What would be your ideal car if money were no object?
Limited to Porsche body styles of 1955-2019, but can be original or replica, with whatever frame, engine/suspension/transmission, finish, interior, etc. you can think of. There may be some of us who already have what we consider the ultimate, but almost all of us are limited by finances. I would really think about a Singer or Emory, but there may be other bespoke builders I don't know about, such as Gunther Werks. What's your fantasy?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
An original 4 cam 1955, '56 or '57 Speedster with 2 liter 4 cam engine, C front discs with 6" Fuchs, converted to irs in the back with 901 5 speed, brakes, and 911R 7" Fuchs. When I priced this out and included custom panel beating to the tune of upwards of twice what the car would be worth (and it wasn't painted yet, and it was the '80's so the car wasn't really worth squat!) for anything I could find in the Pacific Northwest/British Columbia (remember there was no internet and EVERYTHING from Portland and north was very rusty from the door bottoms down), with the VW knowledge I had I think you can see why I settled on a Replica...
Oh- and I know Jim limited it to Porsches, but my other dream car is an original 1969 Hemi Cuda convertible (last time I looked there were only 6 still around)- what can I say, I am the epitome of champagne taste on a (cheap) beer budget... 
PS- It's a good thing I like beer!
Geez Jim, I'm not gonna talk about my fantasies here because, well, Internet, and also, my wife might be reading this. So, I'll just say my ideal car is a 2013 VS with a two-liter and a five-speed.
See, this morning was one of those mornings.
It stayed cool out until almost noon, which was enough time to sneak down to Amador County along one of my favorite two-lane roads, grab some coffee and goodies at our favorite rural bakery, and double back through the oaks, along the little, meandering creek with the grazing horses, and early enough that the sun was low and filtering through the greenery, just like you'd want it to.
It's a road that's just right for a Speedster. It was pretty much the only kind of rural road there was in Germany in 1955, which is why our cars had no need for 650 horsepower or 18-inch, vented and drilled brake discs, or doppelganger gear changes, or a Sports Chrono Package.
A RUF or a 3500 GT would be nice, but neither would have shown me a better time on that road this morning.
I think I dream more about finding better roads and nicer mornings than about fancier cars.
Great post Mitch!
'80's 930 Turbo Cabriolet with a removable hard top. Modernized drive train.
Marty Grzynkowicz posted:Great post Mitch!
I'll say. Really gave me pause this morning.
Thanks, @Sacto Mitch.
Stan Galat posted:Marty Grzynkowicz posted:Great post Mitch!
I'll say. Really gave me pause this morning.
Thanks, @Sacto Mitch.
Yes, it reminds you that accumulation of cars when you can only drive one is most times futile to a peaceful retro ride in our cars.
Singer or an Emory 356 outlaw coupe. Tough to decide.
(I'd get the wife a Bentley drop top)
917 Kurzheck - in Gulf livery
Then again, if I had a better back and were a bit more limber, maybe a 904, with air conditioning.
if $$$ was no object?...i'd have a rod emory real 356.... steve mc queens 911 from the movie Le Mans & his 1957 black speedster (each 5 million $$$)...as well as a real shelby cobra....and richard pettys STP blue 1969 HEMI 4 speed superbird....that outa do it
What I also was trying to say the first time around was the amount of care all these machines take can consume all your time when your driving season is short.
On the other hand if cars are your business like Leno, he has a lot of guys helping him out so he can enjoy one car per day. Oh, did I mention that he has to be a sustainer for all those guys, and some for life, so you end up with employees at work, employees at home and it goes on. Your choices may vary but it's all time management. 
Where is El Guapo when I need him.
Probably an Emory or Singer, although the practical person in me would be happy with a 356-looking car with modern underpinnings like a mid-mounted, water cooled engine, 5-speed transaxle, rack and pinion steering, etc., etc. Ah, dreams...
Sacto Mitch posted:I think I dream more about finding better roads and nicer mornings than about fancier cars.
This.
