OT - Most Sought After Classic Cars

Jack Olsen · 08-20-2001, 05:56 PM

What do you do with a 356 Cab? I guess you go for Sunday picnics. Here's an interesting summary of the most frequently sought after (on one particular web site) classic cars, with the 356 coming out on top of the foreign list.

http://www.buyclassiccars.com/ams/articles/35.asp

I guess most 911s aren't old enough to be considered classics.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 08-20-2001).]

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

I saw a 356 cab, driving up north to the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was pouring down rain and they of couse had the top up, with a bunch of towels stuck between the glass and the top.

My neighbor has a beautiful Jag XKE which he NEVER drives. It sure is nice to look at though.

I'll stick with my beater 911SC. Runs all the time, doesn't leak, and can still turn a few heads.

jbripps · jbripps's Garage

Buddy of mine just picked up a '60 Vette (red with a white scoop). I must say that he gets more looks/comments/etc. than anyone else I know with a "cool" car. More light "flashers", waves, thumbs up than I've ever seen. Didn't beleive it till I drove it a few days ago. Can't even get out or in the car without being approached by someone with some question. He's only had it 3 months and can't stand the attention anymore, it's taking too much time to ward off everyone.

It is a beautiful machine that runs so well. Not my style of course, but Porsche isn't his. We have a mutual respect, and enjoy driving each other's machines, and can appreciate the craftsmanship of each. Our wives still don't get it, but that's ok as "world's would collide" if they did.

JON
'85 Targa

TargaEuro · 08-20-2001, 07:03 PM

A weekend classic of mine. 1956 Thunderbird....TargaEuro

mwbaum · mwbaum's Garage

Jack....dont sell a 356 short until you drive a properly set up car on a curvy road....makes a 911 seem like dump truck...and I love my 911 !

Marc

85 Carrera Coupe
64 356 C Cabriolet

pwd72s · 08-20-2001, 07:11 PM

Interesting list, Jack. Back to status vs. nostalgia. For example, my personal GTO (Pontiac) favorite would be the '65. Styling taste thing, but the late 60's are very popular. In "foreign", or British? I'll always love the bugeye sprite, while the 3000 Healy was listed. Early 911? Hang in...they will "catch on", or not. Me? I'm just enjoying the ride...so far. Boy, I loved the color of the XKE coupe tho!

TargaEuro · 08-20-2001, 07:12 PM

By the way Jack, did you ever find that CarGroom #24 carnuaba wax I recommended awhile back....TargaEuro

Jack Olsen · 08-20-2001, 07:35 PM

Marc, I don't mean to short-sell the 356. If I got a second Porsche, it would likely be a 550 or a 356 cab. I just don't think of a cab as a track car, and I can't imagine owning a Porsche that I don't track (unless I own two Porsches, of course).

And Paul, my early 911 gets a lot of attention -- a woman hung herself out of a Cadillac Escalade not too long ago, and just blew it a big dramatic kiss. I think it's seen as a classic, but I think the list-makers would see the model as still in production, and therefore not a 'classic model' for their purposes.

Targa, I'll go wax hunting when it's back from getting its one-of-a-kind air conditioning system debugged. I get access to the car now like a divorced dad gets access to his kids -- only the occasional (track) weekend.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

Scarface · 08-20-2001, 08:47 PM

Jack, the Lamborghini Muira is my all time favourite classic which still looks good today. I suppose it's probably the only car I'd trade my 911 in for. (Ha ha - I'm dreaming)

356? IMHO, I prefer hardtops. Keeps the form purer.

Scarface.

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

I find it interesting how infrequently the 356 is mentioned on this board. It is almost as if the 911 was the first car Porsche ever built.

I guess it is because the appeal of the 356 is very different now, even though it was the 911 of its day and drew a similar crowd of performance enthusiasts.

I have been close to buying a 356 on a couple of occasions, but never pulled the trigger. They are so classic. A time capsule from another era. Although I am very used to the shape now, I remember the first time I saw one in person. The lines looked so radical, like no other car ever.

