Yes, that’s right. I’m a chick. Who digs cars. I love cars actually.
I’m a long time fan of Automobile magazine (one of my favorites) which now, incidentally, has a female editor, the fabulous Jean Jennings. In fact, I’ve even been published in the magazine. Okay, it’s not like I wrote an article or anything but I did send in a review of my Ford Escape as I had the first model year and an excerpt of it was published.
That’s right. I’m a published excerptist.
Back to my love of cars… My husband also loves cars. It was one of the things we found we had in common pretty early on. It’s a great match we have. He is all about the mechanics and I am all about the aesthetics. But my taste is, well, less than traditional. I’ve always liked quirky cars – those that stand out for unusual design elements.
Some may call them ugly but these are 5 quirky cars you’ll love to love (I hope).
Let the ridicule and debates begin.
1. 1976 AMC Pacer
Yes, you read that right. I love, and have always loved, the AMC Pacer. I loved it long before it was sort of cool in Wayne’s World. I loved it long before we knew the gas tank exploded easily. I loved it the first time I sat in one as a neighbor drove me home from a babysitting job. When I told her how much I loved her car, she looked at me like I was nuts.
Maybe I love the Pacer because I grew up watching The Jetsons and dreamed of someday flying around in a bubble car. This is about as close as we have come. I bet you kind of like it now, don’t you?
2. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette
I fell in love with this car while spending another marathon session with my husband watching the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car auction. I remember the thrill of watching a collector bid $3 million for a one of a kind Oldsmobile concept car. That right there was exciting television. But when I saw this beauty roll across the stage, I was in love.
When I think of Corvettes, I usually think of the 1970s and a guy with a hairy chest and a cheesy mustache. When I look at this car, I think of a finely dressed woman with her large sunglasses and scarf over her head as she sails down the PCH with her devil-may-care attitude. And did I mention the little tail lights are just adorable?
3. 1993 Plymouth Prowler
I loved this car from the moment I saw the concept. One caveat: I will only tolerate this car in purple. It looks sharp in other colors but this car was meant to be purple. End of discussion.
4. 1958 Nash Metropolitan
This one is sort of obscure. I remember seeing one of these for sale on the corner of some road I can’t remember and Dares Beach Road. It was perched high on a hill and I marveled at this cute little antique every time I drove by. I asked my mother about it and she told me it was a Metropolitan with just touch of disdain.
I love it. I think this could almost be considered the original Smart car.
5. Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Okay. I had to throw in something that would make you think my opinions are just a touch valid. I’ll admit this one was my husband’s choice. It is pretty hot, or phat, or whatever we use for cool these days. What makes it even hotter? It captures the title of the world’s most expensive street legal vehicle. It comes in at a cool $1,700,000. Actually, that’s not that cool.
After viewing my list, you probably noticed a trend in the type of cars I like. Okay, me neither. I guess I like sleek. I like quirky. I like fun and different. And now that I’m a mom, I also like big and functional.
Now tell me where I went wrong. Tell me what I got right. And tell me what you think. Just don’t tell me you don’t care. This is your car we’re talking about.
I love cars, too — and any car list that has convertibles on it is okay by me.
You love convertibles? I would have never known 🙂 I used to have a Ford Mustang convertible and then I had a baby.
I would have to go with the: Alpha Romeo Veloce Spider, red of course, as my favorite. There are cars for comfort and cars for speed and this little Italian convertible is a go-fast car. Driving a Porsche Boxter is like floating on the fastest of clouds. The Mercedes convertible isn’t too shabby either. BMW’s are just flat-out fun to drive. My Volvo is safe and quick, but decidedly not comfortable.
My hubs loves the Porsche Boxster. I’m kind of a Mazda Miata girl, even though it didn’t make a list. And I still think Volvos are cool.
Our oldest son has always loved cars…I have video of him in a diaper saying his ABC’s by naming cars…Bugati is the B car…cutest EVAHHH! This will anchor your coolness as a boy mom for life! Me? I’ve always loved the original Vollkswagon Bug convertibles but would be well situated in a Mercedes Convertible if you twist my arm. For now…I love my Durango and its V8 Hemi ~ functional and able to haul our busy family and all their gear!
So you are like me. Cars are cool. And you like cool cars and big cars. A girl after my own heart.
I admit it it, I am not a car person. I don’t get attached and easily move from one to another without a thought. That was until we traded in Hubby and I’s first new car (03 Ford Explorer) for a car I had wanted from the time I was 13. That’s right I traded in an SUV for a Volkwagen Cabrio. Once we got pregnant we had to get rid of it and sold it to a nice family only I could not be there when it was time to say good bye. Only time I was sad to see a car go.
Hubbs is a car guy…we have an 89 Mustang in the garage and guess who loves to ride with his Dad? Yep, the Boy. Now we can never sell it!
I’ve always loved the VW Cabrio so kudos to you. And I love Mustangs but 1989? Bad, bad year. Go old or go new. In between? Yuck.
My first car was a 1959 red with black top Chevrolet Impala convertible. My parents bought it for me going into my senior year of high school. It was a bribe to keep me in school. It worked. Of course, I still left school grounds to go to the Mighty Mo for lunch, the only difference is friends and I used my car instead of bumming a ride. After I began working I purchased the next car myself, a 1967 blue GTO with automatic transmission. Many a guy couldn’t believe it was an automatic. I never learned to drive stick shift. I was the envy of all my friends and I had a lot of attention from the guys. I paid $3,400 for it. I sold it 17 years later for $3,400. I could have sold it for more but it was side swiped 4 years after I had the car and the collectors noticed the repair job. I loved that car and every so often I hear the song “My Little GTO” and smile. In the 50’s and 60’s, what you drove is what made you “cool” or not. I suppose for a “girl” I was one of the coolest!
I’ve always thought that a car reflects your personality. Maybe it’s why my parents were always so frustrated that I didn’t want a hand-me-down beat-up Datsun. I bet you were popular with those cars 😉
I kind of like the Ferrari F430 spider…. when it’s not in the shop for 8 of the last 10 months getting the top repaired….
My grandma had a Pacer knock off Gremlin. We loved driving around in that little thing! My favorite car that I would know I died and went to heaven? A Bentley Convertible in Passion Pink. I drove one for about half a mile. Best half mile ever! It felt like I was floating on a cloud. Long way from the Gremlin…
Wow. Like minds. I would have picked each and everyone of these car…plus a few more, which I think you would also like. Out of the mainstream, but enjoyable by ki dred crearive thinkers. Good job!