For me, it would be a toss-up:
Between a 1954 Hudson Commodore Convertible - Keep the frame but replace the engine with an engine and 6-speed auto from a later Vette and run a Jag independent rear end. Spiff the interior and add A/C and a color contrasting convertible top.
If not that, then I kinda like the Bugatti Atlantic clones I've seen (both of them) and while they are pretty, I just don't know.... Either this (same 'Vette Upgrades):
Or maybe a Delahaye, brought up to a present drivetrain:
Yeah....... The Dalahaye would prob'ly be my Fave.
Even if they just handled "OK" (and you know I wouldn't stand for that and improve the suspension if necessary), they would be worth having just to look at them!
Jim Kelly posted:What would be your ideal car if money were no object?
Limited to Porsche body styles of 1955-2019, but can be original or replica, with whatever frame, engine/suspension/transmission, finish, interior, etc. you can think of. There may be some of us who already have what we consider the ultimate, but almost all of us are limited by finances. I would really think about a Singer or Emory, but there may be other bespoke builders I don't know about, such as Gunther Werks. What's your fantasy?
In keeping with the directions my ideal cars would be an original 550 and an original Speedster. They're just that cool. But I wouldn't mind an Emory in the garage either.
Longhood LWB 911, R-Gruppe style. 2.7 Mag case, PMOs, S-cams, all upgrades. 915/WEVO. Nothing irreplaceable, because I'd want to drive it. A lot.
The kind of car that used to go for about $35K, and now has a zero on the end of that number.
Gee, Mitch, Your high road approach is so zen-like that I feel like the callow youth I once was. OOOOOOMMMMMM . . .
Jim, I think we become more philosophical when $ has always been a very real object in our lives. That reality becomes part of us. It colors how we think. And probably how we dream.
It may be philosophical to seek out life's simpler pleasures, but there's no denying simpler pleasures usually cost less.
With cars, there's also the butthole factor. It seems the more a car costs, the more likely the butthole factor comes as standard equipment.
Roll up in any one of these
and the first thing people ask is, "What butthole is driving that thing?"
What I've always found amazing about the Speedster is that no matter how much attention it draws, people don't think you're a butthole for driving one. They may still think I'm a butthole, but not because of the car.
Maybe they sympathize a little because they know about EMPI brakes.
Can’t help but to agree with everything you wrote so far on this post @Sacto Mitch.
While I tend not to care what people think, a big smile across someone’s face as you roll up in the Speedster goes a long way; the happiness this car instills for both me (the driver) and onlookers (whether it’s men, women and kids from 2 through 92), is pure gold. To me, it’s either pay a shrink or pay a mechanic [or Sierra Madre].
So when faced with the “challenge” of money no object, what Porsche would I own; I struggled. I may already have it (minus the Porsche part). So, to answer the question, maybe a nice Irish Green Speedster. I’d buy a basket case, hand it over to Emory, and work with him on delivering something magical.
I spent almost all of last week in Monterey. Car people from all over the world gathered in one spot. And our little clown cars were universally accepted. From people that didn’t know anything about cars, to professional restoration shops to billionaires with amassed collections.
The highlight of my week was allowing a young girl (posing next to my car) to get inside while parked alongside 17-mile. Next thing I knew, a number of cars stopped, and the kids lined up. At one time the line of kids was 9 deep (I wasn’t even parked on an active portion of 17-mile, I was near Cyprus Point Golf Club, tucked away on an impacted dirt turn-out). All ready to have their photo taken. I’ve had an amazing time driving the Speedster down in SLO with this group, but seeing the smiles on all those kids faces was probably the best moment I have had in my speedster.
@Sacto Mitch the butthole factors happens even when you roll up in a Porsche Boxster. You can roll up in a new bullitt Mustang costing 55k and your cool. But if you're all up in a late model used Porsche boxster costing 30k your just a yuppy butthole. There is a stigma that goes along with European sports cars. Just can't explain it.
Dude!
Butthole!
Marty,
Not that my input matters but should you happen to roll up in this bad boy all the Porsche drivers would take a hard second look. 1969 Maserati Tipo 151/4 recreation.
