By Jeff Glucker
For as long as I’ve loved the automobile, my most desired driving experience has been seat time in a Ferrari 250 California Spyder. Yes, it stems from first seeing the car in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And yes, I know the car from the movie wasn’t the real deal. It doesn’t matter. That old Ferrari is still one of my favorite things of all time. I’ll likely never get the chance to drive one, as they’re all worth eight-figures a piece at this point. Still, never say never, right? (Maybe I can say “Never” here…).
I have other dream drives too, of course. There are many race cars I’d love a crack at. A winged Mopar machine ranks high on my list of Bucket List driving experiences. I’d also like to spend a long weekend with the Dodge Challenger-turned-Trophy Truck from the Fast & Furious films. There’s a certain 1974 Ford Falcon XB in black with side pipes that sticks in my mind.
All of those are dream drives for me. The Ferrari is probably at the top of the list, even after all this time. The others would be great. Yet that Ferrari would almost be a sort of culmination of all the reasons I originally began to notice and appreciate “the car”.
What is your absolute dream drive?
You always hear ‘never drive your heroes’ for fear you’ll finally be faced with the brutal, depressing disappointment of something that might not even hold a performance candle to a modern 4 cylinder Malibu. I’m guessing a Testarossa/Countach/whatever other poster was on my wall in the 80’s would sound great, but I probably wouldn’t want to look at the numers.
Still – one of these days I need to try this:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5d563e97b8bdbb886cad2cd2b8b5eb17b86c025c7e58805b06ebc467f2f01028.jpg
Good choice, better than anything I came up with offhand.
I remember looking up 1/4 mile times and realized that my ‘14 Mustang would have been a dead heat against a 550 Maranello in a drag race, and that shine of the mystique dimmed a bit.
The color scheme of the Se7en
was definitelymay have been part of my google search ;). I can’t get enough of that livery.Track day was great from the standpoint that everything came home with no damage. Once the track dried and warmed up (rain all night, then low to mid 40’s with no sun all the morning made for a lot of slippery pavement) after the sun came out, the instincts kicked back in, right turns felt normal and my knee was back on the ground, though not as much as I was used to. Left handers, especially entering under braking, were unsurprisingly pretty weak with my arm the way it is but now I’ve definitely got a direction to aim my PT sessions at and try and get stronger before spring. Right to left sweepers were a lot easier but I wasn’t trying to stabilize me and aim the bike with an iffy arm going into them. But the bike performed like a champ and it was definitely the oddball in the crowd. Lots to work on and improve but I can’t wait for more. Will put a picture or two and maybe a video up in the news tomorrow.
I’ve driven one around a block, and it was AMAZING
Soooooo many choices – priceless classic? Legendary race car? Total insanity like a top fuel car or Grave Digger?
But with just one choice, I think this would have to be my pick. Would I try to hit that 270+ mph speed? Would I need a change of shorts, or emergency cardiologist intervention? Probably.
https://www.koenigsegg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/RSR.png
Good choice
I’ve loved these since I was a kid, but have never seen one in person, much less driven one.
There’s an annual British Car Day out in Oakville – there was one V8 Vantage this year (along with an earlier DBS), but like you, I can’t remember the last time I saw one on the road. Then again, I saw a DB6 circling Queens Park about 15 years ago (I’d be much more shocked to see the same today).
I can appreciate most things from a distance, so I don’t know how much I would get out of driving any particularly notable vehicle unless it has just bonkers performance.
Given the appropriate venue, I guess I would want to give the Bugatti Chiron a go.
Maybe an early 80’s NASCAR Cup car. Some vestiges of stock still there, but capable of 200mph. Sounds like a visceral time, but marginally less likely to kill me than a LeMans prototype of F1 car.
I haven’t driven one yet, but I’ve always loved the styling of a 280SL. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2cf7a17cba46f3944eb8ad13ceec7964475fe7d0db065f9fe1a1547af5ba5381.jpg
what an answer! I remember seeing a pristine 280SL around the East Village in Manhattan maybe ten years ago, top down, sitting at a curb by Tompkins Square Park. most of my spots stay in my memory but that moment secured the Pagoda in my mind as the most SL of SLs.
there’s been a couple R107s in my life – hence my username – but the Pagoda is just that little bit more special.
