GARAGE ENVY

I am contemplating the end of the year and yet another Christmas morning lacking that giftbow topped Ferrari parked in front of my door.  All of us gear heads must have some fantasy of that sort that creeps into our car dreams.  The one facilitated by imagining a previously unknown rich uncle who has watched our development from afar and finally decided that we are worthy of a very special gift as a reward for our hours, days, or perhaps even months of “being good” in anticipation of the big day.  We all likely out grow Santa, but I bet I’m not the only one who has not out grown that gift wish.

The “gift wish” can probably be viewed as just another form of Garage Envy.  So what better thought to prompt my beginning of the lay out of my  “personal favorites” list.  You may recall (or if you wish, search the archives and read it) that I divide my favorites into three categories: retro, runner, and racer.  I thought I would “envy” some retro’s today, since that plays directly into my Ferrari fantasy.

Any twelve cylinder Ferrari would make my retro list.  The sound of one at speed is orgasmic and even at idle they make wonderful mechanical noises.  I lost a noticeable bit of my hearing cozying up to race versions of these machines at Sebring. Maybe, I should just settle for a sound track.  A 250 GTO would probably be my first pick and not coincidentally I have included one in my Automotive Sculptures Gallery at http://www.chazimages.com/automotive-art-gallery.php. Might as well wish big, as these rare beauties go for well into the 8 figures.

A Lamborghini Miura has always been at the very top of my retro list.  And it is just for the pure beauty of its form.  I have yet to catch one during my photography expeditions in a pose that warrants entry into the Sculpture gallery.  But this auto paparazzi will eventually catch it.  The Miura was one of the first, if not the first, mid-engine sports cars, and it’s radical design caused a sensation in 1966.  Coincidentally, in 1966 Raquel Welch stared in the movie “One Million Years B.C.  The movie was crap, but the resulting classic poster hung in my bedroom along with a Miura poster for many of my bachelor years.  One on the wall and one on the ceiling over my bed; I’ll let you guess which was where.

I’ll end with a more practical/affordable favorite, the Series 1, Jaguar XKE coupe.  A truly passionate enthusiast could probably get a nice driver for the price of a new car.  The first models had the best lines and even had clear headlight covers to further smooth the look.  I never understood why the convertible sold better.  I saw the really sexy lines of the coupe overcoming the coolness factor of the convertible.  The clamshell hood opened to display an equally beautiful straight six engine.  Lots of complex mechanicals and bright metal surfaces, and an engine that your could actually see; none of those styled plastic covers that obscure the engines of today.  After I finish restoring my “67 Vette, the XKE may be my first retro purchase.

My list is long and continues to grow, but these three would keep me happy driving, wrenching, and polishing for a very long time.

Happy New Year everyone.  

This entry was posted on Monday, December 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm and is filed under Car List, Envy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.