In honor of the CC visit to the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville TN, I thought it would be fun for those of us who are not going to nominate which car from the Museum’s collection they would like to drive there. This former fire service Citroen 2CV would be ideal if you are not sure which way to go…
Or any other car really – perhaps you would like to turn up in something that the Lane would like to add to their collection, or something that might horrify them? The Lane has a huge collection of microcars, but they aren’t really practical for highway travel. However their 1988 Citroen CX-based Tissier car carrier could probably accommodate two or three…
Such as the Z in their vast collection of vehicles, the Zündapp Janus which has a whopping 250 cc 2-stroke engine. The real party trick of the Janus was that it was almost a mirror-image car, with doors at the front and rear of the car accessing seats facing each direction. Like two Isettas glued together really!
But you might like to get there more quickly. This Caterham 7 Blackbird would be just the thing, with a 170 hp engine pushing just 1,000 pounds it will hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds!
The Caterham can’t be very comfortable though, with the lack of windscreen etc. So perhaps a 1930’s French Grand Routier like this 1936 Panhard Panoramique might be the thing? It has a 4.8-litre sleeve-valve six cylinder engine, so it should be supremely quiet and vibration-free on the highway.
But what if you need to cross a lake on the way to the Lane? They have that covered too, not only the gigantic BARC 3-X, but also this 1960 Chevrolet “Corphibian” that was built on a standard Corvair Loadside by a couple of GM engineers. Aquatic steering is by way of a wooden rudder and presumably the fiberglass hull additions are better quality than Top Gear!
It is the wrong time of year to need the capabilities of the 1942 Tatra Aeroluge… To understand why a replica of this wartime one-off was built, consider that the roller at the rear was used to get the vehicle moving, before the propeller became effective at higher speeds. Braking was partly achieved by performing a skiing style snow-plow with the front skis, activated by a normal brake pedal; there are also pins that extend through the rear skis and a brake inside the roller. All while you enjoy the sounds of the air-cooled V8!
Alternatively, a mini-Corvair experience could be had in this 1967 NSU Prinz 1000. Yes 1000 as in cubic centimetres, plenty to roll along at highway pace while confusing passers-by.
The 1997 Nissan Rasheen would also bring stares, for being so small for a boxy SUV – check out the comparative size of the motorcycle in the background!
To provoke more extreme reactions, you could have a lot of fun snapping necks while driving this flying saucer 1948 Davis Divan.
Or if you prefer chopping off to merely snapping, the 1932 Helicron would appear to be equipped for the job!
I dare say this 1985 MG Metro 6R4 would be qualified to produce similar sensations among its passengers, being a bona-fide Group B rally monster with 400 hp from its mid-mounted V6 engine.
But if you have several passengers to bring, the 7-seat 1967 Saab 95 wagon is eminently qualified.
If you are travelling light, you might dare like to try the 1998 McLean Monowheel? Extra protective clothing is probably advised though, the Lane’s website says “Learning to ride takes patience and practice”, and that you can only put your feet on the pegs above 15 mph so it won’t be ideal in stop and go traffic.
For me though, there can only be one answer: the 1947 Tatra T-87, likely the most famous vehicle in the Lane collection. If I was to pretend I could, I might instead drive my Hillman Imp because they don’t have one of those in their collection!
What would you chose?
Further Reading:
See You In Nashville At The Lane Motor Museum In Four Weeks!
See You (And The Chrysler Turbine Car) In Nashville Next Weekend (Updated With Our Itinerary)
Last Minute Nashville CC Meet-Up Details
1962 Ford Fairlane with a dented hood (but they probably don’t have one).
No contest, I’d take the Caterham. I’m sure I could borrow goggles somewhere.
The ’67 Saab 95. My first car was a red ’68 95 V4.
The Lane’s replica of the Dymaxion car, I don’t think so. I want to live!
http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/buckminster-fullers-dymaxion-car-probably-scariest-thing-weve-ever-driven
The Chrysler Turbine Car.
MG Metro 6R4
Soo cool!!!
Indeed! Engineering by Williams Grand Prix; engine used in the Jaguar XJ220!
Here’s my choice… have a great time. Looks great.
Good choice!
That’s what I chose too – the 1977 Alfetta.
That double-2CV (“Where’s the fire?”) reminds me of steeplecab (AKA camelback) locomotives, e.g.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeplecab#/media/File:GE_Steeplecab.jpg
I haven’t been there in quite a while (5-7 years?), but I would want to drive one of their vintage Euro Fords, or, if I could pick a “Lane appropriate” car it would be a 1st generation Ford Fiesta (like the one I owned in the early 80s).
