What Cars "Do It" For You?

[wdfifteen]

I had an interesting dinner with some car friends. Most were younger than me. One had written a couple of books about Saleen Mustangs and owns one (along with a Chevy Volt). We talked about the cars that evoke a (positive) gut reaction in us. Here is the short beginning to a very long list for me. I had to explain some of them to these guys. It must be an age thing.
So what are some of the cars that "DO IT" for you?



Front engined top fuelers.

These guys were amazing. Tuck your nuts up against a 9" Ford rear end, put a 2000 hp engine in your lap, and let it loose. Insane!




Formula 1 cars when they still looked like cars. The sound of the Matra was - OK I'll say it - orgasmic.



AA/GS gassers from the Gasser Wars era. Stuff a 900 hp engine in a car designed to top out at 55 mph. What could go wrong?




Can Am of the early 70s. Standing at turn 5 at Mid-Ohio while 20,000 hp worth of race cars bore down on you. Life changing.



This isn't my car, but it looks just like it. Nothing makes me laugh out loud like the sound of my 912 engine at 6000rpm.

[yellowperil]

[R K T]

This one got me right away. I grew up here because my Dad was the Director of Lions Drag Strip!

[URY914]

[URY914]

[HardDrive]

I second the motion.

Originally Posted by URY914

[HardDrive]

I've always been fond of the 80's Ferrari 288 GTO.

[masraum]

Hmm, this is actually kind of tough, because for me the list would be pretty long, and maybe a bit boring compared to yours. Maybe it's a lack of automotive experience on my part.

Old 60s and early 70s American stuff, mustangs, mopar, Chevelle/Cutlass/Skylark/GTO, Impala, Nova. I want a V-8 and a 4 on the floor with headers.





Jag E-type and C and D, all amazing cars.


Bellows bumper 911s, especially like this. Honestly, just about any 911, especially with Fuchs, but also 964 and 993.


Porsche 550


Which brings us to the GT40 and the sports racers of the late 60s and early 70s including cars like the 917




Grand Prix / F1 cars, honestly, just about any of them. They all have their merits since they all represent the extreme.

80s-90s sports prototypes like the 956 and 962. They were what I loved as a teen.

Top Fuel Dragsters especially from the 70s and 80s, again, the extreme and what I grew up watching.

Ferraris of the 50s and 60s, with the 250 SWB at the top of the list.

I guess my love of cars mostly centers around cars of the 60s and early 70s whether they be street or racecars) with some from the 50s and some newer (porsche and racecars)

[M.D. Holloway]

[Charles Freeborn]

917

[LeeH]

When I was a kid, mom drove me to school in one of these. Probably explains a lot.

[t-tom]

I'm a Datsun 240z guy, always have been. Still love the 911 and most true sports cars. Not really into muscle cars. The 962 is my favorite race car of all time

[Evans, Marv]

Two that really do it for me & of course cars I could never have are the D Jag and Ferrari 250GT California Spider. I remember looking at a 250GT on a lot in Connecticut in '63 and talking to the salesman. I was stunned at the time when he told me one piston cost $100.

[sc_rufctr]

I've had lots of great cars but the one I lust after the most is the Countach.

But no doubt if I ever actually drove one I would hate it.

[crustychief]

My list changes on a weekly basis, This week I am really loving my 928. Every time I drive it I get a huge smile on my face. My 911 is also a mood changer. As strange as it sounds my post high school ride 1981 datsun king cab, was fantastic.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by crustychief

This week I am really loving my 928.

Saw a nice early 80's 928 yesterday in Akron at a traffic light. Would normally be a rarity this time of year.

If I had to pick one, I would say 65 Nova/Chevy II. Edit: you can't have just one so I am going to add the 3.0.

Simple, pretty and timeless.

On the other end of the spectrum I like unusual shapes like the front end of the 512 BB and the 250 LM profile.

[gliding_serpent]

Classic 911
Bmw 2002tii
Lotus Exige
bmw e30 m3
Ford focus rs (for daily drive)
Bmw spec e30 (for the track)

If we go less realistic:
917
D type jag
Shelby Daytona
911 iroc rsr
908
550 spyder

[Salty Springs]

The 1970's Can Ams do it for me.This is my wife in 1973. Lothar Moschenbacher's car
That group of people in the background are surrounding Mark Donahue in the Porsche 917/30(they wouldn't let us sit in that one! )

[Seahawk]

This is the car that started it all for me:



It belonged to my father's brother. Even as a kid I just knew it was cool. I remember driving with him around the Bay Area (he lived in Sausaltio at the time) when I was five or six.

[manbridge 74]

Many others