If you asked me years ago, I'd have a clearer answer, and with cars I probably didn't own then!
Now, times have changed as has my experience of the car.
I'm also going to add some things to the dream garage idea
:
-Let's say I can have the garage I wish. It would be a decently sized unit, probably a little bigger than what Harry Metcalfe's outbuilding is with his cars. A few places that size are near me.
-I'm also going to say I can have the tools I want. A 4 poster, 2 poster, tools, etc. Tranny jack, engine hoists/lathes etc. would be nice, along with some blasting tools, welder tyre facilities, alignment, you get my drift I'd probably not go as far as Dyno facilities. Think M539 but with larger facilities.
-I think with quarters this large, I could probably live upstairs of this place!
Anyway, I digress. Let's go to the the cars.
-Mercedes W198 300SL Gullwing. I have always adored these. These are potentially beyond a dream car, I know, but I do adore them. The sound, the looks, the history, and hopefully more. Me owning a classic Merc from the 70s as well as my W124s hasn't helped, along with even the C209 ; the "Mercness" of innovation and luxury is present in them all, not to mention build quality, even in the C209.
-My
old MGB GT Sebring, with me finishing it as I intended, and a little more. I'm thinking, Rover V8, 5 speed R380 'box, a brown metallic paintfinish (think BINI chocolate colour), Some period bucket seats, and maybe a custom dash. Suspension changes I'd think about but I was quite happy with where I got that TBH, bar it needing power steering on those large tyres. OTOH, it suited it.
-E46 M3. I know, nothing fancy and something I already own. But, now it's not a daily, I'm really enjoying the car more and more, especially now that I have a more superior daily to what I'm used to. Maybe I'm disillusioned with changing cars more often now, maybe I wish I didn't think the grass was greener in other cars when I sold them up back then. OTOH, maybe I simply cherish those owners who keep cars for a long time, and the memories they build up with them.
I certainly have with mine. I'd probably do a few things to mine, including either bulletproofing the SMG setup (mine has been fine to be fair) or putting in a manual conversion as I'd want it. Futhermore, I'd put in some fancy suspension, either KW v3s or something like Konis with the Eibachs I have. The Recaro CSs I'd retrim to match the interior, but have them heated. I'd probably flirt with brake kits, in the hope of getting something less squealy. Oh, and a CSL airbox Basically, I'd want a CSL Lite, so something between a CS and a CSL. I guess I could put airbags on it, and go for scene points, but I quite enjoy thrashing that on a track or on a road trip in Europe. Alot of folks think I should leave it as it is, as they feel it's the right balance. Maybe I should listen to them.
Anyway, I've probably bored you with that monologue! I must like it more than I think.
-E39 Alpina D10 Touring (if they did one). This is a curveball. It was between this and an F31 D3 S Touring. But I think the D10 wins. Reliable, frugal, charmful, and, an Alpina. What better way to celebrate such a car?
-E61 M5 : That wail of that V10 is quite something! It probably wouldn't be a keeper (who am I kidding), but for something quite fragile, that can take your mates while being a pseudo supercar, I'd be game for that. More of a flirtation the way prices are going on those. For keeps, it probably would be an E34 3.8 M5 I suspect. A tough one. A little too much BMW maybe!
-Citroen ID19 (DS) Break. I adore the DS, and an estate is just so cool! I'd want to update it to EFI and modern ignition, with a discreet but superb ICE setup. Christ, maybe I'd even do an engine swap to something like a Ford EcoBoost 1.6 or Pug equivalent. That would be my summer daily for sure. Maybe I'd try and find a different wheel design for something that's the same size, or maybe something like moon discs on the factory wheels.
-Toyota 2000GT : They are glorious. Again, probably a little too far fetched!
-Either a Clio 182 Trophy or a Peugeot 205 GTi GTi-6 converted car. Yes, it's a dream list, but I'd also want to maintain them right! I can barely do the ones I have now!
-Jaguar XJR-S 6.0 : Maybe a manual swap, maybe a 4 speed auto swap. Either way, I'd fancy one as I always have and also to remind me how lives can be ruined!
-Chevy Camaro as a resto mod. I'm thinking something akin to how Roadkill's Crusher Camaro but in it's Pro Street days. Powerplant probably would be an LSx unit, but with
either a high stall speed 4 speed transmission or something a little more akin to what the retro revival newcomers have.
There are probably more, but I'll edit the list and amend them as time goes on. I think I'd also be semi-overwhelmed with the above list! Damn, I am getting old! Maybe an R32 GTR could replace one of the above. Who knows?