Cliff
https://bringatrailer.com/list...maserati-tipo-151-4/
Mitch, we have first hand butthole experience in my Sunday Morning cycling group, a casual group of riders from mid-30's to about 75 years old who like to turn 25 - 35 miles early in the morning.
Every once in a while this guy shows up with (I kid you not) a $22,000 Trek custom-built track bicycle (that's the $$ is no object part). It's a very pretty bike with bells and whistles I can only dream about. What ever isn't carbon fibre is made from Titanium and everything on the bike is aero-conscious and designed with a wind tunnel - except for his legs...
Once we get rolling and because someone on a previous ride told him I have a '57 Porsche Spedster, all the guy can talk about is his Porsche GT-3 and his Wife's Panamera. When we hit the hills (and a couple of times we've done some soul-wrenchingly steep New England hills just because of him) he takes off like a jack rabbit at the bottom, only to run out of gas half-way up and all of us guys 30 years older just keep chugging along at our own pace and have to wait for him at the top to come gasping up.
He's not a butthole because of his bicycle or his cars.
He's just a plain butthole.
Maybe it is just that he does not own things but things own him, a dilemma that is easy to fall into when young and you hope you have grown out of it
Reason 3,142 to love our Speedsters? You don’t need to have launch control, do burnouts, have the car spit fire or do donuts to draw a crowd. Their shape alone does that.
This video highlights the aforementioned buttholes quite well. The best is the GT3 at 2:30 in doing a donut on a busy intersection. Which the video later results in him getting the car impounded. HAHAHA
As if that wasn’t entertainment enough, he posted a follow-up on Instagram. Can we start a “butthole award”? I believe we may have it’s first winner.
Gordon Nichols posted:
He's not a butthole because of his bicycle or his cars.
He's just a plain butthole.
Sounds more like he's the whole Butt!
Hence my distinction between owners (of anything) who own because they love, and those who think that owning will convince other people that they are more worthy somehow.
Mike
I like how the evil-doer blames the videographer for his troubles. He will prolly do it again when the opportunity arises.
RacerX posted:I like how the evil-doer blames the videographer for his troubles. He will prolly do it again when the opportunity arises.
I read that as well. What a tool.
Stan Galat posted:Longhood LWB 911, R-Gruppe style. 2.7 Mag case, PMOs, S-cams, all upgrades. 915/WEVO. Nothing irreplaceable, because I'd want to drive it. A lot.
The kind of car that used to go for about $35K, and now has a zero on the end of that number.
I am right there with you Stan. R Gruppe - pre 74’ bad boy with maybe a turbo in there somewhere. Another part of me would enjoy a car that you could rack-out to 9k rpm every now and then - Stock new Ferrari would suffice.
Jerry Seinfeld's former Carrera Speedster that he sold and was in some controversy .
2ND Choice Fiat-Abarth Record Monza
Chuck, I had to look up the Fiat Abarth record Monza. That is really cool. Fast forward the video to the engine sound. I can't wait to here my twin cam in my Alfa Giulia GT project
55 Buick Roadmaster convertable. Wire wheels and HUGE chrome bumpers.
(still an excellent driver)
Marty Grzynkowicz posted:Chuck, I had to look up the Fiat Abarth record Monza. That is really cool. Fast forward the video to the engine sound. I can't wait to here my twin cam in my Alfa Giulia GT project
Thanks for sharing that video Marty, I had not seen that one before. I raced a Fiat-Abarth 750cc Derivizion single cam back in the sixties, it was basically a Fiat 600 body with a 750cc engine and Abarth mods, it was equipped with suicide doors !!!!
Enjoy your Alfa.
I'm sure I'd have a loooong list, but this would probably be somewhere on it.
You'd fit right in in New Jersey......
It's taken me a while to think this one through. It's redundant, but I'd like back my totally stock, 1996 993 cabriolet in Arena Red Metallic ("Kills Bugs Fast" color). We sold it and the Speed Yellow 911 turbo before we moved out here to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It's either that or or my old 1958 DKW 3=6 Universal. I guess including the Speedster, I've had all the cars I'd want to live with.
