It’s a warm, sunny day, and you can take out any car you want for a drive. If I had my druthers today, that would be me behind the wheel of this 1911 Austro Daimler 22/86 “Prinz Heinrich. It was perhaps Ferdinand Porsche’s most important design, as it established a line of high-performance cars that culminated in the mighty Mercedes SS/SSK/SSKL line in the 1920s.Why did I think of it? Because I’m in the throes of researching and writing an in-depth history of the hemi head engine, and needless to say, the Prinz Heinrich plays an important role.
In my research, I came across one of the chapters of Karl Ludvigsen’s biography of Porsche, “The Genesis of Genius”, which covers his early years from 1900 to 1933. Ludvigsen’s impeccable research and vivid writing not only brought unexpected insight into my subject, but reminded me what an absolutely brilliant car this was. Porsche recognized that aerodynamic drag was the critical barrier to high speed, and every detail of this car has been aerodynamically optimized, down to the axle, the headlights, its full belly-pan, and even a tail cone. This car, rightfully called “the first sports car” was capable of an easy 140 kmh (87 mph), and I’d like to prove it for myself today.
What automotive fantasy would you indulge today?
Cord 810 or 812. That’s been my standard answer to that question for over 40 years now.
Too many to list – most are unattainable. I’ll be happy to get into a regal gs w a stick for a quick ride
We have a little snow out there……a 1964 Porsche 911 with spiked winter tires on gravel would be just right.
Looks like rain today, but still, a Morgan 3 wheeler. Old or new doesn’t matter.
We have a coating of snow on the ground…
Renault-Alpine A110 rally car…
A late ’60s Porsche 911. Use to have one. It wasn’t pretty, but had been set up for autocross by the PO. Most fun car I’ve ever driven, but it required a considerable amount of skill. Get sloppy with it and it would bite you hard.
Porsche 914, cause they sound like 70s era VW Transporters, but more fun to drive.
1990 Acura NSX. It’s always been a dream of mine to drive one. It has to be red, of course.
Since we are talking about today and it’s a bit miserable and I have a head cold, I want a hard top.
1969 Citroen DS Safari.
A drive in a Model A Ford is always a pleasure…as long as there is no schedule.
Jeeze ~ there’s so many……
-Nate
A Mercedes-Benz W124 500E in full-factory trim. I like “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”-sedans. And this is it, the one to have of the modern car era, right at the peak of Benz quality. A match made in heaven between Mercedes and Porsche, with a high-performance 5.0 liter naturally aspirated V8.
A collector’s item, guaranteed.
In America, you would like a “sleeper”, such as this, the Chrysler 300 SRT8.
Yep, know that one too. Available back then through our Chrysler dealerships.
I’d much rather have a (very) powerful sedan than any insect-look-a-like low riding super sports car. Note that this is all strictly fantasy, unless I hit the jackpot.
Another special one was the Audi S8 with the V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo. They could have called it the Lamborghini Quattroporte. But it turned out that somebody else in Italy already called a fast sedan “Four door”.
A Duesenberg Model SJ. It’s cold today, so a closed model might be best. I have always wanted to experience the supercar of the early Depression era.
On a warmer day, I might want to experience a Stutz Bearcat. There is something about those very basic and elemental road cars that is so viscerally appealing.
Not much snow here, 8 inches, but it’s packed and temps were mostly single digits yesterday and same for today. So it’d be rough going and traction an issue.
Might as well go with a Unimog!
I am in my usual Sunday driver, a 1986 Oldsmobile wagon with hockey gear crammed in the back (well, occupying 1/50 of the back). My ideal Sunday driver on a 40° day like today would be a Guards Red 911 Targa with really powerful seat heaters. I had one and for some reason which does not make sense now, sold it.
Being in Florida with 60-70 degree weather today, my 1st thought was Miata, 2nd was a TR6, but then I read a previous poster’s choice of 914 and I thought maybe that’s IT.
I’ve never driven a Miata, test drove a brand new 1972 TR6, and owned a “ratty” 914 and of the three of those I would love to own another 914. My perfect 914 would be a 2 liter, instead of the 1.8 I owned, and in near perfect condition…which my car was not.
As good as that TR6 bellowing exhaust note is….the whole air-cooled “experience” exceeds that British “old world”, wood dash….thing.
Hmmm. We have about three inches of snow on the ground right now (and more is on it’s way, thanks Polar Vortex! not…). I’d like something a little more prosaic that has all-wheel drive.
In line with my Pontiac fixation, one of the 6000 STEs with the AWD system. Or better yet, a Versatrak equipped Aztek. (My own Az is FWD).
Or maybe Michele Mouton’s WRC Audi? That would be cool! (so to speak)
A Bristol 410 please,
It’s still snowing but what is on the ground is beginning to melt.
So, I would like to try a snow white British Escort 1600ti. It’s an ’80s model; I think I have the designation correct.