77 Fiesta – I learnt to drive on one. Sharp clutch, by Gillette I think
So many choices, and so many I’d love to drive. So I’ll narrow it down to two.
Am I driving across town, and rolling up to the front door of the Lane in style? In that case I’ll take the Voisin C28. A gorgeous, rare, art deco aircraft dream.
Am I driving from my home? Well that’s a different story. We need something that won’t be scary on modern highways and will gobble up the miles with style. For that I think I’ll select the Alpine A310. A “modern classic” GT car I’ve always admired.
Honorable mention to the ’58 Tatra T603. I love the “three-eyed” front, rare as most of them were updated to later spec as they came back into the factory for refreshing. If I needed to take more than two people. that’s the one I’d choose.
I thought I would leave that part of the question open!
Definitely NOT the Hoffman. Jason Torchinsky adamantly claims it to be The Worst (Effing) car ever made, and he might be right:
If I was concerned about comfort and starting from the West Coast, the Citroen SM.
If I had time to dawdle, knew the weather would be temperate, I would love to drive the Auto Union SP-1000, just to stop at any Thunderbird owners’ meets along the way and shake things up.
One of
Alfa Romeo 2600 Berlina-1962
Borgward Isabella-1959
Citroën 7C- 1937
Citroën DS20 Safari Estate Wagon- 1973
Citroën H-Van- 1972
Hotchkiss-Gregoire- 1951
Morris Eight Pre-Series-1935
NSU Ro-80- 1970
Tatra T-603 MKII Saloon- 1964
Triumph TR8- 1980
Not any of the Relaint or Bond three wheelers and I admire a museum that is able to label an exhibit “unknown French microcar-1950’s?”
And to drive home? As there is no Bullet Bird, the Corvair Loadside?
Either the Davis or the Caterham 7. It would depend on the day’s weather…
Do they have a Vega?
I like the NSU 1000, but it would be too noisy for a day long trip. Therefore I would choose a Citroen SM.
Among the roadworthy cars, definitely the Topolino. I played with one of those in a junkyard when I was a kid, and always wanted to try it for real.
My choice is the obvious one, the only one. The fact that the museum does not have one in it’s collection is a tragedy.
My choice: a Nash Rambler convertible, as driven by Lois Lane
Maybe she could arrive with a guy named Nash or even Jeffery (instead of Clark Kent?)
With that same idea, about 20 years ago I visited a car museum (unfortunately closing at that time, didn’t know it existed beforehand) in Kingston PA which was owned by a guy with last name of Riley (he had several English Riley cars in his collection). At least we got to see it just as it closed.
In honor of my Father (and prelude to my first Father’s day without him; he died this past January), I’d choose his ’68 Renault R10 (which kind of looked like a bigger version of the NSU Prinz). One of the guys I used to work with inherited a ’61 Prinz (different body style, so doesn’t look like a Corvair lite).
I never got to drive the R10, but I have vivid memory driving back to our then home in Manassas from a Washington Senators game with him timing lights, trying not to use the clutch (of course traffic wasn’t so bad back then) after the clutch failed during our father-son outing. However, I should note that his name was not Reggie, so the name part doesn’t apply here.
The Helicron looks like what Barney Rubble used to drive. Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
’77 Trans Am for a fun drive on the way down.
’84 Olds 98 Regency for a comfy drive on the way back 🙂
I would love to see the micro car collection. Maybe they have a Mazda Porter like the one featured yesterday. Better yet the pick-up version. Do they have any Crosleys?
That Saab 95 wagon or the Volvo next to it would be fun to take to Old Town just to watch passers-by stare.
Several Crosleys – definitely check out the website, I dare you not to spend at least 10 minutes!
From their collection, I’d have to go with the Fiat 500 Abarth. Just simply because I could hypothetically borrow the almost exact same car from my stepson. In fact, at his daughter’s birthday party today, I may be potentially parked next to this car when my wife and I drive down there. I’ve driven it. It’s actually a blast to drive!
Have fun touring this place, guys. Wow, what an eclectic collection.
I’ll be slightly contrarian here and pick the 1995 Triumph Thunderbird Motorcycle.
It’s about 1200km each way so I’d need something that actually goes, a modern Triumph is a reasonable choice.
Stop by Knoxville and do the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way home..
Yeah, there were several intriguing bikes, and a few cool airplanes as well!
Far too many to choose from. I don’t see the Panhard dual cowl phaeton… they must have sold it and I can’t find my pictures of it.
1973 Citroen SM
1938 BMW 380 Cabriolet
1959 Borgward Isabella