Nicely written. I don't claim to know a lot about cars but I can appreciate them. I leave the real knowledge to my uncle (who owns a Lamborghini of some kind, a few Porches [including a Carrera GT], and a Noble [British sports car; don't know the model]) and my cousin, who road races a Porche, I think.
Yes, my uncle does well for himself. I wish we were closer. I could use a grant.
Last time I was up there, he was planning on taking me for some rides (I was most interested in riding, or driving, the '69 GTO. *drool*) but it was raining, so the idea was nixed rather quickly.
I was driving down lakeshore the other day when I ended up next to a 197x Saab Sonnett and thought, "Wyl should get one of those. It's a classic ride, and sweedish."
The khamsin was the only one I didn't know of, but then my nerdery in cars is rarely surpassed. :)
I still like the lines of the Jarama, and would take one over a Jalpa or a (barf)Espada. Still, give me an Islero 400 GTS over any of the super high performance models of the past 20 years.
As far as 4 seater Ferraris go, I've always been a huge fan of the 412. I don't think I need to justify my love of sharp angled design to a volvo afficionado.
There was a dude who owned 2 weird cars in my old neighborhood. One was a Qvale Mangusta... and then I think he got rid of it for a Panoz Esperante. Guess he was a fan of the ford modular v8.
Now, I love the Espada. I can't really explain it, but I suppose it's the same thing in me that makes me love the GT4 over the regular GTS when it comes to 308s. But I agree about the Jalpa. What a strange, gross car.
The 412 is really an unsung Ferrari, too. I imagine that is because the 400/412 came right after the Daytona, which is one of the all-time favorites of most collectors. I like the lines, too. That car would have fit right in the Volvo lineup in the BMW 850-type flagship spot. Of course, to be a Volvo it would had to have been powered by something inline and turbocharged, but that's ok, too.
You're right about the Sonett. My stepdad's brother James actually has one in need of restoration, but he's never gotten around to it in the decade he's had the car. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't biding my time until he's lost all interest, especially because they're sodamncool when done right. I'm willing to wait as long as it takes because I have Sonett-filled Saturday afternoon picnic daydreams
( ... )
"That car would have fit right in the Volvo lineup in the BMW 850-type flagship spot."
About a week after buying my first (old and used) car, I saw a 1990 780 Bertone for sale in someone's driveway. Maroon. I'd never seen one before, and I learned what it is to feel buyer's remorse.
Volvo needs a car like that again. The C70 is pretty enough and has the whiz-bang roof, but it's not a stunner like the 780 or the P1800 were/are. Just thinking about the possibilities Volvo had with that car make me dizzy.
I'm really worried about Saab. Most people gripe about the 9-2X and the 9-7X, but things were bad well before those two particular unmentionables. Since 1990 (when GM bought it) Saab has lost over $2 billion. That whole brand needs to go back to its roots as an innovator instead of a (extremely poorly) badge-engineered GM subsidiary, but I doubt GM would stomach such a move, even if Saabs became the fleet car for the European Union and the American Green Party.
You're probably correct when you conjecture that the Aurelia your grandpa had was a Eurpoean model. I read somewhere that left-hand drive Aurelias weren't imported until 1954, four years into the model run. I imagine that most of the southpaw Aurelias were Spyders or coupes, just because that's what the American appetite would have dictated. If he had a sedan then it was probably a pretty rare beast for over here.
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I'll be sure to check it out today!
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Yes, my uncle does well for himself. I wish we were closer. I could use a grant.
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The khamsin was the only one I didn't know of, but then my nerdery in cars is rarely surpassed. :)
I still like the lines of the Jarama, and would take one over a Jalpa or a (barf)Espada. Still, give me an Islero 400 GTS over any of the super high performance models of the past 20 years.
As far as 4 seater Ferraris go, I've always been a huge fan of the 412. I don't think I need to justify my love of sharp angled design to a volvo afficionado.
There was a dude who owned 2 weird cars in my old neighborhood. One was a Qvale Mangusta... and then I think he got rid of it for a Panoz Esperante. Guess he was a fan of the ford modular v8.
Reply
The 412 is really an unsung Ferrari, too. I imagine that is because the 400/412 came right after the Daytona, which is one of the all-time favorites of most collectors. I like the lines, too. That car would have fit right in the Volvo lineup in the BMW 850-type flagship spot. Of course, to be a Volvo it would had to have been powered by something inline and turbocharged, but that's ok, too.
You're right about the Sonett. My stepdad's brother James actually has one in need of restoration, but he's never gotten around to it in the decade he's had the car. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't biding my time until he's lost all interest, especially because they're so damn cool when done right. I'm willing to wait as long as it takes because I have Sonett-filled Saturday afternoon picnic daydreams ( ... )
Reply
About a week after buying my first (old and used) car, I saw a 1990 780 Bertone for sale in someone's driveway. Maroon. I'd never seen one before, and I learned what it is to feel buyer's remorse.
Reply
I'm really worried about Saab. Most people gripe about the 9-2X and the 9-7X, but things were bad well before those two particular unmentionables. Since 1990 (when GM bought it) Saab has lost over $2 billion. That whole brand needs to go back to its roots as an innovator instead of a (extremely poorly) badge-engineered GM subsidiary, but I doubt GM would stomach such a move, even if Saabs became the fleet car for the European Union and the American Green Party.
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