Here’s a picture:
Jason, the designation is at the end of the black striping: RS 1600i.
It’s an Escort Mk3. The Escort and its successor the Focus combined with the letters RS was always the top model, performance-wise. Later on, in the nineties, there even was an Escort RS Cosworth, a monster.
Thank you. I watched a television show with one yesterday; your clarification helps immensely.
The RS1600i wasn’t turbocharged — it had the injected 1.6-liter CVH engine from the European XR3i, but with a hotter cam and higher compression for about 10 more horsepower. There was later an RS Turbo, which was similar, but had lower compression, KE- rather than K-Jetronic, a turbocharger, a trick viscous coupling front differential, an elaborate and dubiously tasteful white body kit, and 132 PS DIN (about 130 hp).
The RS1600i doesn’t seem like it would be that memorable unless you were coming to it having only dim memories of the non-sporty U.S. Escorts of the same vintage. The RS Turbo, on the other hand, edges into the Omni GLH category of “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Right. From the Category Famous Last Words: “Hey guys ! Look what I can do…”
Ah yes, this is the Escort I wanted so very badly in the 1980’s.
It was hinted that it may come to North America (or at least the good parts of it, applied to our NA-specific Escorts, but it never was. We got the weak-sauce Escort GT with the “hot-rod” 1.9 liter four cylinder that barely made over 100 HP.
At least the 1991 successor had the decent chassis (courtesy of Mazda) and motor (again, Mazda), but by then I’d moved on. Very little that appealed to me came from Ford in the 90’s and by the 00’s, they were no longer on my shopping list.
But, the one pictured would be a nice ride…
The 1991 successor in the US was a completely diiferent car than we had, wasn’t it ? The Euro-Escort Mk5 was introduced in 1990, here’s a picture of a 1991 Ford Escort (Mk5) RS 2000 with a 150 hp 2.0 liter engine.
A boy racers wet dream in the UK.Good luck finding one that isn’t a Sexton Blake,been thrashed to death or wrapped round a lamp post.I saw a few at a classic Ford show last year.
Johannes, yes the Escort we got post-1991 was based on the then-current Mazda small car. It was essentially a Mazda with a Ford body and interior pieces. The mechanicals were all Mazda underneath. They were a neat little car to drive, but about five years too late. By then, all of the Japanese competition had moved on. But, good for Ford USA, the domestic competition was about the same place Ford was at that time. Maybe GM was slightly ahead with the release of the Saturn, but not by much.
Thanks. An entirely different car, obviously.
1970 Dodge Dart Swinger through the back roads of New York’s Southern Tier on a Spring day.
I’d like to try Sebastian Loeb’s full rally version of my car just to see how twice the power feels like through the best handling chassis of the 90s early 00s, just a quick return run over hwy 5 then he can have it back.
My all time dream car of course , a 1965 Chevy bel air post coupe w a 4spd and either the 396 or 409. Either that or if we’re going total fantasy then the 1906 world speed record Stanley Steamer.
Hmm, watching the snow drift down this afternoon.
I’ll take Jerry Seinfeld’s Porsche RSK that was on the most recent episode of CICGC. The weather on the episode looks pretty nice too.
I am rethinking my previous selection. It is still a rear engine car: NSU TTS
That’s easy: any Duesnberg SSJ model, preferably with a roadster body, an all original survivor. These cars, while not aerodynamic at all, made tremendous torque and power off their 6.9 litre DOHC 32V straight 8 engines, all at very low speed. The car could be lugged down to idle in top gear and pick-up cleanly,so prodigious was the low-speed torque of these big, long stroke engines.
Paul, if I am not mistaken, didn’t the Duesenberg also have hemispherical combustion chambers?
No snow here in Detroit, but they forecast flurries for later today. The obvious answer: my ’64 Corvair Monza, PowerGliding all the way. One small drawback: it has a nasty tendency to direct crankcase fumes into the cabin when you turn on the heat. I call the resulting light-headedness Corvair Buzz. Still, nothing beats its handling in the snow (so they tell me).
Work duties have kept me away from CC for about three weeks, but it’s good to be back.
Having owned , worked on and loved Corvairs , I remember those fumes but they were fairly easily fixed by proper oil leak repair ~ then the oil didn’t dribble into the heater boxes and onto the exhaust…..
I almost passed out bringing my ’61 ‘Vair Coupe home due to those fumes late at night in January but after I fixed the push rods tubes it was no longer a problem in spite of the oil the engines burned do to bad piston rings .
-Nate
1996 Buick Riviera (Supercharged).
Fetch me a pan before I start drooling.
Ah! Another Riviera fan! I meant to buy one this summer but couldn’t find any that hadn’t been pimped.
Man, what’s wrong with me: First a Porsche 911, then a NSU TTS, both air cooled rear engined handling challenges? In my fantasy world I put the TTS in the ditch. I am glad it didn’t catch on fire! Besides the heat sucked in both of the cars and the racket aggravated my tinnitus.