Yet compared to other cars of the mid-late '50s, especially sports cars, the 356 was incredibly modern for its time.

You don't have look too close to see the 911 lineage. Everything - body, suspension, engine, interior. This is your 911's grandpa, no question about it.

Drive one and you will be even more convinced. No discernable power, but the suspension and brakes are fantastic for their day.

I think I might have to build a bigger garage.

JEB · 08-21-2001, 04:54 AM

Where did this list come from? I think these are very strange choices.

Jenson Intercepter? Great car - just saw one the other day - but not exactly in the main stream. No Ferrari but a DB? TR 3, 4, 4a,5, 250 and 6 are VERY different cars - hard to lump them together.

Strange list

Jeb
'79 930
'69 TR-6

Jdub · 08-21-2001, 05:19 AM

Jeb is right, the Interceptor cannot possibly compete with Lotus Elan, as an example. However, having owned Triumphs I must say that the "body on frame" setup used on these cars didn't change *that* much, but for IRS, some strenghthening to handle increased engine weight, etc. They are, however, quite different cars in terms of window roll up versus side curtains... ;>

Jw

ras911 · ras911's Garage

Give me a B ---- MGB. 65-72 before the bumpers. Great handling , classic lines , easy maintenence and of course - a ragtop!

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Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region

ghanlon · 08-21-2001, 07:38 AM

Griswald
Go for it, Buy a 356! I just did it about a month ago. No regrets at all. I was looking at selling the 930 and spending an extra bit of cash for a new boxster S. Instead I picked up a 64SC and kept the Turbo. Total different driving experience!! Not very many this far north. Most common question is "What is it"? Turns even more heads than the 930. The biggest problem you will have though is deciding which car to take out and convincing your significant other to let you get it!!
Gary

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ghanlon

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-21-2001, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Jack, the Lamborghini Muira is my all time favourite classic which still looks good today. I suppose it's probably the only car I'd trade my 911 in for. (Ha ha - I'm dreaming)

A man after my own heart.

I'll NEVER forgive my father for selling his. Of course, he bought a house with the money from the sale...

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blue
'81 SC Targa

epbrown · 08-21-2001, 11:25 AM

I was surprised at the absence of Ferrari, but it seems that the more modern ones are the dream cars, and not the old Zagato, Bertone, and Pininfarina ones. Me, I'm definitely going to own a 1966 Ferrari 330GT, probably in the next couple of years.

I also can't believe the MG wasn't mentioned, since it's still pretty popular. I guess the newer roadsters have crowded it out of the national conciousness. I'm already shopping for one - I think it would be cool to have a 66 Rolls-Royce and 66 MGB. I'll likely get a 67, though - they came out with the all-syncro gearbox that year.

Emanuel

Scarface · 08-21-2001, 07:40 PM

BlueSky,
Your father OWNED one and SOLD it???!!!

Couldn't your family live in the car?

Can I tell my friends I know someone who used to own one?

ljonespwc · 08-21-2001, 08:48 PM

This weekend I went along with a friend in his 427 AC Cobra replica. He and the other Cobra owners had a get together here on Vancouver Island--there were 7 cars that showed up. The drive from Victoria to Campbell River takes about 2.5 hours (at a steady 85mph), and I've NEVER seen so many looks. I mean everybody was looking--elderly people, punks, little kids, EVERYONE. We had people yelling from other cars, asking us questions at the gas station, and giving "thumbs-up" for the entire 400 mile round trip. The Shelby Cobra may be 6th on that list, but I'd say it deserves top spot for universal recognition and appreciation (not to mention acceleration!). Here's a link to some pics of the cars: http://members.home.net/ljones911/cobrameet.htm

GregS · 08-22-2001, 04:50 AM

Somebody mentioned TR-3's and TR-4's and I'd
agree completely there. A '57 TR-3 was my first car and I still think that one would look good sitting next to the 911. On the topic of Ferrari, I'd probably trade the house for a 275GTB...