What other cars are you into?

[louisb]

I have noticed that VW people are car people in that while their obsession may be VWs they like a wide variety of cars. For me it is early '50s Chevys. My first car was a forest green 210 sedan with a blue flame six and a hydroslide automatic tranny. (That thing weighed a ton) I also have owned a '51 four door. But my favorite was my '53 pickup. It was lowered and painted metal flake brown (refuge from the 70's) the engine was 235 six cylinder with dual ones, 3/4 race cam, split exhaust manifolds and three on the tree. Drove that daily for several years and wish I still had it. (Sold it for another project.) I plan to build one again though I will probably skip the column shift for a five speed. So what other cars are you into?

--louis

[Rocket-Racing]

I am and always have been into all kinds of old cars.
In addition to the VW's there has always been one or more old american car in my garage.
It all started with my first car at age 12, a 67 Dodge Dart GT. After that I've had some Fox-body Mustangs, a 65 Mustang, a 58 Plymouth, and at present I have a 55 Plymouth. Guess I'm a Mopar man at heart. Pics to follow.

[Rocket-Racing]

My summer driver for six years. An unmolested original paint 65 Mustang. Just tweaked the suspension and engine a little and the car was a blast to drive.

[Rocket-Racing]

58 Plymouth. Would have loved to keep that car, but something came up.. And it had lived a rough life and needed work.

[Rocket-Racing]

My present "time machine". A 55 Plymouth in very nice driver condition. I know it's only a four door, but I like it.
I love to cruise in that car on a nice sunny day with 50's music on the (hidden) stereo.

[Luftkraft]

Hell yeah, I do like lots of other classic cars. I've been to the Mille Miglia this spring (as a spectator, of course) and I must say the atmosphere and the cars were just overwhelming. That event is an absolute must see for every vintage car nut, I'll be there next year again and I'm gonna do the trip in my Ghia, it's gonna be awesome! But what I'm really into are traditionally built hot rods and kustoms. I'd love to have a low and mean leadsled, as my dream is a chopped 49-50 mercury coupe. Might as well be an early 40s Ford or Mercury, taildragger, Westergard style. Well, I really like early 60s kustoms, too. The way the did it before the lowrider thing started, called Bellflower style. Check out www.losboulevardos.com/ to see what I mean. And have a look at my hot rod & kustom related LOWTECH blog http://lowtechblog.blogspot.com to find out more about my non-VW-related passion. 

My other ride is a '63 Bel Air, lowered 3" on a set of black steelies with WWs. Metalflake top will be next.

[alfie the monster]

Where do I start? 60's English Fords, I'd love a mark 1 'Tina or Escort. Hot rods, lead sleds (Lance McCormacks Planet Voodoo's one of my favourites). 356's, early 911's. A 55 or 57 2 door with American Racing 5 spokes. 60/70's Mercedes with stacked headlights (oh yeah!). Muscle cars, 'Stangs and Camero's really light my fire (Rocket Racings one looks awesome). My friend Ernst has had a few Dodge Darts and they look pretty tough too!

I guess I'm just a petrol head, and nobody get me started on 60's American 'wagons, as I think I'll have a brain overload 

[Sarge]

If I had it to do over again, a '39 or '40 Willys would be my car of choice.  It would have to have a a blown big block of some sort, too.  Maybe in my next lifetime    Here's a pic of my current "tire squeeker"... a '90 SS454.  The trans has a nice shift kit and Allison torque converter...also Flowmaster cat-back exhaust and Magnaflow cat converter (LOUD).

[Rick Meredith]

My '26



Hot Rods, Mustangs, Brit and Italian cars. Anything Porsche.

[alfie the monster]

Oh and I forgot the road versions of older rally cars. Lancia Delta Intergrale, Audi UrQuattro, Ford RS200. Christ I'm gonna need a big garage if I ever win the lottery 

Cool T Rick 

[louisb]

Humm, if I ever won the lottery what would be in my garage.

