The List

My wife and I were talking about stuff and she jokingly said "one day i want to surprise you with a car." I said "how? the specificity is so important! you'll need a detailed list! I'll start writing it now!" She said "..i'll ask for the list when i'm ready..."

This was all in jest and it's pretty much all pointless since we can't afford/house any additional cars for the foreseeable ever, but i wanted to make one anyway.

-Lancia Delta HF integrale (euro import)
-Toyota Celica All-Trac turbo ST185, or st205
-Basically any pre-2000 rally homologation car. I haven't found one i don't like. Not a single one, but 80's or early 90's are at the top.
-Toyota Supra- Mk1, mk2, or mk4 turbo.
-Toyota AE86- coupe or hatch, don't care, but as little molestation as possible
-Autozam AZ-1 (japanese import)
-Mazda RX2 (any body)
-Mazda Rx4 (any body)
-Mazda RX7 SA, FB, FC turbo, FD turbo
-Mazda REPU
-Mazda 323 GTX (yeah, another one)
-Mazda Miata (NA or ND)
-Nissan Skyline R30 or R31
-Nissan 240RS
-Nissan 240SX (any)
-Datsun 510
-Datsun 240Z
-Something aircooled that isn't a Beetle. Any other VW is ok. Karman Ghia, van, whatever. also any Porsche.
-Ford Mustang 1965-1970, fastback, any trim.
-Ford Galaxy Wagon with a 7liter engine
-FRS-BRZ (She's likely to buy this for herself)
-Lotus elise
-Subaru 360 van
-Probably any pre-1980 japanese van

That's all i could come up with off the top of my head. It's also oddly japanese-heavy. This list is obviously a living document and subject to revising at any time, and i've only included things i know i can get with a stick. Also many of those are hard to find unmolested, in which case anything relatively straight bodied.

What's on your list?

You can shorten it to just the ND miata. I was fortunate enough to have that crossed off and I can take you that it's quite the experience. She drives it far more than I do, but I cherish the fact that she loves the car. Once I'm on my feet again I hope to return the favor to her. She likes trucks, but doesn't want a massive one due to parking, doesn't want low 20s mpg and we would hopefully be in need of a 4 door within the next few years. Enter in diesel Colorado crew cab.

Also, your list while full of cool cars, also includes a large amount of headaches to own in terms of parts availability and repair if and when needed. There's something to be said for being able to enjoy a car versus just owning it.

captdownshift wrote: You can shorten it to just the ND miata.

I was going to suggest the same thing, but for different reasons.

Every other car on your list would be far too difficult for most of our wives to find and weed out.

(At this point, feel free to bombard me with comments like "Oh yeah Woody? Well my smokin' hot wife can can change wheel bearings while whipping up a tasty casserole". Shut up. I don't care.).

The ND Miata is the only practical surprise-car on your list. It's not on my list though.

I also think the FR-S/BRZ is your 2nd practical surprise car on your list.

55 chevy, with an engine and exhaust that rattles windows

Flat fender willys

70 chevelle

Cadillac convertible, something old and huge

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: I also think the FR-S/BRZ is your 2nd practical surprise car on your list.

Whoops, I missed that one.

I don't think I would like to be surprised with a car. I'm pretty particular about those. I think the thought behind it is nice, but I know what I want. I would need to have input before a purchase is made.

Early second Gen Trans Am.

I added some kits, 4x4s, and trucks.

Hawk HF 3000
Factory Five Mk4
Radical RXC
Opel Kadett
Classic Austin/Morris Mini
Riley Elf
Riley 1.5
964
993
914/6
190e Cosworth
3rd Gen IROC-Z
Isuzu Impulse RS
GMC Syclone
Volvo 850 T5-R (or just an R)
Volvo 242 GT
X 1/9
CJ 2A
jeep MB
Kaiser M715
Willys Truck
Jeep MJ
J2000 Gladiator

Hm, if we're goin impractical, 1980's Laborghini Countach LP500S.

