I split this into a different post because it's a different train of thought to my Ferrari rantings
I mentioned in my first response in this thread that I liked the sweet spot of the sports cars of the early 70s. One thing I didn't mention and should have, is "utility".
I, too, lust after a 246 or 330 spider, and the Ariel Atom, and the Elise. They're stunning, each for their own reason, having pushed out to different edges of the design envelope.
But the thing I find missing from all of them, and many of the other driver's cars of the moment, is the sheer utility of the sports cars of my youth.
I can and have taken two week road trips, with a passenger, in my Triumphs (yes, there's plenty of room for luggage after loading the spare parts and tools
), and won autox and rally trophies while on those trips. I can certainly imagine doing that in my 911, though we haven't had the opportunity yet.
I can't imagine doing that in a Miata, or a Cayman, or an Elise (you can barely get two bags of groceries into an Elise). And not in an Atom.
I've done a week in a Seven, though that was a lot more spartan (two of everything, wash one set every night). You could do that in a Miata or Elise, I guess, but who would want to?
Our 330 is a 2+2 and holds four adults in comfort, along with their stuff. We've taken a week-long trip in her (with four up), but I probably won't do it again - the per-mile cost on that car is just too high. That's a different measure of utility, but it's part of my reality. The same is true for the spiders, multiplied by about 10 - because there you have to worry about how much you're depreciating the car for every mile on the clock.
Boxsters and Caymans are big, but how much of that space is usable load/luggage carrying space?
Sure, sure, the modern cars are lighter or safer or something. I get it. It's just not what I love.
The sports car of years ago could be and often was a do-it-all car. I existed comfortably with only my TR4A for several years. How many of today's sports cars could do that? Would you carry lumber in your Boxster or Elise?
