cars I would like to have a go in but not own.

[rapidyellow]

In no particular order

Hillman Imp
My Dad had one, it was forever breaking down, overheating, needed a screwdriver onto the solenoid to start it, but it was lovely on the road. Would love to drive one.


Mk1 Mini Cooper
My Dad had regular Mini 1000's, and a Mini 1000 was my first 3 cars when I passed my test in 1988, loved them. But would love a drive of the Cooper version to see how they compare.


MK2 Escort Harrier or 1600 Sport
Well, just great cars to me, sounded good with a single box system, bet they are nice to drive in a mild state of tune or even as standard.


VW Beetle, any type, would just like to see how they drive, never known anyone thats had them.


A Citroen 2CV, odd choice but cars that are slow I honestly don't mind now that I am over 50... so would love to have a drive of one.




So thats 5 from my list, how about yours?

[ratchart]

Traditional T bucket roadster, for that one day in the year when the weather and road conditions align.

It would be not much fun on the motorway (noisy, windy, too many HGVs) and you couldn't park it anywhere out of sight, but for those mythical empty country roads on a summer's day it would be the perfect once in a lifetime car.


also a beach buggy for similar reasons.

[gezzard]

Something like a Chrysler Imperial LeBaron, looks cool as. But would be totally unsuitable for where I live.

[The Cat Herder]

Let me start with something iconic…



Lamborghini Countach LP400. Not the later versions that adorned countless teenage boys bedrooms in the ‘80’s, but one of original models without the huge wing and tacked on body kit. I know I’m not going to fit well, but if put up with the discomfort just one time to experience Ferruccio Lamborghinil’s original vision. It would also be fun to drive one of Lamborghinis tractors too, just to get all sides of their products.


Next up, something equally iconic in a different way…



An Audi Quattro group-B rally car. Watching Hannu Mikkola, Michele Mouton and others in the WRC getting airborne and sliding sideways always seemed so much more exciting than watching Formula One go round and round in circles…


And seeing as I’m thinking icons…



A Model T Ford, from the dawn of mass motoring. Couldn’t be any further from the two cars above if id posted a picture of the moon rover, but getting a taste of motoring as it was a hundred years ago is high on my list. My brother-in-law in Arizona has one (this is not his one, that car is still in pieces) but it hasn’t turned a wheel in years. Maybe one days he’ll get it running and let me have a go; still a pipe dream, but more attainable than a Lambo or group-B rally car.


Something I really wanted years ago, but never got around to since I was perpetually broke at the time…



Yes, a proper Land Rover. Having seen restoration threads on these, I know my skills aren’t anywhere near what’s needed to keep one on the road, and I couldn’t afford the garage bills. But just once, get behind the wheel and go out on some farm tracks and green lanes exploring the countryside.

There are more though…. maybe wheel across Utah in a WW2-era Willys Jeep. Get behind the wheel of a proper HGV artic since a 11 tonne U-Haul doesn’t really count. Drive an early-60’s Cadillac Eldorado convertible from Seattle to San Diego on US Highway 1. Take an MG Midget with the roof down from my parents house in Essex out to Lands End taking minor roads all the way.

Really, just about everyone’s build threads on here get me all “I’d like a go in that.”

[fogey]

Unfortunately, my list is endless . . .

[Mercdan68]

This quite simply the most iconic car ever to me, it was built in my area where I grew up and I saw it in pieces some years ago, it’s just superb to see it back to even better than it was originally…..legend

[The Cat Herder]

Henry Hirise…that was on the cover of the first edition of Street Machine I bought, way back.

[blackpopracing]

^^ it was.

My list?

Just about every exoticar ever built.
Pro mod car (any)
Top fuel dragster
Anything jet powered

[stealthstylz]

Car wise not much apart from maybe a reasonably fast (300+) run at Bonneville and a go in a jet dragster would be great.

All my "I wish I could have a go" list is boats and planes which are even more unachievable.

[ironmighty07]

Not sure there's many specific makes/models that I covet, and I am partial to odd American stuff which I have plenty... but in the "have a go" category would be a Super Modified Rallycrosser, probably something RWD remind myself I lack racing talent then hand the keys back!

[rob112]

Lancia Delta Intergrale

[60six]

It's pretty much every car I haven't owned.

[The Jackeria]

I own and have owned some pretty stupid cars already so my list is fairly short. Military vehicles are coooooolll as and I'd live a Volvo C303 or something else similar but much bigger or more focused on purpose is a little OTT even for me so I'd say a Ferret.

[bmcnut]

Citrien 2cv



So iconicly different that I'd need to know what they're like

Isetta bubble car



Same. So unique but not very me. Probably a hoot to experience tho.

MG SV



When I worked at a rover/MG garage I drove everything else, but not these. Don't want one, just one to tick off the list

Mk1 mx5


Need to understand what all the fuss is about in their legendary handling. But don't want one enough to own one.

Reliant Robin



Just to find out how easy they are to roll over. Then I'll give it back 😁

[grumpybadger]

Vw nova
Looks awesome, apparently worse than it's beetle donor to drive.
These have been modded to take pretty much every enging going from a porsche flat 6 to a rover v8 but rumor has it nothing compensates for the handling.

I suspect that when your car looks like that, you don't drive it fast anyway.

Slightly stretching the "car" description here



GM futurliner
Probably the best looking thing on wheels, definitely the worst mpg in any garage.
Don't care about the speed or the handling.

Stretching the "car" description even further



And it's a bit modern but who wouldn't want to drive a sherp.

I sometimes find myself wanting a go in a cosworth powered mk 2 just to see what the fuss is.
It quickly passes though.

[rob112]

My uncle VW Nova if I remember correctly it has an Alfa engine it

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Teslas. I've worked on a few, brought into my brother's bodyshop, but they were always dropped off in 'valet mode', so it would be interesting to try one with the full performance available. Not sure I'd want to own one though, as some of the build is a bit gimcrack, and the whole shebang comes across as a bit gimicky, with the keyless entry card, etc...

Speaking of Alfas, I wouldn't mind trying a few classics such as Alfasuds, 75, etc., but wouldn't want to own any because of the usual rust problems.

[mrbounce]

I would love to have a go in a De Tomaso Mangusta - they're utterly bonkers-looking, have an amazing soundtrack, they turn heads everywhere and only petrolheads know what it is.

I found something out the other week that I didn't know - my friend's Dad actually has one. He's going to try to get his Dad to take me out in it. If I am lucky enough to do this, I will take ALL the photos and show them here.

This is not his car...



A 69 Charger. Just to see how rubbish they really are to drive, and to shatter the dreams of 9-year old me thinking that one day I'd be Bo Duke...



And something HUGE and early 70s like an enormous Ford LTD or similar, just so I can pull up at the kerbside and watch as the car bounces back and forth on its super-soft springs whilst I delight in 7 1/2 litres of excess and the sea of vinyl inside.



And finally a Ferrari 365 GTS/4 - known in most circles as the Daytona Spyder, so I can see what all the fuss is about for a 7-figure car.

[andyborris]

Mar 27, 2024 22:33:30 GMT 60six said:

It's pretty much every car I haven't owned.

Me too. And weirdly the only vehicle on the post that I've driven so far, is the Ferret!

[misteralz]

I don't think I can answer this, purely because I'd want to own everything I'd like a wee shot of. Maybe a better question for me is 'which cars would you like to own, but absolutely cannot justify'? In which case, something like a Mehari, an SM, an SZ, a 355, an early Mustang, a Unimog, and another L322. Of course I'll have a completely different list tomorrow.