Realistic?
Another '78 or '79 Dodge Lil' Red Express

1974 Opel Manta like my dad rallied in the 70's (Yes Evan I know you have one)

1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo (love my MK1 but would love to have one some day)

1974 Datsun 240Z

1971 Plymouth Road Runner (dad had one new in the day)

Nothing else really screams at me to spend $.

A "surprise" list for me would be really short, since there are few cars I'd like to have with little regard towards condition or spec:

'69 Charger
'71 Demon
any year Volvo 1800
60's Mustang

These are all cars I'd probably modify to my liking, so all I really want is a starting point. Anything else would probably require more due-diligence. "New" is a different story. FRS/BRZ, ND, GT350... maybe a LWB/Ext/HR 4WD Sprinter... but that's about it.

75-79 f150 62 falcon Mid 80s fullsize ford wagon

And the parts to finish my 78.

Lotto list
Porsche 962, I’ll take a 956 if I have too, but I want a race win and a LeMans entry in it’s history.
Jaguar XJR-15 street car
Jag XJ220 race version
Porsche 959
Ferrari 288GTO
Early 80’s Lambo LP5000
Series 1 1/2 4.2L E-type
Late 70’s Aston V8
DB6
70's Maserati Ghibli
Jag C type
Jag D type
1969 Porsche 911 S
Any 80’s F1 car driven by either Mansell or Prost (If it's a McLaren I'd even take something solid by Senna if I had too)
Homologation cars Renault 5 turbo (series 1, not the Turbo 2 sold here), 6R4, RS200, 205 T16, Sport Quattro, 037, Stratos and 1st gen Gallardo
BMW M1
GT40

The I’m doing well and take leave of my financial senses.
Modern Aston Vantage
911 GT3
GT350
XJS Eventer
02+ Maserati Coupe
Custom MGB GT, 3.9L Rover V8, Sebring kit, Aston green, saddle and tan leather interior, half cage trimed really nicely
25 year old Land Rover Defender 110
Skoda 130L Group B homologation special
Renault 5 Turbo II (the one excluded above)

The might actually happen
Boxster/Cayman S
Jag XKR
Late Jag XJ40
Lincoln MK VIII for Ohio Mile
E30 Touring
Ford Capri 2.8Injection (later car with 5 speed and LSD)

That’s this week, it’s changes regularly.

Jerry wrote: 1974 Opel Manta like my dad rallied in the 70's (Yes Evan I know you have one)

Any pics of your dads actual car?

My buddy is still trying to sell his Lancia Delta HF integrale.

Jerry wrote: 1974 Datsun 240Z

Not unless you are looking at the euro version, stateside we got the 260Z in 74.

Anything with a Datsun badge is good for me ;)

My list, in no particular order (assuming I keep my current project cars):

-late Fox Body Mustang 5.0L(must be a teal LX hatch, on Ponys or Cobra R's)

-1970 Chevy C10 short bed

-1987 Buick Grand National or WE4 T-Type

-Some sort of El Camino, preferably a G-Body one I can make a late 70's Pontiac Grand Amino out of

-J10 Jeep Cherokee

-Jeep Forward Control concept from a few years ago

-LS1 4th Gen Trans Am

-Another WRX bugeye wagon

-An Evo IX MR

-1989 Skyline GT-R (because Gran Turismo told me to in 2000)

-3.5 V6/6-speed swapped 1989 Nissan Maxima SE

-AMC Spirit AMX with a turbo 4.0L Jeep engine

-BMW E39 M5

-Some sort of vintage Alfa, like one of those GTV thingies from the early 70's

-BMW 135i with the sport package

-New Charger Hellcat

-New Challenger R/T or Hellcat

-Lancia Delta HF Intergale Evoluzione (aka: one giant box flare)

-Cadillac ATS Performance FE3

-Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

-1969 Carousel red GTO Judge

-1973 SD455 Trans Am

-a clean 1980's Camaro IROC with an LS swap and T-Tops

-some sort of old 60's wagon for cruising, preferably a GM or Mopar one

-a big late model truck for a tow rig

-Dodge Demon

-Marty McFly's 1985 Toyota truck

-70's Chevy van, customized with the cover art of Castlevania for the NES airbrushed on the sides, and set up like an 80's living room with a console TV and video games on the inside

I'm sure I can think of more.

evildky wrote:

Jerry wrote: 1974 Datsun 240Z

Not unless you are looking at the euro version, stateside we got the 260Z in 74. Anything with a Datsun badge is good for me ;)

Now I can't remember why I said 1974. Pretty much any early year 240Z would be a good thing. Nice and simple, nice and light weight.

captdownshift wrote: Also, your list while full of cool cars, also includes a large amount of headaches to own in terms of parts availability and repair if and when needed. There's something to be said for being able to enjoy a car versus just owning it.