427 SC spec Cobra
289 Cobra (To actually drive)
1965 Shelby GT-350 (the only real Shelby Mustang)
1932 Ford Highboy 3 window coupe w/ flathead
1934 Ford roadster full fenders
1940 Ford coupe black 327 ram horns 3 2s etc
Jag XKE roadster baby blue 
49 AD Chevy pickup
Couple of 356s
A Heb

Then I would have to start buying VWs. 

--louis

[The Ideaman]

An early 911, a traditional 32 highboy roadster and a 66 Bel Air wagon with a crate motor and an OD trans.

[Donny B.]

I traded VW parts for this and will never look back.  Some day I hope to do period restore and hot rod the flathead V8.

[louisb]

Nice F series. Is that an F-1 or a larger version. (Cabs are the same.) You going to keep the flat bed? I am thinking it would look sweet with red steeles, chrome rings and caps. Maybe a set of recaps from Coker tire on the back.

--louis

[Donny B.]

It is a F1.  I actually got a regular pick-up bed in the deal and plan on installing that at sometime.  It has a running flathead at this time.  I don't think it is the original because it says Mercury on the heads.  I am hoping it is a Mercury engine with a 4 inch stroke which is a very desirable combination.  It still has a stock two barrel carb.  You should also note the VW Bosche Blue coil

[louisb]

If this is right, then it looks like you have the 255 Merc version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Flathead_engine

255

Ford's final flathead was the 1948-1953 239/255  in³ (4.2 L) 255. The 255 was achieved by use of a 4 inch stroke crankshaft in the Mercury engines, producing 125 hp and making the merc crank a popular upgrade for hot rodders. The 255 is a model BG. They were available in the Mercury Monterey and the Mercury Custom. They came with either the Merc-o-Matic fluid drive transmission, or the 3 speed split overdrive.

While earlier Ford V8s had the distributor driven directly from the forward end of the camshaft, and so at an inconvenient location for maintenance, this final flathead used a right angle gear drive from the camshaft, placing the distributor atop the engine near the front and so readily accessible. The fuel pump was mounted centrally atop the rear of the engine, driven by a reciprocating pushrod from a lobe on the camshaft. High mileage engines were subject to pushrod wear that affected fuel delivery, corrected by the addition of a simple aftermarket cap to the pushrod.

--louis

[Donny B.]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  The only real way to find out is to take it apart and check it out.  I'm not there yet.  It will cost a lot to rebuild it and at this time I don't have it.  Hopefully someday...

I really get a kick out of the old flathead hot rods and that is what I want to do with this.  I want it period correct with patina (at least for now) and keep it on the road.  It needs a lot of work, but it isn't a rust bucket and I am the third owner.  Pretty cool, huh?!

[louisb]

That should be a lot of fun. Be interesting to see your progress.

I am pretty sure my next project after the '67 is done will be an AD series Chevy truck. It will be the '67's "tow vehicle" when I want to go to hot rod shows. I am thinking satin black paint, stock trim, stock white rims w/ rings and caps, slightly lowered via dropped front axle and dearched rear springs, bored and stroked 235 six w/ 2 ones and split manifolds. A five speed for easier cruising. A stock interior with a bench seat and rubber floor mats. (So you can open the doors and hose it out when every you decide to wash it.) IMHO a truck should be a truck. Simple, easy to maintain and fun to drive.

--louis

[j-f]

Only VW for the moment.
But a car I really dream of is the Camaro. First generation and the second 'till 72. A Z28 withe RS-SS package, Hugger Orange ( a nice color to build a 80's cal look also) with withe stripes. 

[mg]

This and that.

[ApeLatex]

I've been stuck on these for awhile. I really want to be Millner. I did meet Paul Le Mat at Viva Las Vegas a year ago.
It was sweet.

[Zach Gomulka]

I love traditional hot rods and kustom kars. 36 Ford 3w coupe, '28 Ford Roadster, and a '49 Ford Business coupe are all on the wish list. Muscle cars, not so much- unless you consider 66-67 Nova's and 65-66 Mustang Fastback's muscle cars. I love small and odd european cars, Volvo P1800 coupes, Mini's, BMW 2002's, Ford Cortina's, blah blah blah. I would LOVE and early 911, along with a 356B T5 coupe. A 65 turbo Corvair would be pretty cool, too. E-Type Jaguar Coupes. Tri-5 Buick's, Old's, and Pontiac's. This could go on for days...