Ford GT40 comes to mind. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e6ddd401568e3ff2ed9e24d1f2777065785c2d27ca31beea8d93a148e5e44c59.jpg
I’ve driven the Superformance version, and I don’t fit well.
I want to drive a Citroen SM for that otherworldly ride quality and because it’s such a legendary hell project.
From quite possible, to impossible unless Nick Mason adopts me:
Mini,
Ford T,
Citroen DS,
Duesenberg SJ,
Ferrari 250 GTO
But to choose only one, it’d be the Ferrari (a ride in the Citroen would work, I don’t need to be driving)
A guy here brought his Model T to Cars and Coffee a few times. One time a young guy mentioned that he’d like to drive one someday and the guy told him to hop in. They spent 15-20 minutes driving around the parking lot.
I’d like to drive one too someday.
wow, very nice of the Model T owner
Seems to be a trait, we experienced a similar invitation, each of our party of four was driven around the block.
Now, I realize that neither of these are going to end well…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ac3b8b33a75051c2c4e585d9b844312795b8ef895cf8b371d055d08e9e6e7b3b.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a8c0edb8b2b05fd718a407f92c6620e12760a07e61f85c52f6ddefc24e22824e.jpg
This reminds me: believe it or not, there’s a Viper (a first-gen, sidepiped model, no less) available for rent on Turo around my area. I’m not sure who’s braver, the owner or the renters.
I want to do it anyway.
I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a dream car, but on my list of “must drives” is– embarrassingly perhaps– the 2CV. Perhaps it wouldn’t be thrilling, but this car couldn’t NOT be fun to drive around town. It would make a grocery run feel like an adventure.
https://www.gtplanet.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2CV-Sahara-0001-860×484.png
I drove a 2CV around a block in London once, it was slow and noisy and the shifter took some getting used to but definitely a fun car with a unique design philosophy. For the record, your picture is of a 4WD Sahara model with a second engine and drive train in the back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGIwvoLPoAU Chris Harris seems to like driving his!
Momentum driving at its finest!
Ooooh excellent choice
Mmmm…
MB 300sl gull wing coupe
Ferrari 250 swb berlinetta
Aston-Martin DB4 Zagato coupe
Maserati tip 61
These were the hero cars of my youth. A new Mustang GT will out perform all of them and be safer and more comfortable but you asked.
Any Cobra variant. Or a 3rd/4th generation Viper.
On the 4×4 front, a Pajero Evolution and an LJ Rubicon.
I’ve driven a Coyote powered Factory Five and it’s a lot of fun and surprisingly refined and balanced. Yes, the tail comes out easily, but unless you are extremely foolish, it’s fairly easy to catch.
That said, while my daily driving is more aggressive than the average person, my aggressive driving is tame compared to most enthusiasts. So I was pushing it, but not terribly hard I’d guess.
It’s also cramped, hot, loud and exhausting. Not a good distance car, but in short doses a lot of fun.
I would like to get a chance to drive a Delorean DMC-12. I kinda get the feeling it might be a tad terrible, but it’s one of my long time dream cars. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4c28f2b1ba95bba8d906a0faf3a07058ca23027dc71df34e49371575a1983bfe.jpg
I never really thought about it, but Bentley 4-1/2 Liter Blower is the first thing that comes to mind. I love driving cars that have 20 different levers you need to operate at every second, especially if some of them are outside the cockpit.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1366c786840c5495d633f574fa36c684478336e0502394c85a9e15e51c1ed6b7.jpg
I’d love a drive in a McLaren F1, but mostly I long for more tame sports cars and oddballs.
90s 300zx twin turbo
RX7s, particularly the 90s turbo
Citroën DS
Model T
Saab 900 Turbo
Corvette
NSX (new and old)
S2000
Honda Beat
Autozam AZ-1
Fiat X 1/9 with RSX Type S K20A2 power
I’m sure I could easily double this list, given enough time.