No worries, i already own something with a rotary, and an old Mazda made almost exclusively out of unobtainable parts. Neither have any serious issues, but that's only a matter of time. I'm not afraid, bring on the headaches. I felt like adding "any old alfa" to the list just because i seem to be lucky getting 'unreliable' cars that don't break too much.

Woody wrote:

captdownshift wrote: You can shorten it to just the ND miata.

I was going to suggest the same thing, but for different reasons. Every other car on your list would be far too difficult for most of our wives to find and weed out. (At this point, feel free to bombard me with comments like "Oh yeah Woody? Well *my* smokin' hot wife can can change wheel bearings while whipping up a tasty casserole". Shut up. I don't care.). The ND Miata is the only practical surprise-car on your list. It's not on my list though.

My wife most certainly can't change wheel bearings. She is a FANTASTIC cook, though.

yupididit wrote: My buddy is still trying to sell his Lancia Delta HF integrale.

Is that the red 1988 one in california? If i had money and space to put it i'd be having some very serious conversations with your friend right now. Unfortunately i'm broke and i'm fresh out of room for red, 1988 homologation hatchbacks. Or anything else on 4 wheels.

I only included the ND miata and FRS/BRZ because they are current automotive desires that i assume will be available at reasonable prices in the future. I hope the ND sells in ridiculously high numbers and floods the market. I would love to have one of those someday.

1979-80 RX7, love them metal bumpers.

1999 R34 Skyline GT-R, because Playstation.

2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8, an actual possibility, that's even practical.

1988 Ferrari 288 GTO, why not.

My list is pretty short actually and fairly attainable.

Cleanest LX470 I can find for those off-road adventures.

Evo III for those FAST off road adventure.

991 Boxster just because they are so fun to drive.

A Ducati Hypermotard just because I'm rediscovering my love of everything 2 wheels.

I'm way too picky for someone to be successful in buying me an old car.

Newish stuff, I'm pretty easy:

-White 12-13 boss 302

-Stripe delete 13-14 Shelby GT500

-White, blue or black 13-14 Focus ST

-Non-red ND Miata

-Factory 5 cobra kit

Cooper_Tired wrote: I'm way too picky for someone to be successful in buying me an old car.

^This.

I'm not picky. Any manual transmission 911 variant, air-cooled, water-cooled, coupe, cab, or targa, it just don't matter. And anything Ducati.

And my wife knows this, but refuses to buy me another project...

My list:

Lincoln MkVII LSC. I don't think I'd be too picky about year or color.

An old Beetle or Brit roadster. I'm wouldn't be worried about round or rectangle windows, chrome vs rubber bumpers, or anything like that. It would just be something fun to buzz around in.

Early MR2.

Late '60s or early '70s Ford pickup

Merkur XR4Ti or similar turbo Ford. I'm not sure why but I've always had a fascination for that kind of thing.

A big old land yacht of a wagon.

Jag XK8 Convertible

2nd Gen Escort GT.

2 door Corvair

2001 Bullitt Mustang

Porsches: Someday I'd like to have a nice 924s or 924 Turbo. I wouldn't turn down a nice 944 but I think the slimmer 924 looks better. This is where I would get picky.

The only new cars that really go on the want list are a Mustang GT with go fast options (or GT350 if we're in daydream land) and JCW Mini.

Mine's pretty short to be honest. 91 'burb with dmax/allison swap, box body caprice 9C1 with helluva suspension under it and a cammed and maybe turbo 4.8/T56 and cage, C6 daily.