The Gentleman's express

3500 pounds without any fluids and 240 horsepower with the 5 liter, they are no ball of fire. My brother had a nice 450SL for a while, and was a pretty nice car for grown ups. The ride was spectacular over speed bumps in his neighborhood after he rebuilt the suspension. I'm sure it was comfy on trips. I didn't consider it sporty. The "Express" is debateable. There are certainly used Mercedes which would fill the bill though, if you can live with an automatic. He had a 5 liter AMG 2 seater that sounded awesome and went like heck after he sold that 450SL barge. It was an SLK or something.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_R107_and_C107

benzbaronDaryn wrote: This. I bet the mercedes will push a few of those cars out of the way.

Have you ever driven a r107 pedal to the floor? A 450sl depending on year puts out between 160-200hp. My 280slc would push many cars out of the way, lock out fourth gear by selecting S mode and put the pedal down run the engine to around 6000rpm. The problem is people don't know how to drive the cars. You need to use the auto gear box like a manual and shift it when you want to push it. Oh how we forget in modern times what it took to make power in the old days. This is gentlemanly remember so keep your pony cars. On the open highway a 500slc can sustain a speed of 140mph, not hit it once or twice, hold and stay there, until the 30year old v rated 14in tires explode. Try that in some of the others. My 280slc can cruise at 90mph, not bad for a 35year old car.

I think the 500/560 SEC and the 3000gt vr4 would top my charts. Both great cruisers.

I agree the MGB and MGC GTS are not true sports cars. But I damned sure wouldn't want to travel cross country in one even when new much less today!

However I will add a personal cross country favorite. The Wide Trac Pontiacs of the '60s! I bought a '66 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 new which made several round trips from So.Cal. to various locations in the Eastern US in about four years. Beautiful car, great ride, plenty of room, and power. My only mistake when I bought mine was to not get power windows. I doubt Lew Alcinder could roll up the passenger door window from the driver's bucket seat manually!

What about this thing?

Am I doing this right?

In reply to pres589:

That depends on your intentions. If you want to insure every cop for miles around keeps you in sight and knows where you live, you're spot on!

My brother and I took a lot of trips in his '71 Firebird Formula 455 back in the day. It was a great cruiser, so I second the wide-track Pontiac thing.

If you don't need a back seat, the AMC AMX 390 is not one to overlook.

No mention of the Gran Torino yet? It didn't make it to the 80's, but the earlier ones were pretty.

In reply to jstand:

That's a Torino GT, not a Gran Torino. Those didn't come out until 1972.

tl;dr, came here looking for vans with stripper poles

My short list would include some already listed here.

Maserati Coupe, it just oozes class and luxury in it's interior. I've seen some examples in the high teens with a manual.

I'll be bold and say the reissued GTO. I mean it has GT in the name. V8, 6 Speed, better control and interior materials than most GM fair. IRS keeps the rear planted in the twisties. Might be a little too under the radar for some. Prices hovering around 10K for nice examples.

W209 Mercedes CLK55 AMG - This one, like the GTO might be a little too plain for some. Also like the others it packs a big V8, RWD, and IRS, but no manual option. Seems like a decent mid-model year can run in the mid to upper teens in price.

Okay last one for now. Call me crazy, but I think the Subaru SVX fits the bill perfectly. It's even more standout in the looks department than some others listed here. It's a mid 90's Grand Touring spaceship designed by ItalDesign.

The Maserati is the most Gran Turismo of them all for the $$'s. It has the pace, the handling, the comfort, and are reliable for the long haul, (if you get the 6spd.). Note: I did not say the most reliable, but they are reasonably well screwed together for the performance envelope in which they live.

t25torx wrote: I'll be bold and say the reissued GTO. I mean it has GT in the name. V8, 6 Speed, better control and interior materials than most GM fair. IRS keeps the rear planted in the twisties. Might be a little too under the radar for some. Prices hovering around 10K for nice examples.

Yes, but this color.

In reply to AngryCorvair: Stripper poles are becoming almost standard equipment in larger boats sold in the Pacific Rim. No one actually wants to go anywhere on their boats over there. They just want to have Gentlemen's club parties and gamble. Meanwhile the crew moves the boat around enough that the authorities don't complain about all the noise & other side affects of the parties.

Rupert wrote: In reply to AngryCorvair: Stripper poles are becoming almost standard equipment in larger boats sold in the Pacific Rim. No one actually wants to go anywhere on their boats over there. They just want to have Gentlemen's club parties and gamble. Meanwhile the crew moves the boat around enough that the authorities don't complain about all the noise & other side affects of the parties.

So where am I moving to??

In reply to Flight Service:Hong Kong, Manila, almost anywhere in that area. [BE PREPARED TO PAY TONS OF BUCKS!!

bluej wrote: I'd throw a vote in for Dodge Stealth RT/TT.

Have you actually spent time in one of those? I have...