I need to sooth my nerves. The sun came out but it is very cold. Cuddle me in luxury! Lincoln Mark VIII, with classical music by Iowa Public Radio. Hot apple cider in the thermos and enjoying a smooth unhurried ride on Grant Wood Scenic Byway that should never end.
Best seats I’ve ever encountered in a car (tie with Volvo S60 T5 Sport Pkg.) Good choice for smoothness–the air suspension all around takes car of that. But if you do want to hurry, there are 280 HP available under your right foot!
as long as its a fantasy, I used to dream of taking a 1989 BMW 750il back in time to 1955 Detroit – Then I’d start a record company and call it Motown, discover lots of great groups and treat them fairly & well… btw, no I wouldn’t sleep with Diana Ross!
It was a dream I had after I’d worked for a BMW dealer I left that job in late 1988… yes, I probably went to bed high that night listening to Motown! lol
Yep, I always thought Mary Wells was prettier.
It’s sunny and perfect temperature here in San Diego today, so I would ordinarily say, “my bicycle” – the HHRacicing Group Professional. But it is a Santa Ana condition today, which means dry with really high north-east winds, so a motor is actually necessary. Breezy as it is, it’d have to be a low profile car… perhaps a Lotus Europa … though I wouldn’t mind having our old Miata back again (sold after kids )
Today? Hmm.. Well, I’m sick of cold weather, so I’m going to grab a camper and make tracks for warmer weather! While I’m dreaming, let’s make it something like a ’61 or so GMC with an Avion slide-in, or maybe a Corvair with a teardrop? Or something like that…
Jake, you doodled that? You’ve got talent!
A Ford Model T, just to see if I could manage the pedal arrangement.
250 GT Lusso. Accompanied by Sophia Loren circa 1963.
maybe stop off for a picnic somewhere
Oh my….
The mind simply boggles .
-Nate
A 1973 Pontiac Astre (GT Wagon or Fastback, with a Borg-Warner/Tremec T-5 Swap), as it is believed that less than 10 1973 Astres still exist at all. As long as I am going to drive a very rare crapcan, I might as well make it my dream version.
Well, if we’re going full crapcan here, then I would opt for this: The South African Chevrolet Can Am, with full SBC in a Vauxhall Viva chassis. The V8 Vega from the factory…
But I do like your choice of Cheviac… 🙂
I knew a guy who built one of those but with 253cu Holden power it went like a bullet the real thing woulda been cool.
I’ll go with a car I saw on Saturday, a Bugatti Type 35! For the afternoon anyway, it was raining yesterday (Sunday) morning.
On Saturday I just happened to be driving down a random side street, I spotted what looked like a green 1972 Porsche 911S parked on the street, and as I drove past the house the garage was open to reveal the distinctive shape of a 1920s Bugatti radiator. If it wasn’t a Type 35 it was one of the variations.
I was dreaming today of what might have happened if Nash had bought Willys in 1954 instead of 1970.
Hudson had nothing that Nash needed. But Willys had a line of compact trucks.
I’m sure Ed Anderson could have civilized the Jeep station wagon into …
The 1957 Rambler Amerivan!
So that’s what I’d want to drive today. Hop in, pull the shift lever to crank the smooth 5-main-bearing F-head dual-ignition four, turn on the Weather-Eye to cancel out today’s 12 degrees, find a snow-covered dirt road, climb to the top of a hill, and lower the reclining second seat to take a long nap.
I had to think long and hard about this one, but once it came to me, the answer was all too obvious:
A Bricklin? (c:
Lancia Stratos
I apologize in advance if i’m missing the punchline?
Something different every day…
Tonight it’s an Audi V8 Quattro, 1993. Not expensive anymore, but very hard to find in tip-top shape. Make mine blue over tan leather, open the sunroof and turn on the heated seats…
I’d settle for either of my Type I Beetles… But instead, my actual Sunday drive was 17 hours in my new Fit… which included a fun hour literally sitting engine off on I-24 North of Chattanooga due to a bad accident that closed down the whole EB side of the highway.
Heatwave in Brisbane right now,so a Mini Moke, Maybe with a vtec fitted.
KJ
I would be curious to drive a Honda S600/S800 — not in heavy traffic. I’d also be intrigued to try the Model T I rode in a while back, although being perfectly honest I would probably need someone to coach me through the ritual of starting it.
440 Challenger, and given the current weather here in Chicago I’ll be driving it west very briskly, nothing will stop me!
Coming a bit late to this one, so a range of answers
Across the Alps in a gullwing Mercedes 300SL (the only silver car I’d buy)
Around the Dolomites in a Ferrari 308GTS (red, of course)
Around the Scottish highlands in a lightweight Jaguar E Type (British racing green)
Down to Arles in Provence in an Aston Martin DB6 Volante (classy dark red colour?)
the length of the PCH in a 1962 Thunderbird (any colour will do)