What is Your Favorite Classic American Car?

[Steve]

Just fishing for discussion here.  What is your favorite classic U.S. made automobile, design-wise?  

My favorite for an affordable classic is the 1968 full-sized Chevrolets.  I lust for a 1968 Chevy Caprice.  Such sensuous curves.  The '68 models were a refinement of the '67 models, with different front ends/grills and tail treatments.  GM really got it right with the '68 Chevrolets, IMO.  My family had a '68 four-door Impala Sport Sedan in light blue (pillarless four-door hardtop) and also a '68 pillared sedan in classic 1960's "ash gold" color.

If money were no object, my dream car would be the 1957-1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham.  A true American marvel with air suspension, memory seats, stainless steel roof, restrained 1950's tail-fin styling, tons of technical innovations, albeit with 1950's technology.  Cost $13,000 back in 1957, $5,000 more than a Rolls Royce, and Cadillac lost money on every one sold!  I see a 1957-1958 Eldorado Brougham pop up on Ebay sometimes, but the bidding usually tops $100,000.00 for mint cars, especially for the cars that have the original "vanity" items that came with the cars in 1957.  True hand-built American classics, never to be seen again.

[AVERAGE JOE]

Always loved the 1953 Corvette. Polo white with red leather interior. Very few were produced, being the first model year and all.

[inteller]

the Chrysler K car....ok just kidding.

[waterboy]

Styling: Studebaker Avanti (the originals)
Performance: Plymouth GTX 440 or Dodge Charger 426
Luxury: 1962-63 Thunderbirds & Lincoln's
Fun: Any convertible but specifically Corvettes thru 1973
Scary Performance: Dodge big block hemi's
Personal Fav: 56 Chevy BelAir

But it would all change after the next classic car show.

[Rico]

"Style"

59 Cadillac Coupe

62 Cadillac Coupe Convertible

59 Chevrolet Impala Coupe

56 Buick Century Coupe

53 Cadillac Coupe

63 Buick Riviera

"Speed"

64 Ford Galaxie 390 Interceptor

[}:)]

[Porky]

I saw this one at the Tulsa Car Show and found it to be my all time favorite.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Styling: Studebaker Avanti (the originals)
Performance: Plymouth GTX 440 or Dodge Charger 426
Luxury: 1962-63 Thunderbirds & Lincoln's
Fun: Any convertible but specifically Corvettes thru 1973
Scary Performance: Dodge big block hemi's
Personal Fav: 56 Chevy BelAir

But it would all change after the next classic car show.

Here is a GTX for you.

[dbacks fan]

And for those that remember Adam 12

[waterboy]

Thanks, Dback. The GTX was largely overlooked in favor of its little brother the Roadrunner which was not as comfortable, not as powerful but cost less and had a good ad campaign. Patrol cars at the time were hard to outrun.

I was able to wrangle my brother's 1968 GTX to visit graduation parties in 1969. Though only listed at 375 hp it was in actuality much greater. Stomach hurting acceleration with the torqueflite high stall transmission. Of course you had to have the redline wide ovals to finish the car off right.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Thanks, Dback. The GTX was largely overlooked in favor of its little brother the Roadrunner which was not as comfortable, not as powerful but cost less and had a good ad campaign. Patrol cars at the time were hard to outrun.

I was able to wrangle my brother's 1968 GTX to visit graduation parties in 1969. Though only listed at 375 hp it was in actuality much greater. Stomach hurting acceleration with the torqueflite high stall transmission. Of course you had to have the redline wide ovals to finish the car off right.

I will look through my pics on my computer when I get home tonight and see what others I can come up with. I grew up in Tulsa but live in Phoenix now. Those are from the 2005 Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale that a freind of mine that also moved here from Tulsa have gone to almost every year since 2004. We go just to look at the cars and watch some of the insanity.

[Conan71]

I have so many favorites, but whenever I think of my "ideal" muscle car I'd like to have some day, it would be a '69 Camaro Indy Pace Car edition.  Style, colors, performance, and it's a rag top.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Thanks, Dback. The GTX was largely overlooked in favor of its little brother the Roadrunner which was not as comfortable, not as powerful but cost less and had a good ad campaign. Patrol cars at the time were hard to outrun.

I was able to wrangle my brother's 1968 GTX to visit graduation parties in 1969. Though only listed at 375 hp it was in actuality much greater. Stomach hurting acceleration with the torqueflite high stall transmission. Of course you had to have the redline wide ovals to finish the car off right.

I will look through my pics on my computer when I get home tonight and see what others I can come up with. I grew up in Tulsa but live in Phoenix now. Those are from the 2005 Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale that a freind of mine that also moved here from Tulsa have gone to almost every year since 2004. We go just to look at the cars and watch some of the insanity.

Dback, my wife's father lives in Scottsdale.  We went out to visit in November, went to the sprint car races at Manzanita and went to the NASCAR race at PIR.  While we were there, her dad took us to Penske's museum, then to the car show over at the Pavillion in Scottsdale.  Do you ever go to that?  I saw plenty of original paint cars and very nice restorations.  Her dad was saying it's a weekly event.  Sort of reminded me of Backyard Burgers cruise night, only larger.

[Conan71]

Okay, not cars, but still American classics:

1965 Harley Electra-Glide



1957 Harley FLH:

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Thanks, Dback. The GTX was largely overlooked in favor of its little brother the Roadrunner which was not as comfortable, not as powerful but cost less and had a good ad campaign. Patrol cars at the time were hard to outrun.

I was able to wrangle my brother's 1968 GTX to visit graduation parties in 1969. Though only listed at 375 hp it was in actuality much greater. Stomach hurting acceleration with the torqueflite high stall transmission. Of course you had to have the redline wide ovals to finish the car off right.

I will look through my pics on my computer when I get home tonight and see what others I can come up with. I grew up in Tulsa but live in Phoenix now. Those are from the 2005 Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale that a freind of mine that also moved here from Tulsa have gone to almost every year since 2004. We go just to look at the cars and watch some of the insanity.

Dback, my wife's father lives in Scottsdale.  We went out to visit in November, went to the sprint car races at Manzanita and went to the NASCAR race at PIR.  While we were there, her dad took us to Penske's museum, then to the car show over at the Pavillion in Scottsdale.  Do you ever go to that?  I saw plenty of original paint cars and very nice restorations.  Her dad was saying it's a weekly event.  Sort of reminded me of Backyard Burgers cruise night, only larger.

Yes I have done the show and shine at the Pavillions, it's an every Saturday night event, and you never know what you will see. I have been to two races at PIR, 1999 and 2000. Have yet to get to the races at Manzanita, or out to see the NHRA at Firebird. The number of original cars out here is amazing. There is another place in the Scottsdale Airpark area that is owned by Harley Cluxton. He has an amazing collection race cars from a Birdcage Maserati to Formula 1 cars. It's worth a shot if you come out again.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

Always loved the 1953 Corvette. Polo white with red leather interior. Very few were produced, being the first model year and all.