Looking the car you couldn't afford when a kid?

You have some company:

http://classicmotorsports.net/articles/buy-and-sell-drive-when-kids/

Always wanted and E type, Lotus Elan or Austin Mini-Cooper S when I was a kid. My boyhood fantasy was fulfilled with three mini's, but I still haven't owned the Jag or the Lotus.

Years from now when the backward hat crowd eases into male menopause, Honda Civics and Preludes will be pulled out of barns.

I don't know... as a child of the 70's and 80's (born in 1970), I didn't really lust after many of the cars that were new when I was young. I wanted (still do) a '69 Dodge Charger and other muscle cars of that era. Do I have nostalgia for some of the cars from "my time"? I suppose... I had a 82 Subaru 4WD wagon and wouldn't mind having one again, but I don't know if I'd go nuts bidding for one at B-J in 20 years...

Being a child of the '90s, I honestly lust for cars that are much older then me so if I had the money, I would probably buy cars from the '50s, '60s or '70s.

My pics are:

Ferrari 365 California Spider

1977-1979 Lotus Esprit(in White)

Aston Martin DB5(in Silver Birch)

When I was a kid I wanted a MG-T?, a TR-3, & a muscle car. Been there done all of those ('53TD, '56TR-3, '66 Catalina 2+2 421 & Tri-power, '69 Roadrunner 440 6 pack.

Now I'm into a car new enough to be comfortable, common enough to get parts, & FUN TO DRIVE. My Fit & my Miata fill my bill.

I never got the Europa J.P.S. or the Muira S I wanted after I filled my kid fantasies. But hey, you can't have it all. And I'm probably a lot happier and surely have more money in the pocket since I'm smart enough to not buy either one now!

I've been fortunate in that I've owned many that I lusted after as a kid, but there are still a few I'd like to have. Some are obtainable, others are not.

The biggest is a Pantera. My grandfather had a friend with two of them, along with a Cobra. For some reason, I wanted the Pantera instead, especially the black '71. They are still somewhat obtainable, but I'd want an original non-modified version. I still remember what it sounded like. I could stretch and get one price-wise, but the 288 GTO that I also lusted after is definitely still a dream.

As for affordable dreams, I still want a Europa, a TVR Tuscan, and I still want a 911 Carrera or SC.

Nice article, Andy.

Mine's always been the BMW E9. I thought that since it wasn't an exotic, I'd have one someday, but the pricing on good/restored ones has always just been out of my reach. At least I've never fallen for buying a bad one (I can't weld).

When I was a kid one of my first automotive lusts was the Porsche 924 Turbo. (gotta love that NACA duct! ) Now that I know better maybe a 944 S2 should be on my list.

Of course I also liked the Ford Granada!--- it had a friendly "face", kind of like my Mom's 68 Fairlane vert.

I'm very worried about you Joe...a Granada? The Porsche cannot make up for such a choice... I could see maybe giving you a pass on a say a Cordoba, with it's rich Corinthian leather and all, but a Granada....

racerdave600 wrote: I could see maybe giving you a pass on a say a Cordoba, with it's rich Corinthian leather and all, but a Granada....

De Plane De Plane!