1/9 is certainly a contender, especially lightly modified, as is a 944 Turbo if you go more modern. If I had to pick pure driving, just for fun car, a Lotus Europa or Elan is hard to top.

In reply to racerdave600:

I have to agree with the Lotus Europa. My bother's is complete with the twin weber head, wilder cams, etc. It runs circles around almost anything on the twisty bits.

If I had to pick one out of the cars I have driven, it would be a 914.

In reply to Tim Suddard:

Well maybe you guys should get a LM Corvair.

They handle much better than the early model.

I haven't driven many old sports cars, but have put many miles on a'67 Corvair. Gotta be one of the best.

Opel Manta should be way up there.

TR8owner wrote: I'd throw out the term "best driving/handling" and replace with fun factor. That would put my old minis up near the top of the list. Also had a 1275 Midget that was 95% race car on the street. Used to shut down 240Z's and challenge small block V8's at the stoplight grand prix. That car was also high on the list of fun factor. My hotted up TR8's are up there also.

I was pretty thrilled with my hotted up 240Z. It was street legal, barely. Lowered, Konis & sway bars, air dammed front and rear, bored & stroked, cammed, 5 speed, Detroit Locker, 3 Webers, Headers and full duals.

But it would still cruise quite happily, unless it was raining, with the A/C on. You really have to work to drive a Detroit Locker safely in the rain.

I have to say this spyder has always handled very nicely has a set of konis and very old rubber. I probably should replace the rubber this summer.

I was surprised how well my barracuda will handle with just some good shocks, a little more torsion bar and some modern rubber. It's pretty fun to toss around for a older gal.

67 Alfa GTV. It was smooth and great fun to hustle on twisty roads, cruised at 85 on the highway in 5th gear at 3500 RPM's.

MGB.

Leo

cdowd,

That's a beautiful Alfa. When you look for tires, check out Vredesteins. I have them on several of my cars and they look right and drive wonderfully in all conditions.

Leo,

You mention MGB. That car is really underrated, as it does pretty darned well at just about everything.

In reply to Tim Suddard: I was looking at those and the firestones that were detailed in the magazine.

Most of the vintage cars that I've driven and been impressed with their suspension are now so dated that I wonder what I was thinking when I go back to them again a few decades later. I wonder what I was thinking (possibly that since the car in question felt better than a Wolseley 6/99 it had to be decent? I don't know).

I know that even cars that have really impressed me, fall by the wayside - the 914 is one of these.

Among the few that didn't are the Europa and Elan. Both can be improved with mods, but in their stock form I have rarely driven a more responsive chassis that stood up so well to the passage of time.

PS - anyone suggesting an early 911, particularly one of the more powerful versions has probably never scared themselves silly in one by suddenly hitting the limit. Not a very forgiving car and subject to sudden changes. I defy anyone that doesn't own and know them to go out in an early turbo and manage not to either go very slowly, or spin on a race course first time out.

I haven't driven all that many classics, but I can say that I have had the most fun driving my Mini. The BMW 2002 I had really surprised me for how close to a modern car it felt to drive.