[Gabetion2000]

I am into making my watercooled Vw's handle well and taking them to track days. I had a 97 gti vr6 that I sold last year. Now I have a 03 gti vr6 that Im just starting on. Ive driven the streets of willow twice in my 97 and once in my 03. I been to had a track day at laguna seca , and buttonwillow raceway in my 03. I am going back to buttonwillow raceway again later this month. Here are some pics. You can only see the front of my 03 . I was taking a picture of the snow on the mountain ( that is rare so close to the beach in socal).

[Sam K]

I've been into bugs as long as I can remember. I bought my first one when I was 12 and I still have it. I think I've ahd about 20 other bugs as well as a couple busses and ghias. However, for many years, my daily driver (even in the snow) was '68 SS350 Camaro. It's probably the best car I've ever owned. I've also had a couple Fox body mustangs eacuse they are about the best cheap drag car around. We call them a 10 second kit car. I also bought a 2002 Subaru WRX for a winter car a couple years ago. It's pretty fun - good mileage, mid 13 second 1/4 miles and really good in the snow.

[empicolector]

just had sell my AUDI sportback DSG for the last audi S3 with 265 hp (2.0 TFSI engine)

[Rennsurfer]

I've been into aircooled VWs and Porsches since I was in Kindergarten. My first few cars were Bugs.



I was lucky enough to have been a VW mechanic, worked in the Parts Dept. at VW parts stores & dealers, and also was a Service Advisor at two VW dealerships. So building Bugs for me and friends was a fun time.



Had a couple of really fun watercooled VWs, too. A hardtop and convertible. Later, I enjoyed a 1986 Porsche 944 that was ordered with 951 Turbo suspension. Best brake design on a car that I've ever owned. I drive my cars fast and and I'm hard on 'em... not once did I ever have to service the brakes. Wish all of my cars had those brakes. I go through brake pads once a year.



But my faithful everyday car that's been the most reliable one I've ever owned... a 1987 Volvo 245DL 5spd. Estate. If it had the power and brakes that my 944 had, it would be my perfect dream car. The cargo area is HUGE. I save tons of money in motel costs 'cause I sleep in it when I'm traveling. If I'm surfing and need to go somewhere where I can't watch my boards, they all fit inside. It'll carry small loads like a truck. Easy to work on, decent power, great mileage, and I have the only one that's a manual transmission. I've yet to see another one. My ex-wife's 1989 244DL Sedan is the only other one. We special ordered that from Volvo, new. It's her second car, now. My younger son will be driving that next year and we're gonna restore it for him. Like me and their mother, our sons don't like automatics. YES!



A side project car that I still have as a second daily driver. I cleaned it all up, removed all of the lame aftermarket crap/stickers, and returned back to factory specs. Mine is the only daily driver that I see on the road. I'm currently looking to sell or trade this for a late '60s Bug.



In a perfect world, I'd have a huge garage that housed my cars:

Early 914-6 Orange
Early '70s 911 Carrera Silver
1970 Lamborghini Miura Black or Orange
1967 Volkswagen convertible Sedan Savannah Beige
1969 Volkswagen Cal Look Sedan Savannah Beige
1979 BMW 635CSi Alpina Black (e-spec)
1987 Volvo 245DL 5spd. Estate Biege
2008 Audi R8 Black

[Zach Gomulka]

Im not in to new cars much, but that thing is sick!
The only water pumper VW I want is a MKII GTI with a 16v 2.0 and a G60 blower strapped on. Full on rally suspension for lots of smiles

[Rick Meredith]

The only water pumper VW I want is...

[Zach Gomulka]

They tested that thing on Top Gear! Looked sick!! "BUT WILL NOT GO 'ROUND CORNERS!!!" 

[Rick Meredith]

Well with that much HP and that short a wheelbase I would imagine that the rear axle would always be trying to pass  the front!